He grinned. “Of course, I know the story of the adopted Jasmine Thane who was mated to Jason Thane but was rejected because she’s wolfless.”
Anger welled up inside me as he recounted my misfortune. How dare he? No one, no one, had ever made me this furious. I gritted my teeth. One minute, I was trying to hold myself back from retaliating; the next, I heard a voice inside my head.
“We can’t spare this, Jasmine. Give him a taste!” the voice whispered in my ear. My fist connected with his jaw, and my hands grabbed his neck. My eyes were seething red now, and then fangs appeared from nowhere as I sank them deep into his flesh.
Realization suddenly dawned on me as I realized he was hurting. I stopped, taking a step backward.
Did I really do this? Wait, what had happened? Staring at my claws, I was stunned. The claws I could understand, but the fangs?
“Seems someone finally has a visible wolf,” his voice sneered, as if he were reading my thoughts.
Wait, what? I have a wolf? I knew I had one, but she had always been silent with me. Whatever it was about this guy had just sparked a reaction from her.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to him, even though I knew he deserved it. But I shouldn’t have gone so rough on him.
Besides, I have a wolf. Happiness coursed through me. I couldn’t thank him enough for making me realize that.
One minute, I was standing an inch away from him, and the next, I pulled him into a hug.
“Thank you so much,” I said, holding him tightly. My head rested on his shoulder.
The erratic beating of his chest made it feel like home. I had just met this stranger, yet I felt like I’d known him my whole life. He felt like my haven.
“Jason is an asshole to reject such a sweet vixen like you,” he growled, his hands roaming freely through my hair.
“I’m Jasmine, not a vixen,” I corrected. Was I still in his embrace?
“Jasmine?!” That familiar voice made us spring apart.
Ruby held a glass of wine and was staring disbelievingly at us.
I coughed, my cheeks flaring red. “It’s not what you think, Ruby,” I said, hoping to wipe that nasty look off her face.
The tall, sturdy figure dipped his hands into his pockets. “Yeah, not like we banged,” he winked at Ruby.
Gross! Was he really such a flirt? He walked to the end of the garden and then turned. “See you in there, Vixen!” A smile spread across his face, and this time, it was genuine.
“Holy cow! How on earth did you get the Lycan King to notice you?” Ruby rushed to where I stood.
My eyes widened. “What do you mean, Lycan King?” I queried. I wanted to be sure. Of course, I was right. His broad frame could pass for a Lycan. Why didn’t I notice?
“Do you mean the Crescent Pack?” This time, my voice was pitched high.
“Of course, your parents invited them to the engagement party.”
If that was the case, I was definitely going back in there-not because of anybody else, though.
“Let’s go. I guess I missed the part already.”
The loud blaring music and people dancing filled the air. It was just Ruby and me dancing now. At least I had come down here to enjoy myself. I wouldn’t let my stupid crush on Jason ruin that.
“Hey, Sissy. You came back without saying hi?”
I felt my heart catch in my throat at the familiar voice. He sounded different. He had always sounded grumpy, mean, and rude, but now, he sounded nice and soft.
“Uh… I’ll excuse you,” Ruby took the cue, grabbing a glass of wine from the waitress before walking away.
“Uh… Hi, Jason,” my voice stuttered, my heart beating frantically. Of course, how could I miss the fact that I once had a very major, stupid crush on him?
“You’re looking stunning tonight.” I could feel his gaze on my body. A few years ago, I would have felt adrenaline coursing through me if Jason, of all people, could stare at me like that. But now, I found it insulting.
“Thank you,” I said bluntly. He was nothing but a pervert.
“Hi, Vixen, you promised me this dance, remember?” That familiar voice spoke from behind. I turned, his eyes glinting, his hand stretched forward as he asked for mine.
Then I turned to Jason, whose hand immediately grabbed mine. “She’s dancing with me!” Jason’s voice objected.
I stood between the two of them, confused.
Jason’s grip on me tightened; Ryder’s gaze was fixed on me, and he didn’t look like he was backing down anytime soon.
Ryder’s gaze hardened; his eyes were stormy, piercing, and intense as he glared at Jason.
Jason, on his part, wasn’t yielding. What on earth was happening? I couldn’t say a word; it was like I was in a trance.
“Look who’s back, Wolfless Jasmine.” Stephanie’s voice made them divert their gaze. She was flaunting her ring in my face.
I scoffed. “Happy engagement to my grumpy brother. You both suit each other.” With a stern glare, I removed my hands from Jason.
“Jasmine, wait!” Frustration flickered in his eyes as he called after me. A pang of guilt crossed his face. I could swear I saw that.
“How about that dance, Ryder?” I offered my hand to Ryder, and he brushed it with his lips, wrapping his arms around my tiny waist as he pulled me to the dance floor.
I could feel Jason’s intense gaze on us, but I didn’t care. He rejected me, humiliated me, and never once showed me love.
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