I sat cross-legged beside him, absently picking at a stray blade of grass after I broke the news to him.
“This wasn’t the plan, Kasmine,” Jake said.
We had planned to spend some quality time together during the weekend. Perhaps he would have officially asked me out this weekend.
But my asshole of a brother wouldn’t let that happen.
“I am sorry, Jake. My brother… He…” I was saying, but he cut me off.
“Your brother is becoming too much of a concern. You are no longer a baby. You are a big girl. Why can’t he let you do certain things yourself?” Jake asked, unable to hide his frustration.
Jake was a cool guy. Almost never angry. But this? This was surely getting on his nerves, but he did well to control it.
“I have an idea. I could skip going to the office on some days. You could come home and see me when my brother goes to the office, and I’m home alone. That could be a routine,” I suggested happily.
He was reluctant at first but later agreed to it. See why I can’t help but fall in love with Jake, right? He was too sweet and understanding.
“You know… if your brother keeps this up, he’s going to scare off anyone brave enough to get close to you.” He said in a light voice.
I laughed softly, “You’re not scared, though. Right?”
He reached out and gently tugged the blade of grass from my hand, replacing it with his fingers. “Nope. Terrified,” he teased, his grin boyish and warm.
I rolled my eyes, nudging him playfully with my shoulder. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” he said, his voice softening. “But I mean it, Kasmine. You can’t let him keep making decisions for you. You deserve to live your own life.”
The sincerity in his tone brought a lump to my throat. I swallowed it down, my fingers tightening around his. “I know,” I murmured. “But it’s not that simple. Kester is… Complicated. He thinks he’s protecting me, but sometimes it feels like he’s just suffocating me.”
Jake shifted, turning to face me more fully. “Then let me help. We’ll figure this out together. I don’t care what it takes or how stubborn your brother is. I know he is our Alpha. But you don’t have to face this alone.”
The way he looked at me at that moment made my heart ache. I smiled, leaning forward to press my forehead lightly against his. “You’re too good for me, you know that?”
He chuckled, his breath warm against my skin. “Nah. You’re just lucky I’m hopelessly in love with you.”
My cheeks flushed at his words. Did he just admit that he loved me? Oh, my world! It meant so much to me!
I was about to respond when it hit me-a sudden, almost tangible shift in the air. The breeze seemed to still, the sounds of the schoolyard fading into an eerie quiet. My skin prickled as if someone were watching me.
I pulled back, my smile faltering as I glanced around. “Do you feel that?” I whispered.
Jake frowned, his hand tightening around mine. “Feel what?” He asked, also glancing around.
My gaze darted through the clearing, scanning the environment.
And then I saw him.
Kester.
KASMINE.
I was terrified: The silence in the car was unbearable.
I sat stiffly in the back seat, my hands clenched into fists on my lap as I stared out of the window.
Kester was seated beside me, leaning back with his hands casually resting on his thighs, his jaw tight, and his expression carved from stone.
He hadn’t said a word to me since he saw me with Jake. In fact, as soon as I saw him, he quietly walked away..
I least expected him in my school. I never knew he had something important to take care of there. I wouldn’t have sat down in plain sight with Jake.
He had sent June home, and the poor girl couldn’t even complain. She took it in good fate, promising to return next weekend.
Sometimes I wonder what she was still doing with a douchebag like my brother.
His silence was worse than anger, and it made my skin crawl. I dared a glance at him out of the corner of my eye, hoping for some clue as to what he was thinking, but his face betrayed nothing.
The driver navigated the convoy through the city streets that led to Kester’s estate. My nerves frayed.
Say something, Kasmine. Explain yourself. I kept chanting to myself.
But no. I couldn’t. Explaining myself would make me seem guilty. And I wasn’t guilty of anything… was I?
I swallowed hard; my gaze fixed firmly on the passing scenery. My palms were sweaty, my heart pounding. The quiet was maddening, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak first. I knew Kester. If I said the wrong thing, his fury would ignite.
The car pulled into the driveway, and the convoy came to a smooth stop in front of the house. My chest tightened as I stared at the familiar building. I didn’t want to go inside. The walls of that house would trap me with Kester, with whatever punishment he was silently preparing.
The driver opened the door, and Kester stepped out first. I followed, my legs feeling like lead as I climbed out and made my way up the stairs.
Kester paused by his door, pulling out his key to unlock it. I didn’t wait for him to say anything
-he hadn’t so far, so why would he start now? I continued walking toward my room, but before I could take another step, I felt his strong hand clamping around my arm. barely had time to gasp before he yanked me backward with a force that sent me stumbling into him. His grip was like iron, his fingers digging into my skin as he dragged me into his room.
“Kester!” I managed to choke out, but he didn’t respond.
The door slammed shut behind us. My back hit the wall, his towering frame blocking any escape. His face was inches from mine now, his forest-green eyes burning with an intensity that stole my breath.
“What were you doing frolicking around with that dimwit?” he hissed, his voice sending shivers down my spine.
I swallowed, my heart hammering against my ribcage. “I wasn’t doing anything. Jake is-“
“Don’t!” he snapped, his tone biting enough to make me flinch. “That’s his name, huh?” He let out a small laugh, his face coming closer to mine. I could feel his breath so hot against my skin. My heart rate accelerated.
“Please, Kester… He’s just a friend.” My voice came out weak and teary. I realized I had messed up by mentioning Jake’s name. I know what Kester was capable of. I didn’t want him to harm Jake in any way.
His lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. “Is that what you call holding hands under a tree? Friendship?”
I felt my cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and anger. “Yes, because that’s exactly what it was! You’re blowing this out of proportion!”
Jake’s words came replaying in my head. I couldn’t let Kester keep controlling me this way.
Kester’s hand slammed against the wall beside my head, and I jumped. His closeness was suffocating me, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that left no room for escape.
“I warned you, didn’t I?” he growled in a low and dangerous voice. “I told you to stay away from anyone until you find your mate.”
“You don’t get to control me like this!” I shot back, my voice rising despite the fear tightening my chest. “I’m not a child, Kester!”
His cold gaze raked over me, making my skin crawl, “You’re not a child, Kasmine?” he repeated in a low, biting whisper. “Is that what Jake taught you? To rebel against me?”
Realization hit me hard. He was looking for every means to find a reason to harm Jake. “No,
Kester, it’s not like that,” I stammered, shaking my head desperately as a stubborn tear slid down my cheek.
But he wasn’t listening. His head tilted slightly, and a mirthless smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. It wasn’t amusement. No, it was something far more sinister. “Don’t lie to me, Kasmine. You’ve been taking lessons from Jake,” he said softly, almost tenderly, but his eyes burned with a feral intensity that made my stomach twist.
“Kester, please,” I whispered, trembling. “Jake didn’t-“
His smirk faded, replaced by an expression that sent ice through my veins. “You’ll never see him again,” he declared coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion as though he were simply stating a fact.
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