The crunch of bone.
The instant gush of blood.
Kex staggered, but to my fury, he didn’t fall.
Instead, he wiped the blood from his nose, examined it for a second, and then laughed.
“Damn,” he muttered, grinning through red-streaked teeth. “That was a good one.” He tapped the bridge of his nose, wincing playfully. “Think you broke it,”
“The next time you speak that way about my sister ever again, you won’t be going home with just a broken nose.”‘
As I dragged Kasmine toward the car, a storm raged inside me. My pulse thundered, my grip on her wrist tightening
The image of Kex’s filthy hands reaching for her and the smug glint in his eyes played over and over in my head, stoking the fire of my fury. If I had arrived a second later… Thoughts of how things would have quickly spiraled into something else if I hadn’t shown up when I did, plagued me.
“You seem to have a thing for getting into trouble with the opposite gender, Kasmine,” I bit out, shoving her into the passenger seat with more force than 1 intended as 1 slammed the door shut.
Kasmine gasped, but I was already moving, rounding the car with long strides.
I wrenched the driver’s side door open and slid inside, fingers gripping the wheel. My chest rose and fell with heavy, barely controlled breaths.
“Kes…”
My hand shot up, a single finger raised in warning. I didn’t want to hear a damn word from her. Not now. Not when my head was pounding, my blood was boiling, and the intensity of everything was weighing down on me.
She was too stubborn, and I didn’t know how else to protect her from herself.
All I wanted was to get home. With her. To make sure she was safe. That was all that mattered.
And as for kex and Karina, I’d have to be more creative on how I’d have to deal with them. And this time, I’d make sure they never got another chance to touch what was mine
KASMINE.
The tension in the car when we left the hospital was too suffocating that I was surprised I didn’t end up dead before we arrived the pack.
It’s been two days now, and I have not seen Kester or heard from him. He made sure of that.
Today was Friday, and I was a mess of cinations. I was equal parts happy, worried, and nervous.
Happy because I’d get to see Jake at school today. I called in yesterday using Mum’s phone, and we spoke at length. Hearing his voice was like taking a breath after droghing.
Thankfully, Kester hadn’t bugged Mum’s phone; neither was he anywhere around to see me making the calls.
I explained everything that had happened to Jake, and as always, he understood. Gods, he was so understanding.
But as much as I was eager to see him, I was worried. Because Kester had assigned Gery-one of his most loyal guards-to follow me everywhere. I didn’t need anyone to tell me why. But whatever happens, I’d see Jake in school today. Nothing was going to stop me.
Jake wanted us to have dinner tonight, but I turned him down. Because tonight, according to Mum, I’d have to go on a date with Alpha Jaden.
This made me nervous. I was nervous because my life was about to get more complicated.
I exhaled sharply, anxiety twisting in my stomach at how fast my life was spiraling into something I could barely hold onto.
There was the man I loved-Jake.
Then, there was Kester-the man who would do anything to keep me from being with anyone else.
And now, there was Alpha Jaden-the man my parents were so desperate to shove into my life for whatever reasons they must have.
The thought made me sick
A knock sounded at my door, and before I could respond, the door pushed open, and Mum walked in.
She had been different since our return. More distant. More.. reserved. Gone was the overly sweet, sugary warmth she always carried gracefully. Instead, she was quiet, closed off, lost in thoughts she refused to share.
Despite all 1’d done to make her talk to me, she vehemently refused. So, I left her to herself. I also had my own worries, didn’t I?
“The driver is ready for you, Kasmine,” Mum said as she stepped into the room.
“Okay. I’ll be out in a minute,” I replied, fixing the last few strands of my hair before spraying perfumes. I picked up my handbag, ready to leave.
But, of course, she wasn’t done.
“No matter what you do today, be home early,” she continued. “Your dinner date with Jaden is at seven, and you need time to rest before getting ready. I want you looking your best.”
Her words made me pause.
I turned to her, narrowing my brows. Lectures? Now? what’s with this Alpha Jaden that makes him so damn Important?” I asked with a sigh and an eye roll, “I already told you that I’m not Interested.” I narrowed my brows, my irritation already spiking up.
I already disliked him before meeting him. All thanks to my parents. “Look,” I exhaled, gripping my bag tighter.” If you think forcing me to go on one stupid date is going to change my mind, then you’ve got it all wrong”
I turned to leave, but she caught my arm, stopping me.
“You don’t have a choice here, love,” she said lightly-tooghtly. Almost as if she found this amusing… I yanked my arm back. “The hell I do,” I replied, not hiding the irritation I felt.
Her next words shattered everything.
“You were already betrothed to Alpha Jaden when you were fourteen.” She announced and I promise, I didn’t quite grasp what she had just said.
For a moment, I forgot the actual meaning of the word “betroth.” I was hoping I had either heard wrong or there was a different meaning to the word I didn’t know about yer… I blinked rapidly. “What?” I asked with a breathy scoff.
Mum didn’t even flinch. “Yes, Kasmine. It was signed and agreed upon when his father helped your father seven years ago. He got us through a major crisis, and in return, a marriage alliance was secured. It is beneficial to us all In the long run.”
Her voice was calm and steady as if she were simply reading out a bedtime story.
Her words weren’t making any sense. None of this was.
“Walt. I was payment? Gratitude? Appreciation?” I counted the words.
I turned to face her fully now, standing close, right in her face. I wanted her to look me in the eye and tell me it was okay to trade my life and future for the pack’s ‘beneficial future.’
“Don’t see it that way, baby.” She reached out to touch my m, but I stepped back. “If this wasn’t necessary, it wouldn’t have happened.”
There wasn’t an ounce of regret in her voice. Not a single hint of remorse.
“This isn’t happening.” I shook my head, the words spilling out before I could even think. “Kester will never let this happen. He won’t. You’ll see-
“Kester knows, baby.” She said, and I froze. “He was there when it was all agreed upon.”
The airin my lungs vanished.
Blood turned to ice.
The world tilted just slightly.
“What?”
The perfect day I had been looking forward to crumbled before my eyes, slipping through my fingers like sand. And there was nothing I could do to save it.
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