?Chapter 62:

I leaned against Kade, about to whisper an order to him when a loud voice interrupted me. In the center of the hall was Isabelle, her hand raised, or rather, lifting Jasmine’s high in the air.

“Everyone, please, a round of apuse as I introduce to my fellow Lycans the Alpha’s… temporarydy!” she announced, a wide, victorious smile on her face. The room erupted into ripples of loudughter, the word “temporary” hanging in the air like a bad joke.

Shit. I shouldn’t have let her call Jasmine. It wasn’t likely that Isabelle did anything nice—ever. Everything with her had an ulterior motive. I could feel my chest thumping wildly, a strong grip of emotion threatening to spill out, choking my words and stirring Ace.

She’d just crossed thest line, insulting mydy in front of all the dignitaries in the pack, belittling Jasmine just because she was mydy and I’d dumped her. Jasmine gathered the train of her dress and was heading toward the exit, her steps quick and her back stiff. I had to run.

“Vixen,” I whispered softly. Even though I was a good distance away, I knew she would hear me—we had a bond, after all. Slowly, she turned around, her eyes pink and ssy as she stared at me.

I picked up my pace, relieved to see she’d paused. Jasmine’s eyes were seething with anger—at Isabelle, at me, at everyone. She didn’t have to say a word for me to understand her ordeal.

I reached for her hand, sping my fingers between hers. Her palms, soft and warm, epted mine readily. One victory, one more to go.

I led her through the now-quiet hall while she trailed almost behind me. When we got to the center, I stopped. Over a hundred eyes stared wide-eyed at us. I didn’t have to ask them to know they had my exact thoughts on their minds. What was the Alpha about to do?

“Pack members,” I announced, my voice booming through the hall. “I present to you mydy, Jasmine. Anyone who goes against her goes against my authority as the Alpha of this pack. I herebymand your respect and apology for the disrespect shown to her. Bow to greet her.”

The room fell into an abrupt silence. The crowd was stunned by my deration. Jasmine’s mouth hung open as she gaped. Instead of the ssy eyes that shone with unspoken tears, this time it was a tearful eye that shone with gratitude and awe as she looked at me.

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The apologies from the crowd came in a uniform chorus, their backs leveling into an even bow. Her muscles rxed instantly, and she stared speechlessly at the disy.

I woke up disoriented, Ryder’s scent lingering in the air and on my bed. When had he returned? Thest thing I distinctly remembered was kicking the door shut before copsing onto the bed. Then it dawned on me—of course, it was his house. He probably owned a spare key.

My eyes darted across the room. There was no trace of him. I wondered if I’d imagined his presence beside me. Did he actually sleep next to me, or was it just a dream? I let out an exhausted sigh, rubbed my sleepy eyes, tossed off the covers, and stood up, my mind racing with questions.

As though he’d been waiting for me, the bathroom door swung open, and Ryder emerged. My heart stopped beating for a moment, and I could swear dozens of butterflies began to swim in my stomach, a queasy feeling gripping me. A long ck towel was wrapped around his waist, his well-toned abs visible on his tanned torso, his waistline narrow yet defined, leaving me breathless. By the moon goddess! I was staring at the god Adonis himself!

Droplets of water glistened on his skin, and for a moment, he looked like a male model on the cover of a fashion magazine. I curled my fingers, fighting the tempting urge to run my fingers—or perhaps my tongue—over every inch of him. What the hell was I thinking?

My gaze drifted a bit lower, and I gulped. Damn it! I cursed at myself. Every ounce of self-control was vanishing. Lifting my eyes to face him, I was met with damp strands of ck, tousled hair falling across his face, giving him a boyish, charming look. Hisshes, thick and dark, were so enticing… Ryder’s chuckle pulled me out of my thoughts, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“That’s enough—you can stop drooling,” he said, his deep voiceced with mischief as he waved a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Jasmine?”

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