Semua Bab The Alpha’s Forbidden Obsession : Bab 81 - Bab 90

"Derek wants to make a deal."Agent Chen stood in my office three days after the battle. Her expression was grim."What kind of deal?""Full testimony against his co-conspirators. Names. Locations. Funding sources. Everything in exchange for reduced sentence.""Absolutely not. He funded terrorism. Threatened children. He deserves life in prison.""I agree. But his information could help us dismantle the entire conspiracy. Stop future attacks. Save lives.""Or he's lying. Giving us false information to protect his real allies.""That's possible. But Malcolm says Derek's scared. The conspiracy leaders ordered the hit on Malcolm. They'll order one on Derek too. He's afraid he'll be killed before trial.""Good. Let him be afraid. Like every child he threatened was afraid.""Hailey, I understand your anger. But think strategically. Derek's testimony could end this. Could give Hope real safety."I wanted to refuse. To let Derek rot in prison without deals or mercy. But Chen was right. Hope'

The drive back was quiet. Hope fell asleep in her car seat. Lucy stared out the window. Edward drove with mechanical precision. Lucian and I sat in silence.When we got home, Petra was waiting. Her face was grave."We have a problem. The Council called emergency session. They want you there. Now.""What's it about?""The mall incident. It's all over the news. They're saying you attacked a human unprovoked. That supernatural aggression is out of control. They're calling for your removal from the council.""Let them call. I was protecting Hope.""They don't care. They care about optics. And right now, the optics are terrible. Naked shapeshifters attacking humans in malls. That's not the image they want.""Then they can handle the council without me. I'm done playing politics.""Hailey, if you don't show up, they'll vote to remove you. Strip your position. Possibly your Luna title.""My title comes from my pack. Not the Council.""But your authority in the supernatural community comes fr

"Mama, why you cry?"Hope stood in the doorway of my room. I hadn't realized I was crying. Hadn't felt the tears."Mama's just sad, baby. But I'm okay.""About what?"How did you explain to a two-year-old? You didn't. You couldn't."About someone I used to know. Someone who's hurt.""Can you help them?""Maybe. But it's complicated.""You always help people. You're Mama. That's what you do."Her simple faith broke my heart. In her world, Mama could fix everything. Mama always helped. Mama never failed.But this time, Mama might have to."Come here, baby." I pulled her into my lap. Held her tight. Breathed her in."You smell scared," she said. "Like when bad people come.""I am scared. But not of bad people. Of making wrong choices.""What choice?""Whether to help someone who hurt me. Whether to risk people I love to save someone from my past.""Do you love them? The hurt person?""I used to. A long time ago.""Then help them. Love means helping. Even when it's hard.""What if helping

I sat there. Staring at nothing. Feeling the weight of failure crushing me."They're right," I whispered. "I can't protect Hope. Can't stop them. Can't even keep our home standing.""Stop," Lucian said. "Don't let them in your head.""They're already in my head! They predicted everything! Knew exactly how to manipulate me!""Then we change tactics. Stop being predictable. Stop letting emotion drive decisions.""Emotion? I left Hope to save Jude! That's not emotion, that's stupidity!""It was compassion. It was trying to be better than your worst moments. Don't lose that. It's what makes you different from them.""Different doesn't matter if Hope dies.""Hope's alive. Because of Lucy. Because of warriors who fought. Because of you getting back in time. That's not failure. That's survival.""Survival isn't enough.""It is when you're this outnumbered. This outmaneuvered. Survival is victory."Hope stirred. "Mama? I'm hungry."Such simple needs. Such innocent requests. While her world bu

"Mama, you're squeezing too tight."Hope's small voice pulled me back from the edge of panic. I loosened my grip on her hand, forced a smile I didn't feel."Sorry, baby. Mama was just thinking.""About the bad people?"Always so perceptive. Too perceptive for a two-year-old."Yes. But you don't need to worry about that. That's Mama's job."We were walking through what remained of the territory. Construction crews worked on rebuilding the pack house, but progress was slow. Too slow. Every night we spent in temporary housing was another night vulnerable."Luna Hailey!" Agent Chen jogged toward us, her face grim. "We need to talk. Now."I picked up Hope. "Go find Aunt Lucy, okay? Tell her Mama needs to work."Hope pouted but ran off toward the medical tent where Lucy was recovering. Still weak, but alive. That was something."What is it?" I asked once Hope was out of earshot."Malcolm's files. We cracked one layer of encryption." Chen pulled out a tablet. "You need to see this."The scre