I barely had ti to take off my shoes before my mom stood from the couch, her eyes blazing.
“I can’t believe you, Jasmine,” she snapped, voice trembling with anger.
I blinked, stunned. “What... what did I do?”
“You know exactly what you did,” she hissed. “Going around seducing the Lycan King like that. Throwing yourself at him to save your father? I didn’t raise you to be that kind of girl.”
I stared at her, mouth falling open. “Wait—what?”
“I just spoke with Elliot,” she said, folding her arms like she had just won so imaginary argunt. “He told everything. He said Gareth Laken took you out on so fancy date after you begged him to help your father.”
My heart dropped. “He said what?”
“He’s worried sick about you,” she went on, ignoring . “He said you’re acting out, making reckless decisions, getting involved with powerful n who could destroy you.”
My fists clenched at my sides. “He’s lying.”
Mom scoffed. “Why would he lie, Jasmine? He loves you.”
“No, Mom. He doesn’t.” I looked her in the eye. “He wants to quit university and beco his mistress. That’s what he offered .”
She paused, stunned for a second—but not long enough.
“Well... maybe that’s not the worst thing,” she said slowly, like she was testing the words.
I blinked again. “Excuse ?”
“Jasmine, he’s your fated mate. That bond ans sothing,” she said, stepping closer like she could make this make sense. “He’ll take care of you. Protect you. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “So I should just give up everything I’ve worked for? Let him control like a puppet because he ‘might’ protect ? Mom, are you listening to yourself?”
“You’re not thinking clearly. Elliot has been by your side for years. You used to tell how much he supported your dreams.” She countered.
“Yeah,” I snapped. “Until he crushed them.”
She flinched but didn’t back down. “Gareth Laken doesn’t care about you, Jasmine. He’s an old powerful man that plays with young won for fun. I’ve t plenty of n like them when I was younger. You’re just a distraction to him.”
“And Elliot?” I asked, my voice cold. “What am I to him? A toy he wants to keep hidden?”
“You’re his mate.”
“And that excuses everything?”
“You’re being selfish, Jasmine,” my mom said, exasperated, “Elliot’s trying to help our family. You’re just pushing him away for no good reason.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was my mother possessed?
“He’s offering you a way out,” she insisted. “You can still go to online school if you really want to finish your degree. But at least this way, you get to be with your mate. You’ll be cared for.”
Cared for? Is that what she thought this was?
Elliot stepped closer, like he had just been waiting for his cue. “Jasmine, I offered this because I know how hard school’s been for you. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You struggled just to get by.”
I stiffened.
He continued, voice soft and coaxing, like he was doing a favor. “Rember? You couldn’t write an essay without panicking. You’d forget half the words. It wasn’t your fault, but it made everything harder. I used to stay up late helping you. Don’t be stubborn - you’re letting your pride ruin what’s good for you.”
“I worked twice as hard just to keep up,” I went on, voice shaking. “I studied when everyone else was partying. I cried over pages that made no sense until I figured them out. I fought for my place.”
“I know,” he said with a shrug. “But it doesn’t have to be this hard anymore. If you quit, you won’t have to deal with that pressure. You’ll learn at your own pace, from ho. You’ll have .”
“You an I’ll have nothing,” I snapped. “No goals, no future, no degree. Just you—hiding while you marry soone else.”
He frowned. “It’s not like that.”
“Isn’t it?” I bit out. “You want to give up everything I fought for because it’s more convenient for you?”
“Don’t twist this, Jasmine. You’re not being fair.”
I laughed bitterly. “And you think you are?”
He turned to my mom like she’d back him up again, but I’d had enough. My blood was boiling. I stord upstairs, needing to get away before I exploded.
But of course, Elliot followed. I heard his quick goodbye to my mother before his footsteps echoed behind .
I slamd my bedroom door shut, but he pushed it open a second later.
“You don’t get to run away from this,” he said nacingly, closing the door behind him.
“I’m not running,” I snapped. “I’m done talking.”
His jaw tightened. “You don’t have to fight anymore.”
“Yes, I do!” I yelled. “Because people like you don’t stop unless I make you!”
He reached for , but I backed away.
“You don’t get to decide what’s best for ,” I whispered. “You already took enough from .”
Elliot’s face darkened. His voice dropped low. “You’re mine, Jasmine. You always will be.”
“No,” I whispered. “Not anymore.”
Elliot’s gaze landed on the coat draped carelessly over the side of my wardrobe—Gareth’s coat. I hadn’t even realized I left it there.
He marched over, yanked it off the hanger, sniffed it, and threw it on the floor like it burned him. “So it’s true,” he spat. “You’re screwing him now.”
My stomach twisted, but I stood my ground. “That’s none of your business.”
He took a step closer, voice dropping. “You think a few fucks will buy your daddy’s freedom?”
I flinched. The words hit like a slap.
“Shut up, Elliot.”
“No. You shut up.” His jaw tightened. “You think I don’t know about you crawling into Gareth’s office like a desperate little thing? Are you seriously playing the charity case card now? That’s pathetic, even for you.”
I felt heat rush to my face—sha, rage, all tangled up. “You don’t get to talk to like that.”
He laughed bitterly. “I own the right, Jasmine. I wasted years of my life being loyal to you. I made you. And this is how you pay back?”
“You were never loyal. You just liked having control,” I snapped. “Now get the hell out.”
Elliot’s eyes narrowed. “You think he’s better than ? That Gareth Laken, with his money and power, actually sees you? You’re a broken little girl, Jasmine. He’ll toss you aside like trash once he’s bored.”
I didn’t care anymore. I shoved him hard in the chest. “Get. Out.”
Big mistake.
His hand shot out and grabbed my arm, yanking into him with a force that knocked the breath out of .
“You don’t get to push ,” he hissed.
“Let go of !” I struggled against him, but he was stronger, holding in place like I was nothing.
And then—he kissed .
Furious, punishing, lips crashing against mine like a war. There was no warmth. No care. Just anger. Just his bruising needs to prove sothing.
I twisted, trying to break free, but he gripped the back of my neck, fingers digging in.
“I should remind you what it felt like to be mine,” he growled against my mouth.
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