Chosen By My Mate's Father-in-law novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Not Yours Anymore

I barely had time to take off my shoes before my mom stood from the couch, her eyes blazing.

“I can’t believe you, Jasmine,” she snapped, voice trembling with anger.

I blinked, stunned. “What... what did I do?”

“You know exactly what you did,” she hissed. “Going around seducing the Lycan King like that. Throwing yourself at him to save your father? I didn’t raise you to be that kind of girl.”

I stared at her, mouth falling open. “Wait—what?”

“I just spoke with Elliot,” she said, folding her arms like she had just won some imaginary argument. “He told me everything. He said Gareth Laken took you out on some fancy date after you begged him to help your father.”

My heart dropped. “He said what?”

“He’s worried sick about you,” she went on, ignoring me. “He said you’re acting out, making reckless decisions, getting involved with powerful men who could destroy you.”

My fists clenched at my sides. “He’s lying.”

Mom scoffed. “Why would he lie, Jasmine? He loves you.”

“No, Mom. He doesn’t.” I looked her in the eye. “He wants me to quit university and become his mistress. That’s what he offered me.”

She paused, stunned for a second—but not long enough.

“Well... maybe that’s not the worst thing,” she said slowly, like she was testing the words.

I blinked again. “Excuse me?”

“Jasmine, he’s your fated mate. That bond means something,” she said, stepping closer like she could make this make sense. “He’ll take care of you. Protect you. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “So I should just give up everything I’ve worked for? Let him control me like a puppet because he ‘might’ protect me? Mom, are you listening to yourself?”

“You’re not thinking clearly. Elliot has been by your side for years. You used to tell me how much he supported your dreams.” She countered.

“Yeah,” I snapped. “Until he crushed them.”

She flinched but didn’t back down. “Gareth Laken doesn’t care about you, Jasmine. He’s an old powerful man that plays with young women for fun. I’ve met plenty of men like them when I was younger. You’re just a distraction to him.”

“And Elliot?” I asked, my voice cold. “What am I to him? A toy he wants to keep hidden?”

“You’re his mate.”

“And that excuses everything?”

“You’re being selfish, Jasmine,” my mom said, exasperated, “Elliot’s trying to help our family. You’re just pushing him away for no good reason.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was my mother possessed?

“He’s offering you a way out,” she insisted. “You can still go to online school if you really want to finish your degree. But at least this way, you get to be with your mate. You’ll be cared for.”

Cared for? Is that what she thought this was?

Elliot stepped closer, like he had just been waiting for his cue. “Jasmine, I offered this because I know how hard school’s been for you. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You struggled just to get by.”

I stiffened.

He continued, voice soft and coaxing, like he was doing me a favor. “Remember? You couldn’t write an essay without panicking. You’d forget half the words. It wasn’t your fault, but it made everything harder. I used to stay up late helping you. Don’t be stubborn - you’re letting your pride ruin what’s good for you.”

“I worked twice as hard just to keep up,” I went on, voice shaking. “I studied when everyone else was partying. I cried over pages that made no sense until I figured them out. I fought for my place.”

“I know,” he said with a shrug. “But it doesn’t have to be this hard anymore. If you quit, you won’t have to deal with that pressure. You’ll learn at your own pace, from home. You’ll have me.”

“You mean I’ll have nothing,” I snapped. “No goals, no future, no degree. Just you—hiding me while you marry someone else.”

He frowned. “It’s not like that.”

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