Chapter 14: Slipping Through His Fingers
My stomach twisted.
But here it was-on another woman’s wrist. Given freely and openly.
How the hell had she pulled this off?
The idea made his blood boil.
He had bought that bracelet because of her. The same exact one she used to stare at in the boutique window. The one she once touched like it was too precious for her fingers. Back then, he told her it was too soon. That she should wait.
I swear the temperature in the room dropped several degrees.
But somehow… She was now tutoring his future sister-in-law.
“But you must be too busy -” Elliot said weakly, only for his words to die at the cold expression on Gareth’s face. He could only gulp as his hands tightened into fists at his sides.
Elliot laughed too, but it sounded forced to me. “That’s why I need your sister with me – she will make me a better Alpha. Sorry Michelle, and Jasmine. I hope you’re not upset because of this.”
“That’s not necessary,” Jasmine answered, “I can go back myself.”
Elliot’s POV
“I’ll be back soon,” she promised. “You still owe me a knife lesson.”
But it didn’t.
She had waited. And now it was on Isabella’s wrist.
I swallowed, keeping my head down even though every nerve in my body buzzed. Gareth
didn’t leave room for argument.
Everyone turned to Elliot, but he didn’t respond right away. His jaw ticked, and his fingers curled into his slacks like he was holding back from snapping.
Isabella laughed softly, her face pinking in delight. She didn’t catch the edge in her father’s words. “We’ve started shortlisting venues. I want something open and natural. Maybe near the riverbank. And Elliot wants what I want. Isn’t that right, darling?”
That was what Elliot was afraid of.
“And look at this,” she added, holding out her wrist like an excited little girl. “Elliot got me
this last week.”
He’d done everything. Sabotaged her name in the employment network. Blacklisted her through every business under his control. He paid good money to make sure no one would ever hire her again. She was supposed to crawl back to him. She was supposed to
need him.
“Yeah,” he said, pasting a smile on his face. “I was just… surprised that your father is so
welcoming. He never drove us anywhere.”
I clenched my jaw, holding the smile on my face like a mask. My wolf growled quietly, her
pain mirroring mine.
“Maybe one day. When the time is right.”
Elliot met my eyes. And for a second, he smirked. He knew what that bracelet meant to me. This was just another way to twist the knife.
Then to everyone’s surprise, Gareth rose from his chair. “I’ll send you home.”
Back then, I thought he meant when we got engaged. I thought I would be the one
wearing that bracelet.
“You okay?” Isabella asked, lightly touching his arm.
Elliot couldn’t let that happen. He wouldn’t.
The tension cracked slightly as a few chuckles broke out around the room. Even I couldn’t
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help the small laugh that slipped out as I saw Michelle’s proud look. Isabella went to ruffle her sister’s hair. “Of course you will! In future, I’ll be running Ashborne with Elliot, you’ll
have to help Dad run Frostfang.”
It was time to pay Jasmine’s mother a visit.
He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. She blushed, smiling shyly as I looked
away.
Isabella held it out toward me. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
I smiled back politely, meeting his eyes evenly. “It’s alright. I’m used to being forgotten.”
“Yes. Is there an issue?” Gareth asked, raising an eyebrow. “I actually do have a driving
license.”
Instead, Jasmine stood there, calm and composed, playing the perfect little tutor with that fake smile on her face. Like she didn’t care. Like she had already moved on.
Isabella smiled warmly, clearly pleased. “It’s so good to see her getting along with
someone again.”
Jasmine gave an awkward laugh and nod in response. Gareth cleared his throat, his hand
hovering at the small of her back, wordlessly escorting her out of the house. As they left, Isabella let out a happy giggle.
“I found the perfect designer for my dress. We’re getting it customized with Frostfang embroidery-traditional, but a little modern too.”
I wasn’t sure if I should be thankful or scared. Technically, his warning also applied to me.
He didn’t say anything for a second. Just studied me like he was trying to figure out what I would do.
Isabella clapped her hands. “That’s right! Jasmine, you’re definitely invited to my wedding.”
Gareth Laken, his father-in-law, liked Jasmine.
The one I had stared at through the boutique window so many times. Delicate silver threads were woven like vines, with tiny crystal leaves that shimmered under the light.
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14 Chapter 14: Slipping Through His Fingers
Elegant. Classy. Expensive. I’d never said I wanted it out loud, but Elliot knew. He’d caught me looking at it once, and I remember what he said.
Because if Gareth had feelings for Jasmine, if Gareth believed her, and started seeing her as more than just a hired tutor-then all of his plans were for naught. He could kiss his
Alpha position goodbye.
He thought it would break her.
“I think I’ll head home now,” Jasmine said softly, standing up to leave.
“Elliot?” Isabella prompted.
“That sounds lovely,” I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady.
Gareth gave a firm nod. “I’m glad to see you’ve got your priorities straight, Elliot. That’s what Ashborne needs as an Alpha.”
“Promise?” the girl asked, her pout already forming.
The flash of pain in her eyes. The way her smile tightened. The silence.
But Elliot stood frozen, his stomach churning with rage.
Jasmine grinned. “Promise.”
His fists clenched so hard that his knuckles cracked, attracting Isabella’s attention.
“Good,” Gareth replied. “Because I wouldn’t want anything or anyone interfering with this
wedding.”
Michelle shrugged and added with a grin, “Well, when I become Lycan King, I’ll remember
everybody.”
Michelle immediately clung to her side. “Do you have to?”
It was exactly what he wanted.
I felt a pang in my heart at the reminder that Isabella would be my Luna.
Then he turned to Elliot and Isabella with a tight smile. “So, how’s the wedding planning going? I imagine things are moving smoothly-since you’re both clearly in love and have
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no secrets with each other.”
Gareth’s gaze snapped to me again, sharp as a blade.
There was a long awkward pause. I almost smiled at how Elliot seemed to be dumbfounded by Michelle’s innocent question. She was still a child, so she missed the way her father’s sharp eyes darted between Elliot and I.
The air became lighter as Isabella reached for Elliot’s hand and smiled sweetly.
“Of course,” Elliot finally said, his voice a little tight. “Isabella is my priority. Everything’s going perfectly.”
“I decide what is necessary,” Gareth retorted, but there was no heat behind it. He got up and waited for Jasmine at the door. “Consider it an apology for my earlier outburst.”
“I am not as busy as you, since you have a wedding to plan,” Gareth said pointedly, and Jasmine deliberately didn’t look at him. “Isn’t that right, Isabella?”
“Dad, are you driving Jasmine personally?” Isabella asked, pleased delight colouring her tone. Michelle was similarly surprised, her eyes darting between her father and Jasmine.
“I know!” Isabella beamed. She whispered to him, “Maybe this proves he’ll finally move on.”
It was that bracelet.
Elliot watched Jasmine out of the corner of his eye, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. She hadn’t reacted much to the bracelet-at least not openly-but he saw it.
Elliot didn’t miss a beat. “I love Isabella more than life itself.”
I looked. And for a second, I couldn’t breathe.
“It is,” I said, forcing a smile. “He has good taste.”
There was another long silence as Elliot nodded at the implicit warning in Gareth’s words, his smile splintering at the sides.
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15 Chapter 15: Not a Date
