KASMINE.
It was finally happening.
My birthday!!!
The day I’d dreamt of since I was old enough to understand what it meant. The day I would shift for the first time, meet my wolf, and maybe—just maybe–feel the mate bond that would finally free me from the chains I’d never dared speak of since I turned 16 – my stepbrother.
But why, then, did my heart feel so heavy?
Why did it feel like today–my day–wasn’t mine at all?
I was supposed to be excited, giddy even. Months ago, I’d imagined this evening with a smile on my face and hope lighting up my
soul.
Instead, my chest ached. There was a tremble in my fingers that no one else could see.
Because stupid, naive me had gotten entangled. Entangled with the one person I should have run from so much so that today, which was meant to be my happy day, I’d feel sadder than a woman who just lost her mate. No. Not just lost him. Watched him die and had to keep breathing anyway.
“Oh, Selene! You already look breathtaking!” Claire shrieked behind me, shattering the veil of my thoughts.
I offered her a small smile in the mirror, my fingers tightening around the edge of the vanity as the maids fluttered around me, twisting my hair into a crown I no longer felt worthy to wear.
No matter how sad I felt, I was proud of the woman staring back at me from the mirror.
My gown slid over my skin like water. A long, black silhouette that hugged my curves before spilling down to the floor in waves of satin. It shimmered faintly under the chandelier’s light, catching on every edge like it was alive, like it knew it was meant to leave people breathless.
The neckline dipped just enough to tease, framed with delicate embroidery that almost looked like black vines, curling toward the hollow of my throat where my gold necklace sat.
That necklace never leaves my neck. Not even when I didn’t want to set eyes on the man who gave it to me.
Claire practically bounced behind me, still gushing. “God, I swear, if was a wolf, I’d mark you myself. You’re dangerous, Kasmine!”
I gave a dry laugh. She didn’t catch it, though. Claire never did when she was too hyped.
My eyes drifted back to the mirror. Smokey eyeshadow framed my gaze, making it darker than usual. Bold. Beautiful. I looked… like the woman everyone expected me to be tonight. Strong. Regal. Ready
But inside, I was slipping. Slowly and quietly.
As one of the maidjusted the clasp on the back of my gown, my thoughts slid where they had been trying to go all day.
Kester.
I hadn’t seen him since I got back from Claire’s house. The house fel empty. His intimidating presence was nowhere around the
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Chapter 250
house. I could have felt it.
For every time I walked around the house, running little errands no one asked me to run, my eyes had wandered, searching for that tall frame, those dangerous ees that always saw too much. But he was, honestly not here.
And no matter how badly I wanted to, I couldn’t bring myself to ask anyone where he was. Not Mum. Not Dad. Not Karina.
Because what the hell would I even say?
“Hey, where’s the man I tore to shreds with my words last night when he tried to see me?”
Yeah. No.
I swallowed hard, jaw tightening. My fingers toyed with the edge of the vanity now, nails tapping in a rhythm only anxiety could
create.
I had pushed him.
I cut him.
Told him to leave. To stay gone.
And hell, I hadn’t meant any of it.
It was easier to be cruel than to admit what I really felt. Easier to push him
stay.
S
Web Say than to let him see how badly I wanted him to
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Chapter Comments
Visitor
unknown number is definitely a female! June, Claire, or Katrina? And I think Jake is working with Alpha Kex !!!
Visitor
part of doesn’t like stories like this when people say hurtful things just to avoid how they really feel. At least Kester was honest
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