JASMINE POV
I tumbled down the stairs. My head and ribs collided with the sharp edges of each step riser. I moaned in excruciating pain when it stopped.
"Seb–Sebastian," I croaked, tasting the salty tears that dropped.
My vision blurred as I looked up. I still made out the four laughing faces of the pack wolves that just threw me down these steps. They hurried towards me now.
"Oh, Jasmine! Did you think we were through with you yet?" A deep voice mocked me, getting closer and closer.
My heart beat as fast as a freight train. A sob tore through me as they neared.
Another licked his lips. "Sebastian's whore looks so edible while covered in her own blood."
I had to stand up and run. I tried crawling forward, but a hand grabbed the scruff of my neck, slamming the back of my head into the opposite wall.
A groan escaped me, "Argh."
"No one can save you now, birthday girl," the deep voice laughed, yanking at my hair and digging claws into my scalp.
I turned eighteen today. In fact, a delivery guy waited outside with the cake Sebastian got me, but they wouldn’t let me go get it. I had just left my bedroom when they cornered me.
"Please. I beg you, Dane," my snot leaked into my mouth, "Let me answer the delivery guy at the gate. It's Sebastian's gift for me—"
"Stupid girl! Do you think Sebastian would care about you now that he's being named Alpha?" A feminine voice bitterly scoffed at me.
My teeth dug into my bottom lip. Sebastian was far away in the pack's throne room, receiving the Alpha's crown. His aged father relinquished his throne two days ago, and today, it was happening.
The only friend I had rose in ranks. They said power made people forget people. Would I become insignificant to Seb?
"You are nobody, Jasmine. An orphan who doesn't belong here," Dane gritted, spitting in my face, his vice grip still on my black hair. "All these years, you've been too arrogant because the Luna and Alpha took you in. Now we finally get to teach you a lesson."
"Please, please, Dane. You are Sebastian's friend. He wouldn't want you to harm me, and you know it."
"About that part, Jasmine. Where is your saviour now?" Dane's amused whisper came next to my ear and I shivered in fear. "I thought as much."
He chuckled darkly for a beat, leaving my hair and standing supine.
"Dane, look! They brought the birthday girl's cake inside," the only feminine voice in the group laughed and approached the bottom of the stairs.
Dane turned to me, eyes glinting sinisterly. "Would you like a bite before we finish you off?"
A tear rolled down my cheek. I gazed at the chocolate cake wistfully. Sebastian and I had talked about it weeks ago. I needed him now. Oh, Seb...
I shook my head, but Dane didn't listen. He smashed the cake into my face, and the four of them snickered, laughing at my misery.
"We should incinerate her," Talia said, putting her weight on one foot and sparing an evil smile.
Months ago, all six of us used to be good friends until I realised they secretly hated me. Talia had a crush on Sebastian, but he was always interested in me, and she despised me for that reason.
Apparently, it was enough for her to want to burn me alive.
"You hateful bitch!" I snarled at her, shocking them all.
"What did you just say?!"
Talia stomped my way, raising her hands to land a dirty slap on my cheek. Instantly, I looked away, but the sting never came.
I raised my eyes after a beat, and I saw Sebastian holding her elevated wrist. All four of them shook with fear now.
I smiled like a lunatic. His presence meant the ceremony was over. Sebastian was the Alpha of our pack now.
Dane stuttered. "Sebastian, it's not what you think—"
His back hit the wall as Sebastian strangled him. The rest of my bullies ran, scared of the wrath of the Alpha. I watch Seb bring his friend close to the edge of death.
"I should kill you for daring to touch her!"
"Seb, please." Dane gagged, face turning red with impending death. "It was stupid of me. Please! Please spare my life. I beg you."
After a long moment, Sebastian let him go with a punch in the face. He lifted me in his arms and walked away. I didn't know where we were going, but the view of his fine features made me content with his silence.
"What is this place, Seb?" I asked after he laid me down on trimmed grass that overlooked a neat bayou.
Sebastian flanked me on the ground, propping himself up on an elbow as he peered down at me.
"My favourite spot in the world," he said, wiping the chocolate cake off my face with his handkerchief.
I gushed. "It's beautiful." My eyes roved through the spring green trees and the clear water that reflected the vicinity.
"You're beautiful, Jasmine." His hand tucked a lock of my hair away from my eyes.
I forgot all about the pain in my ribs and in my head as our heated gazes collided.
Sebastian and I grew up together after his parents took me in, and we've been inseparable ever since.
