Chapter 40

~Jasmine~ Violeta’s eyes were downcast, her posture slumped with a mixture of shame and fear. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, nervously twisting her fingers. Before finally summoning the courage to look up at Alpha Maverick, she took a shaky breath. “Alpha, I…” she began, her voice trembling. She attempted to apologize, to offer some semblance of an explanation for her behavior, but the damage had already been done. She couldn't turn back time, nor could she retract her hurtful words. He raised a hand to silence her. “Dare you say another word, Violeta…” Violeta nodded her head frantically, her eyes wide with fear, understanding the gravity of his unspoken words. She knew she had crossed a line, and the consequences would be severe. With that, Mav turned sharply and walked out of the office, leaving just Violeta and me in the tense silence. I glanced one last time at her broken frame, her shoulders slumped, her head bowed in defeat. I felt a pang of something akin to