“I wanted to thank you, Cali,” I said, my tone deliberately steady, my words carefully chosen. “Thank you for giving me everything I needed to move forward.” I tilted my head, letting the weight of my words sink in. “If it weren’t for you, I might never have had the strength to break free.”
For a second, I thought she understood, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. But then her composure crumbled, her face tightening with something darker. She must have realized what I was saying—her arrogance dissolving into panic.
“Break free?” she repeated, her voice shaking slightly. “What are you talking about?”
"You know what I mean. He's yours, I don't care about you two anymore." I stood up and was about to leave.
"Wait! Answer me!" There is panicked in her voice. In one swift movement, she reached forward and shoved me hard, my balance faltering as pain seared through me, sudden and sharp. My stomach cramped as I stumbled back, clutching it, the world spinning as a wave of agony washed over me.
Through the haze of pain, I heard Jaxon’s voice calling for me, felt his arms around me. He's trembling. He turned back to Cali, his face twisted in fury, a deep, guttural growl reverberating from him. He bared his teeth, his Alpha presence filling the space, cold and terrifying. Cali froze, her bravado gone as she knelt instinctively, head bowed, eyes wide with fear. She dared not look up as Jaxon’s fury bore down on her, his eyes flashing gold with an anger that burned cold and merciless.
Ignoring her, he lifted me carefully, his voice gentle despite the barely contained rage I knew was still simmering beneath the surface. “We’re going to the hospital, Jasmine,” he murmured, his words both an assurance and a promise. “I won’t let anything happen to you or the baby. Hold on.”
The pain came in waves, each one stronger than the last as he carried me outside, his grip protective, his presence a steady anchor against the whirlwind of emotions threatening to pull me under. Jaxon’s jaw was set, his focus unwavering as he placed me in the car, his hand gripping mine as he drove, his calm voice breaking through the chaos, grounding me with each word.
The hospital came into view, and Jaxon’s voice softened, a determination in his gaze that bolstered my own resolve. “We’re almost there, Jasmine."