JASMINE'S POV
My birthday was a week away, and nope, Aiden didn't forget. On the contrary, he's been pestering me about what I have planned for that day.
I told him not to plan anything, and I meant it.
I wasn't being coy, fishing for affection, or trying to set some kind of reverse psychology trap. I genuinely didn't want it.
The idea of dressing up, smiling for photographs, pretending to celebrate while my mate was half-broken and our enemies circled like vultures… it felt fake… hollow, like putting glitter on a wound.
He didn't argue; he didn't even hesitate. He just pressed a soft kiss to my temple, his lips lingering for a beat longer than usual, and murmured, "Whatever you want, Jas."
But I should've known better.
Because Sophia was a different beast.
It started small.
She dropped by the estate under the pretence of bringing me a jacket I left at her place one time, except her bag was suspiciously light, and she was far too interested in how my day was going.
