The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 295

Laila’s POV

I didn’t want to meet Carter wearing Jason’s clothes, so I had the guards take me home first, where I took a very cold shower and changed. Hannah was still avoiding me, but agreed nonetheless when I asked her to babysit. Though Ava’s guards were doing most of the heavy lifting

Ava had taken to them instantly, and was presently drawing them pictures. The guards seemed confused but endeared by Ava. I made sure she was fed, and then went out the door with my own set of guards.

I worried a little that they might try to stop me from seeing Carter, but they simply asked, “Where to?” when I stepped out the

door.

I gave them the name of a restaurant. It was local, an inexpensive pizza place that the college kids often frequented. When we arrived, one of the guards stayed outside. The other came in with me, but stayed near the door.

Carter was sitting at one of the booth tables along the wall. As I joined him, he started to stand up.

“Don’t. It’s okay,” I said.

“I insist,” he said and stood. Once I slid into my own side of the booth, sitting down, he returned to sitting as well.

He had a soda in front of him, but he looked like he hadn’t touched it. He did now, but not to drink it. Instead he lifted and lowered his straw, nervously playing with the ice.

“The weather’s kind of nice, right?”

“Carter,” I said. “You didn’t ask to meet me to talk about the weather.”

He stopped playing with his straw, lowering his hands down to the table. “No,” he said, his features sobering. “I didn’t.”

“What’s this really about?”

He took a breath, then met my gaze. “I owe you an apology. When you were being attacked, I totally froze up, and I should have reacted. That guy could have killed you, and I was just sitting there.”

“You didn’t see what was happening,” I said. “That’s not your fault.”

“I didn’t even think to look.”

“That’s also not your fault.”

“I should have known. I should have done better. I should have tried harder.”

He talked like he had just failed one of his exams. The age difference between us was only a few years, yet it seemed to stretch and stretch. He didn’t have the experiences to know about life, to understand that sometimes things just happened. Even his desire to do better here didn’t feel like it was fueled by an adult level of guilt but more like a student hoping to get a good grade. It felt like he didn’t want to try harder to actually protect me, but to just get me to like him.

“You are young,” I said, “And that’s okay.”

“You keep saying that. That’s how you really see me, isn’t it? Too young to know better. Too inexperienced to take things seriously. That’s not me, Laila. Or at least, that’s not who I want to be anymore. You are my mate, and I’m going to be the kind of man who is worthy of you.”

“You can’t rush something like that. It takes time.”

“I’ll prove myself somehow. A big gesture? That would work, right?”

“That’s not necessary, Jason.” 1

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“You can’t talk me out of this,” he said. “I’ll do something, and prove myself, and then you’ll see me for the man I could be.”

“Jason – ”

He moved from the seat and stood up.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

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