Shunned By An Alpha, Cherised By A Lycan

Chapter 255:

My breath catches, a tear slipping down my cheek. I bite my lip, trying to hold it all in. The pain, the confusion, the overwhelming need for Ryder to pull me out of this darkness.

“Jasmine?” Ryder’s voice is soft, hesitant.

I open my eyes, meeting his gaze. The worry etched into his face makes my chest tighten. He’s afraid of hurting me, afraid of doing the wrong thing. But all I want is for him to take away this numbness, to remind me that I’m still me.

I swallow hard, my voice shaky. “Ryder… I need you.”

His eyes widen, his jaw clenching. “I’m here,” he whispers. “I’ve always been here.”

I shake my head, frustration bubbling up. “No. I mean, I need you. To touch me, to hold me—to make me feel like I’m still yours.”

His breath hitches, his eyes darkening. But there’s hesitation there, a flicker of doubt. He’s holding back, scared that I’ll break under his touch.

I lean forward, my hand trembling as I reach for his. His warmth seeps into my fingers, grounding me just a little. “Please,” I whisper, my voice barely more than a breath. “I need to feel something other than this emptiness. I need you to remind me that he doesn’t own me. That I still belong to you.”

He exhales slowly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. The touch is gentle, almost too gentle. I want more. I want him to lose control, to let his love drown out the shadows that cling to me.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he says, his voice rough with emotion.

“You won’t.” My voice cracks, but I force myself to keep going. “The only thing that hurts is feeling like I’m slipping away from you. I need you to pull me back. To make me feel… real again.”

Ryder’s eyes search mine, a storm of emotions swirling there. For a moment, I’m afraid he’ll say no, that he’ll keep his distance out of fear of breaking me.noveldrama

But then, his fingers tighten around mine, his grip firm and steady. He leans in, his forehead resting against mine, his breath warm on my lips.

g͎a͎l͎n͎o͎v͎e͎l͎s͎.͎c͎o͎m͎ = ʟᴇɢɪᴛ

“You’re mine, Jasmine,” he whispers, his voice raw and possessive. “No matter what he did, no matter how he tried to break you—you’re still mine.”

A sob rises in my throat, but it’s mixed with relief, with hope. His words are a lifeline, pulling me out of the darkness.

“Then show me,” I breathe. “Make me forget him. Just for a little while.”

“But if I do…” My voice cracks, and I take a shaky breath. “If I mark you, it could kill you, Jasmine.”

My eyes pop wide at the reality of his statement.

“I’d rather fight this need forever than lose you,” he whispers, his voice barely audible.

I want to scream, but I understand that he’s trying to protect me.

Ryder’s POV

It was late at night, the kind of night where the silence was heavy and the air felt thicker than usual. The darkness outside seemed endless, broken only by the faint glow of the moon filtering through the blinds. The weight of everything pressed down on me, suffocating and relentless. I tightened my hold on Jasmine, her fragile body cradled against mine, her head resting just below my chin.

Dr. Lee’s words repeated in my mind.

“The bond will fade. Now that Jason rejected her and she accepted it, the connection should weaken.”

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