The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 394

Laila’s POV

I tried not to think about my passionate night with Jason, especially as I shunk out of bed early the next morning while he was still naked and asleep. In a perfect world, I could have stayed in bed with him for two or three days, to celebrate our victory.

But the Elder Council had only let me leave the night before on the promise that I would return early this morning.

Quickly, I showered and dressed. Jason was still sleeping asd went to the door. I glanced back longingly, wishing I could return to the space beside him while knowing that I couldn’t, as I slipped out of the door.

Over the next few days, I was so busy with meetings and mandatory social events, that the time I got to actually see Jason became less and less. I would return late in the evenings, and he would hold me. But I’d be too tired to talk, too tired to make love. More than once, I tell asleep on my feet, and woke up in bed with Jason taking care of me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

He kissed me gently, not to start anything, just for comfort and support. “Rest,” he said. “You have a lot going on.”

“We should… talk…” I said, and fell asleep again, only to wake up early in the morning and have to do it all over again.

Jason was still under my same roof and I missed him.

I sat in another meeting with the Elder Council. They had many ideas on how to best move the pack forward, but their ideas didn’t always align. In fact, the further we went with the meeting, the more I realized they were almost directly at odds with each other.

Two hours in, I rubbed my temples with my fingers, a headache coming on strong.

In the hallway, I heard shouting, “Sir! You can’t go in there! They are having a private meeting! Sir!”

The door opened and Jason was there.

I stood up. “Jason?”

“Can I talk to you?” he asked.

I looked around. The Elder Council were already annoyed with each other, so now they turned their impatient glares on me.

I knew the answer at once, but I was loathe to give it. To tell him ‘no,’ even though I knew it was the truth, would break both of our hearts. I wanted to keep living in this fantasy where I could pretend like I could keep everything that mattered to me. Like t wouldn’t have to make the choice that was ever looming ahead of me.

“you aren’t, are you? I can see it in your eyes,” he said.

“Jason,” I started.

“Don’t lie to me,” he said.

I closed my mouth. Took a breath. Then spoke, “No. I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt you, but… I think my place is here.”

Slowly, he lifted his hands to cup both of my cheeks. “I love you,” he said, so earnestly that it broke my heart. “I want to be with you.”

Heart in pieces, chest aching, I whispered, “Please don’t make me choose between you and my future.”

His face filled with pain and he kissed me. I grabbed at his wrists, wanting to keep him here with me, wanting to stay in this moment where we could be together without fear, without being torn apart from each other.