Chapter 197

Chapter 197:

I knew Layla could be stubborn most times, but definitely not on this. I hadn’t practiced fighting aside from my physical form. Shifting among these skilled rogues would be sheer stupidity. I mean, other Lycans were scared—so who was I to think I could fight them?

The invaders forced the remaining pack members to their knees, disarming them with brutal efficiency. I could see the warriors struggling to hold back, their fury barely contained.

Then I saw Ryder.

He was outside, just beyond the glass doors, his eyes locked on mine. The pain on his face was almost worse than the knife at my throat.

“Ryder,” I whispered, tears spilling over.

He didn’t move. Didn’t charge in like he always did. And for the first time, I realized why. He was holding back because of me.

The man with the knife laughed, sensing Ryder’s hesitation. “What’s the matter, Alpha? Don’t want to risk your precious Luna p>

Something inside me snapped.

Ryder’s pain, his helplessness—it was too much. I wasn’t just Jasmine anymore. I was his mate. His equal.

One minute, I was trembling. The next, Layla surged forward, and everything shifted.

The man barely had time to react before I moved. My body wasn’t mine anymore—it was faster, stronger, furious. I grabbed his wrist, twisting until the knife clattered to the floor.

And then I turned, my vision blurring as claws and fur erupted from my skin.

For the first time, I let Layla take control.

The second I saw Jasmine in that bastard’s grip, my heart sank. My Luna. My mate. The woman I would burn the world for… She was trapped, trembling, and at the mercy of the rogues. What the hell!

Ace snarled in my head, pacing. We lost it.

Your source:

“Let me out, Ryder! I’ll rip him to shreds!” He roared.

I wanted to. By the Goddess, I wanted to. But I couldn’t make a reckless move—not when her life was hanging by a thread.

“Stand down!” I ordered the warriors through the mind link. My voice was steady, even though everything in me screamed to attack. No mistakes. Not with Jasmine in there.

The leader of the rogues, the man holding my mate, sneered at me, taunting me with his audacity.

“Alpha Ryder,” he called, mockery dripping from every syllable. “Big bad Alpha, helpless to save his Luna. What a joke p>

I clenched my fists, my claws itching to tear through his throat. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” I said coldly.

Ace growled. He was typically at the surface, but I was doing all I could to keep him at bay. We needed to be rational.

“Oh, I think I do,” the rogue replied, dragging the knife along Jasmine’s throat.

Her sharp intake of breath nearly broke me.

Ace roared, “DO SOMETHING p>

We all knew Ace had zero patience, but I needed him to agree with me on this. We can’t lose our mate. Violence wasn’t the option here.

Kade mindlinked me, his tone laced with urgency. “Ryder, do we have a plan? We can’t just stand here p>

I sighed, gritting my teeth. “The plan is simple. Buy time p>