Jasmine's life had always been a cage, and Alaric, her stepbrother, held the key. His control began subtly, a seemingly protective concern that slowly twisted into a possessive obsession. As the Alpha, his power was absolute. He dictated her friendships, forbade any romantic relationships, and stripped her of all personal freedom.
Her one hope was her twenty-first birthday—a milestone that promised to change everything. She fantasized about finding her true mate, breaking free from Alaric's suffocating grip, and finally living a life of her own. But destiny, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.
On the eve of her birthday, her hopes shattered. The person meant to be her one and only was the very man she despised—Alaric, her tormentor, her stepbrother.
The thought of being bound to him was a fate worse than death. How could she be mated to the man who had stolen her youth? A man who would stop at nothing to possess her completely? But in a world where love sours into possession and possession  draws blood, how far can one person truly run before they are forced to face the inevitable?

I let out a slow breath, my pulse still hammering in my ears as I walked to the vanity. The mirror reflected the flush on my skin, the way my lips looked swollen. My fingers hovered over the small jar of makeup remover, but before I could pick it up, the door behind me creaked open.


A sudden, unfamiliar nervousness curled in my stomach.


My gaze met with the six-foot-three man standing by the door, and my heart skipped a beat at what he held in his hands — a bundle of dark fabric, a length of smooth rope, and something else I couldn't make out.


He didn't answer right away. Instead, he smirked, stepping inside before shutting the door behind him. The soft click of the lock sent another shiver down my spine.


"We'll be needing them tonight." He said briefly as he walked into the room and set them on the bed.


Chapter 152 - Chapter 152