Chapter 14
I nodded, smiling as I gently touched the young pup’s cheek. Her scent was familiar -too familiar. If Jonah hadn’t told me otherwise, I would have thought she was his daughter.
“What’s her name?” I asked.
“Janelle,” he said, his voice steady. Then, without giving me a chance to respond, he added, “She’s the one we’re going to adopt.”
Before he could explain further, Janelle suddenly whimpered, her tiny body trembling as she called out for her mother. Jonah’s face drained of color. He shot me a nervous glance.
:
I gave him a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. Go
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comfort her. She’s beautiful… like her, too.”
Relieved, Jonah stopped hesitating and carried Janelle into the Alpha’s office. I took the opportunity to slip away, pretending I needed a moment to myself. But just as I was about to turn the corner, I overheard hushed voices from behind a slightly open door.
“Why did Alpha Jonah tell his pup to pretend to be an orphan?” a pack member whispered. “Look at her–her coat is glossy, and her aura is strong. She’s clearly from a high–ranking bloodline.”
“You don’t get it,” another voice responded. “He set this all up. It’s the only way to bring the pup into the Bloodfang Pack without raising suspicion. Just keep your mouth shut around Greta.”
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anything comes up, let me know.”
“Oh, and this-” he handed over a small box. “Consider it a mating gift.”
Naomi took it with a playful smirk. “Another one? Jonah, seriously, how many gifts have you given me this year? My den is overflowing. Greta’s going to lose it if she finds out.”
Still, she didn’t hesitate to take it. Janelle giggled beside her, clinging to Naomi and calling her “Mama” over and over.
Just then, the pack Beta entered, likely to finalize the adoption paperwork. Jonah stiffened when he saw me standing in the doorway. A flash of panic crossed his face.
“Greta? What are you doing here?”
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I kept my expression neutral. “Relax. Naomi volunteers here. I just stopped by to see her and finalize the adoption for Janelle.”
Naomi shifted Janelle in her arms and gave me a small wave. “Greta, long time no see.”
I forced a smile. “Yeah. I’ll just look around for a bit. Since you’re busy, I won’t get in the way. I’ll wait outside.”
Without another word, I turned and walked away. Jonah must have thought I was upset because he ran after me, scrambling for an explanation.
“It’s not what you think. Naomi comes here all the time for charity work, and the pups just call her ‘Mama. Once the adoption is official, I’ll explain everything to Janelle.”
I looked at him–so anxious, so desperate
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to reassure me–and suddenly, I wanted to laugh. He had gone to such extremes: staging an attack, leaving me unable to shift, just to make this adoption seem legitimate.
Now that he had everything he wanted, why did he look so guilty?
“Relax,” I said, keeping my voice light. “I’m not mad. Just finish the paperwork. I’ll be outside.”
Then I turned away, leaving him standing there.
Jonah let out a relieved sigh as he watched me head back to the packhouse. The wolves passing by didn’t bother hiding their smug looks, but I ignored them. Instead, I pulled out my communicator and canceled the adoption documents online.
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That evening, to celebrate Jonah bringing Janelle home, the Bloodfang Pack hosted a grand feast.
I used the excuse of not feeling well and stayed upstairs. However, no matter how much I tried to block it out, their laughter still slipped through the cracks of the door.
I wheeled myself to the top of the stairs and looked down.
Jonah, Naomi, and Janelle sat together like a perfect little family. Jonah carefully placed food on Janelle’s plate, making sure she got everything she liked. Naomi laughed and teased him.
“You’re going to spoil her rotten at this rate.”
Jonah just grinned and adjusted the tiny floral crown on Janelle’s head. “She’s my
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pup. She deserves the best.”
That was it. Something in me snapped.
I turned back into my room, grabbed everything Jonah had ever given me in the past five years, and tore it to shreds. Gifts, letters, jewelry–ripped apart, destroyed.
I shoved it all into the trash can, but when I pushed it aside, it tipped over, spilling everything onto the floor.
Then, Naomi appeared in the doorway.
She took slow, deliberate steps toward me, her lips curling into a smirk. Without warning, she lunged forward and shoved me hard, sending me crashing to the ground.
Pain shot through my body, but she only looked down at me with amusement.
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“Greta, it must be miserable being so useless, huh?” she sneered. She crouched next to me, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. “After all these years, you’re still so pathetic. Watching your mating ceremony get stolen, watching your mate bring my pup home, and all you do is sit back and take it.”
She tilted her head, her smirk widening. “Honestly? I almost feel bad for you.”
I clenched my jaw and tried to move.
Then suddenly, Naomi stumbled backward. Before I could react, she tumbled down the stairs.
I barely had time to process what happened before Jonah ran over, catching her just before she hit the ground. His eyes snapped up to me, blazing with fury.
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“Greta, are you insane?!” he roared. “Naomi came up to invite you to dinner, and you
attacked her?!”
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