The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Jason’s POV

“It’s hard enough to get access to Vanessa’s hair or other DNA source without her noticing it, and now you want to compare it with Laila? Someone who’s been away for years?”

“Laila must have left DNA behind at my home…

Marcus sighed. “It’s gonna take a long time”

“I don’t care.”

“If you’re wrong-

11

“Then I’m wrong.” I stared at my shelf of memories. “But I have to give it a try.”

“And if you’re right? If Vanessa really is Laila?” His voice dropped lower. “What then?”

“Then I finally get answers.” My jaw clenched. “Then I figure out why she’d rather let me believe she was dead than trust me with the truth.” 1

After hanging up, I watched darkness claim my room. Shadows stretched across walls like accusations.

I picked up that photograph. Studied Laila’s face–young, happy, unguarded. “Where are you?” I whispered to her image. “Have you been this close the whole time.

**

The next day, I was informed when Vanessa had arrived for the continued negotiations. We had established a timeline, but now we needed to formally agree on other matters, like truck routes and logistics.

I went searching for her and I found her in the conference room, bent over documents. She looked up–something warm flickered across her face before she shut it down.

“Jason. You’re early. Our meeting shouldn’t start for another twenty minutes.”

“I’m not the only one who is early. But I have a purpose. I wanted to discuss harvest festival arrangements.” I sat across from her. “Since your contract runs through autumn, your company’s invited to participate.”

Her assistant practically sprinted out, leaving us alone.

“That’s generous,” she said, guarded.

“It’s tradition. Major business partners always attend.” I paused. “The festival’s changed quite a bit over the years, though. Remember when we lit the central bonfire right at sunset?”

I watched her closely.

“I wouldn’t know,” she said. “I’ve never attended your pack’s harvest festival.”

“Right. Course not.” I nodded lightly. “We moved it to midnight now. More dramatic that way.”

And there it was confusion. “Midnight?”

“Yeah. Younger pack members like staying up late.”

Her brow pulled fight. “But doesn’t that contradict the whole point? The harvest blessing needs moonrise, not midnight. You’d lose the ”

“Lose the what?” I asked quietly.

apted the

+25 Bonus

“Nothing Just… something I must’ve read.”

“Where?”

“Can’t remember. Some article.

“Interesting,” I murmured. “Because it’s not written down anywhere. Only people who grew up here know the timing.” Her throat bobbed.

“We did change it three years ago,” I continued, soft. “Yet you automatically knew midnight was wrong. You knew the real timing. The way we did it when you were “I let it hang. “When Laila was here.”

“This is ridiculous. I’ve got work to do.”

“Running won’t change the truth.”

“There’s no truth to change!” she snapped. “I’m Vanessa Harper. Never been anyone else. Your obsession with a dead girl isn’t my problem.”

The words burned–but beneath them, I caught it again. Fear.

“You’re scared,” I whispered. “If you’re really just Vanessa, why be scared?”

“I’m afraid of Alphas who can’t let go,” she fired back. “Who see ghosts in every woman. Who push and interrogate because they can’t accept loss.”

I stilled as her accusations sliced through me like a thousand tiny knives. But she was right, and all she was doing was exposing my paranoid state.

I had never been able to let Laila go. And now we were here. Now I was confronting Vanessa.

And she was accurately calling me out.

And all I could do was look at her, speechlessly.

Vanessa said, “I need to leave.”

Laila’s POV

I screwed up.

It hit me the second I left that conference room. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking as I walked down the hallway. They were actually trembling like I’d mainlined espresso instead of just dropping the world’s stupidest verbal bomb

The harvest blessing. I’d corrected Jason without thinking, blurted it out like common knowledge instead of something only pack members would know. 1

He’d seen it. That recognition flashing in his eyes.

One more mistake. Another piece of evidence for the pile.

I needed to be more careful. Smarter. Less me.

“Ms. Harper?” Claire caught up, slightly breathless. “You okay?”

“Fine. I just need air.”

I headed for the gardens, then realized–another mistake. Laila’s routes. Laila’s hiding spots. Every step was muscle memory betraying me.

But my feet kept moving anyway.

+25 Bonus

My secret garden spot was already occupied.

Sarah was there, looking at the flowers. At first, she seemed surprised to see me. I was too out in the open to run without being seen, and questions being raised, so I stood still.

Then, Sarah smiled.

“Vanessa, what a pleasure to see you here.” She gestured to the flowers. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

“Yes,” I said. They were indeed, vibrant colors of the rainbow.

“I bet your daughter would love to see them.”

“She would. Ava would love all the colors and types. I’m not sure she’s ever seen some of these.”

“Then you should bring her tonight,” Sarah said suddenly.

Tonight. The celebration banquet.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. Sarah looked at me expectantly. Just saying that wasn’t going to be enough. I needed a reason. “Ava’s health is always a concern. Lately, she hasn’t been feeling particularly strong. I don’t want to push her –”

“Mammy!”

I blinked. “Ava?”

“Mommy!” Ava’s voice carried across the garden.

I turned in time to see her running toward me. Riley was right behind her, looking apologetic.

Curiously, Marcus seemed to be following behind them both, but he stayed at the edge of the gardens, not intruding on this

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify