The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 26

Jason stepped into the light, eyes blazing. "It is tonight." His voice was steel wrapped in fire. "Leave."

And they did. Predators who'd likely killed for fun turned and fled like frightened pups.

My legs gave out. I slumped against the wall, every ounce of adrenaline draining from me. Pain rushed back in, hot and overwhelming. The drug still dragged at my veins, thick and heavy.

"Vanessa!" Jason was at my side in an instant, crouched low, his hands firm but gentle as they scanned for injuries. His eyes darkened when they found the torn skin, the blood.

"What the hell happened?" His voice was raw with barely contained rage.

"Brittany," I breathed, tongue thick as cotton. "The champagne… drugged."

His expression turned murderous. "She what?"

I tried to push to my feet. "I have to—Ava—"

"You're not going anywhere," Jason cut in, catching me as I swayed. His arm wrapped around my waist, steady and unyielding. "Not until a doctor clears you."

"I don't have time—"

"You'll make time," he said fiercely. "Because Ava needs her mother alive."

The strength in his grip, the certainty in his voice—it undid me. For once, I let him carry some of the weight.

He half-lifted me to his car, settling me gently into the passenger seat. In the side mirror, I caught a glimpse of myself—hair tangled with blood, dress shredded, eyes hollow.

But alive.

Brittany hadn't won.

***

Jason's POV

The hospital erupted into motion the moment I carried her through the emergency entrance.

"Possible poisoning!" I barked, my Alpha voice cracking through the sterile air. Nurses swarmed, wheeling her into a treatment room, hooking up IVs, drawing blood. Machines beeped. Doors closed.

I was left pacing the hallway like a caged animal, fury and guilt ripping through me in equal measure.

Brittany had done this? The woman who wore the title of my fated mate. She had drugged and nearly killed an innocent woman because of her jealousy.

My stomach turned. My wolf snarled, demanding retribution.

"Alpha."

Marcus appeared at my side, grim-faced. "I got your message. How is she?"

"Stable. They're running toxicology." My hand dragged through my hair, pulling hard, trying to ground myself. "What did you find?"

The folder slipped from my hands. Papers scattered across the polished floor.

But something wasn't right. Something in my gut rebelled against the neat finality of those certificates.

"Where's the body?" I asked suddenly.

Marcus frowned. "What?"

"Where's her body? Where's the baby?" The questions came faster now, my mind latching onto details. "There has to be a burial record. Cemetery plot. Something."

"Sir, that was six years ago—"

"Find them." The Alpha command bled through my voice. "Find everything. I want to see where they're buried."

Marcus studied my face. Whatever he saw there made him nod slowly. "I'll look into it."

Something about those clean, official documents felt wrong. Too convenient. Too final.

And until I held dirt from their graves in my hands, until I saw their names carved in stone, I wouldn't believe it.

I couldn't believe it.

Not when every instinct I had was screaming that this story wasn't over.