?Chapter 85:

My stomach did a happy flip as soon as the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon hit my nose. I weed it with a deep inhale. Maverick, the pack’s gamma, twirled his spoon, his eyes fixed on Ryder as he delivered the morning’s pack affairs report.

“…and the eastern border patrol reported no signs of intruders,” Maverick concluded.

Ryder nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Good work, Maverick.”

Just then, Maverick’s face broke into a wide smile. “Alpha, I have some personal news to share.”

Ryder’s eyes sparkled with interest as he leaned back in his seat, his chin tilted up. “Go on.”

Maverick took a deep breath. “My wife is expecting. We’re having a child.”

The room erupted into congrattory cheers and well-wishes. Ryder’s face lit up with a warm smile, a rare sight as he raised his coffee mug in a toast. A fresh roar ofughter erupted, and I chuckled silently.

“Maverick, you’re a lucky man,” Ryder said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. “Not all females would be willing to carry a child. You should treat her like an egg—precious and fragile.”

A murmur of agreement filled the room. If I didn’t know Ryder well enough, I might have pped at his statement, but I knew the diss was aimed at me.

My blood boiled at his words. The shade was unmistakable, directed squarely at me. I felt a sting, as if he’d pped me.

“Congrattions, Maverick!” I forced out, trying to keep my tone light. Maverick beamed brightly. Boy, did he look adorable, so oblivious to the tension.

“Thanks, mydy.”

Ryder’s gaze flicked to me, his eyes sparkling with amusement, a small smirk twitching at the corners of his lips as if daring me to react. I forced a smile, extending my congrattions to Maverick and his expecting wife.

“Send her my best wishes too. You made the right choice keeping her as your wife, not some… breeder, mistress, ordy,” I said sweetly, a wide smile on my lips, but the underlying venom wasn’t lost on anyone.

Unlike Ryder’s jab, mine was sharp and direct. Coated with sweetness butced with spite.

The room fell silent, like a held breath. Ryder’s gaze snapped to mine, his eyes narrowing into slits. I met his stare and tipped my chin up, a proud disy even though my heart was pounding in defiance. Maverick’s smile slowly faltered, a nervous look clouding his features, his eyes darting between Ryder and me.

“Uh, thank you, mydy.”

Isabelle intervened, her voice light and cheerful to everyone but me. I couldn’t miss the sneer in her voice.

“Congrattions, Maverick, and your wife too! Let’s all return to our meals before they get cold.” She emphasized “cold” before sending me an icy re.

The tension lingered, but the others obediently resumed eating.

Ryder’s gaze never left mine, his expression darkening.

Jasmine’s POV

Breakfast was finally over, much to my relief, but the tasteless meal still lingered in my mouth. I hadn’t had much of an appetite, not with Isabelle’s angry res on me throughout the meal. Ryder, seated at the head of the table, remained silent, his expression unreadable. One word: trouble.

I pushed my empty te away. That was the only thing that kept me busy in the meantime, so despite myck of appetite, I still cleared my te.

God! This pack felt like trying to wriggle into a tight dress that covered your face—suffocating and tiring. Without Ruby’s bubbly presence, every day felt like a freaking chore—same shit, different day. And thest person I wanted to talk to was Ryder, whose brooding silence only made me more uneasy.

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