Page 21 of Becoming the Alpha

“Jason? What is going on? Why did your mom and sister need to leave? What happened in that hallway?”

Jason blinked and ran his hand through his hair. “My dad threatened us,” Jason paused. “Well, actually he threatened you - and me, but he is definitely going to go after Laura and my mom. I pissed him off in the hallway and he will do anything in order to throw my focus off and try to keep me from winning this challenge. Hell, he’ll do anything to keep me from participating in this challenge at all. It was safest for them to leave.”

I released Jason’s arm, nodding. The guilt continued to increase, threatening to overtake me. I wrapped my arms around my waist and turned away. He touched me gently on the shoulder, turning me back toward him. He tilted my head up. “You have nothing to feel guilty about. This was bound to happen with or without you. You need to know that. I’ve fought for you once and I’ll fight for you again. You’re my mate, Lily. I would do anything for you,” He whispered, kissing me softly. I sighed, leaning into him and wrapping my arms around his waist.

“I know, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling guilty for ruining your life.”

23

Jason

I snorted, shaking my head. “You haven’t ruined my life. You’ve improved it - immensely.”

Lily gave me a pointed look, but didn’t say anything. I could feel the ripples of doubt and guilt that she still felt through the bond. I sighed, realizing this wasn’t the time to push this. We had too much going on at this point and we needed to rest before the meeting later. I grabbed her hand and guided her to the bed. Amara and Dean moved to the other side of the room,

“We need to get some rest. You were right. Let’s relax for a bit. You need to sleep,” I said. Lily snorted, rolling her eyes. “You’re the one who needs rest.”

I frowned. “Why me?”

“Are you kidding? Jason, you fought Callum and were injured. You’ve had who knows how many conflicts with your father, you haven’t slept a bunch, and you’re worried about your mom and sister. I can see the bags under your eyes from here. You need some serious rest, especially if you’re going to deal with the suspicious rebels and fight your father,” Lily said. She laid down next to me, wrapping her leg through mine. I closed my eyes, my body finally relaxing. I didn’t realize she had paid that much attention to everything that happened. I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her as close as I could.

A wash of wistfulness came through the bond and I peeled open one eye to peer down at Lily. “What’s wrong?” She tilted her head up, looking at me.

“What do you mean?”

“I can feel your emotions through the bond, Lily. I can feel that something is wrong. Tell me,” I pressed.

Lily sighed, getting comfortable again. “I miss my family.”

I froze, my body tensing under her. “Your family?”

“Yeah, Jason. My family. I have one of those - or, at least, I did before I was kidnapped.”

“Where are they?” I asked, kicking myself for not thinking about her family. I knew she had been captured and brought to the castle a year ago. I just never thought about her family and felt like a horrible mate.

Lily shifted in my arms. “I’m not sure. When I was captured, we had a small farm on the other side of the woods, near the town, but now…I’m not sure. We were always on the verge of losing the farm because of our money situation.”

“What situation?”

Lily cleared her throat, shifting again. I got the distinct sense that she was uncomfortable. I pulled myself out of her arms and sat up on my elbow. I looked down at her, sending a pointed look her way. “What situation, Lily?”

“Well…all of our money was sent away in taxes. It was only after I was taken here that I realized it was for you guys…”

I blinked, realizing what she was saying. “Are you saying my father taxed you to the point that you were almost homeless?”

Lily laughed, but I could hear no humor in it. “It wasn’t just me, Jason. It was the entire town. We were all on the verge of almost being homeless. The only people who weren’t in that situation were people that are part of your pack. Of course, I didn’t realize that until I got here, but what are you gonna do?” Lily shrugged.

I gawked at her, my outrage building. There was a lot I was going to do, starting with becoming the Alpha. I couldn’t believe my mate had gone through so much because of my father. I vowed there and then that she wouldn’t go through anything else horrible because of him or his actions. Lily laughed lightly under me, touching my jaw and bringing me back to the present. I gazed at her, the anger fading away as I looked in awe at my mate.

“You don’t need to be angry. Everything will work itself out. I just miss my mom and sister.”

“You have a sister?”

“Yes, Jessica.”

“How did I not know this? How old is she? What is she like?”

“Well, I guess she’d be thirteen right now. She’s an ornery thing, but I love her. She was always telling on me to my mom because I made fun of her too much. I was really mean,” Lily sighed. I snorted.

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