AIDEN'S POV
"You have two choices. One year as my wife…" I paused for a bit of emphasis, watching the way her breath caught and her fingers twitched at her sides. "Or give me an heir."
Jasmine's lips parted slightly, her breath catching as her brain fought to process what I had just said. Shock flickered in those stormy eyes of hers, followed by rage, then something else—something closer to panic.
She recovered quickly, squaring her shoulders. "No," she said sharply, shaking her head. "No way in hell."
I arched a brow, waiting for more reaction from her.
"That's not a choice. That's blackmail."
I leaned back in my chair, watching her. "It's reality, sweetheart."
Her nostrils flared as she jabbed a finger at me. "There has to be another option."
I lifted a brow. "Alright. Enlighten me. What's your plan?"
Jasmine's mouth opened, but no words came out. She hesitated for a fraction of a second before forcing her arms across her chest. "I'll… I'll figure it out."
I gave her a knowing look. "Will you?"
Her jaw clenched.
I leaned back, studying her. The way her pulse hammered at the base of her throat. The way her scent—vanilla, jasmine, something warm and infuriatingly intoxicating—spiked with barely contained panic.
"You tell me, Jasmine," I said smoothly. "You go through with the annulment, then what?" I asked. "You go back to Alexander and let him parade you around like a trophy? Let your father decide the rest of your life?" I tilted my head, watching her closely. "We both know you don't want that."
Jasmine stiffened.
Bingo.
Her silence spoke louder than any argument she could make. She might not have remembered everything from last night, but deep down, she knew I was right.
Her breathing turned shallow.
I could almost hear the battle raging inside her, the war between her pride and her desperation.
I knew which side would win.
My voice was softer this time, persuasive. "Are you really going to let them dictate your future, or are you going to seize control of your own narrative?"
She exhaled sharply, glancing away.
Got you.
I took my time before delivering the next blow. "You don't need them, Jasmine," I told her, watching as confusion flickered in her expression. "You don't need Alex. You don't need your father's approval." I leaned forward and smirked. "You don't need the merger, too. If that's what's keeping you up at night, I'll handle it."
Her brows knitted together. "Handle it how?"
"You want to save Heart Enterprises?" I asked. "I can help you buy the company under your name."
Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "Why would you do that?"
I smirked. "Let's just say I have my own reasons."
Jasmine wasn't buying it. "That's not an answer."
No, it wasn't.
And it sure as hell wasn't the full truth.
I could hear my wolf, pacing restlessly in the back of my mind, his presence clawing at the edges of my control. We get to be with our mate and break this—
I shut him out before he could finish.
I don't want to think about that. Not yet. Not now.
Instead, I gave her the answer she was expecting. "I need a wife to keep up appearances."
Jasmine let out a humorless laugh. "That's it? That's your grand plan?"
"For now."
"And after the divorce?"
I shrugged. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
She searched my face for any hint of deception, but she wouldn't find one. At least, not the kind she was looking for.
I had played this game long enough to know when to reveal my cards—and when to keep them close to my chest.
Jasmine exhaled through her nose, arms still crossed tightly. She was trapped, and she knew it.
But she wasn't the type to go down without a fight.
"Fine," she reluctantly said at last. "I'll stay married to you for one year. But under one condition."
I waited.
"No intimacy," she stated firmly. "No touching, no playing the doting husband, and definitely no—"
I smirked. "We'll see, wifey."
Jasmine's eyes blazed with irritation, but she didn't argue further.
She had made her choice.
And so had I.
She clenched her fist in frustration, then released it before turning sharply and walking toward the door.
I watched her go, the sway of her hips, the tension in her shoulders.
Mine.
The word slipped out without thinking; she might not know the whole truth now, but there's no going back.
As soon as she left and the door clicked shut, I let out a breath and rubbed my temples.
My wolf rumbled low in my mind.
She's ours. You know it.
I ignored him.
I didn't have time for this.
Grabbing my phone from my desk, I dialed a familiar number.
Kieran Hawthorne—my Beta, my right-hand man, and the Vice CEO of Stark Global Ventures. He'd been by my side for years, loyal to a T, through blood and war, through corporate takeovers and supernatural battles alike.
If there was anyone I trusted to handle things efficiently, it was him.
It barely rang twice before his familiar voice answered.
"Boss?"
"Kieran," I said smoothly, leaning back in my chair. "We're throwing a ball."
A brief pause. "Understood. Business-related or…?"
"Officially? Business." My fingers tapped against the polished desk. "Unofficially? It's time the world knew about my wife."
A beat of silence.
Then—"Your what?"
"I found her, Kieran… I found my mate."
"And you're marrying her immediately?"
"We got married already. The ball is just to announce our marriage."
A low whistle. "You know, I had a feeling you'd eventually do something reckless, but this…" He let out a laugh. "Damn, Alpha. You don't do anything halfway, do you?"
"No," I said simply. "And neither do you. Handle the details. Make it grand."
"Understood. I'll take care of it."
"Good."
"Uhm… One last thing, Alpha."
"What's that?"
There was silence, and I could sense his hesitation. Finally, he spoke. "D-does she know… about the curse?"