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Chapter 7 – Hidden Agendas

Alpha Jason sat back in his chair, his eyes narrowing slightly as he addressed Patrick and Gloria. "If the Moon Goddess does not bless this union, then we can’t go on, we can’t move forward with it," he said firmly. "There will be no choice but to end the agreement, and Jerome will have to face the punishment for what he did to Emily. His actions can’t go unpunished. We all not to defy the Moon Goddess."

Patrick and Gloria exchanged a glance, the weight of Alpha Jason’s words settling between them. Emily sat quietly, nodding quickly as if eager to agree with him. "That’s fair," she said, her voice soft but determined. "For now, no one has to know what Jerome did or about the agreement we’ve made." She looked to her parents, then back to Alpha Jason, her expression serious.

Alpha Jason nodded. "Yes, it’s best to keep everything quiet for now. Once the Moon Festival comes, we’ll have our answer. Until then, Jerome’s actions will remain a secret. But if the Moon Goddess agrees to this bond, then we’ll make it public during the festival. We’ll announce that we’re mates and plan to marry."

Emily's eyes gleamed as she nodded eagerly. "Yes, that’s what I want too," she said. "And when we announce it, we’ll also declare that Jerome has chosen Marriott as his new mate. If the Moon Goddess allows it, Nathalie and her family will be cast out of the pack. They don’t belong here anymore."

There was a tense silence as her words hung in the air. Patrick and Gloria exchanged a glance, both of them clearly considering the weight of what Emily was proposing.

"I agree," Patrick said after a moment, his voice firm. "If the Moon Goddess blesses this union, we’ll make sure Jerome’s new mate is Marriott, and Nathalie’s family will leave the pack for good. Nathalie is a traitor and she betrayed my daughter."

Gloria nodded beside him, her expression more reserved but still in agreement. "That’s the right decision. Nathalie betrayed our trust. She has no place here."

Alpha Jason’s face remained neutral, but he nodded in agreement. "Yes, that’s how it will be. Jerome will move on with Marriott, and the pack will know that justice has been served."

Emily’s face broke into a smile, her eyes filled with a glint of satisfaction. "Thank you, Alpha Jason. I’m really grateful," she said sweetly, though there was a hint of something darker lurking beneath her tone.

Alpha Jason rose from his seat, his face still calm and collected. "I’ll take my leave now," he said, his voice formal. "We’ll speak again at the Moon Festival."

As he walked toward the door, Emily followed him with her eyes, her smile never fading. Once the door closed behind him, she let out a small laugh, her eyes flashing with triumph. "This is the beginning of my revenge," she said softly, more to herself than to her parents.

Patrick and Gloria exchanged a wary look. "Revenge?" Gloria asked, her eyebrows drawing together in concern. "Emily, what do you mean by that?"

Emily shrugged, her smile twisting into something more sinister. "Jerome hurt me, Mom. He betrayed me, and now he’s going to suffer for it. This is my way of making sure he pays for what he did."

Patrick frowned, his eyes narrowing as he studied his daughter. "But why did Alpha Jason agree so easily?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "When I looked into his eyes, I didn’t see any hesitation. In fact, he looked... happy. Too happy, if you ask me."

Gloria’s frown deepened as she turned to Patrick. "What are you saying? Do you think Alpha Jason actually wants to be with Emily? Is that why he’s agreeing to all of this?"

Patrick let out a slow sigh, his brow furrowed in thought. "I don’t know, but something feels off. It didn’t seem like he was just going along with the plan because of pity for Emily. It was like... he actually wanted this. Like he wants her as his mate."

Emily’s smile faltered as she stared at her father, her mind racing. "That’s not possible," she said quickly, shaking her head. "Alpha Jason has been without a mate for so long. He’s probably just relieved to have someone by his side. It’s not because he wants me as his real mate."

Patrick raised an eyebrow, his gaze still fixed on her. "You’re sure about that? Because I got the sense that he wasn’t just agreeing to this because of Jerome. He seemed genuinely... invested."

Gloria looked between them, her face a mixture of concern and confusion. "Emily, are you sure you’re not reading this wrong? Alpha Jason might have feelings for you. You have to be careful."

Emily stared at the floor, her mind whirling with the implications of what her father had said. Could it be true? Could Alpha Jason actually want her as his mate, not just for revenge or to settle things with Jerome? No, it couldn’t be. This was about control, about getting what she wanted. It wasn’t about love or real connection. But still, the doubt crept in, unsettling her carefully laid plans.

"I don’t think that’s the case," Emily said finally, though her voice was more uncertain than before. "Alpha Jason is easy to manipulate because he’s been alone for so long. He doesn’t have a mate, and he’s desperate. That’s all it is."

Patrick leaned back in his chair, still not entirely convinced. "Maybe. But I’d keep an eye on him if I were you. Something about this doesn’t sit right with me."

Emily nodded, though inside, her confidence was starting to crack. Could Alpha Jason actually have feelings for her? She didn’t want that. She wanted control, power over Jerome and his father. But if Alpha Jason truly desired her as his mate, things could get complicated. Very complicated.

And that was the last thing she needed.

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