The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 169

Jason’s POV

I didn’t know what else to say to William, so I just left. But his words echoed around in my mind. They had set a date for their wedding. A date. They were going to get married, officially, and then Vanessa would be out of my reach. Maybe I would never see her again.

What was I talking about? She was already out of my reach. How could I keep forgetting? I was bonded to Brittany now, and that was my fate.

My heart clenched, aching. Nothing could be done about it.

William didn’t say anything to me, which was fine. I had nothing to say to him either, not with the bombshell he’d just dropped

on me.

Vanessa could marry whoever she wanted. But William? It didn’t feel right.

Though maybe no one would seem right for her. Except me.

Gods, I really needed to let this go.

I drove back to the pack house like I was on autopilot. I was so distracted that I missed my turns a few times, then cursed when I realized I’d done so.

“Get it together,” I cursed at myself. Why was I letting this bother me so much?

Vanessa wasn’t Laila. We’d never dated. We had no romantic attachment at all. But her setting a date with William still cut me like we had. For reasons I couldn’t really explain.

I felt foolish, and forced myself to focus. I wasn’t some hormone–fueled teenager with a crush. I was an Alpha, with priorities and a mate. I needed to forget about Vanessa, and focus on my own future.

Even if that future was with Brittany.

When I finally arrived back home, I was surprised to find that the long driveway had been filled with cars. People were standing all over the yard, facing a slightly lifted stage and on it, a podium.

It took a moment for me to realize what I was seeing.

These weren’t just people, they were camera crews, reporters, and producers.

And up on the stage were my father and Brittany.

Gods, they were in the middle of a press conference.

As I pulled to a stop, many of the reporters in the back of the crowd turned and spotted me. Like cats that caught the scent of fresh fish, their eyes went wide and hungry. They tugged the cameras away from the stage and started coming toward me.

Before I could escape, I was surrounded by microphones and camera lenses. Reporters shouted questions so loudly, all at once, that I couldn’t even discern individual questions from the cacophony of sound.

I only knew one thing.

I was trapped.

The reporters gave me no direction to go except up onto the stage with my father and Brittany. Seeing no other choice without starting a fight – I moved toward the stage and went up the stairs.

not

“Son,” my father said. “Tell the public how happy you are about Brittany’s pregnancy.”

Behind him, Brittany looked at me with excitement. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth, like she was trying to hide her

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