Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Yasmin’s POV

I squeezed my eyes shut, unable to meet his piercing gaze, and took a step back. The heat of my blush felt like it was burning through my skin.

"I am so sorry," I whispered, my voice trembling as I stared at his heavy black leather boots. "I should not be here. I should have knocked. I... I should just go."

Before I could take another retreating step, his massive hands reached out and caught my arms. Despite his size and the brutal, animalistic strength I had just witnessed in his office, his grip was incredibly gentle. He did not pull me closer, but he held me firmly enough to ground me.

"Hey, kiddo. Calm down," Roman said. His voice was no longer a low, predatory purr; it was a steady, grounding rumble. "Is your father okay? Is he alive?"

The sheer relief of his question made me nod rapidly. "Yes. Yes, he is alive."

Roman let out a long, slow sigh, his broad shoulders dropping slightly. "Good. Now, what brings you here?"

I looked down at my sneakers, suddenly feeling incredibly small in front of him. "It is nothing. Really. We do not even want to disturb you..."

"Yasmin." He spoke my name with a quiet, unyielding authority that made me look up. His dark eyes were soft now, completely devoid of the wild, smoky lust from moments ago. "Your father is a good friend, and he is one of my most loyal soldiers. I will help him in any way I can." He said looking into my eyes and helping me adjust the glasses which was already falling on my nose to sit right uo in my face

He sounded so incredibly calm, so gentle and authoritative. If I had not just walked in on him with that skinny blonde woman in the short corporate skirt and sleek ponytail, I would have thought he was a completely different man. The contrast was dizzying.

"My father asked me to come," I began softly, clutching the strap of my bag like a shield. "He asked if... if I could stay with you for the time being. Just until he gets better and is out of the hospital."

Roman’s eyes softened even further, a look of genuine warmth passing over his rugged features. "I have more than enough room in the mansion, Yasmin. Anything for Robert."

A wave of relief washed over me. "Thank you. I will let you know when I am moving in."

I bowed my head slightly, a polite, old-school pack gesture of respect, and quickly walked past him. The moment I pushed through the heavy glass doors of the lobby and stepped onto the bustling city sidewalk, I let out a massive, shuddering breath I felt like I had been holding for hours.

By the time I made it back to the hospital, the adrenaline had faded, leaving me exhausted but relieved. I slipped into my father's room and sat on the edge of his bed.

"The Alpha agreed, Dad," I said, offering him a genuine smile. "He said you are his friend, and he has plenty of room for me."

My father's pale face lit up with a weak, happy smile. "I knew Roman would not let us down. And sweetheart, I have good news for you, too. Daniel's family called. They have agreed to buy our small two-bedroom house for fifty-five thousand dollars."

My eyes widened. "Really?"

"Yes," my dad rasped, his eyes shining with tears of relief. "The doctor said that is a perfect down payment to start the new surgery. I am so happy, Yasmin. At least your soon-to-be fated mate's family will own it, so you still get to keep your childhood home in a way."

I forced a warm smile to my face, though a sudden pang of anxiety hit my chest. In all the chaos of my father’s illness, I had completely forgotten about the upcoming mating ceremony.

The Moon Goddess had blessed our generation, and the blooming wolves of the pack were all preparing to find their destined partners. Luckily, my father and I already had a strong feeling mine would be Daniel. He was a sweet guy in my nursing class, and his family had a prestigious background as Beta soldiers—a rank much higher than my father’s Delta status. My dad truly believed Daniel would provide a good life and a stable home for me.

"It is okay, Father. Enough of the talking for now," I said gently, adjusting his blanket.

Of course I wanted to find my fated mate, but right now, my heart was entirely focused on my dad. I just wished I had more time to spend with him, to nurse him back to health myself.

"I am so sorry I won't be there at your mating ceremony, Yasmin," my dad whispered, his eyes growing heavy as his evening medications began to kick in. "But I promise you, I am going to fight this. I will make it up to you."

"Just focus on resting," I murmured, leaning down to hug him tightly.

We talked in quiet whispers for a little while longer until his eyes finally drifted shut and his breathing evened out into a deep sleep.

The room grew quiet, save for the steady, normal hum of the heart monitor. I pulled out my phone to pass the time, opening the Pack Academy’s online portal to check on my upcoming classes.

But the moment I logged into the student forum, my breath caught.

A massive, trending headline was plastered across the top of the Academy’s social media blogs. I stared at the screen, the glowing light reflecting off my face as my hands began to violently shake.