17 Chapter 17: Not Yours Anymore
“You mean I’ll have nothing,” I snapped. “No goals, no future, no degree. Just you-hiding me while you marry someone else.”
“Well… maybe that’s not the worst thing,” she said slowly, like she was testing the words.
And then-he kissed me.
“Isn’t it?” I bit out. “You want me to give up everything I fought for because it’s more
convenient for you?”
Elliot’s eyes narrowed. “You think he’s better than me? That Gareth Laken, with his money and power, actually sees you? You’re a broken little girl, Jasmine. He’ll toss you aside like
trash once he’s bored.”
“You don’t get to run away from this,” he said menacingly, closing the door behind him.
“You’re his mate.”
“You’re being selfish, Jasmine,” my mom said, exasperated, “Elliot’s trying to help our family. You’re just pushing him away for no good reason.”
He turned to my mom like she’d back him up again, but I’d had enough. My blood was boiling. I stormed upstairs, needing to get away before I exploded.
I didn’t care anymore. I shoved him hard in the chest. “Get. Out.”
I stiffened.
“He’s offering you a way out,” she insisted. “You can still go to online school if you really want to finish your degree. But at least this way, you get to be with your mate. You’ll be
cared for.”
“I can’t believe you, Jasmine,” she snapped, voice trembling with anger.
I stared at her, mouth falling open. “Wait-what?”
She flinched but didn’t back down. “Gareth Laken doesn’t care about you, Jasmine. He’s an old powerful man that plays with young women for fun. I’ve met plenty of men like
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them when I was younger. You’re just a distraction to him.”
Big mistake.
My heart dropped. “He said what?”
“No. You shut up.” His jaw tightened. “You think I don’t know about you crawling into
Gareth’s office like a desperate little thing? Are you seriously playing the charity case card
now? That’s pathetic, even for you.”
Elliot stepped closer, like he had just been waiting for his cue. “Jasmine, I offered this
because I know how hard school’s been for you. You don’t have to prove anything to
anyone. You struggled just to get by.”
I blinked again. “Excuse me?”
“Let go of me!” I struggled against him, but he was stronger, holding me in place like I was
nothing.
I barely had time to take off my shoes before my mom stood from the couch, her eyes
blazing.
I laughed bitterly. “And you think you are?”
“I worked twice as hard just to keep up,” I went on, voice shaking. “I studied when everyone else was partying. I cried over pages that made no sense until I figured them out. I fought for my place.”
He took a step closer, voice dropping. “You think a few fucks will buy your daddy’s
freedom?”
Mom scoffed. “Why would he lie, Jasmine? He loves you.”
She paused, stunned for a second-but not long enough.
“And Elliot?” I asked, my voice cold. “What am I to him? A toy he wants to keep hidden?”
Furious, punishing, lips crashing against mine like a war. There was no warmth. No care.
Just anger. Just his bruising needs to prove something.
“You were never loyal. You just liked having control,” I snapped. “Now get the hell out.”
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17 Chapter 17: Not Yours Anymore
But of course, Elliot followed. I heard his quick goodbye to my mother before his footsteps
echoed behind me.
“I just spoke with Elliot,” she said, folding her arms like she had just won some imaginary argument. “He told me everything. He said Gareth Laken took you out on some fancy date after you begged him to help your father.”
“No, Mom. He doesn’t.” I looked her in the eye. “He wants me to quit university and
become his mistress. That’s what he offered me.”
“Yes, I do!” I yelled. “Because people like you don’t stop unless I make you!”
“You’re not thinking clearly. Elliot has been by your side for years. You used to tell me how much he supported your dreams.” She countered.
He reached for me, but I backed away.
His hand shot out and grabbed my arm, yanking me into him with a force that knocked
the breath out of me.
“And that excuses everything?”
Elliot’s face darkened. His voice dropped low. “You’re mine, Jasmine. You always will be.”
“He’s worried sick about you,” she went on, ignoring me. “He said you’re acting out, making reckless decisions, getting involved with powerful men who could destroy you.”
Elliot’s gaze landed on the coat draped carelessly over the side of my wardrobe-Gareth’s coat. I hadn’t even realized I left it there.
“I should remind you what it felt like to be mine,” he growled against my mouth.
“Jasmine, he’s your fated mate. That bond means something,” she said, stepping closer like she could make this make sense. “He’ll take care of you. Protect you. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything.” 1
My stomach twisted, but I stood my ground. “That’s none of your business.”
“I’m not running,” I snapped. “I’m done talking.”
He frowned. “It’s not like that,”
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< 17 Chapter 17: Not Yours Anymore
He continued, voice soft and coaxing, like he was doing me a favor. “Remember? You couldn’t write an essay without panicking. You’d forget half the words. It wasn’t your fault, but it made everything harder. I used to stay up late helping you. Don’t be stubborn – you’re letting your pride ruin what’s good for you.”
He marched over, yanked it off the hanger, sniffed it, and threw it on the floor like it burned him. “So it’s true,” he spat. “You’re screwing him now.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “So I should just give up everything I’ve worked for? Let him control me like a puppet because he ‘might’ protect me? Mom, are you listening to
yourself?”
“Don’t twist this, Jasmine. You’re not being fair.”
I slammed my bedroom door shut, but he pushed it open a second later.
He laughed bitterly. “I own the right, Jasmine. I wasted years of my life being loyal to you. I made you. And this is how you pay me back?”
I twisted, trying to break free, but he gripped the back of my neck, fingers digging in.
His jaw tightened. “You don’t have to fight anymore.”
I blinked, stunned. “What… what did I do?”
“Shut up, Elliot.”
“You don’t get to decide what’s best for me,” I whispered. “You already took enough from
me.”
“You know exactly what you did,” she hissed. “Going around seducing the Lycan King like that. Throwing yourself at him to save your father? I didn’t raise you to be that kind of
girl.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was my mother possessed?
“Yeah,” I snapped. “Until he crushed them.”
Cared for? Is that what she thought this was?
“I know,” he said with a shrug. “But it doesn’t have to be this hard anymore. If you quit, you won’t have to deal with that pressure. You’ll learn at your own pace, from home.
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17 Chapter 17: Not Yours Anymore
You’ll have me.”
My fists clenched at my sides. “He’s lying.”
“No,” I whispered. “Not anymore.”
I flinched. The words hit like a slap.
“You don’t get to push me,” he hissed.
I felt heat rush to my face-shame, rage, all tangled up. “You don’t get to talk to me like
that.”
