age group 1 edited
820 Words
Chapter one
Jasmine POV
Watching Ivory train tonight filled me with a kind of pride that made my chest ache.
At thirteen, she was already stronger than most grown she-wolves. She flipped clean over her opponent, landed behind her, and kicked her square in the head. Before the poor girl could even regain her balance, Ivory rushed forward and dropped her to her knees with a sharp strike to the back. Submission came fast.
She didn’t gloat. She offered her hand and helped the girl up.
That was my daughter. Strong… but kind.
Training only gets harder with age. At ten, they learn to run, jump, claw. By thirteen they’re flipping and striking. By fifteen? Fifteen laps turn into twenty if the warriors think you’re holding back. The pack doesn’t raise weak wolves. And Ivory? She thrives in it.
But strength isn’t the only thing that makes her dangerous.
We learned early on that we had to be careful what we talked about around her. She misses nothing. One time, she overheard some teenagers whispering about s*x and came straight to us with a million questions. Ryan and I had to sit her down for the most uncomfortable “birds and the bees” talk of our lives.
Her horrified face still makes me want to laugh.
“I am never doing that. Not even with my mate. That’s gross.”
I remember saying the same thing at her age. Life has a funny way of humbling you.
Ivory has always been curious. too curious. She used to find her gifts before we could even give them to her. She’d open them, then act surprised when we handed them to her later. I caught her once. After that, everything stayed locked in our room. But gifts were the least of our worries. She was three the first time it happened.
She placed her tiny hand on my forehead. My eyes rolled back, and I felt like I was drowning in memories I wasn’t choosing to remember. When she pulled away, she started asking questions no three-year-old should even know to ask.
“Mommy, who is Alpha Con? Who’s Jannie and Carlion? Who are Hayley and William? Alpha Con is still alive.” My blood ran cold.
She could see into the past. If anyone found out, they would try to take her. Use her. Control her. I told Ryan. He didn’t believe me at first….until Ivory did it to him. After that, we both agreed: no one could ever know. When she got older, she wouldn’t stop asking. So I told her pieces of the truth. I told her Jannie and Carlion were old friends.
That William and Hayley rule the werewolves. That there is a Lycan king and queen who rule the Lycans. And that Alpha Con was my ex-mate who tried to hurt me.
“He won’t come here,” I told her. But the truth?
Men like Con don’t disappear. They wait.
And if he ever comes near my daughter, I will make sure he dies this time. Ryan agrees.
seventeen years, seventeen years by his side…fighting, ruling, arguing, and loving. He has never once raised his voice at me. Never lifted a hand. He shuts disrespect down before it even breathes. Unlike Con.
Just the other day, we were walking down the hall when Caddy…beautiful, ambitious, and hungry for power…stepped in front of us. Her fingers slid down Ryan’s arm like I wasn’t even standing there.
“Alpha, I have the menu for tonight. Lobster, shrimp, steak. Would you like to come check the lobster with me?” Her hand lingered.
Ryan removed her hand calmly.
“If you disrespect my mate again, we’re going to have serious problems. I am a married man. Do you see this mark on my neck? That is her mark. Try that again, and I’ll put you in a cell near the rogues for three days. Do I make myself clear?” She went pale.
“Yes, Alpha. I’m sorry, Luna Jasmine.” And she left.
With Con, I had to fight my own battles. With Ryan, I never stand alone.
But even now, I can feel it. Caddy hasn’t tried anything in ten years… yet storms brew quietly. There’s always someone who wants what isn’t theirs.
After training, Ivory showered and dressed for dinner. She loves eating in the dining hall with the pack, laughing with her friends about drills and school. She balances both worlds so naturally student and warrior. After dinner, I read her a book. She never picks the same one twice. Then I tucked her in. I never knew motherhood would feel like this. Like purpose. Like terror.
Because as I kissed her forehead tonight, one thought refused to leave me ... .As long as Con is alive…anger" will always be circling.
And if he ever comes for my daughter…He won’t walk away this time.
- Writer
