Chapter 61

Chapter 61
 Hunter:
 The moment the door bursts open, Jasmine freezes.
 Slowly, she slips her phone into her pocket and turns to me with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.
 “Hunter. You startled me,” she says, “w.. why Why are you staring at me that way? Didn’t you say you had something important to talk about?”
 I can’t help but scoff.
 The audacity to act as though she hadn’t just been plotting something evil a minute ago.
 With a clenched jaw, I continue to take long strides towards her . “What did I just hear you say on the phone?”
 “Huh?” She arches a brow before scoffing. “Seriously? You’re listening in on my phone calls n-”
 I don’t give her a chance to finish.
 In one swift move, I’m in front of her, my hand closing around her throat. She gasps, fingers flying up to claw at my wrist.
 “Don’t play with me, Jasmine,” I mutter, “What neat job were you talking about?”
 She rolls her eyes, though they’re rimmed red. “It… it’s none of your business.”
 My fingers tighten against her throat as I shove her back, pinning her to the wall.
 Not enough to break her, but enough to make her feel it.
 She immediately lets out a shriek of pain.
 “You’re insàne!” she chokes out, her nails digging at my wrist. “L–let me go, Hunter. I’m your Luna!”
 “You?” Hearing her say that makes me want to snap her neck off her shoulders. “You’re not my Luna, Jasmine. And I swear to the goddess, if you don’t tell me what the hell you’re plotting, I’m going to squeeze you so tight until you black out.”
 I ease my grip just slightly, watching the way her chest heaves as she struggles for air.
 She coughs out a shaky breath. “It’s… my dress. Nothing more. I.. I was just praising the tailor for the p.. perfect job she did.”
 My brows knit. “Dress? What dress?”
 “For the upcoming ceremony at Alpha Matteo’s pack,” she gasps.
 My eyes narrow. “Are you fúcking lying to me?”
 “I… I’m not!” she chokes, tears pooling at the corners of her eyes. “It’s only a few days away, so I thought I’d have a dress made and—”
 A laugh bursts out of me.
 I tilt my head back, shaking it. “You’ve lost your damn mind if you think you’ll be attending. Do yourself a favor—burn that dress, shred it, I don’t give a fúck. But you’re not stepping foot in Matteo’s pack with me or-”
 The door crashes open before I can finish.
 My head turns slowly, eyes narrowing as Kyle steps into the room.
 The moment his eyes land on us, they widen.
 “Oh my god,” he stammers, taking half a step back. “Looks like I walked in at the wrong time. Maybe I should just… leave.”
 My grip is still locked around Jasmine’s throat as I shoot him a glare. “Not funny, Kyle. What are you doing here? Did you get what I asked for?”
 “Yeah. He had no problem giving it to me.” He nods, sliding his hands into his pockets before pulling out a small card and raising it high. “Now tell me, what the hell did you say to him?”
 My eyes flick to the card, excitement sparking through me. Without a second thought, I release Jasmine. She collapses to the floor with a heavy thud.
 I don’t even glance at her. My legs carry me straight toward Kyle.
 When I heard Matteo scrapped the gala a few weeks ago, I was livid.
 That meant one thing; I wouldn’t be stepping foot into his ceremony. And if he could cancel the gala, then I knew damn well he wouldn’t be sending me an invite to the crowning either.
 I was right.
 The bàstard didn’t. He only sent a handful out, and only to the Alphas he wanted.
 So, I did what I had to. I came up with a deal so slick that Erasmus—my dear friend and one of the chosen Alphas—handed his invite over without a second thought.
 I snatch the card from Kyle’s hand, excitement rushing through me as my eyes drink it in.
 Finally.
 “Goddess,” I breathe, tilting my head back with a grin.
 When I glance back at Kyle, he’s watching me like I’ve just plotted a murder.
 “What?” I snap.
 “Nothing,” he mutters, scratching the back of his head. “Just… I don’t know. Is this really worth it? All this trouble, just to see—”
 “It’s none of your business, Kyle.” I cut him off. “Your job is done. Thank you. You can leave now.”
 But he stays put, stubborn as ever. “No, but seriously, Hunter.” His eyes narrow, that familiar look settling on his face.
 The one that says you’re being foolish again—the same damn look that usually comes with him spiting me for days afterward.
 “What.. what if Matteo finds out?”
 I smirk. “That I’m at the ceremony he never wanted me at?”
 “Yes.”
 “That’s the whole point.” A laugh rumbles out of me. “I mean, he surely and eventually will. Let him throw me out if he wants. I don’t give a damn.” I step closer, waving the card between my fingers. “What matters is that he sees me there—sees that no matter what he does, I always get what I want. Whatever I set my mind on… I make it happen.”
 Kyle scoffs. “Okay… and how exactly are you planning to get-”
 “Seriously? All these questions…for what, exactly?” I frown, shaking my head. “I’m starting to rethink this whole friendship, Kyle. You should be backing me up. I’m your Alpha. You went and got the card for me, didn’t you?”
 “Yes,” he says flatly. “And that’s the last damn thing I’m doing for this whole mess.”
 “Mess?” I press a hand to my chest dramatically. “Ouch. That really hurts, especially coming from my supposed best friend.”
 He just rolls his eyes. “Have fun. Bye.” And with that, he turns and strides out before I can get another word in.
 “Jeez,” I mutter, chuckling to myself. “Kyle’s such a damn prude.”
 Still smiling like a fool, I turn back around only to find Jasmine staring at me.
 Shit. I’d completely forgotten she was still here. I guess I was too caught up in the rush of excitement from getting the card.
 Now, seeing Jasmine again, I can’t believe this is the same woman who was trembling under my grip a few minutes ago. Her eyes aren’t fearful anymore. No. She looks. Confident. Almost smug.
 I grit my teeth. Doesn’t matter. The only reason I called her here was to hand her the divorce papers and be done with this charade. Nothing more.
 My steps pound against the floor as I move toward her.
 “Jasmine—”
 “Actually,” she cuts in smoothly before I can say another word . “I wanted to show you something, Hunter.”
 My brows draw together. “W–what?”
 She doesn’t answer right away. Instead, she slips a hand into her pocket with a calmness that grates on my nerves, then pulls out a small object.
 At first, it doesn’t register. I blink, staring. And then it hits me.
 Wait. No.
 “Oh yes, it’s a pregnancy test strip.” she says with a smile that makes my stomach turn before slamming the strip onto the table. “I’m pregnant, Hunter. We’re expecting a baby.”