Chapter 166
The midday sun filtered through the curtains of Jake’s office as I sat across from him, trying to gauge his reaction. His expression was unreadable, his jaw set, and his eyes focused intently on the wooden desk between us. I’d just explained everything—Tammy’s decision to break free, her desire to help us, and the steps we were taking to ensure Joseph didn’t find out.
“You trust her?” Jake finally asked, his voice low and controlled.
“I wouldn’t say trust,” I admitted. “But I believe she’s genuine about wanting out. She’s terrified of her father, Jake. She’s been trapped in his shadow her entire life, doing his bidding because she thought she had no choice. Now, she’s starting to see that she does.”
Jake leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he considered my words. “If this is a trap—”
“It’s not,” I interrupted, my voice firmer than I expected. “Jake, I know what she’s done, and I know it’s hard to believe she’s on our side. But she’s risking everything to help us. If Joseph finds out, she’s as good as dead. She has no reason to lie about this.”
Jake rubbed his temples, sighing deeply. “Fine. But I want Sophie handling this. She’s the only one I trust to keep it discreet.”
“She’s already on it,” I said. “She’s bringing Tammy in secret, making sure no one sees them. For now, Joseph still thinks I’m locked in my room. We’re playing this carefully.”
“Good,” Jake said, his tone clipped. “Let’s hear what Tammy has to say. But Ayla, if this goes sideways, if she so much as hesitates—”
“I know,” I said, cutting him off again. “I’ll handle it.”
The tension in the room was palpable as we waited for Sophie and Tammy to arrive. Jake paced behind his desk, his movements sharp and restless, while I sat silently, my thoughts racing.
When the door finally creaked open, Sophie stepped inside, her face calm but her eyes sharp. Behind her, Tammy entered cautiously, her shoulders hunched as if she were bracing for an attack.
Jake’s gaze snapped to Tammy, his expression hard. “Close the door,” he said, his voice low.
Sophie nodded and shut the door firmly, locking it behind her. Tammy stood near the entrance, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. She looked vulnerable, almost small, and for a moment, I felt a pang of sympathy for her.
“Tammy,” Jake said, his tone cold and authoritative. “You’ve got a lot to explain.”
Tammy swallowed hard, her eyes darting to me and then to Sophie before finally settling on Jake. “I know,” she said quietly. “And I’m sorry. For everything.”
“Sorry doesn’t cut it,” Jake snapped. “You put this pack in danger. You manipulated people, lied to their faces. And you’re only here now because it suits you. So tell me why I should believe a word you say.”
Tammy flinched at his words, but she didn’t back down. “Because I don’t want to be like him,” she said, her voice trembling but resolute. “I don’t want to be a part of his plans anymore. I want to fix what I’ve done. And I know I can’t undo the past, but I can help you stop him before he destroys everything.”
Jake crossed his arms, his gaze piercing. “Start talking.”
Tammy took a shaky breath, glancing at me for reassurance. I gave her a small nod, and she began.
“It started after my mother died,” Tammy said, her voice barely above a whisper. “My father… he wasn’t the same after that. He started saying things—things that didn’t make sense. At first, I thought it was grief. But it was more than that. He went… dark.”
“Dark how?” Sophie asked, her tone sharp but not unkind.
Tammy hesitated, her hands trembling. “He started talking about power. About how being a good mate and a good father had gotten him nowhere. He said the whole idea of mates was flawed, that it was just a way for the goddess to control us. He wanted to change everything, to create a pack where mates didn’t matter, where people could love whoever they wanted.”
“That’s insane,” Sophie said, her eyes narrowing. “Mates are sacred. They’re part of who we are.”
“I know,” Tammy said quickly. “But he didn’t see it that way. He blamed the goddess, blamed fate, blamed everyone but himself. He said if mates were real, my mother wouldn’t have cheated on him.”
Jake’s jaw tightened, but he stayed silent, letting Tammy continue.
“I don’t even know if it’s true,” Tammy admitted, her voice breaking. “I don’t know if my mother cheated or if he just imagined it. But he became obsessed. He said we were going to take over the pack, that we would build a new world together. He made me promise to help him, to do my duty as his daughter.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked at me, her expression pleading. “I didn’t know what to do. He’s my father. I thought I had to listen to him. But now… I see how wrong I was.”
I stepped closer, placing a hand on her arm. “It’s not your fault, Tammy. He manipulated you, just like he’s manipulated everyone else. But you’re here now, and that means something.”
Tammy nodded, wiping her tears. “I want to stop him. I want to help you. Please, let me make this right.”
Jake studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke. “If you’re serious about this, you need to tell us everything. Every detail, every plan, every lie he’s told. We need to know exactly what we’re dealing with.”
Tammy nodded, her resolve strengthening. “I’ll tell you everything.”
For the next hour, Tammy laid out her father’s plans in meticulous detail. She told us about the alliances he was trying to form, the lies he’d spread about Jake, and the steps he’d taken to undermine the pack’s trust in its leadership.
Sophie took notes, her expression grim. Jake listened intently, his face a mask of concentration. As for me, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of anger and sadness. Anger at Joseph for his cruelty, and sadness for Tammy, who had been caught in his web for so long.
When Tammy finished, the room was silent. Jake leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark with thought.
“This isn’t just about power,” he said finally. “It’s about revenge. He’s been planning this for years, feeding his hatred and waiting for the right moment to strike.”
“We need evidence,” Sophie said. “Something concrete to take him down.”
“I’ll get it,” Tammy said firmly. “Whatever you need, I’ll find it.”
Jake nodded slowly. “You’re taking a big risk, Tammy. If he finds out what you’re doing…”
“I know,” she said. “But I can’t live like this anymore. I won’t.”
Jake’s gaze softened, just slightly. “Then let’s make sure he doesn’t get the chance to hurt anyone else.”
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