The room fell silent, all eyes on me, a few darting back to Ryder’s face. Feeling Ryder’s seething gaze burning into my skin, I jutted my chin forward, putting on the bravest face I could muster, waiting for him to make the next move.
Waiting for what seemed like eternity, the stubborn way he folded his hands told me he wasn’t going to budge. From the way he leaned against his chair, I knew he was somewhat enjoying this little power struggle.
Frustrated and tired, I gathered my gown and turned to head back to my room, ignoring Seraphina’s pleading gaze. I was done with his stupid game. About to make a full 180-degree turn, his voice boomed across the room-no, thundered.
“Stop there!”
One word, no, two-but they shook the very foundations of the room. I felt the vibrations of his voice deep within my core, and I knew I had to obey.
Turning slowly to face him, my heart thrashed wildly in my chest. I lowered my eyes. Seraphina’s eyes met mine, a pleading look in those small eyes as her lips curled downward, an expression that said I should apologize. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one worried about the wrath I was going to face, since the whole room, except Ryder, stood wide-eyed at me.
Before I could even think about moving, Ryder gingerly stood up from his seat. The scraping sound of his chair against the floor was the only audible noise in the room. His ocean eyes were fixed intently on me as he took steady strides in my direction, his presence commanding attention.
Damn… the only word I could think of.
But Ryder just raised an eyebrow.
“Save it, Jasmine. We’ll talk about this in private.”
With that, he reached out and grasped my arm, his grip like a vice. I knew I was in trouble.
Jasmine’s POV
Clutching my dress tightly, I gulped hard. It seemed like time had paused for just a minute. His frame stopped a few inches away from me, so close that I could almost hear his breath. His hand moved to my chin, tilting it up slightly, his thumb gently running over my lips. The coarse texture of his thumb made slow, circular motions on my smooth skin. Leaning forward, he placed a light kiss on my lips. It was a soft, sweet caress that left me breathless.
My eyes were shut for a second, and when they opened, they met his serious expression.
“Don’t defy my order again,” he whispered, his voice low and husky.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as he held my hands, his grip warm and reassuring. We walked to the head of the table, hand in hand. As we moved to our seats, a loud gasp echoed through the room.
The pack members, like cats watching mice, feasted their eyes on me as if I were prey, their calculating faces saying it all. I felt like a lamb led to slaughter, my heart racing with anticipation. A low murmur began, yet their eyes never left me.
Letting out a sigh, I could feel my legs give way to a familiar feeling of nervousness. They felt wobbly, and the fact that I was wearing really high heels didn’t help. I thought about slipping my hand out of Ryder’s grip, but it remained firm and protective.
“Try not to make both of us fall.”
So, after all, he was aware that I was practically hopping in these outrageous heels.
“I’m trying not to,” I hissed.
At the table, he proved once again to be a true gentleman as he pulled out a chair for me. He was still standing when he cleared his throat, and a surprising silence followed afterward. If a pin fell, I could swear I would have been able to hear it drop.
From the corner of my eye, I carefully looked at the man who had supposedly kidnapped me. His tall frame stood straight, shoulders held high in a casual yet authoritative way, with so much ease that it seemed natural to him. All eyes were fixed on him in rapt attention.
I’d have to tell him this wasn’t what I wanted-being displayed in front of a fucking pack of Lycans. I would have preferred eating breakfast alone in my room, but I knew I had to respect whatever traditions they practiced here. I hoped with all my heart that this would be the last time.
Ryder’s voice cut through the silence, his deep tones echoing off the walls.
“Good morning, everyone. I trust you’re all doing well.”
“I’m not going to waste your time with pointless formalities today,” he said, turning to face me. “I’ll briefly introduce the new face sitting beside me.”
Right. I was sure my face was showing my strong urge not to roll my eyes. He could just skip that part entirely and avoid formalities in general. I scoffed. What was he going to introduce me as? I could only wonder. I wasn’t even sure of my purpose. So far, he hadn’t touched me, so the idea of being his mistress wasn’t really a choice. If I was his slave, I still didn’t know. Or maybe a prisoner?
That was more like it.
“This is Jasmine, the newest addition to our pack,” he said with a small smile on his face, his eyes now staring ahead of me.
With a loud bang against the table that sent cutlery clattering, the room erupted into a chorus of greetings and congratulations, the pack members vying for our attention. I smiled and nodded, trying to keep up with the flurry of introductions and well-wishes while my mind performed its little circus, as countless thoughts flew through my brain.
Pack member? Not like it wasn’t relieving to find out I wasn’t a slave, but I still preferred my own pack. I was very satisfied with my dad’s pack.
Breakfast began, and I found myself struggling to keep up. My anxiety didn’t let me appreciate the fine cuisine, and I picked at my food. The pack members were a lively bunch, their conversations fast-paced and loud, always ending with a roar of laughter I was still trying to come to terms with. I laughed and smiled, answering a few questions, trying my best to fit in, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of being an outsider.
Ryder’s presence beside me was reassuring, his occasional glances and small nudges making me feel more at ease. But deep down, I knew I had a lot to prove before I truly belonged here. It was always that way in packs.
Putting on a small smile as I sent polite nods across the room, I could feel the corners of my lips twitching from exhaustion. I’d been smiling for God knows how long, and to top it off, I was the least excited to smile.
Ryder’s voice cut in, his tone firm.
“I expect you all to make her feel welcome and treat her with the same respect you show me, as she is my lady, and she will do the same.”
Without thinking twice, my head spun so fast that my bun was no longer neatly piled on my head-some of it had fallen down. My cheeks suddenly flushed pink. I didn’t see that coming, and blushing in front of heaven knows how many people was not my idea of fun. There were certainly more than twenty. The pack members began a fresh round of cheers and whistles, which sent me jerking, still getting used to it. Their enthusiasm was infectious, filled with testosterone. I found myself smiling shyly, wishing my hair had been let down; at least it would have hidden my face from their prying gazes.
If my little display was observed, I couldn’t really say, as their faces held serious expressions while they paid rapt attention to his commanding voice. I sat rigidly, lost for words. Hell, I couldn’t even meet his fucking gaze.
If I’d told anyone I was at peace during breakfast, I would have been a bloody liar. My mind had been a tornado of thoughts. Pacing back and forth in my room, I was waiting for Ryder to walk in, just like he always did. As it was, he had a lot of explaining to do. Not even that stupid smirk was going to stop me.
What did he mean by “lady”? I asked myself, trying to make sense of him using that term. Who was a lady to the Alpha? Or was it just a modest replacement for mistress? And if I was his lady, who was Isabel? Blubbering my lips, I slumped into my chair, gently dragging my hair away from my scalp.
My actions of despair stopped once I heard the door creak open. Even without looking up, I knew it was him. His cologne filled my nose as he inched closer, my heart skipping a beat as he walked in, his eyes locking onto mine.
Snapping my eyes open, I jumped from my seat.
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