Chapter 4

Jason POV

The possibility that Laila was gone forever somehow set a burning pain in my chest.

Marcus stood in front of my desk looking grim, like he had just delivered a death sentence.

No. It couldn't be true.

"How could Laila possibly be dead?" The words tasted wrong in my mouth. "And where is your concrete proof?"

He shifted his weight. Cleared his throat. The way he always did when he knew I was about to lose it.

"Jason, the investigator did his best. But when someone's records are completely scrubbed—"

"I want specifics!" My fist hit the desk hard enough to rattle the picture frames. "If you ever report such careless information again without checking every detail, you'll face consequences."

The Alpha command in my voice made him flinch. Good. Maybe that would get through to him.

"Yes, Alpha. I'll investigate further. Get actual proof one way or the other."

Proof. Right.

Complicated feelings simmered inside of me.

I always believed my perfect fated mate would be my perfect match, so I convinced myself I just wanted to give it a try with Laila. Just an impulsive move, and nothing serious.

However, it was harder than I thought to tell Laila that I was just curious about sleeping with her, especially when she stared at me with tears in her eyes.

But later, Brittany told us that Laila had left already. Laila even asked for money from her and sounded like she was okay with leaving me forever.

I then blamed her for leaving without even saying goodbye to me or, at least, to my parents, who raised her and gave her a home.

Now realizing she might be dead, I could feel... fear rising inside of me.

That's when Brittany decided to make her entrance. She glided into my office like she owned the place. That smug expression plastered across her face.

I jerked away from her reaching hands. "I'm not in the mood, Brittany. Just go away."

Her lips twisted into that familiar pout. The one that used to make me feel guilty. Now it just pissed me off.

After we met each other six years ago, it took me a while to realize that Brittany didn't care about pack business at all and was always mean to our pack servants.

Our relationship had been circling the drain for years. I'd been looking for reasons to reject her. But pack politics made it complicated as hell.

An Alpha couldn't just toss aside his fated mate without a good reason, while Brittany never made serious mistakes and clung to her Luna position like her life depended on it.

My thoughts spiraled back to Laila. They always did.

I remembered the way she used to curl up against my side after we'd been together. How she'd trace patterns on my chest while talking about little things - a book she'd read, a sunset she'd seen, dreams of traveling to places beyond the pack lands.

She'd been kind and genuine in a way Brittany never was.

I couldn't help but think that if I didn't meet Brittany at that mating ceremony six years ago, maybe I would give up finding fated mate one day and announced Laila as my Luna. And maybe I would have had a much better life than I have now.

But it was never going to happen because Laila had left and tried to get money out of my family before she went.

For the first time in six years, I started to wonder: how could a girl who seemed to love me so sincerely leave the pack like that? Like she'd prepared everything already and never really cared about anyone.

Was there something wrong? Did I miss anything?

Then Brittany saw the document on the table with Laila's name on it.

"Are you really finding that pathetic human ?" Brittany's voice cut through the memories like a blade. Sharp with accusation.

My head snapped up. Something dangerous must have shown in my expression because she took a step back.

Her voice climbed higher. More desperate. "She couldn't even shift properly! What's the point of finding her back?"

"Don't you ever talk about her like that," I said, my voice low and lethal. "And you know my Mother wants to see her."

"She's gone for six years! She left you for money. She's never coming back!"

The words rang inside my head. Gone. Never coming back.

"Stop there," I said bluntly. "And leave. Now."

Her eyes flashed with anger. But she knew better than to push when I was in this mood. She stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the windows.

I slumped into my chair. Ran my hands through my hair.

My phone buzzed. Text from my mother about dinner tonight. Family dinner. The kind where they'd pressure me about marking and marrying Brittany and producing heirs.

I suddenly felt tired of all these bonds and responsibilities, just wanting to lose myself a moment longer in the good memories between Laila and me.

Laila POV

Before leaving for dinner with Riley, I made sure everything in the hospital was arranged.

Ava was settled for the night with a kind nurse keeping watch. I'd kissed my daughter's forehead, promised I'd be back soon, and slipped out while she dozed.

Riley had already arrived when I walked into Marco's.

The restaurant was perfect for this kind of conversation. Dim lighting. Private booths. The kind of place where werewolves came to discuss things they didn't want overheard.

Riley fidgeted with her napkin. Picked at the antipasto.

Then she dropped the bomb.

"I heard Jason's been searching for you for a while."

My wine glass froze halfway to my lips. "He's been looking for me? Why? After all these years..."

"I don't know, but he seems pretty serious about it." Her expression was grim. "At first he didn't find anything. Now he's hired multiple private investigators. He's offering huge rewards for any information."

"It doesn't matter." I said calmly. "The Laila he wants to find no longer exists."

Before I could respond, Riley's face went white. She was staring at something behind me.

"What?" But I already knew.

"Don't turn around," she hissed. "Jason's family just walked in. All of them."

My blood turned to ice. "All of them?"

She nodded. "Jason, his Beta, his parents... and Brittany."

Against every ounce of better judgment, I turned.

There they were. Taking a large table in the corner. Jason sat like a storm barely contained, his presence filling the room. His parents looked older. Worn down.

And Brittany. Still beautiful. Still polished. Still everything I could never compete with.

That's when our eyes met across the restaurant.

When Jason saw my face clearly for the first time, he froze. Bewilderment flashed across his features.

"Laila?"