His hand fell to my neck. Those light strokes of his fingers over my skin drove me mad with lust. This was a new feeling.
Up until this moment, Sebastian had always been my best friend, my foster brother, my protector.
"Sebastian," I gasped his name when I couldn’t take it anymore.
"Show me where it hurts."
I raised my top and showed him my bruised ribs. A pink blotch had formed around the area. I took his hand and placed it over the back of my head. Then, I placed his hand over my beating heart, eyes locked on each other.
He also felt my breasts. It was then I knew we had crossed the line, and there was no going back.
Sebastian kissed me, linking our hands and sharing the pain I felt until it was only a dull throb.
He was Alpha now. His abilities increased to much more than any of us could imagine.
"Are you sure you want this, Jasmine?" He came up for air, breaths ragged, and heart beating erratically. "I can stop now if you want."
I threw caution to the wind and bobbed my head, "Make love to me, Seb. I want you to be my first. Please."
His lips clashed with mine in a kiss as hot as sparks. He ravaged me and made love to me under those spring green trees. When I let go, it was his name I sang hopelessly.
7:25 pm.
I was in his shirt when I woke up in the empty bed. My cheeks heated as I squealed.
We crossed the line from platonic best friends to lovers hours ago. I cleared my throat, slapping my cheeks to clear the blush away.
What if it was just a one-night-stand?
I reminisced on the many times he made love to me. After the bayou, he fucked me in his bed. My thighs clenched, and my cheeks burned red again.
There was only one way to find out.
I went in search of Sebastian after putting on a robe. There was a skip in every step I took. I searched every room in the pack house.
"Your scent. Mmm."
That voice stopped me.
I whipped my head to the open door at my side. A shirtless Sebastian stood there, but my smile immediately fell when I realised that he wasn't alone.
"What's happening to us, Seb?" Talia's voice asked.
Silence fell for a beat.
"Mate!" Sebastian growled all the while looking at Talia.
JASMINE POV Eight Years Later… Beep. Beep. Beep-beep Beeeeeeeeep. "Code blue!" I couldn’t breathe. Blood spurted from the open stomach of this old woman with a kind smile. Her only mistake was that she had been on my surgical table tonight. "Dr. Ross! The patient is having a cardiac arrest. Her vitals are dropping below dangerzone!" The nurses screamed at me while I froze, hands shaking in the air. For two years, I've lived as a famous and highly successful doctor in New York City, and believe me when I say there has never been any death on my record. I went into surgery rooms confident, too confident. And today that had worked against me. There was about to be a death on my record. 60 year old Carmen with a kind smile. Her family waited outside for her to come back to them. Carmen's smile haunted me now as I watched her shake wrongly on my surgical table. The machine lines flattened, and her pulse dropped as fast as a countdown. 55/30...20/10... A hand shook my shoulder
JASMINE POV Each time I heard that last name, flashes of who I used to be would come back to me. Jasmine, the orphan of the Ice Wolf pack. I remembered her. How miserable she was. More importantly, it reminded me of Sebastian Carter. My chest constricted. I placed a hand over it. Breathing became difficult as it would every time I thought I was about to see him again. "Mr. Carter!" Brady beamed. He stood on his feet to welcome the young man, who just walked in. The knots in my stomach loosened. I sucked in air in bouts. It wasn't Sebastian. He still hadn't found me after all these years. Brady shook hands with the man. "Welcome to Greenbrook. This is Dr. Varma, Dr. Banerji, Dr. Jenkins, and Dr. Ross. They are the cream of the crop within these walls." Carter said, "Nice to meet you all. I hope we have a productive year together." We offered him a curt bow. I had fallen in ranks. A bitter taste spread through my mouth at the humiliation of bowing to my replacement. A year
JASMINE POV Jasmine, what the fuck?!" Sebastian shrieked as I poured the milk all over him and his flashy ring. I gritted my teeth. "I was never yours in the first place, you asshole!" He winced as I stomped down the aisle, but he grabbed my elbow, pulling me back. "Wait! Wait a second," he raked a hand through his soft, long, milk-stained hair, "Let me do right by you. Please." "Seb, it's been eight years! I have forgotten all about you, and I don't need a fucking reminder of the heartache." As I stormed away, I heard him mutter to himself. "This isn't over, Jasmine. You'll be mine soon." I shuddered at that dangerous promise, blocking it out of my mind as I met the kids at the front of the line. Emily had my wallet with her. I dropped the empty bottle of milk on the counter, and the cashier gave me a weird look. "Don't forget to add that." I smiled nervously. When everything had been processed, I grabbed the grocery bags and the kids, hurrying out of the store. At the lot,
