Chapter 148
The peacefulness of the past couple of days felt like a distant memory when Tammy and her father returned. From the moment they stepped through the door, the air in the packhouse shifted. Tammy, who usually made an entrance with her over-the-top outfits and obnoxious attitude, seemed subdued. Her shoulders were hunched, her eyes downcast, and she barely said a word to anyone.
At first, I thought I was imagining it. After all, it wasn’t like Tammy to be quiet. But as the day wore on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Late in the afternoon, I walked past one of the side hallways and heard raised voices.
“You’re useless!” Joseph’s deep, menacing tone cut through the air. “Do you think this is a joke? You’re failing, Tammy. Again.”
I froze, my heart pounding. His voice was so harsh it made my stomach churn.
“I-I’m trying,” Tammy stammered, her voice shaking. “I’ll do better, I swear.”
“Trying?” Joseph sneered. “Trying isn’t good enough. Do you know how much I’ve risked for this? For you? And you’re too incompetent to do a simple job!”
I crept closer, peeking around the corner. What I saw made my blood boil. Joseph had grabbed Tammy by the arm, his fingers digging into her skin as he leaned in close to her face.
“You think you can fail me again and walk away unscathed?” he growled. “Do you have any idea what’s at stake here?”
Tammy’s eyes darted around, desperate and fearful, as she whispered, “I’ll fix it, I promise.”
“You better,” Joseph snapped, shoving her arm away. “Because if you don’t…” His voice dropped to a chilling whisper I couldn’t make out, but the look on Tammy’s face told me enough. She was terrified.
I stepped back, my heart racing. For all the trouble Tammy had caused me, seeing her like this stirred something inside me. No one deserved to be treated like that, not even her.
At dinner, Tammy barely touched her food. Her usual dramatic flair was gone, replaced by silence and a distant stare. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly, leaning over to her side of the table.
She flinched at my voice, glancing at me as if I’d startled her. “I’m fine,” she said quickly, her tone sharp.
“You don’t look fine,” I pressed.
Tammy’s expression hardened. “Stay out of my business,” she hissed, pushing her chair back and leaving the table abruptly.
I sat back, frowning. The rest of the table was quiet, the tension thick. Jake glanced up at me from across the table, his brow furrowed slightly.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But something’s not right. I saw Joseph earlier, and he was being... rough with her.”
Jake’s jaw tightened, but his voice was calm when he spoke. “Did she come to you about it?”
“No,” I said. “But—”
“Then there’s nothing I can do,” Jake interrupted, his tone final. “If she doesn’t come forward, it’s not my place to interfere.”
“Not your place?” I echoed, incredulous. “Jake, she’s clearly scared of him. You didn’t see what I saw.”
Jake sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “Ayla, I can’t act on assumptions. If she doesn’t want help, my hands are tied.”
I stared at him, frustration bubbling inside me. “So you’re just going to let this go?”
“I’m not ‘letting it go,’” he said firmly. “I’m saying I can’t do anything unless she comes to me.”
“Fine,” I muttered, pushing my chair back. “Then I’ll handle it myself.”
Jake’s voice followed me as I left the dining room. “Don’t get involved in something you don’t understand, Ayla.”
Later that night, I found Tammy sitting alone in the garden, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She looked small, vulnerable—a stark contrast to the confident, bratty girl I was used to.
“Tammy?” I called softly, stepping closer.
She stiffened but didn’t turn around.
“Are you okay?”
Tammy let out a bitter laugh, still not looking at me. “Why do you care, Ayla? Isn’t this the part where you gloat about how pathetic I am?”
I frowned, stepping closer. “No, it’s not. Tammy, I’m serious. I saw how your father treated you earlier. That’s not okay.”
She finally turned to face me, her eyes flashing with anger. “You don’t know anything, so stop pretending you care.”
I hesitated. “Maybe I don’t know everything, but I know what I saw. And no one deserves to be treated like that, not even you.”
Tammy’s face twisted, her anger melting into something softer—something almost like pain. But then she shook her head and stood up, brushing past me.
“Stay out of it, Ayla,” she said coldly. “This is none of your business.”
“Tammy,” I called after her. “You don’t have to deal with this alone. If you need help—”
She whirled around, her eyes blazing. “I don’t need anything from you!” she snapped. “Just stay out of my way!”
I watched her storm off, frustration and sadness swirling inside me. For all her faults, Tammy didn’t deserve to live under Joseph’s thumb. But how could I help someone who refused to let anyone in?
When I got back inside, Jake was in his office, looking over some papers. I knocked on the doorframe, and he looked up, his expression unreadable.
“Can I come in?” I asked.
He nodded, setting the papers aside. “What is it?”
I sat down across from him, folding my hands in my lap. “It’s Tammy. I tried talking to her, but she shut me out. Jake, she’s scared. I know you said you can’t do anything unless she comes to you, but…”
“Ayla,” he interrupted, his tone patient but firm. “I get that you’re worried, but I can’t force her to talk. If I intervene without her consent, it could make things worse.”
“But what if she’s too afraid to ask for help?” I argued. “What if she’s trapped?”
Jake sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I’m not saying I don’t care. But there’s a line I can’t cross unless she gives me a reason to.”
I stared at him, my frustration simmering. “You’re the Alpha. You’re supposed to protect your pack.”
“And I will,” he said. “But I can’t protect someone who doesn’t want to be protected.”
His words stung, but I knew he wasn’t trying to be cruel. Still, it didn’t make me feel any better.
“I just... I don’t want to sit by and do nothing,” I said quietly.
Jake’s gaze softened slightly. “I know. But sometimes, that’s all you can do.”
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