The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 285

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Chapter 285

Laila’s POV

Carter was the perfect gentleman, leading me into the restaurant. He held the door open for me, and then spoke to the hostess at the host station. He’d called ahead, so they had our name on the list. We were able to be seated fairly quickly, earning glares from the people that had been waiting longer without call ahead.

At our table, he held my chair for me, then helped me slide in. He tripped over himself as he made his way to the seat opposite mine, but he only stumbled a little, didn’t fall. I pretended not to notice.

He was clearly nervous, stammering slightly as he sat down. “B–Beautiful place here. And you. You are beautiful too.”

“Thank you,” I told him. “Though don’t forget why we are here.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s not a real date.” His smile never wavered, which confused me. He must have seen the confusion on my face, because he added, “I’m considering it practice for the real thing.”

“Carter…”

“Forget I said anything,” he said quickly, but his smile remained.

When the waiter came by for our drinks, Carter proudly declared, “Wine, please.”

The waiter looked at him expectantly. “What kind of wine, Sir?”

Carter paled a little, his eyes seeking mine for help.

“Perhaps a white?” I suggested. “What about a nice Riesling? That would be nice, right?”

“Yes,” Carter said. “A… uh… what she said.”

The waiter nodded. “Of course.”

As the waiter walked away, Carter leaned over. “Sorry. Usually my dad orders when we got to fancy places like this. I’ve never been to a date somewhere this nice.”

“Where do you usually take your dates?” I asked.

“Oh, just the burger place. Or the bar,” he said. “But they aren’t fancy ladies like you.”

Not for the first time, I felt like Carter was putting me up on a pedestal, in love with the idea of me rather than the real me. This wasn’t a real date, but if it was, I wouldn’t mind going out for burgers. If the company was good, what difference does it make how expensive the meal was?

But we weren’t here on a real date. This was all a show to get Jason to back off. A pang of guilt flashed through me. Carter was doing his best, and even though his experience was showing, and even though he knew this was just an act, I couldn’t help but feel bad his efforts were being wasted on me.

Another girl would be charmed by his antics tonight. Me? I just felt nervous, wondering if this was a good idea. Doubting every choice I had ever made that lead me here. Maybe I should have stayed home. Better that than hurting Carter’s feelings anymore.

“Carter, I’m not sure if “I cut myself off as a sudden pang of fear flashed through me.

My wolf wasn’t the strongest in existence, but she was still alert. Right now, I had the strangest feeling like I was being watched. And it wasn’t by some curious onlooker, but by someone exuding malice.

I glanced behind me, but no one seemed out of place. People were eating, chatting. Most of the people who had been waiting for tables had now been seated, which meant no more dirty looks my way.

Why did I feel so uneasy?

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“You okay?” Carter asked.

“Do you feel anything strange?” asked him.

He smiled. “I’m nervous. You most be too. It’s okay. That’s normal, I think. On dates. Rve heard.”

Another flash of fear struck me, and I glanced behind me again. This time, a tall, lurking figure entered the restaurant.

There. The malice was coming from that strange man

I didn’t recognize him. I had to be mistaken. Why would anyone feel malice toward me? Especially someone I didn’t know.

I had to be imagining this. I tried to focus on Carter and ignore the alarm bells ringing in my head.

I wasn’t very successful.

Jason’s POV

I was in the car, on the way home, when I suddenly felt a flash of fear strike through me so vividly, I had to lift a hand to my chest and lean forward.

“Pull over,” I told the driver at

at once, even though I wasn’t sure why.

My driver obeyed at once, pulling the car to the side of the road. We were still in a busy part of town, and cars were honking as they had to drive around us.

Pushing my hand on my chest, I tried to focus on what I was feeling and where it was coming from.

Somehow, I knew it was Laila. I had felt like this before, when I had dashed through the forest trying to find her. She was close. I turned my head to the right. We were parked right in front of a restaurant I frequented all the time. Was Laila in there?

I opened the car door and got out onto the sidewalk. The minute I was standing there, I felt another feeling, much stronger than the fear through my frail bond with Laila.

This time it was malice. Strong, overwhelming desire to do harm.

But who? Where?

I followed both feelings, rushing into the restaurant.

The hostess looked at me in surprise. “Alpha Jason? No one informed me you were coming. I’m sorry, Sir, but – ”

“It’s fine,” I told her as I stepped around the corner and into the dining room. \

There a tall man was being led to a single table. But his eyes weren’t on the host leading him. He was staring straight at Laila. The malice was coming from him.

Laila was sitting at the table with Carter. Her back was to the tall man. Carter was facing him, but not paying attention at all to anything beyond Laila’s face.

My own fear lurching, realizing what was about to happen, I started forward, moving before I ever saw the glint of a knife.

But when I did see it, I cried out, “Stop!”

Laila’s POV

Was that Jason’s voice?

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