Chapter 311

Chapter 311:

Then Kade speaks, his voice low and cautious, “Does Jasmine know p>

My stomach twists, and I shake my head. “No. And she can’t p>

“Ryder p>

“I mean it, Kade!” I snap, my voice echoing in the empty training grounds. “She can’t know. She’s been through enough. She’s finally starting to trust me again, and you want me to drop this on her? To tell her the man she’s mated to is a goddamn monster p>

“You’re not a monster,” Kade says firmly.

“Tell that to Aiden,” I bite out, the words venomous.

Kade’s silent for a long moment, his gaze searching mine. Finally, he lets out a heavy sigh. “Ryder, I get it. You’re scared. You think this will break her. But keeping this from her? That’s not the answer p>

“What am I supposed to do?” I ask, my voice cracking. “Tell her and watch her walk away? Because that’s what’s going to happen, Kade. She’ll leave us. She’ll leave me p>

Kade shakes his head. “If you think Jasmine’s that fragile, you don’t know her as well as you think you do. She loves you, Ryder. She’d walk through fire for you. But trust? That’s a two-way street. If you don’t give her that, you’ll lose her anyway p>

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I can’t bring myself to believe him. Not completely.

The rest of the day passes in a haze. I go through the motions, pretending everything’s fine while my insides are twisted in knots. Every time I see Jasmine, my heart aches. She smiles at me, her eyes filled with warmth and love, and all I can do is look away.

I see the confusion in her eyes, the hurt she’s trying so hard to hide. She knows something’s wrong. She just doesn’t know what.

That night, I can’t sleep.

Your next chapter is here gαℓησνℯ𝓁s․com

I sit on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands, while Jasmine sleeps peacefully beside me. For a moment, I let myself just look at her. She’s beautiful, her hair spread out on the pillow like a halo, her breathing soft and steady.

She deserves better than this. Better than me.

The thought makes my chest ache, and before I can stop myself, I’m standing, walking out of the room and into the cold night air.

I don’t know where I’m going. I just need to move, to get away before I lose my mind completely.

But no matter how far I walk, I can’t escape the weight of my guilt. The truth is a shadow, following me everywhere, whispering in my ear.

You killed him.

You don’t deserve her.

She’ll leave you.

By the time I return to the room, it’s nearly dawn. Jasmine is awake, sitting up in bed, her eyes filled with worry.

“Ryder,” she says softly, her voice breaking. “What’s going on? Please, just talk to me p>

I freeze, my heart pounding in my chest.

I want to tell her. I want to spill everything, to lay my soul bare and let her see the darkness inside me.