Chapter 93
KASMINE.
Something was off.
June sat at the kitchen table, absentmindedly stirring the coffee in her cup, the spoon clinking against the ceramic in a slow, repetitive rhythm.
She wasn’t drinking it.
She was just staring into the dark liquid, lost in her own thoughts.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, leaning against the counter. “You don’t look happy.”
She sighed deep, heavy–before lifting the cup to her lips and taking a small sip. Then, slowly, she turned to face me.
“Kasmine…” She paused, looking at me.
gat
Something about how she looked at me made my stomach twist, and my palms feel suddenly too warm.
For a fleeting second, the worst possible thought crossed my mind.
Does she know what I and Kester did last night?
I swallowed, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral “Yes?”
She hesitated as if weighing her words. “Have you ever spoken to your brother about me? Even once?”
My stomach dropped, and that guilt I’d been trying so hard to bury came crawling back.
“I mean…” she continued, her fingers tightening around the cup. “After the last time we spoke?
I forced a quick nod. “Uhm… Yeah. Totally. I did.”
I fucking lied.
And I wasn’t even good at it
Since when did I become such a liar?
June studied me. Her gaze wasn’t just casual curiosity–it was searching, picking apart my words, my body language, and the slight twitch of my fingers on the counter.
Then she spoke again.
“Does he sleep in your room often?”
My heart jumped out of my mouth, and I watched it run out the door.
The breath in my lungs also vanished.
For a second, I forgot how to breathe.
The air in the kitchen suddenly felt too thick.
What was she implying?
Why did I feel like June knew something she shouldn’t?
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Selene abovel
My fingers clenched around the counter as I scrambled for answer.
Think, Kasmine. Think.
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“No. He doesn’t,” I said too quickly, too forced. “He… uh… shifted, one hand going to my waist, the other gripping the edge of the counter as I searched for the right words. “He does that when he’s angry… Just to have some space.”
June didn’t respond right away.
She just sat there, watching me. Not blinking or reacting. She was just processing
Damn
- it.
“He gets angry too easily and way too often, I guess.” she finally murmured, tilting her head slightly. “Because I’ve noticed he spends most of his nights in your room.”
Another pause.
“I just…” She inhaled deeply as if steadying herself.
My heart slammed against my ribs, pounding so hard I swore she could hear it.
This is bad.
Too bad.
If she continues this way, she’d find out about our secret affair before we know it.
“Kester is just like that, June,” I said quickly, forcing a small, reassuring smile. “You don’t have to worry about it. He’ll come around.”
She didn’t look convinced.
But she didn’t push further, either.
“Can I borrow your phone?” I asked, eager to change the subject.
Sure.” She handed it over to me.
I needed to text Jake.
By now, he was probably drowning in worry, trying to reach me on a phone that no longer existed
Guilt curled in my stomach. At this point, it had washed me clean–scrubbed me raw
1 knew his number by heart.
Fingers shaking slightly, I typed it into the messaging app
“Jake. It’s Kasmine. I’m sorry for not reaching out to you sooner. My brother found our secret phone and destroyed it. But I am fine and will be back in three days. Kisses.”
I hesitated for half a second before hitting send.
“Thanks, June.”
She didn’t say anything. Just nodded, her expression totally unreadable.
Chapter 93
The rest of the morning was… strange. Unsettling
+25 BONUS
Three times, I bumped into June. Three times, she acted off–like she was seeing me for the first time. Her smiles were stiff, her responses slower, her eyes holding something; that sent a ripple of discomfort down my spine.
She wasn’t looking like the sweet June 1 was used to.
Was she actually acting strange?
Or was I overthinking things?
Kester returned to his room early this morning and hasn’t been out since then. I didn’t want to bother him right now. He mentioned handling something work–related. Perhaps that’s what he was doing right now.
My mum kept calling me nonstop. I had to answer it.
I’ve been angry at her. This would be the first time she’s ever tried calling since I arrived in Maldives. I called twice, but she never answered, and neither did she return my calls.
I let it go to voicemail twice before finally rolling my eyes and answering.
I flopped onto the bed, pressing the phone to my ear.
“You finally remembered you have a daughter, huh?” I said making no effort to hide my disinterest.
“Darling!” she gasped dramatically, her voice dripping with warmth. “Don’t say that, baby. Mum has been so busy with pack matters.”
She sounded happier than I wanted her to be right now. Didn’t she feel the slightest ounce of guilt? Jeez
I clenched my jaw, staring at the ceiling. “Why are you calling?” I asked, wishing she’d go straight to the point. I already knew this wasn’t just a ‘checking in‘ call. Mom didn’t do those.
And judging by the bubbly lilt in her voice, she was too eager–too damn fake–for this to be anything casual. There was certainly something more.
“Come on, darling,” she chided, brushing right past my coldness like it didn’t exist. “I called to see how you’re doing. Tell me, baby. Are you fine? How’s your vacation going? Made any new friends yet?”
