The Alpha's Runaway Queen

Chapter 22 - Yes!

Jasmine POV

The conference in the city auditorium in Viden City was one of the biggest medical events of the year, and I had been invited as a guest speaker. I was both excited and nervous, knowing that it was a significant milestone in my career. Who knew I would be in that career, right? Sean, as always, had been supportive and encouraging, assuring me that I would do great.

The day of my presentation arrived, and the grand hall was packed. I could see doctors, researchers, and students, their faces expectant and eager. I took a deep breath, walked onto the stage, and began my talk on the advancements in pediatric care. As I spoke, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. The audience was engaged, and when I finished, they erupted into applause. It was a success!

Sean was waiting for me at the auditorium's exit right after the conference, his face beaming with pride. “I assumed that the presentation went well. That smile says it all,” he said as he hugged me tightly. “Congratulations, honey.”

“Thank you,” I replied. “I couldn’t have done it without your support.”

He kissed my forehead. “I have a surprise for you. We’re heading out somewhere to celebrate.”

“Oh? Where are we going?” I asked, intrigued.

“It’s a surprise,” he said with a wink.

We walked to his car in the parking lot and got in. We drove through the bustling streets of Viden City until we arrived at a charming little restaurant tucked away on a quiet street. It was a cozy, intimate place with soft lighting and a warm, inviting atmosphere.

I was amazed about the place. I had been living in the city for so many years, but I had explored only twenty-five to thirty percent of it. Viden City had so much to offer but it was only recently with Sean that I started to enjoy going around.

“This is beautiful,” I said as we were shown to our table. “How did you get to know this place?”

“I thought you’d like it here. I painted their walls.” He waved to the colorful walls.

“That is amazing! I love it! I didn’t know you did murals around the city!” I gushed.

“There are a few of them,” he said blushing. I knew he was proud of them, and I was, too.

We ordered our meals and settled into a comfortable conversation. As the night went on, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Sean had become an integral part of my life, and I couldn’t imagine it without him.

After dessert, Sean reached across the table and took my hand. “Jas, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said.

I got confused and worried. We were having a fun conversation and the seriousness in his voice shifted the atmosphere. “What is it? Is there something wrong?”

“No, there is nothing wrong.” He took a deep breath and then continued speaking. “These past few months with you have been the happiest of my life. I’ve never met anyone like you. You’re strong, compassionate, and incredibly dedicated to your work. You inspire me every day.”

I didn’t know where his talk was going, but tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to him.

Sean stood up, came around the table, and knelt in front of me. My breath caught in my throat as he pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a stunning engagement ring.

“Jasmine, will you marry me?” he asked. His hand was shaking, and I was trembling as well.

For a moment, I was speechless. I was totally in shock. I didn’t expect that question so early in our relationship! However, the man kneeling before me had brought so much joy and love into my life. I knew I loved him and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.

“Yes, Sean,” I said. “Yes! I will marry you.”

He smiled from ear to ear when he heard what I said, and then he slipped the ring onto my finger, and the entire restaurant erupted into applause. Sean stood, pulling me into his arms and kissing me deeply.

As we left the restaurant, hand in hand, I couldn’t help but feel like I was walking on air. Sean held me close, and I felt a sense of peace and happiness that I hadn’t known in years.

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Reagan POV

From the hospital, we navigated the roads going to the auditorium where Jasmine was said to attend a medical conference. As much as I wanted to be there immediately, our convoy crawled the city streets at a snail’s pace. I knew this would happen. I was already accustomed to this life when I worked in the city and still, I craved for the pack life. The honking horns made my head pound with frustration.

“We’re never going to make it at this rate,” I growled.

“The GPS says it’s just a few more blocks, but with this traffic…” the tracker’s voice trailed off.

“We can’t afford to be late. Jasmine is there, I can feel it,” I said.

“We’ll get there, Reagan. We just need to stay calm,” Conri said in my head, trying to soothe my frayed nerves. However, I could also feel him pacing around my mind. He could not contain his excitement.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours as the vehicles inched forward. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “There has to be another way,” I said, more to myself than anyone else.

“Alpha, perhaps it’s faster to just get out and walk.”

“Walk? We don’t even know exactly where we’re going!” I snapped, though I knew he had a point.

The tracker glanced at his watch. “We might get there faster on foot. It’s only a few blocks away.”

We abandoned the cars and took to the streets, weaving through the throngs of people. We moved swiftly, the urgency of our mission fueling our steps. As we rounded the last corner, the auditorium came into view. Relief washed over me, but it was short-lived. The doors of the auditorium were wide open, and people were streaming out.

“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath. “We’re too late.”

We pushed through the crowd, heading towards the entrance. Inside, the chaos of the dispersing crowd made it difficult to see. I scanned the faces, hoping to catch a glimpse of Jasmine. My heart raced as I caught a faint whiff of her scent. It was faint but unmistakable.

“She was here,” I whispered. “She’s still close.”

Conri agreed. “Let’s ask someone.”

We approached the registration desk, where a woman was busy packing up papers and badges. “Excuse me,” I said. “I’m looking for Dr. Jasmine. Do you know where she is?”

The woman looked up, a polite smile on her face. “Dr. Jasmine? She just left a few minutes ago.”

“Do you know where she went? Could she have gone back to the hospital?” I asked. I knew it was crazy to ask her. She was probably working for the organizers and knowing where the doctors would go after the conference. was none of her business. However, I was desperate for information. She could have heard something or she could have talked to Jasmine.

The woman then shook her head. “I’m sorry, she didn’t say.”

My heart sank. We were so close. I turned to the two trackers with me. They were already sniffing the air, trying to catch her scent again. The crowd was thinning, making it easier to move around.

“We’ll split up,” I said. “She can’t have gone far. There are still cars lined up to go out of the venue. She could be in one of them. You search the east side, and I’ll take the west.

“Got it, alpha,” they replied.

I moved through the auditorium, my senses on high alert. Jasmine’s scent was stronger then, but still elusive. It led me outside, to the parking lot. I turned a corner and saw a few cars around the area. People were getting into them.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. She had to be there somewhere. I followed the path, my eyes scanning every figure, every shadow.

Then I saw her.

At least, I thought I did. There was a woman with short dark hair, standing by a car. She was facing away from me, but something about her posture, the way she held herself, felt familiar. She smelled differently though. My heart pounded in my chest as I approached.

“Jasmine?” I called out.

The woman turned, and my heart plummeted. It wasn’t her. She looked at me with a puzzled expression, clearly wondering why a stranger was calling her by another name.

“I’m sorry,” I said as I backed away. “I thought you were someone else.”

Disappointment washed over me as I continued my search. The parking lot was nearly empty, and I couldn’t catch her scent anymore. It was like she had vanished into thin air.