Chapter 265
Chapter 265:
My breath caught in my throat. My heart pounded so loudly I thought it would break through my ribs. This was it. The final severing of the chain that had bound me to this nightmare. I looked at Jason, his face now a mask of panic and disbelief.
I swallowed hard, my voice steady but sharp. “I, Jasmine, accept your rejection p>
The words fell from my lips, and for the first time, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. It was painful, yes—like ripping out a thorn embedded deep in my skin—but the relief that followed was worth it. Jason staggered back, his face twisting in agony as the bond snapped. Stephanie’s eyes widened in horror, realizing too late just how deep his betrayal went.
I barely had time to process it when Ryder moved—swift, cold, and deadly.
The flash of the pocket dagger was almost too quick to see. Before I could even blink, Ryder shoved the blade straight into Jason’s chest. The sound of the blade piercing flesh was sickeningly soft, almost gentle, in contrast to the violence of the act.
Jason’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening like he wanted to speak, but no words came out. Blood stained his shirt, spreading like a dark, blooming flower. He crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
Time seemed to freeze. I stared at the body of the man who had once been my mate. The man who had destroyed me, used me, and twisted my life into something unrecognizable. And now he was gone. Just like that.
The air felt too thick to breathe. My heart pounded, my ears ringing with the silence that followed.
Ryder turned to me, his eyes hard and unreadable, but beneath that, I saw the storm of emotions swirling—protectiveness, rage, guilt. He had done this for me. For us. And I didn’t know how to feel.
I looked down at Jason’s body. I thought I’d feel relief, satisfaction, something. But all I felt was numb. The rumors were true. Ryder was ruthless, fearless. But he had done it to protect me. To free me.
Luna Anna’s scream shattered the silence, raw and filled with fury. But I didn’t care. She was part of this mess—part of the lies and pain that had chained me. Let her rage. Let her suffer the consequences of her son’s actions.
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Ryder’s hand gently touched my arm, grounding me.
“It’s over,” he whispered.
I nodded, my voice barely a breath. “Yeah. It’s over p>
As we turned to leave, I didn’t look back. The Silverclaw pack was nothing but a graveyard now—for my trust, my innocence, and for Jason.
I was done with ghosts.
The moment we crossed into Silverclaw territory, my instincts sharpened. The air here was thick with deceit, betrayal, and a stench I couldn’t ignore. My jaw clenched tight, and Ace, my wolf, paced inside me, his fury barely contained. My own anger mirrored his. The thought of Jason’s betrayal toward Jasmine—my mate—made my blood boil.
I glanced at Jasmine beside me. Her eyes were cold, but the tension in her shoulders betrayed her unease. This place had wounded her deeply, and now she had to confront it. I hated that she was here, but we had to end this. Ace growled low, demanding justice, and I silently vowed we’d get it.
The car halted in front of the packhouse. I took a deep breath, pushing my rage down for now. Stepping out, I watched as Alpha Thane walked toward us, his smug expression infuriating me. Behind him, Luna Anna appeared, her eyes landing on Jasmine with a sneer that churned my stomach. Jasmine stiffened at the sight, and I clenched my fists, fighting for control.
“Alpha Ryder,” Thane said coolly. “This is unexpected p>