Chapter 628 Your love is too cheap

Jasmine tugged loose strands of hair behind her ears, her fingers trembling slightly. She was unwilling to let this opportunity slip away, unwilling to watch another man walk out of her life without a fight. “Kael, you never even looked at me.” Her voice was small, almost accusatory.

“You were brought for the Alpha.” Kael’s voice was honest, stripped of pretense. “So I could only admire you from afar.” He met her gaze briefly before looking away. “Who am I to look at the woman the Luna was grooming for her son? Even if he didn’t want you, I still did not have the right.”

His words only made Jasmine guiltier. Due to respect, Kael had hidden his feelings, had kept his distance, had watched her from the shadows without ever making his interest known.

But Jasmine could not hold back even when it was clear that Corvine was interested in someone else. She had thrown herself at him, had humiliated herself, had crossed boundaries that should never have been crossed.

The shame was too much for her to bear. “I’m sorry.” Her voice cracked. “I know I messed up, but can we start over?” She desperately clung to Kael’s hand, her fingers wrapping around his wrist. But he pulled it away gently, his touch careful not to hurt her.

There was no anger in his tone, only a weary resignation. “Jasmine, let’s be patient.” His voice was soft, soothing. “What if we get mated to different she-wolves during the Blood Moon? It’s just a few weeks away. We shouldn’t make promises we might not be able to keep.”

“But what if I don’t want to be mated to somebody else?” she asked desperately, her eyes pleading.

Kael pinched the bridge of his nose, a gesture of frustration he usually reserved for the most trying situations. “I’m finding it hard to understand you.” He shook his head slowly. “You are still in love with Co-Alpha, and yet you won’t let me go.”

Jasmine pursed her lips, the truth of his words stinging. But someway somehow, she felt the need to confess everything before Kael heard it from somewhere else. It was just as he’d heard her speaking to the other she-wolves and given up on her. She couldn’t let that happen again.

Without thinking, she confessed everything—from the bathroom to the apologies, from her desperate attempts to gain Corvine’s attention to her humiliating rejection.

She watched as Kael stared at her like he didn’t know her at all, his expression fluctuating from confusion to disbelief to something that looked almost like disappointment.

His heart ached upon learning all she’d done to gain Corvine’s attention. The lengths she had gone to the invasion of privacy, the nakedness, the desperation.

It painted a picture of a woman he didn’t recognize. “Jasmine, I need to get some sleep before midnight.” His voice was flat, tired. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

Jasmine allowed her tears to fall, hot and uncontrollable, as she grabbed his hands again. “Tell me, do you hate me?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

Kael shook his head, his expression softening slightly. “Why should I hate you?” A sigh escaped him. “I would not have known if you hadn’t told me. You chose to be honest, and that counts for something.”

“So, have you grown out of love for me?” She asked again, her voice desperate.

Kael paused, his eyes searching hers. “Tell me, why do you want me now?” He knew she was being desperate, that her sudden interest was born from fear of being alone rather than genuine affection.

That was his reason for not wanting to go ahead with his plan of wooing her. He wanted to be chosen, not settled for.

“That’s because I love you.” Jasmine confessed, the words tumbling out.

But Kael laughed, a hollow, humorless sound. Suddenly, his expression hardened. “Then your love is too cheap.” His voice was cold, cutting.

Jasmine was hurt, the words like a slap across her face. But she thought she should explain, needed him to understand. “What would you have me do?” Her voice cracked with emotion.

“My late mom and Olivia already decided I should marry Voren, so I had no right to look at any other man. You were always stern, so cold to me. You never offered me warmth, though you were never rude.” She took a shaky breath. “When I met Corvine, he was so nice. Though he made it clear that he never trusted me.”

She paused, her eyes glistening. “I loved his honesty. And when it was time for judgement to be passed, Olivia insisted that I be punished because I knew the truth all along. But it was Corvine who saved me. He was the one who pleaded with Voren for me, and that’s why I thought he loved me.” She wiped her tears. “Though he never said it. Kael, love grows. And I said I loved you, not romantically, but I know that with time, it can change.”

Understanding why Jasmine fell in love with Corvine, Kael could not hold it against her anymore. The kindness, the protection, the way Corvine had stood up for her when no one else would, made sense.

His expression softened, the coldness melting away. “It’s alright.” His voice was gentle. “I won’t judge you. But please, let’s talk tomorrow, okay?” He was so tired, the weight of the day pressing down on him. “I need to rest.”

Jasmine smiled through her tears and finally let go, her hands falling to her sides. She watched him walk away, her heart aching with a complicated mix of emotions.

After that, Jasmine took the kids to Voren and Seraphine. The children burst into the room with boundless energy, their faces flushed with excitement.

“Daddy, Mommy!” Bryan yelled, his arms outstretched. “This academy is amazing! I was able to get a hang on everything they taught!”

“That’s wonderful, little man.” Voren embraced Bryan, pulling him close. His eyes were warm, his voice filled with pride.

Seraphine cuddled Esperanza, pressing kisses to her hair. “Tell us everything. We want to hear all about it.”

The kids went on and on with everything that happened at the academy, the lessons, the other children, the games they had played. Their voices filled the room with joy, chasing away every tension of pack matters.

They talked until their eyes grew heavy, until their words became slurred with exhaustion. Finally, they all fell asleep on the bed, a tangled pile of limbs and warmth.

An hour later, Voren’s alarm bellowed through the quiet room, sharp and insistent. He stared apologetically at his wife, his heart heavy with what was to come. He nudged her gently, his touch soft and careful. “Sweetheart, it’s time.”