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All Chapters of The Counterfeit Mate: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

40 Chapters

Chapter 11

Jason POV: The Pendant Around Florence's Neck Irene is not in her room.I stand in the center of her lavish room and glare at the terrified omega sweeping the rug. "Where is she?" I demand.The servant trembles, her eyes glued to the floor. "She . . . she is out walking her dog, Alpha.""Walking her dog?" This is absurd. She literally just moved in this morning. She can't be out walking a dog. I didn't see her in the street, and she certainly didn't arrive in the limousine with a pet.I turn a tight glare on Lucio. "Find Irene.""Okay. I'm on it." He starts to walk away, but stops and turns back with a cautious expression. "Alpha Jason, you seem upset. You might want to take a breath before you see your wife—""My wife," I snap, the words taste wrong on my tongue. "Just find her, Lucio."He nods quickly and hurries off down the corridor.The moment I'm alone, that maddening tinnitus flares up in my ears again. It’s like a twisted orchestra has moved inside my skull, steadily build

Chapter 12

Florence POV: Alpha Trevor HurstAs we follow Bessie’s quick, silent steps down the corridor, I whisper to Susie, "Did you see the look on his face?"Susie nods rapidly, her eyes wide with electric excitement. She glances over her shoulder before leaning into me. "She knows, Florence. Irene knows exactly what that talisman is doing to him."My heart skips a beat. If Irene knows, then she’s managing the spell. Bessie suddenly stops. She turns around, her gaze sweeping over both of us from head to toe."Your dresses,” she says, “You both need proper dresses."She veers down an intersecting hallway, and gestures for us to follow. Susie and I are guided into a dressing suite, where Bessie and a quiet female omega begin pulling garments from a walk-in closet. I've never seen so much clothes in one place. Bessie selects two pieces meant to make us acceptable for a wealthy family's dinner. To Susie, she gave a midnight-blue gown with flared sleeves that somehow manages to tame her usual ec

Chapter 13

Florence POV: Belle"What the hell," Susie whispers, her lips barely moving as she leans an inch closer to me. "Is that Alpha Trevor or his little brother?""It's him," I murmur back, my hands tightly clasped in my lap.We are already seated at the dining table, surrounded by the exclusive luxury of the rich. Even after speaking with him privately, the sight of him is still unnerving. He walks with a brisk stride, his keen eyes gaze sweeps over everyone's face. Beside him, Bessie offers a beaming smile. Watching her, it is impossible to tell if that smile is born of genuine happiness or desperate relief.Across the table, Jason sits with a strained, rigid expression. Does Irene's charm cause him pain? A low shudder racks my body and I feel goosebumps rise all over my arm. Ever since he took his seat beside Irene, he hasn’t looked at me. Irene, on the other hand, has been staring at me plenty, her eyes shooting daggers over the crystal centerpieces.But I don't care about my stepsis

Chapter 14

Florence POV: Jason Wants To Talk Oh my God!He remembers! He remembers me! "Are you alright, son?"The booming, vibrant voice of Alpha Trevor Hurst cuts through the air and shatters the trance. Jason blinks, his head jerks back. "Huh?"I suck a big gulp of relief and clear my throat again. He turns his face toward the head of the table, where his father is leaning forward, looking concerned.Jason clears his throat, the muscles in his jaw tightens. He forces his posture to straighten. "Oh. I'm fine, Dad," he says. I quickly shift my shoulders. With a smooth, flirty movement, I pull the top of my dress together. The stone sinks into the recess of my cleavage and disappears from view once more.I bite my lower lip at the thought that I've just done something I'll never have done in a million years: I exposed my cleavage in a game of sorcery. I'm at war with Irene. Jason is our turf. How ironic. "You look like you saw a ghost just now," the older alpha says to his son. “Do you

Chapter 15

Florence POV: Jason Wants To Do Business With Florence Irene grabs Jason's wrist as he turns to leave.He stops, turns back to her with that unnervingly placid expression. "My love, be patient. I must have a word with your sister, okay?"Irene looks ready to throw a tantrum. Penny steps in and says, "Irene, be a darling and let your Alpha do his job."Irene begrudgingly lets go of his arm. She glares at me. I reply with a teasing smile. Her face turns to a seething shade of red. Those eyes say: you won this round, you won't win the next. I look back at her with an expression that says: we'll see, won't we. "We should meet in my office," Jason says. I narrow my eyes slightly. "What is this about?""Come on, Florence," Lucio cuts in. "Your Alpha requires your attention, and you're questioning him?"I sigh, then give Jason a small bow. "Forgive me, Alpha Jason."Jason is staring at my face again, his head tilted slightly to the side, his eyes narrowed as if trying to piece together

