Possession ( Book One of the Accalia Series)

Protecting Jasmine

Jessica's POV (Jasmine's Mom)

To say I was pretty happy Jasmine's eyes didn't glow on her 13th birthday was an understatement. Her eyes would have either been orange or purple, and I would have taken the chance of them turning purple — as I knew I would lose her if they did.

Purple eyes meant they would investigate Daniel and me. I had done so much to protect my baby girl that I would lose my mind if I ended up losing her. She is so special. She has no idea just how special she is.

"You're going to have to tell her someday," my wolf Lana said.

"I know, but I will protect her as much as I can until then," I told her.

"No, we will protect our pup together," Lana said, and I smiled.

Lana is my best friend, and I don't know what I would do without her.

Daniel was upset that her eyes didn't turn orange. He loves Jasmine just as much as he loves me, given our situation, but I knew he was hoping she would only be a beta, so she would always be safe given we were married into the beta line.

I met Daniel when I was 19 years old. I was running away from my old pack and my true mate, as something terrible had happened there. My true mate gave his life to give Jasmine and me a chance to escape. Jasmine was only six months old at the time.

Daniel took me in after I explained what had happened. His true mate had died while giving birth to Darnell. Daniel and I fell for each other in my time of grief, and I ended up becoming his chosen mate. Darnell was almost two at the time, so there isn't much he remembers. He knows I am not his mother, but I'm the only mother figure he has ever known. He even took to loving Jasmine as his sister, but lately I could see that they had grown apart. It upset me to see it, as I considered Darnell to be my son.

The pack loved Jasmine from the moment she arrived. She has such a likable and innocent energy about her. I knew she would one day make me proud.

The only thing is, Jasmine isn't aware of who she truly is. She isn't aware that Daniel isn't her real dad, or that Darnell isn't her real brother. I was scared that she would come to resent me when she found out, but I wanted to keep my little girl little for as long as I could. She was 15 now, but she was still my little girl.

I decided to sit at my desk and write her a letter — explaining everything. Tears poured from my eyes as I did. Having to relive that fateful day was enough to make anyone go crazy.

As I finished writing, I smelled the scent of apples. I knew it was Daniel coming up behind me. Even though he wasn't my true mate, I had grown accustomed to his apple scent. It was a beautiful smell I had loved inhaling for years. He put his arms around me from behind and nuzzled his face against my neck.

"My love, what are you doing?" he said, and I smiled.

My love was a nickname he always called me.

"I am writing Jasmine a letter about her history. She can read it on her 18th birthday," I told him.

He stood over me and read it.

"No need to rush and tell her now. We will keep her protected as long as we can," he said, grabbing the letter and putting it in his pocket.

I stood up and wrapped my hands around his neck, kissing him.

"I know, babe, I just don't want her to hate us for keeping this from her. She deserves so much more. I know you were hoping she would only be a beta too," I told him, and his face fell a little.

Even though Jasmine isn't his by blood, he had accepted and loved her as his own. He always wanted her safe.

"She won't hate you or me. She is exactly everything we have raised her to be — sweet, caring, and compassionate. When the time comes, she will be ready to accept her destiny, and we will be there for her," he told me, and kissed me all over my face. I giggled.

What had I ever done to deserve this man?

Suddenly, someone linked us.

"Betas, rogues spotted near the pack grounds. They seem to be looking for someone. Five of our soldiers are dead so far," the soldier said.

"The kids," we said together, and we were out of the room instantly.

As we ran, I saw Darnell in the kitchen.

"Darnell, where is Jasmine?" Daniel asked.

He shrugged his shoulders and sat down with an apple. Daniel knocked the apple out of his hands.

"What the hell, Dad?" he said angrily.

Daniel jerked him up by his shirt.

"I don't have time for this. Where is your f*****g sister?" he demanded.

"Last time I saw her, she and that omega she's always with were headed to the forest," he said, annoyed.

"Stay here and don't come out of the packhouse," Daniel commanded,

before we ran toward the forest. I saw Sabrina's mom, Lori, running there as well.

"Rogues on the loose. Sabrina and Jasmine are in the woods."

"Jasmine!"

"Sabrina!"

We yelled, trying to find them, but we didn't hear anything. We searched the forest for a few minutes but hadn't seen them. We started to turn back toward the packhouse when we heard two screams. I knew her voice from anywhere.

We ran to one side of the forest, deep in the back, and saw our girls surrounded by five wolves. I growled and shifted into my wolf mid-air. They backed away from our girls as we faced them. I could see their wolves looking at mine in recognition.

I am a white wolf, though not the one from the prophecy. That honor belongs to my baby girl.

Jasmine and Sabrina ran and gathered behind Daniel and me. Sabrina was picked up by her mom and set down on her dad's back, who had shifted into his wolf. As the beta female of the pack, I had learned when to calculate the odds of a battle. Sabrina's parents were not warriors. Our children were the priority at this moment — Jasmine especially.

I looked at Daniel and he nodded with understanding. He took the letter from his pocket and whispered to Lori, who took it. I nodded to her and looked at Jasmine, whose eyes were watered down.

"Be safe, my daughter. We will forever love you," I said through my mind, though I knew she couldn't hear me. Still, I could tell she understood.

Adam shifted. His wolf was big enough to carry them all back, even as an omega. Jasmine nodded and climbed on Adam's back with Sabrina. Lori climbed on behind the girls and they headed back to the packhouse.

I knew Adam had linked the warriors already, but I also knew we would be dead before they arrived. A tear fell from my eye as I watched them go, giving them one last glance before turning back to the wolves in front of me.

"I love you, Mom," I heard the wind whisper, and I knew it was Jasmine.

I got closer to Daniel.

"I love you, Daniel," I linked him.

"I will see you soon, my love," he linked back.

We stood side by side as the wolves attacked, ready to face our end together.