The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 288

Laila’s POV

His words rendered me speechless, and for the rest of the drive, I could barely think, let alone formulate words.

Jason was patient with me. “You don’t have to say anything now. But I hope that you will allow your heart open for me. I won’t hurt you again, Laila.”

My heart and my mind were at odds, and my wolf gently reminded me of Carter.

“He is our mate now,” my wolf whispered in my mind. Her voice was weak, distant. I didn’t often hear her like this.

“Carter is not our mate,” I said firmly in my thoughts. There were so many reasons that he couldn’t be.

“But the Moon Goddess – ”

“She was wrong this time.”

“Then Jason is our mate?”

“No,” I said in my thoughts. “We have no mate.”

My wolf, so ready for love, sulked away from the forefront of my thoughts, retreating to the dark corners where I could no longer feel her. I felt emptier with her in hiding like this, but it was a feeling I had become familiar with.

As we pulled into my driveway, I was no closer to knowing what words to say to him.

All I could manage was, “Thank you for what you did.”

“I will always protect you,” he said.

I hopped out of the car and walked to my door. In my eagerness to escape inside the house, I noticed only too late that my daughter had been waiting. No sooner had I opened the door than she came sprinting out from behind it. She sidestepped me entirely and ran to Jason, who, in seeing her, himself got out of the car.

He knelt down to her level, and she flung herself into his arms.

“I missed you, Daddy,” she said, apparently not taking the conversation we had to heart. She likely hadn’t believed me when I said we needed to keep distance from Jason.

Yet, as worried as I was about her future heartbreak, I couldn’t help but be warmed by the scene. Hugging each other tightly, they looked like the father and daughter that they truly were.

When Ava called Jason Daddy, his eyes almost glowed with happiness as he glanced up at me.

“I missed you too, Ava,” he told her. “I miss you and your Mommy, all the time.”

“You should live with us, then!” Ava said, like this was the best plan she’d ever had.

“Ava,” I lightly scolded.

“I can’t right now, Ava, I’m sorry,” Jason said. Leaning away, he smiled gently down at her. I couldn’t see her face, but I was certain that she was pouting. Jason was handling that with care. “But maybe someday.”

“Jason,” I scolded him lightly now. He shouldn’t be giving our daughter false hope.

Breaking the hug, Jason stood and escorted Ava back toward the house. As they both pouted at me a little, I could see where Ava had gotten this look from. She truly was a mini–version of her father.

“Maybe we can arrange some times for me to come over and spend time with Ava?” Jason asked. “Or for us to all go out as a family.”

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Ava appeared hopeful.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, but the answer in the front of my mind was no.

“That means no,” Ava said, slumping.

“It means maybe,” I said stubbornly.

Ava gave me a flat look.

“Go in the house, Ava. Alpha Jason has to go,” I said.

Frustratingly, Ava looked up at Jason as if for a second opinion.

“Better listen to your mother,” he said, and nudged her forward.

She frowned heavily as she stormed forward, into the house. She ran all the way upstairs and then slammed her bedroom door closed.

My heart, which had flown so high only a moment before, sunk down low now. I hadn’t meant to hurt her, but better now than later when Jason would betray us again or disappear. I was simply trying to save her from a lifetime of pain.

“I know you want to shield her,” Jason said. “But it’s not necessary.”

“You don’t get to tell me that,” I said.

He opened his mouth, but then closed it.

Guilt flashed through me. Jason had hurt me in the past, but he had saved me tonight. I should appreciate that, but all the emotions that his confession had stirred up hadn’t settled in me yet. A tornado was rampaging through my chest. I needed time to let the storm settle and then sift through the damage.

“You’ll see in time. When I earn your trust again, I won’t break it ever again,” he said. “Goodnight, Laila.”

He walked back to his car. I waited in the doorway for him to leave. When his car finally disappeared down the street, I entered the house, and closed and locked the door behind me. I pressed my forehead and just breathed for a moment.

Only a moment.

Then Hannah said, voice thick with accusation, “You left with Carter, but came back with Jason. What happened?”

“I was attacked at the restaurant,” I said and briefly filled her in on what had occurred. “Jason stepped in to get me out of that situation, and bring me home.”

I had thought my explanation would lead to her understanding. Instead, she just seemed more incensed, glaring at me.

“So you just left Carter there? He was in shock, and you abandoned him?”

“I don’t think it was like that

“I don’t believe you. How could you do this? How could you waste an opportunity to be with a guy as perfect as Carter? Some girls would do anything for a chance with him.” Her anger deflated into sadness as she turned her gaze downcast. “I would.”

“Hannah.” I took a step toward her, but that only seemed to spark a new fire in her. She looked up at me sharply, her eyes

watery.

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