Broken

Jade

Taking a deep, shaky breath, I broke into fresh tears. Conan stared at me dumbfounded for a moment, then cursed under his breath as he scrambled to grab tissues from the box on his desk. I cried loudly and messily, blowing my nose with heart-wrenching sobs. Black streaks of mascara ran down my cheeks as I wept into the tissues, no doubt looking like a distraught mess, but it was necessary for my act.

"You see," I started, dabbing my eyes as my voice quivered emotionally, "Brad and I dated about six years ago, back when we were teenagers. He was...my everything."

I launched into a bittersweet flashback, wanting to show Conan our supposed history instead of just telling it in boring summary. I described my lonely childhood growing up in the local orphanage after my parents died - shy, bullied and friendless with only books for company. Meanwhile, Brad was the golden boy at our high school - devastatingly handsome, star athlete, crazy popular, and arrogantly aware of his status.

But in private, Brad had always been kind to me when no one else was looking, secretly sending his circle of popular friends to run off anyone who tried to bully me, even as he kept our budding friendship hidden to protect his flawless reputation. I confessed how over the years, I had secretly started to fall for him, pathetically writing sappy love poems and song lyrics about Brad in my diary that my nemesis Megan eventually found and exposed publicly to humiliate me.

Instead of being disgusted though, Brad had marched up to me in front of the whole school, tilted my chin up gently, and kissed me tenderly before asking me officially to be his girlfriend. I described how the bullying had stopped literally overnight once the most coveted boy in school was dating the shy orphan girl. Brad's golden popularity had shielded me from social ruin.

Over the next blissful year together, I spoke of how Brad had doted on me - showering me with affection I had never known, making me feel like the most beautiful, cherished girl in the world. He had even promised to make me his Luna one day, whispering how he couldn't imagine being with anyone else. I shyly confessed that on our one year anniversary, I had given Brad the gift of my virginity, so sure that we would be lifelong mates. It was the most special, perfect night of my young life.

Until the mating ceremony on my 18th birthday, when Brad had brutally humiliated me without warning - leaking intimate photos and videos of us in bed to the entire school. I described the horror of watching our precious intimate moments displayed larger than life on the screens overhead for all to see as Brad rejected me publicly as his disgusting ex, while his laughing popular friends pointed, mocked and even assaulted me while teachers looked away.

I spoke of how I had fled the mating ceremony and the pack itself in tears, utterly broken and betrayed. I looked at Conan beseechingly, allowing tears to shimmer in my eyes again as I finished my tale. His handsome face was stoic and unreadable, although his golden wolfish gaze had darkened molten with some suppressed emotion. I suppressed a shiver under its smoldering intensity.

"After that, I vowed to move on and be stronger," I said quietly, dropping my gaze. "It took years, but I worked hard to build a successful career, trying to put the past behind me. But..." I trailed off, biting my lip.

"But what?" Conan prodded, his gravelly voice gentler than before.

"I just couldn't fully move on," I confessed. "Not while Brad was still the Luna of this pack, happily living his perfect life with a doting mate and cubs, after he had so cruelly ruined my life. And it only got worse when even my own fated mate rejected me, saying I was too emotionally damaged to bond with."

I looked up at Conan with shimmering eyes, grabbing his muscular arm entreatingly. "Don't you think Brad deserves to know even a fraction of the horrific pain and humiliation he put me through back then?" I implored passionately. "How can it be fair that he enjoys this undeserved life of happiness and prestige after so viciously destroying mine?"

I held my breath as Conan's intense golden eyes bored into me, praying he would believe my manipulative sob story. There, I had artfully bent the truth without outright lying, while painting myself as an undeserving victim who only wanted justified revenge against the man who had shattered my youth. Surely even this shrewd beta would now see me as an innocent, wronged woman seeking closure after terrible heartbreak and betrayal. Enough to satisfy his suspicions about my motives for returning here.

Conan was silent for several long, tense moments after my emotional tale ended, his handsome face unreadable. I tried not to fidget nervously under that penetrating golden gaze that seemed to bore right through me.

"So let me clarify," he finally rumbled. "You claim you only want to hurt him emotionally in proportion to the pain he caused you? No actual physical harm or lasting damage to Brad?"

I nodded firmly, arranging my face into a pleading, tearful mask. "Yes, absolutely," I said earnestly. "Just enough to make him feel the same heartbreak and public shame. Then I'll consider us even and move on with closure."

Conan studied me intently, his eyes flickering over my face. "And what about the cryptic message on your phone earlier that you refused to explain?" he pressed. "The one mentioning your...Omega?"

I waved a hand dismissively, having prepared for this question. "Oh that! I told you, it was just my friend Helena checking in. She's an anxious thing who likes to fuss over me." I forced an eye roll and exasperated smile. "She was just worried when I stopped replying to confirm I got here safely. I should really text her back before she panics and calls the police or something."

Conan frowned, still looking unconvinced. "That message implied you had lied to this Helena person about your reasons for coming here," he pointed out shrewdly. "So how can I know now if you are still lying about your true intentions?"

I stiffened, scrambling for a response. Then inspiration struck.

"The video," I said suddenly. "The...the humiliating video Brad released of us. It was all over the school's social media for months, maybe longer." My voice took on a genuine quaver. "I'm sure it's still circulating somewhere if you dig hard enough online. That should prove what he did, and why I just want justice."

