The mont Gareth’s cold gray eyes landed on us, Elliot let go of my arm as if burned. His spine straightened, shoulders back, and that smug, arrogant expression he always wore lted into sothing more polished, controlled, and respectful.
“Chairman Laken,” he greeted with forced calm, his voice just loud enough to sound confident but not draw attention.
Gareth didn’t respond.
His gaze remained locked on , then flicked briefly to where Elliot’s hand had been gripping just seconds before. His jaw tensed ever so slightly. Not a word ca from his mouth, but the ssage was loud and clear.
He didn’t like what he saw.
Elliot shifted beside , waiting, expecting a reply or even a nod. But Gareth didn’t even glance his way.
Instead, he raised one hand in a slow, deliberate motion and gestured for to follow him.
One silent command and my legs moved before I could think twice. I followed him, my every step echoing through the stunned silence of the club. His scent wrapped around my body like a second skin.
Behind , the crowd murmured in disbelief.
“Wait, is she—?”
“No way... is she with him?”
“Did she really get Gareth Laken’s attention?”
Elliot’s friends were whispering among themselves, confused and intrigued. But Elliot was silent. His jaw was clenched tight, his eyes never leaving my figure as I walked behind Gareth. I glimpsed at his face and spotted his barely concealed jealousy.
The thought that I might be wanted by soone more powerful than him was visibly eating him alive. Good. I held my head up high.
Gareth didn’t speak until we were clear of the crowd and halfway down the hallway away from the private suites. The door shut behind us with a soft click, muffling the noise.
Then he turned to . His expression was blank but I could feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, voice low.
I shook my head slowly. “No. Not really.”
His gaze dropped briefly to the hickey on my collarbone, still visible just above the edge of my collar. Sothing flickered in his eyes, but he didn’t comnt on it.
“Let’s go,” he said, walking toward the entrance.
“Where?”
He didn’t answer but I followed him anyway.
The car ride was way too quiet. I sat in the back seat beside Gareth, trying not to squirm. My outfit, the tight, short club uniform, still clung to , and I felt very exposed.
I kept my hands in my lap, fidgeting with the hem of my skirt. I didn’t know where to look. Sitting this close to him in silence made my skin crawl.
I cleared my throat, forcing myself to speak. “Thanks... for stepping in earlier.”
Gareth didn’t look at . He sat back, one arm resting along the top of the seat, the other on his knee, eyes focused on the window.
“I didn’t step in for you,” he said flatly. “You were disturbing my evening.”
The words hit harder than they should have. “Oh,” I said quietly.
I looked out the window, trying to mask the sting. Of course, he hadn’t co for . Why would he? He had been in the VIP section, tucked away from the chaos, probably surrounded by beautiful won, the kind who didn’t have to work in clubs for money. The kind he was used to. I wasn’t stupid. A man like him didn’t spend his ti rescuing girls like .
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I didn’t an to ss up your night. I’m sorry.”
He finally looked at . “Apology accepted. But don’t think that ans I approve of what you did.”
I frowned, heart beating faster. “What do you an?”
“You knew Elliot would be there,” he said, voice cool. “You knew his friends would be there too. And still, you walked in, dressed like that, knowing exactly what it would provoke.”
“I needed the job,” I snapped, turning toward him. “I didn’t go there to get Elliot’s attention. I went to make money.”
“But you still got his attention, didn’t you?” Gareth said, his voice low and sharp. “You stirred up trouble, made a scene, and now half the club thinks you’ve climbed into my bed.”
I sucked in a breath, anger and sha mixing in my chest. “I didn’t ask for any of that.”
“You didn’t have to,” he replied. “Intentions don’t matter when the consequences are this loud.”
Then his tone shifted and beca colder. “I don’t care who you argue with, Jasmine. But don’t cause problems for Elliot. And don’t drag my daughter into this ss. Isabella has nothing to do with what happened between you two, and I won’t let her get caught in the fallout.”
Words stuck in my throat. It would have been kinder if he had slapped .
“I didn’t an for any of this to happen,” I whispered. I should’ve left it at that. But anger flared up within at the unfair accusation.
“But...” I hesitated, then pushed forward. “If you really love your daughter and you want to protect her... as her father I believe you should take a closer look at the man she’s marrying. Elliot isn’t who you think he is.”
He turned his head slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly. The temperature in the car dropped, but I had to say my piece.
“He—he manipulates people,” I went on, my voice trembling as I recalled Elliot’s two-faced behavior. “He lies. He pretends to be perfect, but when no one’s looking... he changes. I know because I’ve Iived it.”
The air thickened with pressure, so sharp it felt like it could split skin. Gareth didn’t yell. He didn’t argue. He didn’t even blink. He just looked at , but his aura was overpowering.
I realized then—I had said too much. My mouth ran dry, and I imdiately hung my head, not daring to look him in the eye.
He was the Lycan King, the most powerful Alpha in this region. Questioning his judgnt, especially when it ca to his family, was nothing more than an insult to his capabilities as an Alpha and as a father. I wished I could rewind ti and swallow my words.
When the car finally rolled to a stop in front of my house, my heart was still thudding.
“Get out,” Gareth said, voice low and controlled.
I grabbed the door handle, my fingers trembling. I should be thankful that Gareth even sent ho, instead of dumping on the side of the road after my unintended insult.
But then he spoke again.
“Stay away from and my family. You are not welco in my presence.”
I froze, the words slicing through whatever scraps of hope I had left. My wolf whimpered at the explicit rejection.
I turned to him slowly, hoping that I had misheard. However, I could only see his side profile. He wasn’t looking in my direction. He was just staring straight ahead as though the very sight of disgusted him.
“I understand,” I said softly. My throat burned as I stepped out of the car. “Thank you for the ride back.”
As the taillights disappeared into the dark, I stood on the sidewalk, cold and alone.
The car moved smoothly through the dark streets, the city lights fading behind them. Gareth sat back in the leather seat, arms crossed, staring out the window, but not really seeing anything.
Jasmine’s scent still lingered in the air, warm, wild, laced with anger, and... sothing that made a ss of his senses.
Lawson, his Beta and longti driver, finally broke the silence. “You were a bit hard on her back there.”
Gareth grunted. Lawson glanced at him through the mirror and continued, “That’s the most interested I’ve seen you in a woman since—
“Don’t,” Gareth interrupted sharply.
“I’m just saying. Twenty years is a long ti to keep your heart buried.”
Gareth sighed, jaw tight. “She’s not for .”
“You sure about that?” Lawson asked. “You nearly tore your future son-in-law apart with your eyes because of her.”
Gareth’s hands clenched into fists in his lap. “She’s my daughter’s age. She’s too reckless, stubborn, overly emotional.”
“And brave,” Lawson added. “That girl’s fighting for her family with nothing but scraps. It makes want to root for her.”
Gareth muttered. “She’s causing trouble everywhere I go.”
Lawson gave a dry laugh. “Right. And you just happened to step in and walk her out like so silent hero.”
Gareth didn’t respond because deep down, he knew the truth.
Then that old, buried heat rose in his chest. Restless and hungry. It needed, desired and wanted only one thing now—
Her.
Jasmine didn’t flinch like the others. She stood tall, t his eyes, and wasn’t afraid to confront him even with his position as the Lycan Chairman. That only made the pull stronger.
He clenched his jaw, trying to push it down. ‘Not her. This isn’t happening.’
But his wolf wouldn’t settle. It had been silent for years—now it was wide awake.
He leaned his head back, eyes shut. He’d told her to stay away.
But the truth was... he didn’t know what would hurt more.
Her staying—or her actually leaving.
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