Her eyes roamed over me. “Look at you, looking all big and beautiful. I mean, you’re so curvy!” Puberty had treated me well; with my hips and boobs, I wasn’t looking like the Jasmine of three years ago.
“Just stop with the flattery already,” I chuckled, pulling away from her hug before she squeezed the life out of me.
“Girl, I mean it. You’re looking so hot, with that killer shape of yours. You’ll surely have the men of the Blue Moon pack rolling at your feet.” I couldn’t believe Ruby hadn’t changed a bit-still the chitty-chatty type.
Ruby helped me carry my luggage into the car she’d brought and started driving toward the pack house, not missing a detail about everything that had been going on in the pack.
As we arrived at the pack house, Mom was standing outside, her eyes eagerly scanning down the road.
She yelled happily as she saw me, “Jasmine!” That was enough to tell everyone in the pack house that I was back.
She pulled me into her arms, and I hugged her back. I missed her. Three years without a home. I really did miss everything.
“Look at you, looking so grown up! Alpha!” she yelled, calling for my father. I mean, mothers can be very dramatic.
I laughed, my heart happy and relaxed. The welcome was warm so far, and I couldn’t be more excited that I was back.
Ruby and I entered the house. After a three-hour drive, I needed to rest. I plopped down on the couch, the softness reminding me of home.
Dad entered the sitting room, his expression not far from Mom’s earlier.
“Look at our baby girl, all grown up!” Dad’s face brightened. He didn’t look much different from the last time I had seen him.
I stood to my feet and hugged Dad. I really had missed him. So much.
With Mom and Dad, everyone was complete-except for him, the guy I had fled the pack for. The man who shattered my heart. Jason, my foster brother.
I hugged Dad tightly, feeling the warmth of his embrace. Pulling back, I glanced around, half-expecting to see Jason’s familiar face despite everything. The memories of our past and the pain of his rejection tugged at my heart, but I pushed them away. I was here to move forward, not dwell on old wounds.
After settling in my room, everything was just as I had left it. Ruby hadn’t given me a moment to breathe; she wanted to fill me in on everything, including whether I had a boyfriend.
Well, what would you expect from me, a heartbroken girl? I had sealed my heart and said no to men.
“It’s almost time for the party,” Ruby said as she dropped the nail polish brush back into the bottle. “We should start getting ready.”
Of course, I couldn’t forget the party. Mom had mentioned it in the letter. Jason’s engagement party was tonight-with Stephanie. That bitch. Not that I cared, but…
The past is just the past, anyway.
Ruby took her time dressing me up; it would have been typical for me to just throw on whatever I could find, but Ruby insisted the least I could do was look nice in something from my wardrobe.
I was dressed in a silver strapless gown, revealing my curves, with my cleavage exposed. I wasn’t comfortable in such a dress, but Ruby had told me, “If you’ve got it, then why not flaunt it?”
Throughout that evening, I didn’t see Jason. Maybe he was preparing for his engagement party.
The evening was cool and calm, and Dad’s face was beaming with pride, as was Mum’s. Today was their son’s engagement party, so they were meant to be happy, of course.
Whispers about my return filled the crowd, but no one dared to say it out loud.
“Aren’t Jason and Stephanie such a cute couple? I mean, they look so perfect together,” a blonde beside us muttered.
A stern glare from Ruby made her leave us.
The loud jeering from the crowd made me walk forward, my throat tightening. Was I ready? I thought I was over him, but with how my heart was beating rapidly, I doubted it. Ruby excused herself to get us a drink.
I stood at the VIP corner. My eyes met his for a fleeting second. Dressed in a sharp, tailored navy blue suit, he didn’t look much different from the last time I saw him. Old memories flooded my mind. My heart raced, but I couldn’t stare at him. The pain, the ache-I couldn’t bear it.
I thought I had gotten over this. I thought I was a grown-up now and that it wouldn’t hurt. Lies.
One minute, I was standing at the dinner party; the next, I found myself running away.
I stopped running, my chest pounding heavily. Suddenly, the place I stood in became dark. The light was suddenly turned off. I couldn’t tell which was the lesser demon: was it the fact that I was running away from Jason, or the darkness I was so afraid of?
“Hi, Baby Vixen!” The light was suddenly on.
“Hi, Baby Vixen!” The light suddenly flickered on, and I flinched, turning back at the sudden voice. I had thought I was alone.
Cold eyes stared at me, like frozen steel; his gaze was enchanting, as if he could see straight through me.
“Who are you?” I stuttered, my throat suddenly feeling dry.
He smirked. His looks were dangerous, and he didn’t look like any werewolf. His muscular body was almost visible, even beneath the suit he was wearing. His dark, mysterious gaze raked over me, and his eyes held a glint of mockery.
“So, this is your safe haven away from your scandal?” he grinned, his lips curling into a dangerous smirk. He was mocking me.
I gritted my teeth together, an unknown anger washing over me. How dare he remind me of something I was running away from?
I tilted my chin, refusing to be defeated by him. “Wherever I stay is none of your business. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” I said as his long legs took steady strides closer to where I stood. I took a step back. He was so imposing as he towered over me, and I was compelled to look up.
He seemed to be enjoying it. The glint of mockery was still present on his face. I could read his expression even without him voicing it-he was laughing at my height.
“Ryder Kael,” he said, a taunting smile spreading across his face. He was handsome, no doubt-dangerously handsome, if I must confess. His dark hairline, dangerous gaze, and broad, muscular shoulders made him striking.
“Jasmine Thane,” I replied, stupid or not. At least telling him my name wouldn’t hurt.
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