Conan glanced away briefly at that, a muscle in his jaw clenching. When he looked back at me, his golden eyes had softened slightly with what almost seemed like empathy.

"If what you say is true, and this popular boy did publicly betray and humiliate you so cruelly," Conan rasped, "then you have certainly suffered a grave, unjust tragedy at a vulnerable age. And you have every right to seek proportionate justice against him."

I relaxed, relief coursing through me. He was buying it! My tragic sob story of seeking emotionally-justified vengeance on my callous ex-lover was apparently convincing enough.

"However," Conan continued seriously, holding up one large hand. "I still cannot claim to fully trust you yet. While your desire for revenge is...understandable, given the circumstances you described, I must remain cautious to ensure you have no ulterior motives that could potentially bring harm to this pack or its members."

Internally I rolled my eyes in frustration. So close, yet the shrewd beta was still not totally convinced, still watching me with wary suspicion. Outwardly I schooled my features into a pleading, tearful mask of innocence.

"I swear on my life that I only want Brad to feel a fraction of the pain and humiliation he inflicted on me," I avowed passionately, clasping my hands beseechingly. "You have my solemn word."

Conan regarded me pensively, absently stroking his chin. "Hmm. I do not doubt the sincerity of your emotions," he conceded. "But intentions can be swayed by darker impulses, especially when revenge is involved. I need more than just your word to feel secure in allowing your...vendetta."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully with one finger. "Therefore, I propose we strike an agreement. I will permit you to pursue this plan to, as you say, 'teach Brad a lesson'. And I will even aid you where I can, within reason. But in return..."

Here Conan's golden eyes sharpened, and I suppressed a nervous gulp.

"...you must provide certain services to this pack that benefit our members," he finished smoothly. "Call it an act of good faith."

I stiffened in surprise, caught off guard. That certainly hadn't been part of my plan - I was supposed to infiltrate undetected, not get entangled with pack politics or debts.

"What...exactly did you have in mind?" I asked carefully, keeping my voice neutral.

Conan leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "As a skilled doctor with your own practice, you are in an excellent position to provide medical care and services to our pack members who may not have sufficient access otherwise," he stated pragmatically. "Routine health care, exams, prescriptions, procedures - all provided pro bono to any pack members who need it."

He arched a brow. "That will be my condition. Free medical services for all our members, especially lower-income families and elderly. A direct benefit to the pack in return for my...discretion."

I gaped at him in dismay. Was he actually serious? Did he realize how many needy patients that could entail? I had rent, staff payroll and my own bills to cover each month! Not to mention basic necessities like food and gas for my car.

"You...you want me to work for free?" I protested. "But...but how will I support myself? I can't exactly live on air!"

Conan shrugged, utterly unmoved by my objections. "I will arrange for basic room and board to be provided for you here, since you sold your old family home," he said nonchalantly. "But if you want my assistance and compliance with this vendetta against Brad, those are my terms. I assure you they are quite reasonable."

I clenched my jaw, biting back an angry retort. How dare this overgrown bully try to trap me into indentured servitude here! Practically blackmail in return for his "discretion" keeping silent! Outrage simmered in my blood.

But I was effectively caught - I couldn't risk Conan exposing my deceit to Brad and Mr. N before I had secured the safety of my children. I desperately needed the grim beta's cooperation, at least for now.

Seeing the helpless fury and resentment on my face, Conan lifted one thick black brow sardonically. "Well, Dr. Jade? Do we have an accord?"

I took a deep, calming breath, mentally counting to five. "Fine," I bit out tersely. "I agree to your...terms." The words tasted bitter.

Conan gave a small smile of satisfaction. "Excellent. A wise choice. I will draw up the official contract tonight."

He stood smoothly, straightening his jacket with an air of finality. "And remember - this arrangement stays strictly between us. Not a word to anyone, not even Brad." Conan's golden eyes glinted dangerously. "Understood?"

I gave a tense nod. With a last probing look, the infuriating beta turned and disappeared into the darkened forest, leaving me stewing alone by the lake, fists clenched tight at my sides.

Just great. Now, on top of everything else, I was indentured as a free doctor to the very pack I was trying to secretly infiltrate under false pretenses. All while continuing to walk a perilous tightrope between keeping Brad interested, adhering to the mysterious Mr. N's demands, and now satisfying the mercenary conditions of this treacherous beta who held dangerous knowledge over me.

I cursed Conan's interference even as I grudgingly admitted he could prove a useful ally of sorts on the inside. Brad was most definitely not going to know what hit him once Conan and I were through. The fool had no idea what I was really capable of now, six years later and infinitely more cunning.

As I finally retreated back to my small, dingy temporary apartment on the poorer side of town for the night, my sharp mind churned rapidly, revising my plans. I would play along as Conan's indentured servant for now, while working Brad from another angle. Let the arrogant beta think he could control and use me so easily.

Meanwhile, I would charm and spin my web around the rest of the pack, slowly winning more allies to my side. Two could play at this game. If Conan thought I was still that naive, broken teenager he remembered, he was dead wrong. I would use every weapon in my arsenal to wrap these foolish Nightingale wolves around my finger. For the sake of getting my children back, I would do whatever it took - lie, cheat, seduce - anything to achieve my goal. I was no longer that weak little girl. The old Jade was gone.

Let the games begin.