Jasmine’s POV
I stepped into the garden, the fresh air with its sweet fragrance enveloping me like a warm blanket. Today marked two days since my argument with Ryder, and I’d been avoiding him ever since. Luckily for me, I still hadn’t bumped into him, or maybe he’d been avoiding me-I couldn’t quite tell. The tension between us was so strong that I dreaded the moment I’d have to face him again.
The garden had become my escape, my thinking spot. The scent of grass, earth, and green leaves was soothing, offering a temporary reprieve from the chaos in my head. My fingers lightly trailed along the hedges as I strolled down the winding path, the warm sun caressing my skin. The weather was perfect-almost too perfect for the storm brewing inside me. I needed this moment of solitude, this chance to clear my head and process everything that had happened.
Ryder’s controlling nature sat at the top of my list of worries. He still owed me an answer. Each time I’d asked about it, something dramatic happened, like the universe was conspiring to keep me in the dark. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was manipulating me, using me for his own selfish purposes while keeping me in the shadows. And then there was Isabelle’s bitter truth-it didn’t add up, but it gnawed at me all the same. What was my place here? That word “lady” made me cringe.
Halting in front of a vibrant rose bush, I carefully plucked a rose close to the bud, making sure not to prick myself. The flower reminded me of Ryder-beautiful and dangerous. It could captivate you, but it came with thorns that could draw blood.
He claimed I deserved to be treated like a queen, and I let out a low, humorless laugh. The irony was repulsive. A queen? When he was betrothed to Isabelle, planning to marry her, leaving me as his mistress? Hypocrite.
My thoughts drifted back to my old pack, how I had been welcomed but still felt like an outsider because of Jason. Yet, I had been more at home there than here. Now I was caught between two worlds-the werewolf world I knew and the Lycan world I was struggling to navigate.
Aside from Seraphina, I had no one to confide in. And even she was always busy with chores, another irony since Ryder claimed she was my personal maid. Liar. I inhaled sharply, shutting my eyes and running my hands over the flowers, trying to find some sense of peace. But it didn’t last long.
“Enjoying the view, Jasmine?”
My eyes snapped open, and I turned to see Isabelle standing there, a smug grin plastered on her face. Her presence was as unwelcome as the tension in my chest, and yet, here she was, invading my moment of peace.
“Isabelle,” I said dryly, keeping my tone neutral, though it took effort to suppress the irritation bubbling beneath the surface.
“Looks like someone has been practicing being the lady of the house already,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. I bit my lower lip, resisting the urge to snap back.
She waved her hand lazily in the air. “But let’s be real, your stay here is temporary, isn’t it?”
Her words were like a slap in the face, but I refused to let her get under my skin. I wasn’t going to grant her the satisfaction.
“What do you want, Isabelle?” I sighed, rolling my eyes. Our previous encounter had given me the impression she was more mature, but now it was clear she had fully embraced the role of the “jealous bitch.”
She chuckled, the sound grating against my ears. “Oh, I just wanted to see how the little lady was doing. You’re quite a handful, you know.”
I bristled at the term “lady” but kept my cool. Ignoring her jab, I smoothed my shirt and plucked a chrysanthemum from the flowerbed.
Isabelle took a step closer, her grin widening. “You know, Jasmine, you’re not as special as you think you are. Ryder’s had plenty of girls like you before, and he’ll have plenty more after you’re gone.”
Her words stung like alcohol on a fresh wound. Seraphina had hinted at something similar the first day I’d met her, though she hadn’t mentioned anything about there being more after me.
Facing Isabelle with a sweet smile, I chuckled. “Thanks for your concern, Isabelle. But I’ll worry about that when the time comes.”
I added with mock innocence, “Maybe if you were good enough, I wouldn’t be here. But since I am, maybe you should focus on keeping Ryder’s attention instead of worrying about me. Who knows? He might just dump you for me.” Isabelle’s smirk faltered for a moment, a flash of anger in her eyes, but she recovered quickly.
“Oh, I’m not worried, Jasmine. You can have your time with him, but soon, you’ll be dumped just like the others. And I’ll be the Luna of the pack, while you’ll be nothing but a mistress. That’s the reality. Don’t get delusional.” She blew me a kiss, her eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. Others? My mind raced with the implications. The mention of other mistresses disturbed me, and my chest tightened with emotions I couldn’t quite identify.
Isabelle’s devilish smirk grew wider. “Don’t look so surprised. You all think you’re the real deal when Ryder’s just living out his flings. You’re the latest in a long line, darling.”
My stomach churned, and I felt a pang of… something. Jealousy? Anger? Disappointment? I couldn’t quite name it, but it burned inside me like a fire. I no longer wanted to be in the garden. Not with her.
I turned away, needing to escape. First, it had been Jason, and now Ryder. But Ryder’s case was worse-at least Jason hadn’t kidnapped me. Ryder, though… I was supposed to hate him. Yet, every day, I found myself drawn to him, the connection between us growing stronger.
I almost snorted at the absurdity of it all. I dared to feel special. A special mistress, huh? I shook my head, rolling my eyes. I was well and truly fucked.
Jasmine’s POV
My head swarmed with a hundred and one comebacks to make Isabelle feel irrelevant, but my voice caught in my throat. I was too awed. The only thing I could manage to ask was, “Others?” My voice was a raspy whisper. Immediately after I asked, I regretted it. Now she would see I’d caved in.
Isabelle cocked her head back, eyes glistening with amusement as a cold, mirthless sound bubbled from her throat-a mocking laugh. It grated on my ears, making me frown.
“This just keeps getting more interesting. You thought you were the only one? Does Ryder look like he could stay with one woman? There are others, and Ryder… well, he’s got a taste for variety.” She shrugged at her last statement, not a tinge of regret in her voice. Was this how Lycans were? I thought they stayed loyal to their mates.
The bastard! My fingers curled into a fist, and I dug them into the pocket of my sweater. I wasn’t going to give her the complete satisfaction of seeing me angry.
“You should tell your darling Ryder to prep you, maybe during one of your passionate moments. Or doesn’t he tell you anything?” Isabelle continued, her chest puffed out, exuding an air of confidence.
Just then, her eyes flicked over my shoulder, and her smile faltered. An expression of horror filled her green eyes as they darkened before she blinked twice. Letting out a tiny scream, she took a few steps back as her shoulders jerked.
Someone cleared his throat behind me. Ryder.
Oh well. His scent was enough to alert me of his presence; it filled my nose and made me suddenly very aware of my surroundings.
“Isabelle, I think that’s enough,” he said, his voice low and even. My lips curled at the corners, a bubbling laugh at the tip of my tongue. So she was scared of him? So much for being in love.
Her face gradually softened, but the smile wasn’t present as she played the role of the innocent, concerned “fiancee” in front of him, her hands twisting as she fussed.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Gosh, you almost gave me a heart attack,” Isabelle’s chuckle was nervous as she placed her hands over her chest. Rolling my eyes at her statement, I mused that if anyone was supposed to be scared, it ought to be her.
To be me, not her-he was directly behind me. I stood firmly where I was, not bothering to acknowledge his presence.
“Ryder, darling, I was just trying to explain to Jasmine that she needs to know her place,” Isabelle said, her voice sugary sweet with a plastic smile on her face. “She seems to be getting a bit too comfortable, overstepping her boundaries.”
Ryder shuffled his feet before letting out a deep breath. He’d clearly heard part of the exchange, and I could tell he was struggling to keep his temper in check.
“Leave us,” Ryder said, his voice deep and commanding.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply