How To Lose Your Billionaire Alpha Husband In 365 Days (Or Less)!-Chapter 75: Not a Metaphor...

JASMINE’S POV

I took another sip of coffee, letting the warmth slide down my throat before setting the mug aside with a quiet clink.

"I didn’t plan it," I said finally, glancing up at Sophia, who now stood with one hand on her hip and the other gesturing like she was trying to keep from combusting. "It just... happened."

Sophia blinked. "You didn’t plan it?"

"No."

"So you just impulsively took your mate’s luxury apocalypse tank and redecorated his pool with it?"

"Pretty much."

She gawked at me, jaw hanging open, then slowly dragged her palm down her face. "Okay. I’m not judging."

"You’re absolutely judging."

"Because you DROVE A G-WAGON INTO A SWIMMING POOL." She waved her arms. "That’s not even a metaphor. That’s just chaos with a steering wheel."

I shrugged and leaned back on my elbows. "It felt good."

"Oh my God." She paced once, stopped, and turned back. "Is this what being a werewolf does to you? Sudden vehicular rage?"

"I don’t know," I said honestly. "But maybe. Everything just... builds. Inside. And it doesn’t go away. It’s like static under your skin. And sometimes, breaking something is the only way to feel quiet again."

Sophia’s expression changed a bit. The worry was still there, but it felt softer and more considerate now.

"Is this what it’s going to be like for you?" she asked, stepping closer and sitting beside me on the bed. "Like... every time something hits you sideways, you shift and smash things?"

I looked down. "I don’t think so. It’s not always like that. Today was just... different."

"You scared the crap out of me."

"I scared me," I admitted. "But I was never in danger. I just needed to move. To do something that wasn’t perfect and silent and cold."

Sophia nodded slowly, then squinted at me. "Did it have to be the car, though?"

"It was available," I said. "And very smug."

"Smug?"

I gave her a flat look. "It was asking for it."

She snorted and covered her mouth. "You’ve officially gone feral."

"I might have," I murmured, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

Sophia looked at me for a long moment. "You’re different now."

"I know."

"But not in a bad way," she added quickly. "Just... sharper. Wilder. Like the polished version of you got cracks, and the light started leaking out."

"That’s exactly how it feels," I said.

We sat there for a beat, neither of us talking.

Then Sophia leaned in and whispered, "Do you get like, extra senses now?"

I tilted my head. "What?"

"You know super hearing, night vision, extreme thirst for violence."

"Lyra," I sighed, "are you hearing this?"

Sophia narrowed her eyes at me, noticing the distant look that had crept across my face. "Earth to Jasmine. Please tell me you’re not planning your next joyride straight into the perimeter fence."

I snorted. "Wow. Is that the faith you have in me now?"

She gave me a pointed look. "I don’t know, Jas. You surprise even me these days. One minute you’re sipping tea like a bored CEO, next thing I know, you’re reenacting Fast & Furious: Werewolf Edition."

"I wasn’t trying to be dramatic," I said, but even as the words left my mouth, I winced.

"Girl," she said, raising a brow. "You drove a luxury tank into a body of water in broad daylight."

I sighed and tucked my legs underneath me. "Okay, fine. Maybe I was a little dramatic."

Sophia leaned back and grinned. "Honestly? I loved it for you. Chaotic, unhinged, but very on-brand for post-transition Jasmine."

"Oh, I like her," Lyra said, amused. "She’s got bite."

"I know, right?" I muttered under my breath to Lyra, still smirking.

Sophia caught it immediately. Her gaze narrowed. "Okay, that face. You’re doing that face again. The one where you look like you’re having a full-blown conversation with the air."

I blinked. "Because I kind of am."

Sophia leaned forward, brows raised. "You what now?"

"I was talking to my wolf," I said casually, like it wasn’t the weirdest sentence I’d ever said.

She sat up straighter, her voice pitching with disbelief. "Hold on. Like... an actual wolf? In your head?"

I nodded slowly. "Her name’s Lyra."

Sophia’s mouth fell open. "Okay, wait... okay. In just a few weeks, I’ve known about werewolves, sure. Like claws, growls, shifting under the moon, cool super-strength stuff. But this? You’ve got an actual furry roommate in your mind?"

"She’s not furry," Lyra interjected, offended.

"She says she’s not furry," I repeated, lips twitching.

Sophia stared at me, horrified and fascinated at the same time. "You’re talking to her right now?"

"She likes you," I added, sipping the last of my coffee.

Sophia blinked. "She can hear me?"

"No," I said, trying not to laugh. "She is me. Sort of. But also not. She’s like... an ancient version of me who’s got opinions and no filter."

"So basically me at brunch," Sophia deadpanned.

"Pretty much," I smirked.

"Tell her I want a proper introduction," she said, straightening up like she was preparing for a job interview. "Formal and everything."

I closed my eyes. "Uh, Lyra?"

There was a short pause.

Then her voice unfurled inside my thoughts, warm and amused. "Hi, Sophia. I like your energy. You’d make a great wolf."

Sophia’s eyes went wide as she leaned forward, eyes darting around the room like she expected Lyra to manifest from the walls. "Oh my God. I can hear her?"

"Nope," I grinned. "Still just me. Think of it like a weird psychic group chat where I’m the admin and she’s the sassy co-host."

Sophia sat back, blinking. "That’s terrifying. And weirdly cool."

"She thinks you’re dramatic and entertaining," I said. "And probably a bad influence."

"That makes two of us," Sophia replied proudly. "Honestly, I love her already. Is this what your head feels like all the time now?"

"It’s... louder," I admitted. "But not in a bad way. It’s like having someone there who sees everything I do, but cuts through the crap faster than I can."

Sophia studied me for a second, then smiled. "You seem... different. In a grounded way. Like you finally stopped pretending and just became."

I exhaled, slowly. "It’s been a hell of a week."

"That’s putting it mildly," she said. "From boardroom boss to werewolf bride."

"Don’t forget pool-crasher."

"Right. How could I forget your Fast & Furious stunt?"

We both laughed. It felt good. Real. A little too rare lately.

Then her tone shifted, quieter. "So... what now? You and tall-dark-and-broody gonna hash it all out in couples therapy? With teeth and growls and slow emotional breakthroughs?"

I gave her a look. "He’s not... the enemy, Soph."

Her teasing smile faded a little. "I didn’t say he was. But Jas... this thing between you two? It’s heavy. And you’re not the only one carrying it."

"I know."

"He seems like the kind of guy who tries to solve everything by being silent and miserable."

"That’s exactly what he does."

"Well," Sophia said, standing, "make sure he knows silence isn’t strength. It’s just loneliness in disguise."

I nodded, absorbing the words.

"I saw the way he came running out like someone set him on fire the second he heard the splash. He looked like he was ready to dive in with you, dressed or not."

"He meant it, you know," I murmured.

"The note?"

"All of it." I glanced at the bedside table, eyes drifting over the handwritten words again. Just don’t make me replace you.

Sophia reached out and touched my arm. "Then maybe you stop trying to replace him too."

I blinked. "What?"

"You keep saying you want the truth. But you’re terrified of what comes with it. Maybe you don’t need a clean version of him to trust. Maybe you just need a real one."

I went quiet, not because she was wrong, but because she wasn’t.

Lyra hummed softly in my mind. "She sees you better than you do sometimes."

"Yeah," I whispered, "she always has."

Sophia stood and stretched. "Okay, no more emotional damage today. You need food, more coffee, and zero more vehicles in chlorinated water."

"I’ll try."

She headed for the door, then turned. "Also? You still look amazing, even after your chaotic meltdown. Like, in a haunted heiress kind of way."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You’re the worst."

"Hey," I added before she turned, "thanks for being here."

Sophia gave me a wink. "Where else would I be? Someone’s gotta make sure you don’t drive through the library next."

I groaned. "One time—one G-Waggon—and I’m never living it down, am I?"

"Nope. Never." She grinned as she opened the door. "Now come downstairs before Lyra convinces you to jump off the roof for freedom or something."

"Actually," Lyra chimed in, "that’s not a bad idea if it gets us out of another awkward conversation."

I rolled my eyes. "Not helping."

And for a minute, I sat in the stillness, the note resting beside me, the coffee cooling slowly in my hand.

"Do you think we’re really okay?" I asked Lyra.

"Not yet," she said. "But we’re close."

I didn’t know if that made me feel better or worse.

But it made me feel something.

And that was enough for now.