?Chapter 317:

Jasmine’s voice broke through the noise.

“Brother?” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned to me, her eyes wide and searching. “You have a brother?”

If betrayal was a person, her voice depicted it all, and it hit me like a punch to the gut.

Her eyes, zing with confusion and betrayal, made it clear. I knew this was going to blow my life to hell. Jasmine had that look—the one that said she was seconds away from ripping me apart and wasn’t nning to stop until she had answers. And Aiden? The bastard was basking in it.

He stood there, grinning like the devil himself, as if he hadn’t just walked in and turned my world upside down. As if he hadn’t stolen the ground out from under me by being alive.

I felt like I couldn’t fucking breathe.

“Jasmine,” I said, my voice cracking slightly as I reached for her.

But she stepped back, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t,” she snapped. “Don’t you dare, Ryder. Don’t try to smooth this over with one word. You better start talking, and you better make it good.”

My mouth opened, but the words wouldn’te. How the hell was I supposed to exin this? Exin him?

“Careful, brother,” he drawled, his voiceced with mockery. “Wouldn’t want her thinking you’re scared. Oh, wait—” His smirk widened, and his eyes flicked to…

“Jasmine.”

“That’s exactly what this is, isn’t it? You’re scared of losing this.” He waved a hand toward her like she was a shiny toy.

My chest tightened, rage and fear twisting together into a storm I could barely contain. “Don’t,” I growled, my voice low.

“Don’t what?” Aiden countered, tilting his head like he was considering my words. “Don’t say it out loud? Don’t tell her the truth? Or don’t hit the nerve you’ve been hiding behind all that Alpha bullshit?”

???????? ???????? ??????????: ?????????ν????????．??????

Jasmine’s voice cut through the tension like a de.

“Would someone please exin what the fuck is going on?” she yelled, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Because I’m about two seconds away from losing my mind!”

I turned to her, the panic rising in my chest. “Jasmine, I—”

“Let me guess,” Aiden interrupted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You were going to tell her? Eventually? When the timing was right?” He barked out augh, his gaze sharp as it pinned me. “You’ve had months, Ryder. Fucking months. And now? Now you’re standing there like a deer in the headlights, hoping she won’t walk out that door when she realizes what you’ve done.”

“Shut up,” I snarled, my fists clenching.

But he wasn’t done. Of course, he wasn’t.

“You know,” Aiden continued, his voice softening just enough to make it more cutting, “this is the first time I’ve ever seen you scared. It’s almost funny, really. The big bad Alpha, terrified of losing his little weakness.”

The word hit like a punch. Weakness.

I felt Jasmine stiffen beside me, and I knew—knew—Aiden had nted the seed.

“Is that what I am?” she asked, her voice low and shaking. “Your weakness?”

“No,” I said quickly, turning to face her. “That’s not—Jasmine, you’re not—”

.

.

.