Chapter 5: My Revenge Begins with Her

Jackson’s POV

“Brianna is gone,” my mother, Catherine, said with a weary sigh. “She’s never coming back, Jackson. You have to move on.”

I clenched my fists and headed for the door.

“So you’re just going to walk out on me?”

“I’d rather do that than let you ruin my mood,” I replied without stopping.

“Thanks to Brianna, this Pack will never have an heir!” she cried.

I stopped at the exit and turned around.

My mother buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with uncontrollable sobs.

That made my anger give way to guilt. I walked back to her and crouched in front of her.

“Mother,” I called softly.

She slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were red, her face pale and streaked with tears.

“Why are you so concerned about me taking another mate and giving this Pack an heir?”

She sniffled before reaching for my face.

“Your father wanted the same thing. You’ve always wanted to make him proud, haven’t you?”

“That’s one of the reasons I’m trying to find out who murdered him.”

“There is no proof that he was murdered,” she whispered. “Jackson, you have to let that go and be more concerned with continuing his lineage.”

“I’m certain he wants justice more than whatever you think he wants, Mother,” I said, rising to my feet. “And justice will be served.”

“If you don’t love me enough to listen to me, then there’s no point in my staying in Black Howl.”

I studied her, wondering if I had heard her correctly.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m leaving, and you’ll never see me again.” She wiped her tears with trembling fingers. “I’m better off dead to you. You’ve chosen your memories with Brianna over the chance to make new ones, ones that could benefit you and this Pack.”

How could she say something like that to me?

I had lost my father to death and my mate. And now, my own mother was threatening to leave me, too.

Hell, no!

“You have got to be kidding me,” I laughed. “You are going to leave me over a petty issue, Mother?”

“Don’t call me that,” she said, lowering her gaze. “A child listens to his mother. You never listen to me.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

I had listened to her more times than she would ever acknowledge.

For two years, I had allowed my father’s murderer to roam free because my mother had begged me not to let my investigation turn into a bloodbath. She had feared that I would abuse my power and plunge the Pack into political chaos.

So I had investigated instead of taking matters into my own hands.

After Brianna and Warren’s betrayal, I had gathered my warriors and sent them across werewolf territory to find them and bring them back, so they could answer for what they had done, but my mother had begged me to forgive them and let them go.

I had listened.

And in return, I had been left to suffer the consequences alone.

No one knew how deeply Brianna’s betrayal had wounded me. They thought they understood, but they knew nothing about the hell I had endured.

She had told me she was carrying my child.

I had been overjoyed. I had planned a surprise party to share the news with my mother and the Pack. Brianna and I had spent days discussing names for our unborn child, imagining the life we would build together.

I had believed every word she said.

Even after discovering the truth, I had forgiven her. I had promised to raise the child as my own, despite knowing it wasn’t mine.

And what had she done?

She had run away with Beta Warren.

The woman I had loved and been willing to forgive. Her betrayal had cut deeper than any blade ever could.

Yet, I had let them go because my mother had asked me to. And now she was claiming I never listened to her.

“Then you're free to leave,” I said, forcing a grin.

The words tasted bitter, but I refused to take them back. Before she could respond, I turned and walked out.

———

“Damn it!”

I swept my arm across the table, sending the documents scattered across its surface crashing to the floor.

The door flew open, and Beta Marcus hurried inside.

He had been my Gamma before Warren’s departure left the Beta position vacant. Since then, he had taken Warren’s place, proving himself worthy of the title.

But his loyalty went beyond his rank.

Marcus was more like a brother to me than a friend. He knew the man beneath the ruthless Alpha everyone else feared, the man who was tired of losing the people he loved.

“Alpha,” he said, glancing at the mess around my desk. “What’s the problem?”

I dropped into my chair, still seething.

“My mother wants me to take a second-chance mate. Again.”

“Isn’t that what she always wants?”

I leaned back and dragged a hand through my hair.

“She threatened to leave Black Howl and never return.”

Marcus raised his eyebrows.

“Jeez, this is serious. Perhaps you should give her what she wants.”

I shot him a murderous glare. “Then what about what I want?”

