The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 129

Jason’s POV

I was certain that Vanessa would reject any offer of money I made to her, even if it was made as an offer to help her. I also wasn’t sure that reaching out directly would be the best thing to do either. She might blame me for this news barrage, and she wouldn’t entirely be wrong, since Brittany had been acting in defense of me, calling in the reporters to slander Vaneasa on my belialt.

“Vanessa won’t take money from me. She has too much pride. She probably doesn’t even want to hear from me,” I said, thinking aloud. “But I can still help her.”

“You shouldn’t waste your time,” Brittany countered. “After what she did, she deserves to crash and burn.”

I couldn’t agree with that. That night… something had been off about it. I had no evidence against what Brittany was saying, that this was Vanessa’s fault. But I didn’t have any evidence to support what she was saying, either. We really didn’t know what had happened. And Vanessa had seemed innocent.

Maybe I was just kidding myself. Maybe I wanted to believe in her more than I had any reason to do so.

“No,” I said, definitive. “I don’t want her to crash and burn, and I’m the one who should decide. Not you.”

“You can’t be mad at me for what I did,” Brittany scoffed.

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“I understand you wanted to protect me in your own way, but this isn’t the right way to handle things. Call them off, Brittany.”

She looked appalled by the suggestion. “No. Be serious.”

“I am serious. I can handle Vanessa. What’s happening to her, this smearing of her reputation… it could ruin her life.”

“Who cares if her life is ruined?”

“I do,” I said firmly. “Call off your reporter friends.”

She looked at me a moment in disbelief and then huffed. “No.”

Simple as that. She just wasn’t going to.

“I’m not asking,” I said.

“It’s too late. What’s done is done.”

“Not for me.” I was done depending on her. Turning from her, I moved to my desk and picked up my phone.

“What are you doing?” Brittany asked, coming closer.

“Marcus,” I said into the phone, when he picked up. “Connect me to the editor at the local news channel. Thank you.”

“You can’t do this,” Brittany said.

I gave her a dark look. I was Alpha. I could do whatever I wanted, and I wasn’t going to take orders from anyone. “Can’t you see that I only did this because I love you?” she said, her voice pleading, even as her eyes stayed icy cold. “I don’t want that kind of love,” I said. “Any love that depends on tearing down others, isn’t real love.”

“I love you,” she said.

“Then you would have talked to me about this first,” I said. “If we were truly a team, we would have discussed what to do. Instead, you took revenge all on your own. This wasn’t for me, Brittany. This was only for you and your own satisfaction.”

Rearing back, she blanched.

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The line connected, and an older man’s voice filled the phone.

“Alpha Jason, this is Editor Thomas. To what do I owe the honor of your call?”

“I have a favor to ask of you, Thomas. I’m hoping you can help me.”

“I’m all ears, Alpha.”

“You are going to regret this, Jason,” Brittany said. “Vanessa is an ungrateful leech, and she won’t stop until she has taken you for all that you are worth. You are going to be left with nothing.”

I covered the microphone of the phone. “Quiet. I’ll deal with you after.”

She glared at him, but moved to one of the chairs and sat down in a huff. She crossed her arms over her chest.

But at least she was quiet.

With a sigh, I uncovered the microphone. “Apologies for the interruption. Let me tell you exactly what I need.”

Sitting in my chair behind my desk, I told Editor Thomas what I hoped he could do for me. Mainly, I wanted him to call off what reporters he could, away from Vanessa. Ideally, I wanted all the media to drop the story and leave her alone.

“I can’t do that,” Thomas said.

“This is a hit piece, Thomas,” I said. “You know that. It’s beneath you.”

“Unfortunately, Alpha, ratings aren’t what they used to be. People are tuning in for this. I can’t just cut it off without huge financial loss to myself and my company. The board won’t go for that, even if I tell them it was a favor to you. I’m sorry.”

That did make things complicated. But I was determined to see this through.

Briefly, I considered giving from my own fortune, but my family wouldn’t like that. And the pack, if they learned what I did, wouldn’t be too happy about it either. I’d be accused of some kind of cover up, even though the initial report wasn’t based on honesty to begin with.

I was already on thin ice with pack politics. I had to be careful not to put myself in the crosshairs. I wasn’t sure my rule could survive another scandal.

But, if I couldn’t kill the story, maybe I could do something to distract the public away from Vanessa. Something that wasn’t a scandal, but something more… hopeful. For the people, at least.

Even if it seemed like a nightmare to me.

“I have a proposition for you,” I said.

“I’m listening,” Thomas replied.

I looked at Brittany. She glanced back at me.

“If you stop coverage of Vanessa Harper, I will give you an exclusive interview with Brittany and me.”

Brittany’s eyes went wide.

“Your fiancé?”

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“We haven’t talked to anyone of the press yet. All the released statements have been through our publicist. Work with I’ll make sure you get exclusive access.”

“A full interview,” Thomas said. “In your home. Whatever questions we want to ask.”

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