?Chapter 344:

    Her words hit me like a p to the face. I opened my mouth to argue, to tell her it wasn’t that simple, but before I could, her mother chimed in from the corner of the room.

    “She was behind the attack,” her mother said softly. “But Ryder believes there’s someone else involved.”

    Jasmine’s gaze flicked to her parents and then back to me. Her irritation was practically rolling off her in waves that hit me square in the chest.

    “And no one thought to mention this to me before now?” she snapped, her voice sharp enough to make me flinch. “I’ve been lying here like a damn invalid, and you all decided I didn’t need to know what’s going on?”

    I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Jasmine, you were unconscious,” I said, trying to keep my tone calm. “Healing. I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”

    “Oh, how thoughtful of you,” she shot back, sarcasmced through every word. “Because I clearly don’t have a right to know who’s trying to kill me.”

    Her words stung more than they should have, but I couldn’t let myself get distracted. She was mad—hell, she had every right to be. I hadn’t exactly handled things perfectly, and I knew it. But this wasn’t just anger.

    This was… different. I’d never seen her this angry, this furious.

    I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You’re right,” I said quietly. “I should’ve told you. But I wanted you to wake up first. I wanted you to be safe.”

    Her gaze softened for the briefest moment, and I thought maybe, just maybe, we were making progress. But then she flinched, her hand flying to her mouth as her face turned pale.

    “Jasmine?” I asked, panic wing at my throat as I reached for her.

    She batted my hand away, shaking her head as she took deep, steadying breaths. “I’m fine,” she muttered, but the way she said it made me anything but convinced. She wasn’t fine.

    Something was wrong.

    I studied her, watching as she sat back, her lips pressed into a tight line. She looked… lost. Conflicted. And it wasn’t just the aftermath of the attack—it was something deeper.

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    “Jasmine, talk to me,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

    She red at me, and for the first time, I felt like I was looking at a stranger instead of my mate.

    “You don’t get to demand anything from me right now,” she snapped. “Not when I’m still mad at you.”

    The words stung, but what hurt more was the way she said them. Like I was the enemy, like I was the one who’d hurt her.

    “I know,” I said quietly. “But I’m trying to fix it. I’m trying to fix everything.”

    She didn’t respond right away, and the silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.

    I wanted to tell her that I’d do whatever it took to make this right, that I’d move heaven and earth if it meant she’d forgive me. But something told me words wouldn’t be enough.

    When she finally spoke, her voice was softer, but no less firm.

    “Fine,” she said grudgingly. “Start by telling me everything. No more secrets. No more excuses.”

    I nodded, relief flooding through me even though I knew this was just the beginning.

    “Anna Thane was working with someone,” I admitted. “We don’t know who yet, but we’re going to find out. And when we do, they’ll pay.”

    Her eyes narrowed, and I could see the wheels turning in her head. She didn’t trust me—notpletely. Not yet. But she didn’t push me away, either.

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