"Fine." Jasper sighed dramatically. "Listen closely, Erica," Jasper said, his voice taking on a solemn tone as he began to recite words that he obviously knew by memory.
"In the world where shadows blend with light,
A maiden of twenty-five shall rise from the night.
Descendant of Diana, Queen of Witches and Beasts,
Half witch, half wolf, her lineage in the least.
From an alpha's might and a priestess concealed,
Her ancient bloodline to the goddess revealed.
Though the paths of magic run deep in her veins,
Her true power's asleep, bound by invisible chains."
Jasper watched me expectantly as he spoke, his blue eyes searching my face for a reaction. I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief.
"Descendant of Diana? Alpha’s might and priestess concealed?" I scoffed, feeling the weight of their gazes on me. "You've got the wrong girl. I'm a werewolf, and both my parents were gamma werewolves. This... this prophecy or whatever it is has nothing to do with me." Grant snorted a laugh, his lips twisting into a mocking grin.
"If that's so princess, then why do you possess alpha power?"
"Are you actually saying that my parents weren’t my parents?"
"They were your parents, Erica," Grant replied, his voice dripping with condescension. "But they lied to you. Your whole life has been a lie."
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" I glared at him, my hands curling into fists at my sides. The anger within me flared up like a wildfire, fuelled by the lingering sensations of lust and need. I could barely wrap my mind around what he was saying. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of fury and shame threatening to consume me. But even as doubt gnawed at the edges of my resolve, I refused to let them see how much their words affected me.
“Are you seriously suggesting that my entire family lied to me? That all of them conspired to keep the truth from me?" I could barely contain my fury, feeling as if a storm was brewing inside me. "They were the only ones who ever cared about me, who ever looked out for me!"
"Erica," Jasper tried to interject, but I didn't give him a chance to speak.
"Save it!" I snapped, turning my emerald eyes on the enigmatic Alpha. "I'm not some legendary witch-wolf hybrid or whatever the hell you're going on about. I'm just an ordinary werewolf, and not even a very good one at that, since I can't shift." Grant scoffed again, and I could feel my anger reaching a boiling point.
"You're deluded, Erica. Plain and simple."
"Deluded?" My voice rose in pitch, and I stepped forward until I was toe-to-toe with Grant, my chest heaving with each breath.
"You've got no room to talk! You manipulated me into thinking you wanted to protect me, then kidnapped me, and now you're accusing my family of lying? Not to mention you basically admitted to killing this Jessica, someone everyone here seems to be obsessed with!" My anger bubbled dangerously close to the surface as I stared Grant down, his eyes a stormy copper of his wolf that reflected the fury raging within him. I knew I was playing with fire, going too far, but my own rage demanded an outlet.
"Say her name again, Erica," Grant growled, his voice rough and menacing. "I dare you."
"Enough," Jasper commanded, stepping between us as if he were the only thing keeping us from tearing each other apart. His voice was cold and authoritative, leaving no room for disagreement.
"Grant, leave. Now."
Grant's gaze lingered on me, his jaw clenched tight, fighting against the urge to unleash his wrath upon me. It wasn't until Jasper spoke again, his tone even more forceful, that Grant finally gave in, breaking eye contact and storming out of the room with the slam of the door echoing behind him. The air in the room grew heavy, suffocating me as I struggled to process everything that had just happened. The anger, the accusations, the confusion... it all swirled around me like a whirlwind, threatening to consume me whole. And at the centre of it all was Jasper, his hypnotic blue eyes boring into mine as if they held all the answers I so desperately sought.
The sound of the door slamming shut reverberated through the room, leaving me alone with Jasper. I could feel his presence next to me, the heat of his body and the scent of him filling my senses. My heart still pounded from the passionate exchange with Grant, but now another emotion swelled within me: defiance.
"Feisty," Jasper whispered, his breath hot on my neck as he moved closer. "I do love a feisty woman. You'll make an amazing queen."
"Get your sleazy paws off me," I snapped, spinning around to face him, my anger flaring. "And for the last time, I am not now nor will I ever be your queen!"
His expression morphed into one of a predator, his blue eyes dancing with wicked delight as he grinned at me. He began backing me up against the wall, trapping me between his arms. Frantically, I searched the room for something, anything I could use as a weapon, but there was nothing within reach. My back pressed against the cold wall, and I had nowhere else to go. Jasper's gaze roamed over my body before focusing on my lips. My heart raced, and despite the anger and fear swirling inside me, I couldn't help but bite my lip, drawn to the intensity of the atmosphere.
"Such a pretty little thing," he murmured, so close that our noses almost touched. "So many emotions in those beautiful green eyes, arousal, lust, need... all mixed with anger and shame. It's quite intoxicating."