He immediately raised both hands. “Relax, Alpha. I’m making a suggestion, not continuing where Luna Catherine stopped.”

“What suggestion?”

“You could find a woman willing to give you an heir. Once you have one, you could end the arrangement and go your separate ways.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“It’s just a harmless suggestion, Jackson.”

“Breaking a woman’s heart isn’t harmless.”

“I’m not suggesting you deceive anyone. Make it an agreement. A contract marriage. Both parties know what they’re getting into, and both benefit from it.”

“And who in their right mind would agree to such a deal?”

“You’d be surprised how many women would jump at the chance to marry you.” He paused, studying my expression. “Although, finding one who wouldn’t use the opportunity to get her claws into you might be a challenge.”

“Then your brilliant idea is impossible.”

“I don’t think so.”

I rubbed my forehead.

The idea was ridiculous. No woman would agree to marry me, bear an heir, and walk away without expecting something more. Money, power, a title, or me.

But the thought of my mother leaving Black Howl wouldn’t let me dismiss the matter entirely. She was the only family I had left.

I wasn’t about to lose her, too.

“You want an heir without getting into a serious mate-bond marriage,” Marcus said. “And you want a reason to get closer to Enzo without making your investigation obvious.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Get to the point.”

“What if the same woman could help you with both?”

I lowered my hand. “Who?”

“Scarlett Graham. After you ordered an investigation into Alpha Enzo, I discovered she was his mate before he had her imprisoned for allegedly murdering his elder brother, Adrian.”

Scarlett Graham. Enzo’s former mate.

I leaned forward, my attention sharpening.

“What else did you find out about her?”

“Very little beyond the circumstances of her imprisonment. This is her third year in Moonshadow’s prison.”

“And Enzo has been married to his second-chance mate for over two years?”

Marcus nodded. “That’s right.”

Interesting.

Enzo had replaced his mate while leaving her to rot behind bars.

I didn’t know whether Scarlett was guilty of Adrian’s murder, but I knew enough about Enzo not to dismiss the possibility that he had used her as a convenient scapegoat.

And if she had been betrayed by him, she might have a reason to help me bring him down.

More importantly, she might know things about him that my investigation had yet to uncover.

“What do you know about her relationship with Enzo before her imprisonment?” I asked.

“Nothing concrete yet. We can investigate further.”

I tapped my fingers against the desk. “Is she still in prison?”

“Yes, Alpha.” Marcus tilted his head.

I leaned back. “She might be exactly what I need.”

A knowing smile spread across his face. “So you’re finally considering my suggestion?”

I ignored his teasing.

“Find a way to get her released, even if it means offering Moonshadow whatever they need. Resources, land, money, healers. I don’t care what it costs.”

“And whose name should I use?”

I hesitated. “My mother’s. No one must know I arranged it. Not even Scarlett.”

Marcus chuckled.

“You really enjoy letting people believe you’re the villain, don’t you?”

“I couldn’t care less what people think of me.” My expression hardened. “I want Scarlett Graham out of that prison.”

“And the contract marriage?”

The more I considered it, the more the arrangement made sense.

Scarlett needed a way out of her predicament. I needed someone with a reason to despise Enzo, someone who might help me uncover the truth behind Adrian’s murder, and perhaps even secure the justice my father had been denied.

A temporary marriage could serve both our interests.

No promises of love or false expectations. Just an agreement with clear terms and a purpose.

If Scarlett was willing to accept it, we could both get what we wanted.

“I’ve considered it," I said. “Have someone come tidy up this mess.”

He laughed under his breath but made his way toward the door.

“About that letter I wrote declining Enzo’s invitation to his anniversary, have you sent it?”

“No, Alpha,” he said, turning back. “Should I send it?”

I shook my head. “No. I’ll attend the party.”

“Okay.”

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the desk. “I want her released before the party.”

“I will do my best, Alpha.”

I nodded once. “Thank you.”

If Enzo thought he could bury his past behind prison walls and a new marriage, he was about to learn otherwise.

If Scarlett Graham helped me expose Enzo, I would make sure she never had to suffer at his hands again.

Even if making her my mate was the price I had to pay.