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 to 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, naïve 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 I 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 maids adjusted the clasp on the back of my own, my thoughts slid where they had been tryin
to go
all day.
Kester.
1 hadn’t seen him since I got back from Claire’s house. The house felt empty. His intimidating presence was nowhere around the house. I could have felt in
For every time I walked around the house, running little errands s no one asked me to run, my eyes had wandard
+35 BONUS
searching for that tall frame, those dangerous eyes 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 right 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 away than to let him see how badly I wanted him to stay.
I heard a soft knock on my door. One of the guards, probably sent to let me know it was time.
Claire perked up. “That’s our cue, birthday girl! The moon won’t wait!”
She reached for my hand, grinning like this was the beginning of a fairytale.
The hall was a sea of elegance–velvet drapes, floating candles, gold–rimmed everything Dignitaries, nobles, visiting Alphas, Betas, and Lunas–all dressed to the teeth–littered the place like it was some royal gala. Music floated from a live quartet in the corner, spicy food, expensive wine, forced laughter…
Murn had done a perfect job setting it all up. I’d give her that. The whole thing looked like it belonged in one of those glossy magazines.
And somehow, in all that perfection, I felt like the ugliest mistake in the room.
She hurried to me, and within seconds, I was being paraded like a prized auction item, introducing me to so many guests I had no idea who they were. All the while, she wore her perfect smile–the kind that said look at us, we’re
a power family. Nothing’s broken here.
still
Not even the fact that her supposed soon–to–be son–in–law was currently behind bars, facing accusations serious enough to stain bloodlines.
And with this, I realized something cold:
People move on fast. God forbid you’re the one bleeding because no one sticks around long enough to mop up the mess. Just try not to be on the other end of the table because, in a minute, they’ll move on and leave you behind.
“Put a smile on that face of yours, Kasmine!” she snapped under her breath as she nudged me toward a young Alpha who looked barely older than me. “I put in a lot of effort to make this happen. The least you can do is smile.” I smiled. But only with my lips. My eyes stayed dead.
She was treating me like I was already on some shelf. Like was rotting, and she needed to marry me off before the stench hit the wrong nose. Sometimes, I wondered if she even remembered that I was just twenty–one. Still figuring myself out. Still hurting Still making mistakes.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 130
But no–around here, emotions are luxuries. Appearances? Those are oxygen.
The night dragged on slowly.
A stupidly oversized cake I barely touched.
More dances than I had the patience for, half of them with men who smelled like power and polished shoes.
The gifts piled up like I was some war heroine. Probably enough to start a gift shop if I ever decided to disappear from this life and go rogue.
My phone beeped.
Thankfully, the event was slowly dragging to an end.
I brought out my phone, and my heart fluttered with a stupid flicker of hope that made me hate myself. Please, let it be Kester.
Because I still couldn’t believe he’d miss my birthday for anything in the world. But who would blame him? At least his fiancée was here. I’d seen her earlier, flitting around in a glittery lilac dress, playing the perfect socialite, making sure the guests were drinking, dancing, and having maximum fun.
At least they weren’t together.
I swiped the phone open, and, God, I almost lost my breath
It was a text from the same unknown sender from yesterday.
And this time, the message punched the air right out of my lungs.
I read it once.
Then again.
Then again, as if the words would change the more I stared
“Maybe you’ll finally get your mate tonight so you can stay the fuck away from your stepbrother, you worthless sinner. Can’t wait to tell the whole world who you truly are
Chapter 140
+25 BONUS
Chapter 140