Chapter 16

Florence POV: Another Chance Lost"The Hammersteins are here, Jason," Irene says with a copy blink of her eyes. "They're waiting to see you."Jason's face clouds over for a split second. It is a vacant, confused look in his eyes as if he doesn't comprehend the words she just spoke. For one fleeting moment, I believe Irene made up the news on the spot just to tear him away from me and the moment.But then, the fog rolls back from his eyes, his face lights up with a plastic grin. "Oh, the Hammersteins. Carl and Judy.""Yes, my dear," Irene says demurely, smiling sweetly. "They're such nice folks. They're eager to talk about their factory."Lucio steps forward. "I'll go make them comfortable.""Yes, Lucio. Thanks," Jason says, nodding.He closes ledger and prepares to leave the office. Irene turns a victorious gaze on me. "Okay, sister. Time to leave. My husband needs to talk real business with important pack people."Jason frowns slightly, his eyes drifts back to me. "Actually, Irene,

Chapter 17

Florence POV: Todd Crushes On IreneI slept for only a few restless hours before the light of dawn broke through my curtains. I throw a work shirt on and head out to join my brothers in the fields.The corn is coming in, and so is the millet. But the stalks are thin, and the projected harvest is low compared to last year. There is still a full acre waiting to be brought in, and right now, my dad and brothers are standing in a line in front of that struggling plot.I trudge across the uneven dirt and join them.Tony says, "We heard about the grant.""We?" I ask. "Who told you?""Shawn told us." He jerks his chin at my other brother."And who told you?" I ask Shawn. "Susie did," he says with a shrug.I sigh and look at the corn. I hadn't wanted to tell anyone about the money until I was certain Jason wouldn't change his mind under Irene's thumb.Todd, our youngest brother, pipes up from the edge of the line. "Well, I heard about it too, but not from Shawn or Susie."I look at him, my

Chapter 18

Jason POV: Penny Lives In The Alpha's Estate? I don't remember much of the meeting with the Hammersteins from last night. I woke up with my sheets tangled, my jaw aching from clenching it in my sleep, and a blankness where last night’s memories should be. At breakfast, my mother looks up from her untouched tea and asks about the dark circles around my eyes. "Are you feeling alright, son?" "Yes," I lie. I turn to one of the nearby servants. "Get me Lucio." Irene walks into the dining room, her white robe trailing behind her. She kisses my cheek. "How about that shopping we talked about, darling?" she asks as she sits beside me. I look at her. I don't remember talking about shopping with her. "Shopping? What is this about?" Irene's bright expression clouds. She gives me a wounded look. She presses a hand to her chest. "The new moon is in four days, Jason. Our wedding is coming up, alongside your formal coronation as Alpha. There is a mountain of things to shop for." I

Chapter 19

Florence POV: Jason Shows UpAround ten in the morning, my dad stumbles out of the farmhouse, dragging his boots through the dirt. His eyes are drained, his lips wet. He's clutching tightly in his hand a dark bottle.The harsh morning sun hits his face, and he squints. He lets out a wincing groan.He brings the bottle to his lips, but I snatch it straight out of his hand."It's too early to be drunk, Dad!" His eyes suddenly snap wide open, his upper lip draws back in a raw, animal snarl. "Give me that!"He lunges forward, trying to wrench the bottle back, but I step out of his reach. Without breaking eye contact, I twist the cap off and tip the bottle over, spilling the dark, thick liquid into the grass. The content hiss and foam, emitting a foul sweet odor like cabbage that's gone bad. I wrinkle my nose in disgust. "What is this you're drinking, Dad?"He lumbers after me, horror written on his face as he watches the dark content bubble into the soil. He screams, "That's expensive,

Chapter 20

Florence POV: Lucio Is Interested In Florence "Where are your brothers?" Jason asks, his eyes scanning the farmhouse and field of corn. "One of them, Tony, he's training to be a warrior, isn't he?"I blink, still trying to process the bomb he just dropped. "Two of them, actually. Tony and Shawn.""I want to meet them," he says, adjusting the collar of his shirt.I stand there rooted to the dirt in front of the farmhouse, my mind reeling. Accountant. He just thrusted me into the role of the pack’s bookkeeper, one of the most vital positions in pack administration. It is an office that holds the keys to our financial survival, wielding power that, in many ways, is even more significant than the Beta's role."Walk me out," Jason says gently, turning toward the path.Walk you out? I glare at his back. You fool. You think you can just come here and order me around after what you did to me? Walk you? Damn you.He pauses and looks back over his shoulder when he realizes I haven't moved.

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