The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 196

“Jason may think himself in charge of this pack and this marriage, but he is not. The people are. The people’s opinion keeps him in power, and it keeps me right where I am.”

“That’s why you lied about being pregnant, even though Jason never slept with you.”

“It was for the good of the pack.”

“And your own good, too,” I said, knowing this reason to be the most important to her. She wasn’t some great martyr or people’s champion. She had only ever cared about herself. Her own position. Her own power.

“Those two things are synonymous,” she said with a shrug. “But now, Jason has fucked with me. He thinks he can leave me? He can’t. The people will never allow him. With what I just told the world, he’s going to desperately need to stay in my good graces to stay in power at all.”

I straightened in alarm. Whatever she had just done must have been big to give her this kind of confidence. But I was confused. It wasn’t like she could fake another pregnancy. Maybe she told the world she was expecting twins. Would that be enough? And what would she do in nine months when the children never appeared?

But if it was good news, why had the reporters said it was a tragedy? And why had she done her makeup to appear like she had been crying?

At once, a dark thought entered my mind. But it seemed too cruel to fake, even for her.

But if she would fake getting pregnant, why wouldn’t she fake a miscarriage?

She placed her hand on her perfectly flat stomach. “So sad. My baby never had a chance at life.”

“You’re sick,” I said.

She hummed, acknowledging me, not totally disputing me. “If only Jason had been a more attentive husband. If he had been there. If he had put more effort into our marriage” She sniffled, putting on the same show she must have for the reporters. ” Maybe I wouldn’t have lost our baby.”

Was this what she told the reporters, the pack? That she had lost the baby and it was Jason’s fault?

“No one is going to believe you,” I said.

In a flash, the fake tears dried up and Brittany was smirking again.

“Why don’t we wait and see?” she said. “When I’m right, when the pack crumbles and turns on Jason, and he comes crawling back to me, begging me to save him… I want you gone.”

“Your plan isn’t going to work,” I said. “Your threats aren’t going to work.”

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She shrugged. “Let’s wait and see, shall we?” She tapped a finger to her chin. “Maybe I’ll arrange a funeral for my unborn child, Perhaps I should give them a name. What about Laila, in honor of Jason’s late childhood friend.” Brittany laughed. “It would be fun to see her go into the ground again.”

There was something deeply, unsettlingly wrong with Brittany. Her lust for power had made her totally lose her mind. How could she think any of this appropriate?

“When people find out the truth, you will be hated,” I said.

She only laughed harder. “Try and tell whoever you want. No one will believe you.”

“Jason won’t stand for it.”

“After what I’ve said about Jason and our relationship, no one will believe her either.”

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Clearly, I could say nothing to reach Brittany and change her mind. She seemed certain things were a certain way and she was the only one who could control the puppet strings.

I didn’t believe that. I couldn’t. This pack was filled with good people who would see through Brittany’s lies.

Not wanting to hear her laughter anymore, I turned toward the door and stepped out into the hallway. I closed the door behind me to muffle Brittany’s laughter.

Hanging my head, lost in thought, I started back toward Ava’s room.

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