Chapter 5 5
Jenna’s POV
Nathan muttered a curse under his breath like he was trying not to explode, before he snatched the phone right out of Caesar’s hand.
“Hey!” Caesar blinked at him, confused.
Nathan didn’t answer, instead he slapped a hand over the speaker and turned to Caesar. “What did you say to him? Caesar, what exactly did you tell the person who called?”
Caesar gave a helpless shrug. “I only told the that someone was calling about my mate. And then he started talking weird, so I asked who he was. And when he said he was my dad, I came to tell you because I do not remember having a father.”
He doesn’t remember his father and he doesn’t remember who he is, but he’s completely certain I’m his mate? Even with memory loss, shouldn’t this whole situation sound bizarre even to him?
Nathan didn’t respond to either of us. He pressed the phone to his ear again and said quickly. “I’m so sorry, Alpha. There was… Yes, he’s right here.”
The tone of his voice changed instantly as he turned away from us, heading toward the far corner of the living. I could still hear his low voice, but not the words. Caesar’s hand slid into mine again, and I smiled at him.
He squeezed my fingers gently. “Mate, are you okay?” He whispered.
“Yes I am.” I replied, trying not to look at his ridiculously earnest eyes.
Nathan finally returned, exhaling hard abdvI immediately slipped my hand out of Caesar’s grip and bowed slightly to Nathan. “Since you are not at the liberty to tell me what happened, I'll leave now.” I said quickly. “You can take Caesar.”
But before I could even turn, two hands closed on my arms at the same time. I expected Caesar, but Nathan?
I blinked at him. “Is… there a problem?”
“Yes.” Nathan said bluntly. “I need your help.”
Oh, so he can ask for help? He sounded all high and mighty a while ago. Refusing to answer my questions on how Caesar ended up injured in my room.
“Why? What happened?” I asked, a little worried.
Nathan rubbed his temples as if preparing for a migraine. “Caesar already told his father he had a mate.”
“Okay, and?”
“Because he said that, you need to come back with us and be introduced as Caesar’s mate, for a while. At least until I figure out how to handle this without anyone noticing he has amnesia.”
“Hold on.” I stared at him, slack-jawed. “Why don’t you just tell them Caesar lost his memory? At least his father should know.”
“I can’t.” Nathan’s expression darkened with worry. “Alpha Rowan’s health has been deteriorating for months. If he finds out Caesar, his heir, has sudden memory loss, he could actually collapse. And if the elders learn that the Alpha collapsed because of something related to Caesar? They’ll label him unfit to be the next Alpha and the political fallout would tear the pack apart.”
I looked down at my hands and thought about my peaceful, and I I wanted to say no, I wanted to walk away and pretend I never met Caesar, or Nathan. But then, my grandmother’s voice echoed in my head, as clear as if she were standing beside me.
“Always help in whatever little way you can. What is small to you might be everything to someone else.
I swallowed hard. “Fine,” I whispered.
Nathan didn’t even hesitate. “Good! Follow me.”
“Follow you?” I blinked. “Where are we going?”
“To get you two ready for dinner.”
I stopped dead. “Dinner? What dinner?”
“Alpha Rowan has invited you to come home with Caesar for dinner.” Nathan said. “We need to get ready.”
“It’s still early ” I protested. “I can go home, meet the people moving my things, and come later…”
“That’s not possible,” Nathan cut in. “We need to build the story of how you and Caesar met, and how you discovered you were mates. If we don’t get the details straight, someone is going to see right through us.
I pulled out my phone and texted the movers.
‘Can we postpone till tomorrow? Something urgent came up.’
When they confirmed, I sighed. “Okay. Lead the way.”
Nathan led u to the sofa and I sat down with Caesar beside me while Nathan sat across from us, with a stuff posture like he was preparing a military briefing.
“Let’s begin,” He said and be started with the pack’s family dynamics, then he outlined the mate story we needed to create on we met.
