Chapter 764 Do you still want to come?
Voren placed his hand over Seraphine’s before she could dial the number, his fingers warm against hers, a silent gesture filled with quiet understanding that made her pause and look up at him.
“Liah is her boss. Why not ask her?”
Seraphine rubbed her temple, the tension in her shoulders easing as understanding washed over her in a soft wave of relief. The simple logic of it settled the restless worry that had been building in her chest. “You’re right. I’ll go to her office now.”
They were on the same floor, so she did not see the need to call or use the mind link. The short walk felt almost too quick for the weight of the conversation waiting ahead. But just as she reached the door, it opened from the inside, and Liah appeared, her eyes wide with surprise and a flicker of urgency.
“Sera.” Liah gasped, her hand flying to her chest as if the sudden meeting had startled the breath from her lungs. “I was just about to come to your office.”
Seraphine looked at Voren and smiled, a quiet, knowing smile that needed no explanation. “I’m already here, so let’s talk in your office. It isn’t about the pack. I also have something to discuss.”
Liah stepped aside and let them into the office. After they settled into their seats, the leather creaking softly beneath them with a rich, familiar sound, she leaned forward and spoke, her voice careful, measured, carrying a thread of concern she could not quite hide.
“It’s not about the pack as a whole, but a member. Jasmine.”
“She’s the reason I came.” Seraphine’s voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of deep concern beneath it that made the air feel heavier. “Have you heard from her?”
“Yes, she called this morning.” Liah’s expression softened, a flicker of pride crossing her features even as worry lingered at the edges. “She said she made a promise to the kids and got a two-week cooling off period before the next shoot. She wants to come tomorrow, but I wanted to talk to you first.”
Seraphine smiled, warmth flooding her chest at the thought of Jasmine returning home. “This pack is her home, Liah. She could come at any time.”
“I know.” Liah nodded, but her brow furrowed with a worry that went deeper than simple logistics. The fear in her eyes was real and personal. “But I’m just afraid her meeting Kael might change her mind.” She paused, her voice dropping with a heaviness that spoke of long nights spent thinking about the girl she had come to care for so deeply. “Honestly, Sera, I’ve never had a model in such high demand like Jasmine. I think this is what she’s meant to be.”
She reached for her phone and swiped through some pictures before turning the screen toward them. The images glowed under the soft office light, each one more striking than the last. “Look at these.”
It was not just Seraphine who leaned in to look. Even Voren raised a brow, his expression moving from curiosity to something that looked almost like awe as he took in the photographs.
The lighting in the shots was perfect, the colors rich and alive, every angle capturing a confidence and beauty that seemed to leap from the screen.
“They’re stunning.” Seraphine acknowledged, her voice soft with genuine admiration that warmed her from the inside. The pride she felt for Jasmine in that moment was fierce and unexpected.
“Exactly.” Liah agreed, her enthusiasm bubbling over even as the worry remained beneath it. “Jasmine is photogenic, and she walks the runway like she owns it. Elodie tells me she’s faced some jealous colleagues, but she handled it maturely, without his help.”
She paused, choosing her next words with care that showed how much the decision weighed on her. “I think her growth centers in the human world, and I’d love for her to stay there a few years before returning to the pack.”
Before Seraphine could speak, Voren asked, “Are you analyzing it from the profit perspective or from the aspect of personal growth?”
Liah was lost for words, her mouth opening and closing as she searched for a response.
From her angle of projection, she had not expected Voren to catch it so quickly, to see through the layers of her reasoning to the heart of the matter with such quiet precision. The question left her feeling exposed, yet she answered with the honesty the moment demanded.
“It’s both, Voren.” Her voice was honest, stripped of pretense, carrying the weight of someone who had weighed the choice carefully. “The dresses she advertises are selling fast, so I’ve used her as the face of the brand. And even on the app.” She paused, her gaze steady and open.
“Yes, there are other models doing the same thing as her, but she’s always standing out. She’s special.”
It was clear that all along, Jasmine had been like a round peg in a square hole, never quite fitting, never quite belonging in the way she deserved. Now, she finally fit where she belonged, and the realization was bittersweet, a mixture of pride and the quiet ache of knowing home might no longer be the place she needed most.
“Why not call and let’s talk to her together?” Seraphine suggested, her voice gentle, filled with a calm that invited honesty from everyone in the room.
Liah obliged, dialing Jasmine’s number. The phone rang three times before it was answered, the background noise slightly windy, the sound of waves crashing against a shore carrying through the speaker in a steady, rhythmic rush that made the distant ocean feel almost close enough to touch.
“Liah, have you decided yet?”
“I’m discussing it with Sera and Voren.” Liah’s voice was steady, though her hand trembled slightly with the emotion she was trying to keep in check. “They’re both here, and you’re on speaker. Are you sure you’ll go back after the two weeks? Where exactly are you now?”
There was a slight pause before Jasmine responded, her voice carrying a note of defiance mixed with excitement that crackled through the line. The energy in her tone was unmistakable, bright and restless.
“I’m chasing the perfume modeling contract for the company. The CEO, Charlie, refused to sign if I don’t show up, and he forced me onto a yacht. But don’t worry, Elodie is here too, and you know I can handle myself.”
Indeed, the strength training from the pack was a great advantage in the human world, so Liah was not too worried. Jasmine had proven herself capable, resilient, a force to be reckoned with, and the pride of that knowledge settled warm and solid in Liah’s chest.
“Jasmine, is it okay for us to talk?” Liah asked, her voice careful, soft with genuine care. “If we were to permit you to come, how long would it take you to leave your current location?”
“Yeah, we can talk.” Jasmine’s voice was light, almost carefree, though a thread of anticipation ran beneath it. “I’m just enjoying the scenery on the deck, and I was hoping Liah sends the chopper to get me tomorrow. No need for the jet.”
Seraphine was about to say something when Voren beat her to it, his voice cutting through the conversation with a directness that made everyone pause. The quiet authority in his tone carried both warmth and a careful protectiveness that left no room for soft half-truths.
“Jasmine, I’d love to have you back, and the kids would be excited.” He paused, letting the words hang in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning and a deep concern for what the news might do to her. “However, you need to know that Kael is back with his mate. They’re spending a few weeks here.” His voice was steady, but there was a gentleness beneath it, a careful concern for her heart that made the silence that followed feel almost fragile. “Do you still want to come?”