Chapter 208

Chapter 208:

Her gaze flickered to the cloak and then to my face. She was tense, like a wolf ready to strike. “Talk about what?” she asked, setting her book aside.

“Jasmine,” I replied, letting her name hang in the air. The reaction was immediate. Isabel’s eyes darkened, her jaw tightening as she straightened in her seat.

“What about her?” she asked, her tone guarded.

I moved closer, stopping just short of the fire’s glow. “I know what you tried to do,” I said softly. “The Wolfsbane. The attempt on her life. The rogue attack. I’ll say you’re intelligent. You don’t need to deny it p>

The math was simple. I wasn’t just a Luna for the title— a rogue attacking a pack, and then seizing the Luna? It would only take someone from the pack to leak the information, and that person narrowed down to someone who hated Jasmine, someone who wanted her out of the way. Isabel.

Her breath hitched, but she quickly masked her reaction, her expression hardening. “If you’ve come here to threaten me p>

I raised a hand, cutting her off. “I’m not here to threaten you, Isabel. Quite the opposite, in fact p>

She blinked, confusion flickering across her features. I allowed myself a small smile, one that was neither warm nor cold—calculated.

“I’ve come to offer you an alliance,” I continued. “You and I share a common enemy, and together, we can ensure Jasmine is removed from the picture—for good p>

Her silence stretched, the only sound in the room the crackle of the fire. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and wary. “Why would you want to harm your own daughter p>

I let out a soft sigh, lowering myself into the chair across from her.

“You misunderstand me, Isabel. This isn’t about harm for harm’s sake. Jasmine has always been… defiant, difficult. She doesn’t understand her place, and she’s endangering everything I’ve built.” I paused, leaning forward slightly. “You’ve seen it yourself. She doesn’t belong here. She’s a threat—to you, to Ryder, to the entire pack p>

Her eyes searched mine, doubt mingling with something else. Hope, perhaps. Desperation.

“And you think I’d trust you?” she asked.

𝗕𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 — 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝘁

“Trust is earned,” I said smoothly. “And I intend to earn yours. But I need you to see that we have the same goal. You want Ryder. I want Jasmine out of the way. The path forward is clear p>

She studied me, her lips pressing into a thin line. “And what’s your plan p>

“Information,” I said, my voice steady. “You know her routines, her habits, her weaknesses. Feed that information to me, and I’ll handle the rest.” I allowed a pause, watching her carefully. “In return, I’ll ensure that when Jasmine is gone, no one stands in your way to claim Ryder as your own p>

Her expression softened slightly, her eyes narrowing in thought. “And what happens if Ryder refuses to let her go? He loves her p>

I scoffed. “Love is fleeting. Loyalty to the pack comes first, and Ryder knows that. Once Jasmine is out of the picture, his grief will fade. You’ll be there to comfort him, to guide him. He’ll see you as the Luna he should have chosen all along p>

The tension in her shoulders eased, and I knew I had her. Still, I pressed on, sealing the deal.

“Think about it, Isabel,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. “With me as your ally, you’ll have access to resources, influence, and strategies that you could never achieve alone. Together, you and Ryder can reshape this pack, make it stronger. But it all starts with removing the weak link p>

She nodded slowly, a spark of determination igniting in her eyes. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll help you. But if you betray me p>

I raised a hand, cutting her off. “You have my word. This alliance is mutually beneficial, and I never break a promise when it serves my interests p>