There it was.
That forced, syrupy sweetness.
My fingers tightened around the phone. I couldn’t help but notice how fake this was.
Mum was never interested in my personal life. Heck, she’s never even given me the usual lectures mothers give to their girl child–stay away from boys, else you’ll get pregnant.
I doubted she even knew who my closest friends were.
Sometimes, I am thankful for Kester’s persistence in keeping me away from boys. He played the role of a father, a mother, a savior, and a protector to me while growing up.
Alpha Kade had been doing a great job at parenting, too. And he’s been a good husband to my mother.
But Kester?
Kester wore the crown.
“Mrs. Jorja Kade,” 1 drawled, my voice thick with sarcasm. “Since when have you become so interested in my life?
Chapter 93
Well, if you must know, I am doing perfectly fine. Thanks for caring to ask… this once.”
I knew my words landed because, for a moment, she went lent.
Then, like flipping a switch, she bounced back.
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“I’m sorry, baby. One day, you’ll understand why things have been this way. It isn’t easy leading a pack,” she sighed dramatically, then added, “I am still Luna, at least until Kester finally marries June.”
The statement slammed into me like a blow to the ribs, even though it was a truth I knew.
I think I’d feel better just knowing than ‘hearing‘ someone talk about it..
No, Kasmine. You have no right to feel jealous… I kept repeating the mantra in my head. Kester wasn’t my mate. He was just a thrill. 9)
I forced a scoff. “Tell me about it,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as if she could see me, my fingers tightening around the necklace on my neck. A gift from Kester I had grown fond of
‘Anyway, I called to share some news with you,” she brushed off the topic as if it wasn’t important. And yes, it’s never been important to her.
“I knew it. Shoot.”
“Alpha Jaden is back in the country!” She sounded thrilled. Giddy, even.
I blinked at the ceiling.
Okay… and?
I had heard her and Alpha Kade mention him a few times inpassing.
Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. Twenty–six. Successful in the business world. Had an empire spread across the globe.
Wow.
I didn’t even realize I knew that much about him.
Guess that’s what happens when your parents practically worshipped a man like he was the Moon Goddess reincarnated.
“Are you there?” Mom’s voice snapped me back when I didn’t respond.
“Yeah, Mum. Well… welcome to him.” I said.
Definitely not the response she expected from me.
“We’ve set up a date for you two this weekend,” she announced, her tone breezy like she was discussing the weather. “Come to the packhouse as soon as you touch down from the Maldives.” She ordered, and I sat up so fast that the room spun.
Yes. It was an order. What else should I call it? Arranging a date for me and ordering me to be present for it?
I felt like laughing in her face. It had to be a joke.
“What the hell are you saying, mum? I’m not going on any date with anyone!” I let out an incredulous laugh, my brows pinching together in irritation.
“It’s not up for negotiation, darling. Stop trying to put up a fight,” she said, and before I could even as much as breathe, she dropped the call on me.
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I stared at the screen, fingers curled so tightly around my phone I thought it might crack.
Of course, she hung up.
Because that’s what she always did.
Dictate. Dismiss. Disconnect.
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KESTER.
One of the things that woke me up so early this morning was going to get a new phone. I felt empty.
Before even trying to unbox my new phone, I stepped into the bathroom, ran a hot shower, and doused myself in the kind of cologne that smelled like power–clean, expensive, and dominant.
No matter what was happening or how the world around me crumbled, I never skipped my morning routine. Looking and smelling like a man in control wasn’t just a habit. It was a standard.
I sat at the edge of the bed, unwrapping the phone I got. I think I need to start thinking about including the production of gadgets like phones and laptops in my company.
I mean… The demand for such gadgets is very high, too. My company focuses on servicing the needs of the high and mighty. How about we also service the needs of the upcoming generation? These young folks can’t go without social media. And what devices do they use for it?
There. I got my answer.
Influence was a currency I liked having in abundance.
I’ll call Ryhs and get him to start the necessary preparations for this new venture.
The phone pinged and came on. I didn’t hesitate to log into my accounts, and in less than a moment, everything was up and running, looking just like my old phone.
Within seconds, a flood of notifications poured in. Messages Emails. Business.
Fuck
I began to scroll through them one at a time.
Thirty–two out of forty–five messages from none other than my father–each one another useless sermon about. June, June, fucking June.
I exhaled sharply, resisting the urge to toss the phone across the room. This man had a way of repeating himself like a broken record, and if he thought nagging me into submission would work, he was dumber than I gave him credit for.
1 skimmed past his texts, irritation thick in my chest, and moved to the next notification.
Beta Lance.
And immediately, my hands froze. A wave of slow, burning anger curled inside me.
I shot up from my bed, my eyes scanning the text over and over again, almost as if re–reading it could change the information I was looking at.
Beta Lance: “Kester, there is a problem… Karina is back.”
