Shunned By An Alpha, Cherised By A Lycan

Chapter 301:

Of course, with the way my luck’s been lately, I half expect to wake up tomorrow to yet another disaster waiting to sucker-punch me in the gut. You know, the kind of news that drops your world out from under you while you stand there blinking like an idiot. But right now? I don’t want to think about that. I want it to be just us—Ryder and me, this bubble we’ve carved out of madness. For once, I want to believe the universe won’t pull the rug out from under me again.

But yeah, reality has other plans. And speaking of harsh realities, there’s the matter of the Pack Elders. Wonderful. Just when I thought I could catch a break, those gray-haired busybodies are waiting in the wings, ready to pass judgment. And they’re in for a surprise. The look on their wrinkled faces when they realize I’m not just some random werewolf girl they can shove into a corner? It’s almost enough to make me smile. Almost.

I’m not just Jasmine, the omega werewolf. The breeder they saw me as. I’m Jasmine the Viper—a name I’ve spent weeks trying to shake off. It clings to me like a shadow I can’t outrun, a label I never asked for but have to bear. Yeah, it’s not exactly something I’m proud of, but fate clearly decided subtlety wasn’t in the cards for me. And the Pack Elders? They’re about to find out exactly what that means.

Twist of fate? This is the moon goddess working in my favor.

I can already imagine the conversation. Ryder will stand by my side, calm and fierce like he always is, while I try my best not to roll my eyes so hard I give myself a headache. The Elders will drone on, probably questioning my loyalty, my intentions, my existence. As if they’ve ever had to fight for their survival the way I have. I’ve faced worse than their judgmental glares. Hell, I’ve stared down enemies who would make their fur stand on end, and I lived to tell the tale. That counts for something, right?

But no, they’ll see the word “Viper” and make all the assumptions they want. Dangerous. Unpredictable. A threat. And maybe I am all those things. But I’m also someone who’s fought tooth and nail for a sliver of peace. Someone who’s found a reason to believe in something beyond survival.

I have Ryder. And now, I have a family. A pack. Even if they don’t fully accept me yet, even if the Elders balk at the idea of someone like me standing beside their future Alpha, they can’t deny the truth. I’m not just here for Ryder—I’m here for me, for the chance to prove that I’m more than the label they want to slap on my forehead.

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But yeah, they’re probably going to push my buttons. They’ll whisper about the Viper curse, about betrayal, about venom and shadows. And when they do, I’ll smile that sweet, dangerous smile that says, “Careful what you wish for.” Ryder will probably squeeze my hand to remind me not to say something that’ll cause a full-blown diplomatic incident. Because, let’s face it, my mouth has a tendency to run ahead of my brain. But some days, it’s hard not to snap back. I mean, how much crap can one girl take before she bites back?noveldrama

I’m not going to lie—it’s exhausting. The weight of being judged, of constantly trying to prove myself to people who’ve already decided who I am. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that I can handle it. I’ve handled worse. And Ryder? He sees me—the real me. Not the Viper. Not the girl with a complicated past. Just Jasmine.

And honestly, that makes everything worth it. Knowing he’s in my corner, that he’s willing to fight alongside me? It makes me feel like maybe, just maybe, I can stop running from who I am. Maybe I don’t have to shed my past like old skin. Maybe I can own it. Because being the Viper doesn’t have to mean I’m a monster. It can mean I’m resilient, I’m fierce, and I don’t back down when the world tries to knock me down.

So yeah, let the Elders come. Let them question and doubt and whisper. I’m ready. I’ll stand beside Ryder, my chin high, my eyes steady, and I’ll show them what it means to survive. I’ll show them that the Viper isn’t just a curse—it’s a strength.

And if they can’t see that? Well, that’s their loss. I’ve got bigger things to focus on, like this new life I’m building, this new family I’m protecting. Because at the end of the day, all that matters is this: Ryder and me, and the promise of a future where I don’t have to hide. Where I can finally, finally be free to be myself.

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