The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 235

Laila’s POV

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William refused to take me straight home, but I refused to go back to the hospital. Our compromise was for William to take me to the clinic, where I was looked over and prescribed some pain killing medicine that should help with the silver poison.

After, William finally drove me/home.

When we arrived, he insisted on bringing me inside, though I was feeling stronger with some medicine. I was cranky and irritable at first, but once I calmed down some, I was okay with William being there.

We really needed to have a talk.

“Stay for a minute,” I told him, after he planted me on the couch.

“Youneed rest,” he said.

I did, but this talk was long overdue and needed to come first.

I waited for him to settle on the couch beside me. He looked at me with worry and some trepidation. He had likely guessed what I wanted to say, maybe that was why he had been hoping to put it off. But in delaying this conversation, he would only be hurt in the end. I couldn’t allow that.

“I’m incredibly grateful for everything you’ve done for me,” I told him. “Truly. I can’t thank you enough for today. I would still be rotting away in that jail cell if it wasn’t for you.”

“I’d never allow that to happen to you,” he said definitely, and I knew he meant it.

“I hope you mean that,” I said. “And I hope you can accept what I’m about to say as our last conversation on this matter, because my feelings aren’t going to change.”

I took a breath. He braced himself.

“William, I’m sorry. But we are never going to be romantic. You have always been my friend, and will always be my friend. But that is all we will ever be. I’ve tried, honestly I have. But I just can’t see you in that way.”

He lowered his head.

“I’m sorry,” I said again. “I never wanted to hurt you,

but

“You don’t have to apologize. You can’t change the feelings that you have.”

That was true so I stayed quiet. He was quiet too. Though his face was downturned, hiding his expression, I didn’t need to see it to know that I’ve made him sad. He must have known this was coming, and yet I imagined that couldn’t make something like

this easier.

Just as I couldn’t change my feelings for him, he couldn’t change his for me.

“I understand,” he said. “And I will not… pursue your affections romantically any longer. Though I hope…” He lifted his gaze. “I would like to continue to be here for you and for Ava. As a friend.”

Relief flooded through me. William was a good man, and I was sorry that I couldn’t feel for him the way he wanted me to. For us to remain friends regardless only proved that he was kind and that he truly cared for Ava and me.

“I would like that very much,” I told him.

He nodded, looking relieved now himself.

“I will do what I can to help and protect you and Ava both,” William said. “Whatever you have me do, I will do.”

“I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness…”

“I freely offer it.”

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“If you can,” I swallowed hard. “Can you please make sure Ava is safe? I worry about what will happen to her now that I’ve been arrested and… I don’t know what will happen in court. Riley I know is with her, but something happens, Riley will need backup.”

“I will do this,” he said. “Though, you should know… Alpha Jason also assigned a couple of warriors to guard Ava’s room. He meant to guard yours as well, I’m sure, but they arrived too late. You were already taken.”

My heart lurched. Jason had thought to protect me? If he had come sooner –

No. If he had, there could have been a war with the humans. Things were better this way, even if I had to suffer.

But now that I was free, Jason was going to want answers. And he probably deserved them too.

“What are you going to tell him?” William asked me.

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