?Chapter 82:

Ryder stayed calm, his expression unreadable. “Then we’ll make it work.”

A thousand thoughts swirled in my head. I wasn’t ready for a child. Hell, I wasn’t even sure where I stood with Ryder. Were we just physical, or was there something deeper? And God, what if Isabelle got involved? The idea of her being anywhere near my child made me sick to my stomach.

“I need to use the bathroom,” I muttered, desperate to escape the overwhelming thoughts.

I made my way to the sink and stared at my reflection. My eyes looked brighter, more alive than they had in years. My hair was a wild mess, and the red marks around my neck were a stark reminder ofst night’s passion. I quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth before steeling myself to face him again.

When I opened the door, Ryder was sitting up, watching me closely. His intense gaze followed every move I made, a small smile ying at the corners of his lips.

“I need to take something,” I said firmly, crossing my arms.

His smile faded, reced by a frown. “What do you need, Jasmine?”

I met his gaze without flinching. “The morning-after pill. I’m not ready for a kid, Ryder. And let’s be honest, we weren’t exactly carefulst night.”

His expression darkened. “If you’re pregnant… you should keep it.” His voice was low, firm, and carried an edge ofmand.

My eyes widened in shock. Was he serious? Was this some kind of trick to tie me to him forever?

“No,” I snapped, my voice rising. “I didn’t sign up for that.”

Ryder’s eyes flickered with anger, the blue in them darkening. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I crossed my arms tighter, standing my ground. “You want me to be your breeder? Is that what this is? You kidnapped me, and now I’m supposed to carry your child?”

His face hardened, an unreadable expression crossing it. “That’s not fair, Jasmine,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Fair?” Iughed bitterly. “You’ve never been fair with me, Ryder. Every day, it’s something new, something more ridiculous.”

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Ryder stood, his movements slow and controlled. “I never wanted to hurt you,” he said, his voice still quiet.

“Save it,” I shot back coldly, turning my back on him. My biggest regret? Letting him into my bed.

I heard his sharp intake of breath, but I didn’t care. The damage was done.

“Fine,” he muttered tersely. “But make sure you’re sure about what you want.”

And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, hollow and conflicted.

Why do I always choose the wrong men?

JASMINE

I paced back and forth in my room, my mind racing with thoughts of him. Ryder. The man who had unknowingly turned my world upside down. And now he wanted a baby?

“Pissed” didn’t even begin to describe how I felt; it was the understatement of the century. Infuriated and confused—that was more like it.

Halting in my steps, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My eyes looked darker than usual, with a spark of anger beneath them, causing them to shimmer. My lips stretched into a thin line, and a hard line shaped my jaw.

Damn it, why did I feel like I’d lost myself in all this chaos? The thought of having his baby… it sent a rush of excitement through me as I bit my lips. A younger version of Ryder, with those ocean eyes I could stare into all day. It excited me, made my stomach flip, but then I didn’t want to be a mother—not like this. Not as Ryder’s mistress and breeder.

No, I wanted to be his wife, his partner—anything but this. This was even worse than being Jason’s mate. I didn’t want to be some wolfless werewolf mistress of a Lycan Alpha.

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