Chapter 17

I started to deny it quickly.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.
I had never lied in my entire life.
But I had to do it this time.
“You can’t lie to me, girl.” She said. “I can see through you. He wanted someone else, not you.”
How had she known? How? No one knew, at least.
Or did someone already know and then tell her?
My head was racing.
“No one told me.” She said it as if she were reading my mind. “I’m a seer.”
I looked at her point-blank.
I had heard of wolves who could see into the future but assumed it was a myth. Or I could see someone and instantly know anything about them.
I dropped to my knees despite the burn in my thighs.
“Please don’t tell him who I am,” I begged at her feet. “He would kill them. Please. I will do anything you want.”
The tears were flowing.
She drew me up to sit on the bed and gently lay my head against one of the standing pillows.
“Sit down, ” she urged me. I told you not to get up.”
I shook my head. “No, please. You don’t understand. Back home, they are my responsibility. If I don’t keep up with this, he will kill them.”
“You are not anyone’s responsibility!” She snapped at me in rage.
That surprised me.
She had been so soft-spoken; seeing her snap at me angrily took me aback.
She took a deep breath. “You look after everyone who looks after you? Jasmine, you are no one’s responsibility except yours.”
“How did you know my name?” I asked, bewildered.
“I’m a seer. I told you that already.” She said.
“Oh,” I mumbled, feeling foolish. “I’m not very intelligent.”
She gave an irritated sigh. “Goddess Jasmine. If you are anything, it’s intelligent.”
No one had ever told me I was intelligent before. I rarely got compliments.
Except for Urma, who had always said I was brave.
“You just look out for everyone.” She said. “I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re different.”
I gave a weak smile. “Yes, I’m an unshifted wolf.”
She smiled at me and tucked one of my loose curls in such a way that I had always seen Luna Maria tuck Jessica’s hair behind her ears.
I had always wanted someone to do that for me.
“You truly know nothing about yourself.” She said. “And that’s sad. Fate would not let me tell you anything about you. But Jasmine, you are courageous.”
Her compliments hit me because I knew they weren’t true.
I did not have any of these good qualities she called for in me.
“Please do not tell Alpha Xaden,” I begged her to return to her initial statement that she was an imposter.
“I wouldn’t.” She said that, and she seemed angry. “You shouldn’t be here. If anyone is to be here, it’s that miserable girl you’re pretending to be.”
I swallowed.
Jessica hated me, but maybe she would come to Like me.
She was my younger sister. I was her big sister. I was doing this to protect her.
“When are you going to start thinking of yourself?” the woman asked me, her eyes filled with worry.
I looked away. “I’m not significant. If I can be useful like this, then it’s okay.”
I had never had an important role to play in my life.
But this was different. I could finally show I was something.
“At the expense of your own life?” She asked me.
I was mute about that. My life didn’t matter. I was just a bastard.
She sighed. “This food is for you. You have to eat it.”
I looked down at the food, taking a close look at it for the first time.
There was chicken, bread, cheese, and what looked like wine.
I didn’t get to eat food like this.
If I did, it was Urma who sneaked food for me.
I ate scraps.
“Do not argue, ” she told me. Eat! You need it. Everything will be fine.”
And with that, I watched her rise.
I tasted the chicken, and it was so delicious.
I had never had anything given to me with such intentions and in such a way.
The tears in my eyes gathered.
“Thank you, my lady.” I was so emotional and embarrassed that I was emotional about such a thing.
“My name is Elena, ” she said. And you’re welcome. Eat and rest.”
Then she closed the door after she stepped out. It