JASMINE POV I froze like a statue. It was not enough that Sebastian showed up like a bad dream and now he would work in the same space as me, worse still, as my boss? Oh no!My breathing alternated from slow to fast pace and right now, it felt like my heart would burst from too much workload. “Dr. Ross,” Brady called wryly. My soul jerked back to where my body remained in a frozen state. The movement caused my phone to slip from my hand and fall with a loud thud. I'm certain my screen must be damaged and also certain it's not up to what my life would be in minutes. Wrecked. Absolutely chaotic. I reached down in swift seconds, retrieved it like it never occurred, and saved myself the heartbreak of looking at the damage. “...are you okay?” Brady asked with that goofy grin. I could stake my career on the line that he didn't give a bloody hoot about how I felt. This whole charade was to rub my misfortune right in my face. “Ye..ah” I gulped balls of thick saliva that were about to
JASMINE POVWith that, Nurse Carol was gone. Sebastian is surely getting on my nerves! For about a minute, I forgot I had the 'Carter’ problem to deal with and just with a message from my supposedly annoying director, I lost composure. “What does he want?” I murmured and began pacing, hovering about in the small workspace. “Is there a problem?” Liam asked, curious. "Yes, there is." I spun to face him and he looked surprised at seeing a new side of me; terrified. “Do you need anything? Water...”"Brady just knows how to piss me off, and I would make him pay!” I revealed it anyway, yelling at the top of my lungs. Thankfully, the door was shut because I needed to vent, and now that I have... Well, it still felt the same. "Whoa,” Liam muttered and gestured for me to calm down. Eyes closed, I inflated my lungs with the cold-conditioned air. “What has Brady got to do with this, I thought Nurse Carol mentioned ‘a Sebastian’...”"You're right.” I bluffed. If only he was wrong. “Wait,
JASMINE’S POV _Smash the freaking ketchup on his face!_ _Pull his ears out till he looks like Penny!_ These were a few of the tens of revenge ideas that came to mind. Instead, I kept mute, stabilizing my mood. After the milk incident at the mall and with me still not over it, it would be plain stupid to make things worse. My bloodshot eyes burned with intense hate and irritation. Sweat dripped from each of my pores. I was furious and he knew it. "Jas. You should think about this.” He reached out for my hands on the table and I cringed. “First, you don’t get to call me that and lastly, there's nothing to think about.”"Don't act rashly, Jasmine. You can take a few days and...” “Have a nice day.” I pushed the chair backward, as the squishing sound made silly noises and drew unwanted attention to us. I avoided eye contact with a few of the staff that chose my business over theirs and wore a fake smile. The news of my demotion rocked the four walls of the hospital, and with my rep
JASMINE’S POV "No secrets; remember your pinky swear?" He scanned my face for any reactions. “Common, honey.” I sighed. "Like I said, it's nothing. What could possibly be wrong?” I threw the question back at him. "Anything..." He shrugged. "And in this case, I’m sure something is up.” He doesn't change his foot. I exhaled and groaned loudly, so he knew how frustrating this was getting. I thought I was gaining his sympathy until he chuckled and went silent. That's all?! I frowned. “Asher, you're beating yourself up for nothing.” I squeezed his arms roughly. "I’m fine.” I insisted. “You ain't fine, and we both know it.” His brows furrowed. Gush! Could this be any easier? For the umpteenth time, I told him I was fine, but he just wouldn't indulge me. And the more I didn't budge, the more he didn't go weak on his stance. He let go of my waist and started for the centre table. “Where are you going? This is the way to the kitchen, remember?” I rolled my eyes. He ignored me and kept u
Sebastian’s POV _I want her so bad..._ It scared the crap out of me as I would do anything and go to any length just to claim her... My hands beneath her thighs, where they belonged, her head peacefully laid on my bosom, and my nose buried in the length of her neck, as I sniffed her sweet vanilla scent. "You’re mine,” I murmured. If I can't have her, nobody would. I was ready to make up for all those years I hurt her so badly. I was naive and stupid and helpless. Everyone deserves a second chance, I won't be ripped off. Back then, she was this soft-spoken, calm, and quiet weak girl. Eight years was enough to change your whole personality. She was no longer the girl I knew her to be. The Jasmine I was faced with was fierce, stubborn, and more beautiful than I imagined. It made it even more difficult to think of the best way to win her over...She was a totally different person. Life was going fine for her, I didn't need a seer to know that; being in a big city, and a good doctor