?Chapter 103:

“No, it’s just attraction. Obsession, maybe. But not my fucking mate.”

Kade’s gaze held mine, observant and doubtful. “Ryder, think about it. An obsession wouldn’t make you inflict injuries on me. You looked like you could rip me in two. What other reason could there be?”

His words struck a chord. Since the first day I saw Jasmine, there was something different about her. A spark, a connection I couldn’t ignore.

“Mate?” I whispered, the possibility sending my mind whirling. Her memories flooded into my pool of thoughts: Jasmine’s smile, herughter, brown eyes that darkened when she was upset. Ace’s growls, his fierce possessiveness that rendered me powerless, his need to im her.

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “It can’t be.”

Kade’s expression remained steadfast. “Reflect, Ryder. Your actions speak louder than words.” He sighed.

I took a deep breath, letting the heavy truth sink in, a sour taste lingering on my tongue afterwards.

Could it be true? Was Jasmine my mate?

I fought every reason in my head with the rationality of the realist I was. Yet, there was a little voice in my head that still persisted. What if Kade was right? What if Jasmine was my mate?

Mate.

The word echoed in my mind, refusing to be silenced.

“I’m not going to let what happened today define the situation. Why didn’t I notice?” I muttered stubbornly, the rich tone of frustration in my voice.

Kade’s words echoed in my mind: “She’s your mate, Ryder.”

Damn it! She was a werewolf. In fact, she could pass off as a human being if she were wolf-less. What type of lesson was the Moon Goddess trying to teach me?

With my hands tucked in my pockets, I paced around in a straight line, trying to process my thoughts properly. Ace’s behavior, my own emotions—everything pointed to one conclusion.

“But what if I’m wrong?” Doubt crept in. Or maybe denial.

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I stopped pacing and closed my eyes, pushing my thoughts into the archive in my head.

“Ace knows,” I whispered. I could feel my conviction grow.

My wolf’s instincts had recognized Jasmine as mine from the start. My eyes snapped open to face Kade’s hopeful gaze.

“I need to see her,” I growled, striding toward the door.

To confirm, to understand, to im.

What if she feels it too? What if she’s the one?

The possibility sent my heart racing. But I knew I’d only frighten her.

Hell, I was yet toe to terms with her being my mate myself.

“I’m telling you, Kade, there’s no way she’s my mate. I would have felt it,” I insisted, a part of me wanting him toe up with another reason, to try to convince me.

Kade leaned against the wall, his expression calm. “Because of the mating bond? You wouldn’t feel the mating bond, Ryder.”

“Why not?” I demanded.

“You mentioned her wolf is still developing,” Kade reminded me. “The mating bond is a two-way link. Since Jasmine’s wolf isn’t fully awakened, her side of the bond could be muted or iplete.”

I scowled. “That doesn’t make sense.”

Lie. It did.

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