Shunned By An Alpha, Cherised By A Lycan

Chapter 281:

Oh, hell no. An apology? That’s the best she’s got?

I arch a brow, my sarcasm kicking in like a defense mechanism. “Sorry? For what? Abandoning me? Letting me grow up thinking I was a pawn in someone else’s twisted game? You’ll have to be more specific.”

I didn’t know where that was coming from.

Her face crumples, tears finally spilling over. Guilt tries to worm its way in, but I shove it down. I’m not ready to soften. Not for them. Not yet.

I went through hell. Ridicule. Pain. While I thought I was wolfless, I fucking wasn’t. While I thought I was at home, I freaking wasn’t.

She swallows hard, her voice shaking. “We didn’t have a choice. We thought we were protecting you.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Well, that worked out great, didn’t it?”

My father clears his throat, his voice low and measured. “We understand you’re angry—”

I snort, cutting him off. “Oh, do you? You understand this level of rage? Because I’m not sure you get just how messed up my life has been.”

Ryder’s hand tightens on my shoulder, his thumb brushing soothing circles against my skin. It’s the only thing keeping me from completely losing it. I lean into his touch, drawing strength from it, even as my heart slams against my ribs.

“We’re here now,” my mother whispers, her voice breaking. “We want to make it right.”noveldrama

I laugh again, but there’s no humor in it. “News flash: You can’t make it right. You can’t just show up after a lifetime of silence and expect me to play happy family.” My eyes narrow. “You’re about twenty years too late for that.”

Silence hangs between us, no one says a word. Their pain is etched into their faces, but for once, I don’t care. I’m drowning in my own.

Ryder’s voice cuts through the tension, calm but firm. “This isn’t the time for all the answers. We need to focus on breaking the blood tie.”

M0re detailz at g𝒶l𝓷ovels.𝓬𝓸𝓶

He’s right. As much as I want to rage and demand explanations, my survival—our survival—is on the line. I can scream at them later. Right now, I need to stay alive.

Ryder’s POV

I never thought I’d feel true terror. Not the kind that freezes your blood or makes your heart lurch out of your chest. Not until Jasmine’s eyes rolled back, and she crumpled to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut.

I barely remembered moving, just the sensation of my knees slamming into the hard floor and my arms catching her before she could hit. Her body was limp, too still. Her breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps, and her skin felt like ice under my hands.

Her eyes were closed, and no matter how many times I whispered her name, she didn’t respond. A knot twisted in my gut, tight and suffocating. Don’t do this to me, Jasmine. Don’t leave me now.

I could hear Sapphire and the others shouting in the background—footsteps, hurried and frantic—but everything blurred together in a haze of panic and dread. I couldn’t focus on any of it. All I saw was her—my mate, my entire world—slipping through my fingers.

When Dr. Lee finally arrived, pushing me aside to check her, my wolf snarled, ready to rip him apart for touching her. But I forced myself to stay still, my fists clenched so tight I could feel my nails cutting into my palms.

“She’s alive,” Dr. Lee muttered, but his face was grim. “We need to find the witch to break the blood tie. Fast.”

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