The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 134

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“I know all those reporters showing up was because of you,” William said. His body was tense like it had been before, when he had wanted to fight. This time he claimed he just wanted to talk, but I had my doubts. “You put them on her trail.”

This time, I wasn’t guilty of what he was accusing me of. At least, not directly. But in a way, it was still my fault.

Brittany had been the one to call the reporters and point them in Vanessa’s direction, promising an expose. But she’d only done that because of me. Because of what had happened between Vanessa and me, and because I had initially thought Vanessa had drugged me.

Brittany had acted in what she considered my defense. That was enough reason for me to accept the blame, especially from William.

“What do you want, William?” I said, pushing him back toward the point of his visit. In the end, did it really matter if I fessed up to being responsible for the press chasing Vanessa or not? It wouldn’t change anything.

I could only hope Editor Thomas kept his end of the deal and called off the reporters now that I had given him that horrible interview. Just thinking about some of the things I had to say about Brittany made me cringe.

“I told you,” William said. “I want you to stay away from Vanessa. Forever. Don’t bother her ever again, especially outside of work. All you do is upset her. And with work, we would both prefer you use a middleman to convey your wishes.”

“Is that Vanessa’s request or yours?” I asked.

“I’m not alone in this,” William said. “Vanessa has enough going on her life right now. She doesn’t need you adding more conflict. What happened between you happened. No one can change that. But that doesn’t mean that you have to keep talking.”

The way he was speaking, with such authority, it truly sounded like he was conveying Vanessa’s wishes as well as his own. A demand from William, I could ignore, but one from Vanessa was much more complicated.

I didn’t want to hurt her more than I already had. If she hadn’t drugged me, then I had led her on, confusing her for Laila in my lustful delirium. Then I had accused her of vile behavior, when all she was truly guilty of was giving into physical impulses that my actions had triggered.

When she woke up from our bliss, she must have thought things were one way, possibly thinking that the two of us had some kind of future together. Then I pulled the rug out from under her, shattering the illusion but also accusing her.

I had acted like a bully Alpha, thinking with my anger rather than my head.

It would make sense for her to never want to see me again. I couldn’t even blame her for it.

“I understand, and I accept,” I said. “As for any work discussion, I will remind you both that our contracts had already been rescinded. There is no need for us to ever speak to each other again.”

William gave me a hard, skeptical look, but nodded. “I’m sure Vanessa will appreciate never having to see your face again.”

I deserved that. It still made my chest ache.

“She can rest easy,” I said, wanting the best for her, even if it pained me. “I will not bother her again.”

“Good.”

William was Vanessa’s fiancé, and would be the man to protect and love her. Whatever had occurred between Vanessa and me was an accident, and couldn’t get in the way of that.

Maybe, because of that encounter, I had no right to want to be protective of Vanessa in my own way. But the Alpha in me wouldn’t be satisfied just letting this go without a warning of my own.

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“Vanessa is a good woman,” I said, “You must treat her right. She most feel loved every single day for the rest of her life.”

“I don’t need you to tell me that,” Williamn said. “I will take care of her. You just stay away.”

William turned then and walked out.

My wolf growled in the back of my mind, wordlessly asking to lash out at William. Maybe I was the une who wanted a fight this time. But I held the wolf and myself back.

Vanessa had chosen this man. And I had chosen Brittany. That was just the way things were.

If Vanessa had been Laila, then things would be different. But she wasn’t. I had to let this go.

That was easier to think than to do, however, and some ugly jealousy coiled in my gut. In a wild, fleeting thought, I wished I was the one who was going home to Vanessa, rather than turning and facing Brittany again.

I realized, with this, that I had accepted totally Vanessa had nothing to do with rugging me. She had been as innocent as I was, and got caught up in someone else’s game the same way I did.

But… who? Who had orchestrated that event?

Closing the door, I turned back to the hallway. I only made it two steps before I noticed, Brittany in one of the front seating rooths near the door, very clearly eavesdropping. She straightened when I saw her and smiled at me, totally unapologetic. “He’s right, you know,” she said. “It would be better for everyone if you stayed away from Vanessa.”

I sighed and kept walking.

Brittany rushed beside me, falling in step with me. “You are too kind to her, Jason. You should have let those reporters continue their expose. It’s the least of what she deserves for what she did to you.”

“Drop it,” I said flatly.

Brittany persisted. “You didn’t forget that she drugged you?”

“I don’t think it was her,” I said.

“Who else could it have been?” Brittany asked with a disgusted kind of fake laugh.

I stopped and looked at her, remembering now… She had been the one who had brought me that coffee. I hadn’t drank anything else. The drugs must have been in there.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Brittany asked,

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