Chapter 17

Jason’s Point of View

Delta Samson’s voice filled the room, a persistent hum that grated against my nerves. Seated behind my desk, I maintained a façade of attentiveness, but my mind drifted. The study, usually a haven of order, felt stifling today. Dust motes swirled lazily through slivers of sunlight, and the scent of old parchment hung thick in the air.

“...And if we compare the March of last year to this year, Alpha, the numbers are worrisome.” Samson’s voice sharpened, pulling me back to reality. His brow furrowed, the parchment in his hand trembling slightly. “We recorded twenty-four pups last March. This year, only fourteen.”

I nodded, more out of habit than understanding. “Go on.”

Samson’s eyes sparked with a mixture of frustration and urgency. “If this trend continues, our pack’s strength will wane. The elders are already whispering about infertility curses. They say it’s a sign that the Moon Goddess has turned her back on us.”

“A curse?” I arched a brow, the word leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “We are not superstitious wolves, Samson.”

“But the numbers—”

“We’ll address it in the next council meeting,” I cut him off, my tone a quiet dismissal.

His mouth opened as if to argue, but he quickly clamped it shut. He nodded stiffly, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Yes, Alpha.”

He resumed his report, droning on about birth rates, fertility rituals, and proposed incentives for mated pairs to conceive. His voice faded into the background, the cadence of his speech blending into the soft crackle of the fireplace.

My thoughts slipped away again, dragged down by the weight of uncertainty.

Melissa.

The name echoed in my mind, a constant murmur that I couldn’t shake.

Could she truly be a spy?

The very idea coiled tight in my chest, a venomous serpent waiting to strike. It was already bad enough that I had fallen for a slave—a maid whose hands had scrubbed floors and whose skin bore the faint scars of labor. But to have my emotions twisted by a traitor?

The Alphas would tear me apart.

They would smirk behind their goblets, whisper behind their hands. Jason, the mighty Alpha who let a maid crawl into his bed—and his heart—only to betray him.

“Alpha?” Samson’s voice broke through my thoughts, sharper now. “Did you hear me?”

I blinked, forcing my gaze back to him. “Repeat that.”

“I was saying, if we conduct the fertility ritual during the full moon—”

The door to my study flew open, slamming against the wall with enough force to rattle the crystal decanter on the sideboard.

Ethan strode in, his expression stormy. His dark eyes found mine immediately, and he raised a crumpled paper in his fist.

“Samson. Leave.” His command was blunt, devoid of the usual courtesies.

Samson bristled, his spine snapping straight. “But I—”

“Now.”

The room plunged into a taut silence. I gave Samson a nod, and he reluctantly bowed, gathering his papers with stiff movements. As he passed Ethan, their shoulders nearly brushed, and the air crackled with unspoken animosity.

When the door clicked shut, I leaned back in my chair, fingers tracing the worn edge of the desk. “Where is the package?”

Ethan stepped forward, unfurling the paper. “It was a letter.”

“A letter?” My brow furrowed. “Have you read it?”

“No.” He held it out. “I thought it best to read it with you.”

I took the letter, and the seal caught my eyes. Vellex Pack?

My pulse quickened, as I tore the envelope open. I unfolded the letter and read aloud:

“Dear Melissa,

I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to take up your case before the Sheriff's, since your mother has been missing for decades. Because of the new rule that only allows recent missing cases to be reported. Unfortunately, as a maid, I don’t have the influence to persuade anyone to make an exception. Instead, I recommend searching for your mother's family. You could write directly to the Sheriff's office, explaining that your mother disappeared when you were a child and that you now wish to reconnect with her family. This approach might lead to better results.

Yours sincerely,

Mira.

I lowered the letter, and looked up at Ethan whose expression mirrored my confusion. “She’s searching for someone?”

I leaned back. “She mentioned it once.”

His brows rose. “She did?”

“Yes.” I ran a thumb over the edge of the letter. “She said she was looking for someone important. I thought... I thought it was just a lie that she had come up with just to escape my wrath.”

“What do you want to do?”

I let out a slow breath. “Send for her.”

Ethan nodded, slipping through the door without another word.

I remained still, staring at the letter. Did I misjudge her? Is this all a misunderstanding?

The door opened again, and Melissa stepped inside, strands of hair clinging to her damp forehead. She bowed. “Alpha, you called for me?”

I held the letter out. “I’ve read it.”

Her lips parted, as she smiled warmly but she quickly masked it. “Thank you.”

“Why are you searching for your mother?”

Her voice wavered. “She went missing when I was young. I... I just want to reconnect with her.”

“It’s been decades. Why not search for her family instead?”

Her shoulders drooped. “They disowned her when she married my father. He was... not what they wanted for her.” She explained. “But I plan to look for them now.”

I rose from my chair, each step bringing me closer to her. “And you think they’ll accept you?”

She swallowed, her throat bobbing. “I have to try. I don’t want to remain a slave forever.”

“Are you planning to leave?”

Her silence was answer enough.

“Why?”

She hesitated, then whispered, “I just want to.”

I moved closer, the air between us thinning. “I don’t want you to.” I shot back. “I will make you my Concubine and you will be treated like a Queen. So you don't have to leave.”

She sighed. “A concubine and not a Luna?”

“It's just…” I began, genuinely confused. “You are…”

“A slave.” She interjected. “I know that a slave cannot become a Luna and that's fine by me. But you also can't stop me from leaving.”

“I read this Pack's law. And I know that a purchased Slave can leave, only if he/she goes to a place that doesn't pose a threat to this Pack.” She continued.

I reached for her, drawing her into my arms, but when I leaned in, she turned away.

“Is there anything else, Alpha?”

Her rejection stung, but I forced myself to release her. “No. You may leave.”

She moved to the door, her hand on the knob. “Melissa.” I called out, and she paused.

“I will help you.” I said. “I will help you find your mother.”