Chapter 227

Chapter 227:

“Don’t look so surprised, Jas,” Jason smirked at me, and I felt my stomach twist. To think that smile had left me obsessed with him for years was enough to make me want to puke.

“Did you think I’d let you get away that easy? Did you think that just because you were under Ryder’s protection I couldn’t reach you? Now you’ve realized your irreversible mistake. I hope you see how foolish you were to abandon me for Ryder,” Jason said, moving around me in a circle. His words vibrated in the empty room, taunting me and fueling my anger.

“We would have made a perfect couple. Everyone would have been happy—mom, dad, me, and even you. But you turned your back on me, on the pack, and most importantly, your family, to screw that arsehole,” the bitterness in his voice was unmistakable, and he didn’t even try to mask it.

The smirk on his face was replaced with a reminiscent look, and I knew his thoughts were far off. He was probably imagining the happy family we could have been.

“Since you’re going to rattle on about how you’re the victim, I’d love to make a few corrections. First, I was your mate, obsessed with you, and you rejected me for your fiancé. You can go on with your pathetic tale,” I corrected him.

He’d successfully made himself out to be the victim—how iconic. We hadn’t even gotten to the part where everyone in the pack ridiculed me and bullied me because of him.

“I was doing you a big favor. Maybe you can take a minute to get off your high horse and see things from my perspective,” Jason hissed, sending me a cold stare. I rolled my eyes in response and scoffed; he’d already done his worst.

“You were a pathetic excuse for a human being. No one in their right mind would want a wolfless Luna. Hasn’t being a Luna taught you anything?” I shot back.

Years ago, his words would have stung, but not anymore.

“And Ryder isn’t in his right senses? I’m assuming you haven’t heard we’re married.” Our eyes locked, and a slow grin softened his sharp features as he leaned closer.

“You’re more of an idiot, maybe even dumber than you were a few months ago. Let’s have a flashback,” Jason clapped his hands excitedly. “Don’t lie to yourself this much; you sound naive. You know you would’ve been his lady all your life if you hadn’t gotten your wolf, and he knew he was your second-chance mate. Don’t look so angry now,” he teased before breaking into a dry chuckle.

gⱯ𝗅𝗇0ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝗈𝗺´ 𝘾𝒽𝓮𝒸𝓀 𝒶𝓾𝓉𝒽 𝓬𝓸𝓹𝓎

I stayed quiet, the truth of his words weighing on my spirit like a rock at the bottom of the sea. There was truth in his words.

JASMINE’S POV

Jason smirked down at me, his face twisted into a smug expression of satisfaction. My heart pounded in my chest, a primal rhythm of both rage and dread. But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing fear on my face. No way in hell.

“You’re making a big mistake, Jason,” I said, my voice low and laced with venom. “Ryder isn’t going to let this slide. You think you’re clever? He’s probably already tearing through whatever pathetic defenses you’ve set up. And when he finds you, you’re going to wish you were never born p>

I meant every word of it. My mate wasn’t the kind of man to leave me here to rot. He would come for me — I knew he would. Except… why couldn’t I mind-link him? The usual thread of connection between us felt like it was fraying, dissolving into nothingness. I could barely sense his worry, his desperation. My chest tightened. Was I too far gone from him already? First, Layla, and now him?

Jason tilted his head, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Oh, Jas, you’re always full of false hope. But it’s cute, really.” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Go on then. Try. Let Ryder know where you are. Call out to him p>

I clenched my jaw, every nerve in my body resisting his taunt. I closed my eyes and reached out through the bond. Ryder, please… find me. Help me. But the silence that greeted me was louder than any scream. It was like screaming into a void.

I opened my eyes, a thin layer of sweat covering my forehead, but I wasn’t about to let Jason see me falter. I let out a humorless chuckle. “You’re really enjoying this, huh? All this effort just because I bruised your fragile ego. Honestly, I expected more from you. I didn’t know being a petty, jealous loser was a full-time job p>