Chapter 163
JAKE’S POV
The dining hall was quieter than usual tonight, the hum of casual conversation replaced by a tension that rippled under the surface. It wasn’t lost on me that most of the pack still thought Ayla was guilty, even if I knew better. They didn’t have the advantage I did—the bond.
Being mated meant I could sense her emotions, feel the truth in her words even when they were unspoken. Ayla was too kind, too genuine to scheme or harm anyone. I knew this deep in my gut. But knowing wasn’t enough to protect her. Joseph had spun his web of lies masterfully, and now I had to unravel it, starting with his weakest link—Tammy.
Tammy was always hovering on the edge of my attention, her behavior as inconsistent as the tide. Some days, she played the role of a dutiful guest, pleasant and compliant. Other days, she reverted to her bratty, entitled ways. But tonight, I needed her to feel special, needed her to believe I was truly interested. It was the only way to get closer to the truth.
“Tammy,” I said, approaching her where she sat in the lounge, a book open on her lap. Her eyes flicked up to me, surprise flashing across her face.
“Yes, Alpha?” she said, quickly masking her emotions with a polite smile.
“I thought it might be nice to have dinner. Just the two of us,” I said, keeping my tone casual.
Her eyes widened slightly, and I saw the glimmer of hope she tried to suppress. “Really? I mean, I’d love that. Thank you.”
The restaurant wasn’t far from the packhouse, a small but elegant place with low lighting and soft music. I chose a table near the back, away from prying eyes and ears. Tammy seemed nervous at first, fiddling with her napkin and glancing at me when she thought I wasn’t looking.
“Relax,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “This isn’t an interrogation.”
She laughed lightly, though it sounded forced. “I know. It’s just…unexpected.”
I nodded, taking a sip of water. “I realized I don’t know much about you, Tammy. I thought we could change that.”
She blinked, caught off guard. “What do you want to know?”
“Anything you’re willing to share,” I said smoothly. “Your childhood, your interests. Start wherever you want.”
Tammy hesitated, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “There’s not much to tell, honestly. I grew up with my father, moved around a lot. He’s…strict.”
“Strict how?” I asked, my voice neutral.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “He expects perfection. Anything less is unacceptable.”
I leaned forward slightly, keeping my gaze on hers. “That sounds…difficult.”
She shrugged, but I saw the tension in her shoulders. “It’s just how he is. He’s always been that way, especially after my mother died.”
There it was. The opening I needed. “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said softly. “What happened to her, if you don’t mind me asking?”
Tammy’s expression darkened, and for a moment, I thought she might refuse to answer. But then she sighed, her gaze dropping to the table.
“She fell off a balcony,” she said quietly. “I was eight. I remember hearing her scream, running outside and seeing her…”
She trailed off, her voice trembling. I waited, giving her the space to continue.
“My father was there,” she said finally. “He said he tried to save her, but it was too late.”
Something in her tone made my chest tighten. “Do you believe him?” I asked carefully.
Tammy’s eyes darted to mine, wide and uncertain. “I don’t know. I was a kid. I wanted to believe him, but…” She shook her head. “My mother was a werewolf. Falling from that height shouldn’t have killed her. It doesn’t make sense.”
My jaw clenched. Her doubts mirrored my own suspicions. Joseph was powerful, cunning, and ruthless. If he’d killed his own mate, what else was he capable of?
“Tammy,” I said gently, “has your father ever hurt you?”
Her head snapped up, her expression a mix of shock and defiance. “No. He’s…he’s just hard on me. He wants me to be better, to make up for my mother’s mistakes.”
“Mistakes?” I echoed, frowning.
“He thought she was cheating,” Tammy said bitterly. “He never proved it, but he believed it. That’s why he’s so hard on me. He thinks I’ll be just like her.”
My hands tightened into fists under the table. Joseph’s behavior made my blood boil, but I kept my expression neutral. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that.”
Tammy’s laugh was hollow. “It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
The rest of the dinner passed in strained conversation. Tammy seemed relieved to talk about lighter topics, and I let her steer the discussion away from her father. But my mind was racing, piecing together the fragments of her story.
When we returned to the packhouse, Tammy thanked me, her smile hesitant but genuine. As she walked away, I felt a pang of guilt. She wasn’t innocent in all this—she’d lied, schemed, and manipulated—but she was also a victim of her father’s cruelty.
Back in my office, I poured myself a drink and stared out the window. The moon was high, its light casting long shadows across the forest. Joseph’s motives were becoming clearer, but there were still too many unanswered questions. Why push Tammy to be my mate? What was his endgame?
I needed to tread carefully. Joseph was dangerous, and if he suspected I was onto him, he’d strike first. For now, I’d play along, pretending to believe his lies while gathering the evidence I needed to take him down.
But one thing was certain: Ayla was innocent. And I’d do whatever it took to prove it.
I leaned back in my chair, the weight of the responsibility pressing down on me. Ayla’s face flashed in my mind—her wide, expressive eyes, the way she bit her lip when she was nervous, the strength she tried so hard to hide.
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