Chapter 165
AYLA’S POV
morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows of the packhouse, illuminating the dining room where Sophie and I sat, sipping tea. Sophie had been strategizing all night, her sharp mind spinning plans and contingencies, while I struggled to stay optimistic. Today’s mission was delicate. We needed Tammy.
It wasn’t easy for me to imagine Tammy as an ally, especially after everything she’d done—or rather, tried to do. But Sophie believed there was a flicker of goodness in her, a shred of potential we could tap into. I wanted to believe it, too, because without her, we had no chance of dismantling Joseph’s schemes.
“She’ll come around,” Sophie said, as if reading my thoughts.
I swirled my tea, watching the ripples. “I don’t know. She’s been under his control for so long. What if she doesn’t want to break free?”
“She does,” Sophie said firmly. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”
We found Tammy in the pack’s herb garden, kneeling by the lavender bushes. Her hands moved deftly as she trimmed the stems, her face serene for once. I almost hated to disturb her, but we didn’t have the luxury of waiting.
“Tammy,” I said softly, stepping closer.
She glanced up, her expression immediately guarded. “What do you want?”
“We need to talk,” I said. Sophie stood beside me, her arms crossed but her demeanor calm.
Tammy hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. Let’s hear it.”
We led her to a quiet spot under the oak tree at the edge of the garden. The shade offered some privacy, though the tension between us was palpable.
“I know you don’t trust me,” I began, meeting her wary gaze. “And I don’t blame you. But we’re not here to accuse you or fight with you. We’re here to help.”
Tammy scoffed. “Help? You think I need your help?”
“Yes,” Sophie said bluntly. “Because you deserve better than this. Better than your father’s lies, better than the life he’s forcing on you.”
Tammy’s lips tightened, but she didn’t respond.
I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. “Tammy, have you ever stopped to think about what *you* want? Not what your father wants, not what the pack expects, but *you*.”
Her shoulders stiffened. “It doesn’t matter what I want. This is my life.”
“No, it’s not,” Sophie said. “It’s the life your father decided for you. But you can change that. You can have a future that’s yours—a future where you’re free.”
Tammy’s eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place—hope, maybe, or fear. “And what future is that, huh? What am I supposed to do, just walk away?”
“If that’s what it takes to be happy, yes,” I said gently. “But it’s more than that, Tammy. You don’t have to settle for being someone’s pawn. You’re smart, talented, and you clearly have a gift for medicine. Why not pursue that? Why not build a life where you’re helping people instead of being used?”
For the first time, Tammy looked uncertain. “I don’t know… My father—he wouldn’t let me.”
Sophie leaned forward, her voice firm. “Your father doesn’t control you. He’s manipulated you into thinking you owe him everything, but you don’t. And deep down, you know that.”
Tammy’s jaw tightened, and she looked away. “He’s still my father.”
“And he killed your mother,” I said quietly.
The words hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. Tammy flinched, her hands gripping her knees.
“You don’t have to say it,” I continued, my voice soft. “But I can see it in your eyes. You know the truth, Tammy. You’ve always known.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them away. “Why are you doing this? Why do you even care?”
“Because you deserve better,” I said simply. “And because I know what it’s like to feel trapped, to feel like you don’t have a choice. But you do, Tammy. You always have a choice.”
She was silent for a long time, staring at the ground as if it held the answers. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “I always wanted to be a healer. When I was little, my mother used to teach me about herbs and remedies. She said I had a natural talent for it.”
Sophie and I exchanged a glance, and I could see the glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“What happened?” I asked gently.
Tammy took a shaky breath. “My father happened. After my mother died, he said I was wasting my time. He said I needed to focus on the future, on becoming strong and powerful. He… He told me I didn’t have a mate, that I’d never have one. He said he was all I had.”
Her voice cracked, and she wiped at her eyes angrily. “I believed him. I thought he was protecting me. But now…”
“You’re starting to see the truth,” Sophie said softly.
Tammy nodded, her tears falling freely now. “I don’t want this life. I don’t want to be tied to someone who isn’t my mate. I always dreamed of finding him, of having what my parents never did. But my father… he made me believe it wasn’t possible.”
“It is possible,” I said, reaching out to place a hand on her arm. “Everyone has a mate, Tammy. And yours is out there, waiting for you. Don’t let your father take that away from you.”
She looked at me, her eyes filled with pain and longing. “What if it’s too late? What if I’ve done too much?”
“It’s never too late,” Sophie said firmly. “You can start over, Tammy. You can choose a different path.”
Tammy sniffled, nodding slowly. “How? How do I fix this?”
“By helping us stop your father,” I said. “He’s hurting everyone—me, Jake, the pack. And he’s hurting you. But if we work together, we can end this. We can expose him for what he is.”
Tammy hesitated, her fear and doubt clear on her face. But then, slowly, she nodded. “Okay. I’ll help you.”
Relief washed over me, and I squeezed her arm gently. “Thank you, Tammy. You’re making the right choice.”
Sophie smiled, her expression warm. “You’re stronger than you think, Tammy. And we’ll be with you every step of the way.”
For the first time, Tammy smiled—a small, tentative smile, but a smile nonetheless. “I never thought I’d say this, but… thank you. Both of you.”
“You don’t have to thank us,” I said. “We’re in this together now.”
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