Mated - Chapter 193: Chapter 193

KASMINE.
The tension in the car when we left the hospital was too suffocating that I was surprised I didn’t end up dead before we arrived at the pack.
It’s been two days now, and I have not seen Kester or heard from him. He made sure of that.
Today was Friday, and I was a mess of emotions. I was equal parts happy, worried, and nervous.
Happy because I’d get to see Jake at school today. I called him yesterday using Mum’s phone, and we spoke at length. Hearing his voice was like taking a breath after drowning.
Thankfully, Kester hadn’t bugged Mum’s phone; neither was he anywhere around to see me making the calls.
I explained everything that had happened to Jake, and as always, he understood. Gods, he was so understanding.
But as much as I was eager to see him, I was worried. Because Kester had assigned Gery—one of his most loyal guards—to follow me everywhere. I didn’t need anyone to tell me why. But whatever happens, I’d see Jake in school today. Nothing was going to stop me.
Jake wanted us to have dinner tonight, but I turned him down. Because tonight, according to Mum, I’d have to go on a date with Alpha Jaden.
This made me nervous. I was nervous because my life was about to get more complicated.
I exhaled sharply, anxiety twisting in my stomach at how fast my life was spiraling into something I could barely hold onto.
There was the man I loved—Jake.
Then, there was Kester—the man who would do anything to keep me from being with anyone else.
And now, there was Alpha Jaden—the man my parents were so desperate to shove into my life for whatever reasons they must have.
The thought made me sick.
A knock sounded at my door, and before I could respond, the door pushed open, and Mum walked in.
She had been different since our return. More distant. More… reserved. Gone was the overly sweet, sugary warmth she always carried gracefully. Instead, she was quiet, closed off, lost in thoughts she refused to share.
Despite all I’d done to make her talk to me, she vehemently refused. So, I left her to her world. I also had my own worries, didn’t I?
“The driver is ready for you, Kasmine,” Mum said as she stepped into the room.
“Okay. I’ll be out in a minute,” I replied, fixing the last few strands of my hair before spraying perfume. I picked up my handbag, ready to leave.
But, of course, she wasn’t done.
“No matter what you do today, be home early,” she continued. “Your dinner date with Jaden is at seven, and you need time to rest before getting ready. I want you looking your best.”
Her words made me pause.
I turned to her, narrowing my brows. “Lectures? Now?
“What’s with this Alpha Jaden that makes him so damn important?” I asked with a sigh and an eye roll. “I already told you that I’m not interested. I narrowed my brows, my irritation already spiking up.
I already disliked him before meeting him. All thanks to my parents. “Look,” I exhaled, gripping my bag tighter. “If you think forcing me to go on one stupid date is going to change my mind, then you’ve got it all wrong.”
I turned to leave, but she caught my arm, stopping me.
“You don’t have a choice here, love,” she said lightly—too lightly. Almost as if she found this amusing.
I yanked my arm back. “The hell I don’t,” I replied, not hiding the irritation I felt.
Her next words shattered everything.
“You were already betrothed to Alpha Jaden when you were fourteen.” She announced it as a promise. I didn’t quite grasp what she had just said.
For a moment, I forgot the actual meaning of the word “betrothed.” I was hoping I had either heard wrong or there was a different meaning to the word! I didn’t know about yet.