The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 123

Laila’s POV

“Are you out of your head? You have to know how powerful Jason is! What were you thinking?” I demanded. William was a dear friend, and it pained me to see him hurt. It also infuriated me that he would purposefully throw himself into an angry argument with one of the strongest Alphas alive.

That was just reckless.

“I should have done worse,” William growled. “After what Jason did, he deserved to be knocked out.”

A pang rippled through my chest. Had William hurt Jason? No, no, he couldn’t have. Jason was too strong. There was nothing William could have done, even in anger, that would have hurt or overwhelmed Jason.

“He didn’t do anything,” I said, once the initial worry had past, and I could properly examine what William had said to me.” What happened… I should have pushed him away.”

“You shouldn’t have had to,” William said.

I shook my head, not hearing him. I hadn’t drugged Jason, like he had claimed, but I should have handled the situation better. If I had spoken to him, he would have listened to me. If I had told him no, he would have stopped. I was sure of it.

Instead, I thought he had learned the truth and still wanted me. That had frazzled something in my mind. And when his lips were on mine, his arms and body around me, I stopped thinking about anything else.

So I carried as much blame as Jason, here.

“If you are going to be angry at Jason, you should also be angry at me,” I said. “And now with our canceled engagement “The engagement is not canceled,” he said. “He set this all up, and I don’t blame you at all, despite your attempts to bully yourself. If you limit your involvement with him, then I don’t see why we can’t continue. In fact, I insist on it.”

“William…”

”

“I’m serious, Laila.” He walked to me, took my hands in his, and held my gaze with his own. His was imploring. I could see the desperation there, the happiness, the everything. He wanted me to be his partner, and was willing to forgive all else to have me

be so.

I didn’t deserve him. He wasn’t who my heart longed for, but he was still a good man. I was certain that if I asked him to, he could help me with Victor. He would support me if I was to lose my job. He’d protect me from anything that meant me harm.

“I can’t love you like you deserve, William,” I told him.

“I don’t care,” he said. “Just be beside me. That will be enough.”

Jason didn’t want to have anything to do with me, so there was no harm in agreeing to William’s terms. Maybe he was right. Maybe in time…

I didn’t know.

But, given that I was about to take on a lot of weight of responsibility and likely debt, I didn’t want to drag him into something he might then be financially culpable for.

“William, there’s something you should know.” I told him about Victor, about our expensive agreement, and all of Victor’s threats against Vanessa’s siblings. He knew about some of it, from the court orders, but not all. I filled in all the missing pieces.

William listened in stride, his face darkening. “Vanessa’s grandfather was always trouble,” William said. “He’s a vile kind of man. Greedy. Doesn’t care about his own family.”

I nodded. I’d been dealing with that first hand these past few months.

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“I won’t let you face this alone,” William said. “And I won’t let this financially break you. I will help.”

“I can’t ask that of you, “Tsaid.

“I insist,” he said. “We’ll be married soon anyway. It makes sense for me to help with the payments.”

“It’s not your responsibility,” I said.

“It will be when we are married,” he said. “Why not start early?”

“William. I appreciate your desire to help me, I do, but –

>>

“You won’t be able to talk me out of this,” he said. “I care about you and I want to support you in every possible way that I can. You have to let me help you. Please. I want to.”

“Once Ava is out of the hospital, I will be able to start saving money again,” I said. “I know you want to help, but I want to try things my on my own first.”

He looked at me with fond exasperation, and huffed. “I’m frustrated, of course. But I like how independent you are. Fine. We’ll try things your way. But the minute you need help, please. Let me help you.”

“Alright,” I said, because that felt like a good compromise.

Looking at William, I tried to push my feelings for him into the romantic side of things. But once again, it just fell flat.

He reached out to me, to cup my cheek with his palm. I calmly slid back so that his hand missed my face. It lingered for a moment in the air, awkwardly, before he let it drop.

It was so strange, how nothing ever really felt easy and right with William, while with Jason, our chemistry was electric. Even standing beside him felt like where I belonged, and the anticipation of a touch gave me shivers. Thinking of our moments together… Gods, I needed a cold shower.

And I hated myself for it.

“Jason did this,” he said, clenching his hand into a fist. “He made you so repulsed that no one can touch you now.‘

“No, I…” I had no idea how to explain.

“We don’t have to talk about it,” William said.

Even with the misunderstanding, I was grateful for this out of the conversation and took it.

Leaving William, I returned to the hospital. When I entered Laila’s room, she was sound asleep on her bed. The monitors all seemed normal, so I went to my usual chair and tried to make myself comfortable.

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