Chapter 51
Chapter 51:
Facing Isabelle with a sweet smile, I chuckled. “Thanks for your concern, Isabelle. But I’ll worry about that when the time comes p>
I added with mock innocence, “Maybe if you were good enough, I wouldn’t be here. But since I am, maybe you should focus on keeping Ryder’s attention instead of worrying about me. Who knows? He might just dump you for me.” Isabelle’s smirk faltered for a moment, a flash of anger in her eyes, but she recovered quickly.
“Oh, I’m not worried, Jasmine. You can have your time with him, but soon, you’ll be dumped just like the others. And I’ll be the Luna of the pack, while you’ll be nothing but a mistress. That’s the reality. Don’t get delusional.” She blew me a kiss, her eyes twinkling with satisfaction.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. Others? My mind raced with the implications. The mention of other mistresses disturbed me, and my chest tightened with emotions I couldn’t quite identify.
Isabelle’s devilish smirk grew wider. “Don’t look so surprised. You all think you’re the real deal when Ryder’s just living out his flings. You’re the latest in a long line, darling p>
My stomach churned, and I felt a pang of… something. Jealousy? Anger? Disappointment? I couldn’t quite name it, but it burned inside me like a fire. I no longer wanted to be in the garden. Not with her.
I turned away, needing to escape. First, it had been Jason, and now Ryder. But Ryder’s case was worse—at least Jason hadn’t kidnapped me. Ryder, though… I was supposed to hate him. Yet, every day, I found myself drawn to him, the connection between us growing stronger.
I almost snorted at the absurdity of it all. I dared to feel special. A special mistress, huh? I shook my head, rolling my eyes. I was well and truly fucked.
Jasmine’s POV
My head swarmed with a hundred and one comebacks to make Isabelle feel irrelevant, but my voice caught in my throat. I was too awed. The only thing I could manage to ask was, “Others?” My voice was a raspy whisper. Immediately after I asked, I regretted it. Now she would see I’d caved in.
Isabelle cocked her head back, eyes glistening with amusement as a cold, mirthless sound bubbled from her throat—a mocking laugh. It grated on my ears, making me frown.
“This just keeps getting more interesting. You thought you were the only one? Does Ryder look like he could stay with one woman? There are others, and Ryder… well, he’s got a taste for variety.” She shrugged at her last statement, not a tinge of regret in her voice. Was this how Lycans were? I thought they stayed loyal to their mates.
The bastard! My fingers curled into a fist, and I dug them into the pocket of my sweater. I wasn’t going to give her the complete satisfaction of seeing me angry.
“You should tell your darling Ryder to prep you, maybe during one of your passionate moments. Or doesn’t he tell you anything?” Isabelle continued, her chest puffed out, exuding an air of confidence.
Just then, her eyes flicked over my shoulder, and her smile faltered. An expression of horror filled her green eyes as they darkened before she blinked twice. Letting out a tiny scream, she took a few steps back as her shoulders jerked.
Someone cleared his throat behind me. Ryder.
Oh well. His scent was enough to alert me of his presence; it filled my nose and made me suddenly very aware of my surroundings.
“Isabelle, I think that’s enough,” he said, his voice low and even. My lips curled at the corners, a bubbling laugh at the tip of my tongue. So she was scared of him? So much for being in love.
Her face gradually softened, but the smile wasn’t present as she played the role of the innocent, concerned “fiancée” in front of him, her hands twisting as she fussed.
“I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Gosh, you almost gave me a heart attack,” Isabelle’s chuckle was nervous as she placed her hands over her chest. Rolling my eyes at her statement, I mused that if anyone was supposed to be scared, it ought to be her.
To be me, not her—he was directly behind me. I stood firmly where I was, not bothering to acknowledge his presence.