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 looked toward the stairs again–for the fiftieth time tonight. Maybe sixtieth. And it was still empty. I mean… Dinner had been dragging on for well over twenty minutes now, and she still wasn't here. My jaw clenched. Fuck.


"Alaric, darling. You haven't even touched your meal yet," Luna Jorja called from across the table. Her words barely registered. She sounded distant, like a bell tolling underwater.


"Where's Jasmine? Why isn't she out here?" I asked her, ignoring her earlier statement. Luna Jorja paused, her fork hovering mid–air. "Oh… she's feeling a bit under the weather. Said she might not join us tonight."


Chapter 166 - Chapter 166