?Chapter 116:

“This is the most self-righteous bullshit I’ve—” Ace began his rant, the sharp edge of his tone grating against my ears.

“I need space, Ace,” I cut in, my tone firm. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, considering the damage control I did for you after ourst date,” I hissed.

He must have sensed I wasn’t exactly in the best mood with him since he went quiet.

Tomorrow couldn’te soon enough.

But then, like a whispered secret, her voice drifted into my mind. My eyes widened. It was like sunshine on a rainy day—refreshing. It was at that moment that I realized I didn’t just like her; I needed her around me.

Ace growled, a loud, happy one, a bubble of excitement wrapped around his voice. The corners of my lips tilted a bit, and I had to stop myself from smiling when I listened closely.

“Jasmine, what’s wrong?” I snapped. A silence followed my question, and my heart tightened in my chest. I leaned forward, ignoring the stares of the others.

“…help… me…”

It was a small, helpless cry.

Something was off. Her voice sounded… weak.

Ace’s growl turned urgent, rm etched deeply in it. He sensed it too. I sprang up, my chair scraping against the floor.

“Excuse me,” I muttered, already turning to leave. Without much of a goodbye, I picked up my suit jacket and headed for the door.

Alpha Kennedy’s eyes followed mine, a concerned expression meeting mine. “Ryder, what’s wrong?”

I didn’t respond. Instead, I mind-linked Kade.

“We need to leave. Now.”

Kade’s response was instant. “What’s happening, Ryder?”

Find your favorite stories at g ? ln σ ν?? ??s., conn

“Jasmine. She’s in trouble.”

I didn’t wait for Kade’s reply. I strode out of the conference room.

“Wait up!” Kade hollered as I walked past him before getting into the elevator.

I ignored him, my focus fixed on Jasmine’s fragile voice. He was quick to get in with me before the doors closed. I could feel his eyes on me, but Kade knew me well enough not to ask any questions.

Outside, the cool evening air did little to calm my racing heart. I quickened my pace, Kade matching my stride.

With a curt nod, Kade swung into action. “Let’s move out.”

The world narrowed to a single goal: reaching Jasmine’s side.

I burst into Jasmine’s hospital room, my heart racing like a runaway train. My eyes were bloodshot, and my arms hung stiff by my sides, my nostrils ring wildly as green veins spread across my arms and neck. The scent of Wolfsbane hit me like a punch to the gut, bitter and pungent, its chemical stench making me crinkle my nose.

No, no, no. The words rang in my ears as my eyes fixed on Jasmine’s limp form. Her face was pale, her once full and rosy lips now ashy, drained of color, and her breathing shallow.

The pack doctor, Dr. Lee, worked quickly, injecting her with a counteragent. I recognized the determined look on his face, but it did little to calm my rage. Damn it, I was still furious. Who dared poison her with Wolfsbane?

Whoever it was had just made themselves a threat to me, to the pack.

Ace’s anger surpassed mine. His growl was guttural, primal, an echo that shed in my head, a sound like the thunderbolt of a storm. Guilt seeped in slowly. How could I not protect her? She was still half-human, her wolf undeveloped, vulnerable. I had left her unprotected, exposed to the dangers of my world.

.

.

.