Then ne turned sharply to Caesar. “And you, you need to act like you don’t have memory loss until we figure out what’s wrong with you. You cannot give anyone a reason to question your behavior.”
However, Caesar wasn’t listening, he was staring at me again.
“Caesar!” Nathan snapped. “Look at me.”
Nothing.
Nathan groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “You should explain everything to him, Jenna. He will definitely listen to you.”
I sighed then turned to Caesar with a wide smile on my face and said. “You need to behave, that means trying your best not to make it obvious you’ve lost your memory. Avoid unnecessary questions, but not too much, or you’ll look suspicious.”
Caesar’s eyes softened. “If it’s what you want mate, then I’ll do it.”
I ignored the little flutter in my chest as Nathan added,
“Tell him to focus all his attention on you tonight. If people see how consumed he is with the mate bond, they won’t pry into his memory.”
I rolled my eyes. “Caesar, focus on me, okay? But don’t overdo it.”
Caesar smiled in a way that made me immediately regret saying anything. “I’ll do that happily.”
Nathan clapped his hands once. “Great. If tonight goes well, I’ll figure out a treatment plan, and I’ll help Caesar avoid any questions about his past until we solve this.”
Time sped quickly after that a d by late afternoon, Nathan suggested taking me to a boutique after taking Caesar upstairs to get dressed but I shook my head.
“Just drop me at my lodge, I’ll get ready there.”
Reluctantly, he took me back to my lodge which luckily, was empty because my roommates weren't in. Then, I slipped into a simple dress, fixed my hair, and tried to breathe through the growing anxiety in my chest. When I stepped back outside, Caesar practically launched himself out of the passenger seat to open my door and I couldn’t help but smile at how he looked absurdly proud, like he’d accomplished something monumental.
The ride to the Packhouse was silent, with Nathan's eyes fixed on the road, and Caesar's on me while I tried so hard not to shrink under his gaze. And when we had reached the Packhouse, the gates were opened and the Nathan stopped the cafe before the imposing main building, then he stepped out.
While Caesar hurried to my side again, opening my door like some kind of old-school gentleman.
“Thank you,” I murmured, stepping out as his fingers curled around mine, and I let him hold my hand.
Inside, the doorbell rang under Nathan’s finger, and within seconds a maid opened the door, bowing and ushering us in. Nathan led us straight to the dining room and everyone looked up as we entered.
I bowed slightly. “Good evening.”
My eyes landed on Alpha Rowan Greywood who I recognized instantly, then on Elsa, his wife and Caesar's stepmother who was seated beside him
And across from them was a man I didn’t recognize, but knew would be Jericho Greywood, the Alpha’s younger brother.
We were told to take a sit which we did as Nathan the maids served food.
“So.” Elsa said gently, “what’s your name, dear?”
“Jennifer Washington.” I replied. “But everyone calls me Jenna.”
The rest of dinner flowed smoothly as everyone spoke with wide smiles while Caesar kept placing food on my plate, ompletely unprompted. Every time I looked at him, he smiled softly, like I was the only thing in the room.
At one point, Elsa laughed. “The mate bond must be strong, he can’t take his eyes off you.” And suddenly, I felt bad lying to the everyone but knowing that it was for a good cause, I let myself enjoy the moment.
Jericho chuckled suddenly, shaking his head as he watched Caesar stare at me like I was the only living thing in the room.
“This is hilarious.” He said, leaning back in his chair. “All this smiling and moon-eyed staring just reminded me of that time last year when that visiting healer girl spent an entire dinner doing the same thing to Caesar, remember?”
Everyone on the table laughed except Caesar who blinked at Jericho, brows pulling together.
"I don't remember.”
“Oh, come on.” Jericho snorted. “Don’t tell me you've forgotten how she nearly tripped over a chair just trying to sit closer to you.”
Caesar stared at him, completely lost. “I don’t remember doing any of that.” And the laughter died instantly as the entire table went silent and I cursed quietly under my breath.