?Chapter 71:

JASMINE

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I gritted my teeth, my eyes locked on his figure leaning against the tree. How had he even found me?

“Ryder? What the hell was he doing here?” There he was, leaning against one of the pine trees, a smirk on his face… my clothes in his hands, shamelessly staring at my naked body, his eyes greedily taking in every inch of me. Suddenly aware of his gaze, my hands flew to cover my breasts and the middle of my legs. With backward movements, I retreated further into the deeper part of the stream.

“Bring me my clothes!” I shouted, far from him.

Ryder’s gaze narrowed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Come out and get them,” he hollered, a small smile tugging at his lips.

I stepped forward, water dripping from my body. “And why the hell would I do that?” I snapped, my patience wearing thin.

“Step out, Jasmine.” Onemand. His voice was razor-sharp, an unyielding decree etched into stone. It was a short sentence, but the way his voice dropped into that Alpha tone made my skin tingle.

My core clenched, a shiver running down my spine, but I rolled my eyes. He was being insufferable. He was used to using that tone and getting his way, but not with me this time around.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest. Ryder’s expression remained unyielding, his eyes glinting with challenge. “Don’t make me repeat myself, Jasmine.”

A deep surge of defiance filled me. I purposely chose to disobey him—it felt like some smallpensation for the disturbance he’d caused. He had no right to invade my sanctuary, not after everything. I had left the pack house to escape him, and now he was here, ruining the one ce where I’d found peace of mind.

If he thought his tone would scare me out of this water, he was wrong. He could go to hell, along with his stupid authoritative voice.

“You’re not my Alpha here,” I spat, my voice firm. “And even if you were, I wouldn’t obey you.”

Ryder’s eyes shed with anger, his jaw clenching and unclenching before he rolled his tongue against his teeth. For a moment, I thought he might storm into the water.

Water and drag me out. But instead, he spoke, his voice dripping with menace. “We’ll see about that.”

A shiver ran down my spine, but I stood my ground. I wouldn’t back down, not now. Besides, I was naked, thanks to him. His illogical manner was bing harder to ignore.

“Leave my clothes and leave me alone,” I said, my voice steady. I’d spent hours in the stream, and now all I wanted was to get out of it.

“Get. Out.” If his first two orders had made me shiver in fear, this one made me cower in terror. I knew he wasn’t going to ask me a fourth time. No, that wasn’t Ryder’s style; he was going to act.

I red at Ryder, my eyes zing with defiance. “No,” I said, the word hanging in the air like a challenge. He could go ahead and do his worst.

Shock spread across his face, his eyebrows arching in surprise, his lips pursed into a deep frown, the green veins along his neck standing out against his bronze skin. For a moment, I wondered if I’d crossed a line, if I’d pushed him too far.

“This is thest time I’ll say it, Jasmine,” Ryder warned, his voice low and even. “Get out of the water.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, my heart pounding wildly. It felt like the walls of my chest would tear any moment.

“I’m not stepping out naked for your perverted self to look at me,” and I meant it.

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