Chapter 16
Elle's POV
"Jason," I whispered, my voice barely audible.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared at him standing just a few yards away. Jason—my Jason—was here. The same sandy brown hair, those familiar blue eyes that had once looked at me with such tenderness.
I took a step forward, my bare feet cold against the stone path. Tears blurred my vision as overwhelming relief washed over me. He was here. He could save me from this arranged mating.
"Jason!" I called again, louder this time. I rushed toward him, arms outstretched for an embrace.
But something was wrong. Instead of moving toward me, Jason took a step back. His eyes widened, darting nervously between me and Brad, who stood silently observing. Jason's posture was hunched, almost cowering, nothing like the confident young man I remembered.
"Elle," he finally said, his voice strained.
I stopped abruptly, confused by his reaction. Why wasn't he happy to see me? Why did he look so... afraid?
"I..." My words faltered as I took in his appearance more carefully. His suit was well-pressed, but his face was pale, forehead beaded with sweat. His eyes kept flickering toward the black-uniformed werewolf security personnel standing at attention nearby. Each time his gaze landed on Brad, he seemed to shrink further into himself.
This wasn't the Jason I knew.
"Did they force you to come here?" I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper. I glanced back at Brad, suddenly suspicious. "Did he threaten you?"
Brad remained expressionless, his amber eyes cold as he watched our interaction.
Jason's eyes darted around nervously again. "No, I... they just said you wanted to see me."
I frowned, stepping closer. "Then why do you look so scared?"
Before Jason could answer, Brad moved forward, his tall frame casting a shadow between us. The click of his lighter stopped as he pocketed it and fixed Jason with an intense stare.
"Mr. Miller," Brad's deep voice was deceivingly calm, but I could hear the undercurrent of power. "You seem uncomfortable. Allow me to clarify the situation." He gestured toward me. "Elle was preparing for our marking ceremony today, but she expressed... reservations. She wanted to see you before proceeding."
Jason swallowed visibly, his eyes now locked on Brad. I saw the moment recognition dawned on his face—the realization that he was standing before not just any werewolf, but Bradford Rayne, the Alpha of Moonshade Bay.
"I'm just here because she wanted to see me," Jason repeated, his voice thin.
I felt my heart sinking. This wasn't how I'd imagined our reunion. Where was the Jason who had promised to love me forever? The one who had talked about marriage just months ago?
"Jason," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Yesterday in your text, you sounded fine. Normal. What's happened?"
He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Nothing happened. I'm fine."
Brad's lip curled slightly. "Mr. Miller, let me ask you something." His voice dropped to a dangerous purr. "How much is Elle worth to you?"
I stiffened, turning to Brad in confusion. "What are you doing?"
Brad ignored me, his focus entirely on Jason. The full force of his Alpha presence seemed to press down on the space around us, making the air feel thick and heavy.
"I don't understand the question," Jason mumbled.
Brad made a subtle gesture, and Alex appeared from beside one of the black SUVs parked nearby. He was carrying a metal briefcase, which he placed on the hood of the nearest vehicle. With a soft click, he opened it.
"Five hundred thousand dollars," Brad stated, his tone conversational. "Cash."
My breath caught as I stared at the neatly stacked bills. What was happening?
Jason's eyes widened, fixated on the money. "What... what's that for?"
"A simple test," Brad replied. "Elle believes you love her. That you would take her away from all this." He waved a hand dismissively at the church behind us. "I'm merely curious if she's correct."
I felt sick. "Brad, stop this. Now."
But he continued as if I hadn't spoken. "So, Mr. Miller, what would you choose? Elle, or the money?"
"This is ridiculous," Jason said, but his eyes never left the briefcase. "Elle is... Elle is priceless to me."
Brad smiled coldly. "Priceless? Then this shouldn't tempt you at all." He nodded to Alex, who closed the first case and brought out a second, larger one. "One million dollars."
My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear over the rush of blood in my ears. I watched in growing horror as Jason's expression changed, greed flickering across his features before he masked it.
"I don't..." Jason started, then stopped, his words seeming to dry up in his throat.
"Not enough?" Brad asked, his voice mocking. "I thought humans considered this a significant sum." He snapped his fingers, and Alex brought forward a third, even larger case. "Five million dollars."
I couldn't breathe. My mismatched eyes burned with tears as I watched Jason's face. His expression had transformed completely—gone was any pretense of indifference. His eyes were wide, almost feverish as they stared at the money. Without seeming to realize what he was doing, he took a step toward the briefcase, then another.
"Jason?" My voice broke on his name.
He didn't even look at me. He was transfixed by the money, his breathing shallow and quick.
"So," Brad's voice cut through the tense silence. "Your choice, Mr. Miller. You can take Elle, leave Moonshade Bay together, start a new life." He paused. "Or you can take the money and the car it's sitting on, and walk away. Forever."
I wanted to scream, to run, to wake up from this nightmare. But I stood frozen, watching as Jason actually knelt before the open briefcase, his fingers hovering over the stacks of bills.
"That's..." Jason's voice was hoarse.
The world tilted beneath my feet.
Brad's face remained impassive, but I saw a flicker of satisfaction in his amber eyes. "The money would be yours immediately. The car as well. All you have to do is walk away and never contact Elle again."
The silver lighter appeared in Brad's hand again, its cap flipping open and closed as he turned back to Jason. "So, Mr. Miller. What's your decision?"