The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154

I had to let him go. Once and ter all.

“William will be here any second,” I said.

Riley sighed. “I just hope you know what yourare doing. Because it really doesn’t seem like you

She could see right through me, so I looked away, feeling exposed.

do.”

Riley went ahead, and William arrived not long later. He was in a crisp black suit, with a tie that was meant to match my dress but wasn’t quite the right shade of blue. It was too dark, noticeably so, and that made us seem mismatched.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“Thank you,” I replied, and didn’t mention the tie.

We drove to the pack house in relative silence. We had to park far away, as most of the pack had been invited, the pack house open for all, so there wasn’t much parking up close.

As we neared the event, fireworks went off in the sky. It wasn’t even dark yet, and they seemed to be cutting loose already. The sounds of music and laughter echoed down the street.

Already my stomach was turning. I didn’t want to take even one step closer.

William held out his arm for me in wordless support. I slipped my arm through his in silent gratitude.

Things between us were complicated, but I was glad to have him here, even if only so I didn’t have to face this alone.

At the gate, we showed my invitation, and we were both waved inside.

There were tents and pavilions set up around the courtyard, with a tall stage set up on the far side. A few high ranking members of the pack lingered up there. That had to be where the ceremony was set to occur.

Other, lesser pack members milled around the eating spaces, drinking popped bottles of champagne and eating hors d’oeuvres. Champagne sounded perfect right about now, actually, as I was starting to lose my nerve.

Why had I ever thought coming here was a good idea? I should have listened to William, to Riley, to everyone who told me to just stay home.

But I couldn’t back out now. I was here. This was it. There could be no going back.

I tugged on William and nodded toward the drink tent. He led me there and we joined the end of the line!

“A lot of people here,” William said. “A lot of familiar faces.”

“Yeah…” I said, but I’d been too cowardly to look too closely. I did now, though, at his prompting.

I recognized many of the partiers, knowing them from my youth. But they didn’t know me as I was now, as Vanessa.

On the other side of the courtyard, nearer the front door of the pack house, stood Jason’s parents. His mom was beautiful in a classy violet gown. The former Alpha’s suit was sharp, and his tie did match his wife’s dress.

Their gazes passed over the crowd, and before I could think to maybe consider hiding myself, they spotted me. Immediately rage crossed over Jason’s father’s face. He stormed toward me, Sarah right behind him.

“Your heart! Please don’t get upset!”

I could hear her begging as they approached, but he wasn’t listening to her. He was too furious with me.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

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