The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 342

Chapter 342

Laila’s POV

I stormed straight back to the library, Jason on my heels, with the two guards, looking flustered, following us. Richard didn’t look up from his book this time. He sipped from his coffee and ignored us.

I wasn’t going to be ignored, so I walked right up to him, standing beside the small table where he sat.

“Is Delta my mother?” I asked, point blank, having no interest in any garnes.

Finally, Richard looked up. “Who told you that?”

“She got out of our sight for a minute,” explained one of the guards. “She sneaked into the annex.”

Richard’s jaw clenched.

“I want the truth,” I said. “There are pictures there. She has a sash with Luna written on it.”

“Mementos of a bygone age,” Richard said. “Gifted to a loyal servant.”

I blinked. “A servant?”

“Yes,” Richard clarified. “Delta was a loyal servant of your mother’s, and on that horrible night, she did her best to protect your parents. Unfortunately, she witnessed the moment of their deaths first hand, and it permanently altered her mind. For her efforts to save them, she has earned a permanent place in this halls. But it is merely a gesture. She is not part of this family, and

never has been.”

“But the sash

“A gift, to help her remember the one she served so faithfully.” Richard sighed. “Perhaps I should have made her leave, but I feel a sense of duty to her for all she tried to do.”

“Why keep her contained?” I asked.

“Her madness runs deep,” Richard said. “She can be… unsettling… to be around. I try to protect my guests as best I can.”

“I’m no longer a guest,” I said. “I’d like to speak with her.”

“No,” Richard said. “That would do more harm than good, to her if not to you. We should let the poor woman maintain her peace by not bringing up the harmful memories of the past.”

more. I frowned, unsure what to believe. If Richard was telling the truth, I didn’t want to cause the poor woman more harm by reminding me of the past that broke her. But if she knew things about my parents, about my mother…

“I can see now that it’s been wrong of me to keep you confined in the palace,” Richard said. “You’ve become bored, and your mind has been wandering, creating fantasies to entertain you.” He hummed. “I think I know just what will fix this.”

I didn’t care for the change of subject, but new curiosity pulled at me, making me want to know what he would suggest. What?” I asked.

“A trip, just you and me,” Richard said. “I will take you to the places that were significant to your parents, as well as show you around the pack. You haven’t been here since you were a child, and without your memories, you have forgotten how beautiful our pack is. Allow me to show you.”

I was interested, I’d like to see the pack that was my true home, but I didn’t like how he had said just you and me. “Jason will also join us?” I asked, glancing back at him.

He was tense, his hands curled into fists.

“He has no connection to this pack,” Richard said. “I’d rather show you these places alone.”

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No, Jason said quickly. “She’s not going anywhere without me.”

“Well, that’s rather up to her, Richard said,

“I want him there,” I said. I didn’t fully trust Richard, certain he was hiding things from me. “I’d like for Jason to see the pack

as well.”

Richard’s eyes narrowed marginally. “If you insist”

“I do,” I said, just as Jason added, “She does.”

Richard shrugged, but his expression remained hard, disapproving. “I’ll set an itinerary at once, and we will leave in the morning. I’m truly sorry I kept you cooped up for too long.”

The morning was very quick, but I was eager. Though I didn’t fully trust him, maybe being trapped here had affected me more than I had thought. Could I have been imagining things about Delta?

“Okay,” I said. “In the morning then…”

Richard gave me a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Back in our shared bedroom, Jason pushed a hand through his hair, his agitation clear in every tense muscle in his body, as well

as his deep frown.

“None of this makes any sense,” he said. “Richard has purged this place of all servants who had been around the night of the attack – except one?”

“If she tried to protect my parents, he would feel an obligation.”

“Surely others made similar efforts.”

“If it was a rogue attack, the others might have just run away.

Jason looked at me. “Don’t tell me you are buying his stories now.”

“I don’t know what to think,” I said. “I wish I could talk to Delta about it, but I don’t want to do more harm than good.”

“You had thought she was your mother. You’d been so sure,” Jason said.

“Richard had an explanation for what I’d seen.‘

“He has an explanation for everything,” Jason said.

“That doesn’t mean he’s lying.”

Jason turned to me. “Laila. You can’t trust him.”

“He’s the only family I have, Jason. He’s my only connection to my past. I want to believe him…”

“He’s not your only family,” Jason said. He traced his fingertips from my shoulder down the full length of my arm, where he took my hand in his. “You have Ava. You have Riley, and Hannah. And you have me.”

“Jason…”

“I know you want this connection to the past, to your parents and the pack. But don’t forget your present and your future to find it. Richard wants to trap you here. We can’t trust him.”

“I don’t know…” I said. “I don’t know what to think about him. I know he’s off–putting and overbearing, but does that mean he’s lying about everything?”

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