Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Blinded by the Bond
Freya
"She attacked me!" Mia wailed,tears streaming down her face as she cradled her wrist. "I was just trying to be nice,to offer her tea,and she deliberately made me spill it on myself!"
Jasper’s eyes darkened as they fixed on me. "Is this true?"
"Absolutely not," I replied calmly,still holding the rescued documents. "Mia was about to spill tea on these merger documents—accidentally or otherwise. I moved them out of the way."
"She’s lying!" Mia sobbed,leaning into Jasper as he wrapped a protective arm around her. "She’s been undermining me all day,refusing to respect my position,and now this physical aggression!"
I looked around the room at the witnesses—Timothy,the kitchen staff,and the two assistants. Their faces told the whole story; they had all seen what really happened,but fear kept them silent. No one wanted to contradict the Alpha’s mate.
"Well?" Jasper demanded,looking at Timothy. "You were here. What happened?"
Timothy hesitated,caught between loyalty to his Alpha and the truth. "It happened very quickly,Alpha. The tea was about to spill,and Freya moved to protect the documents."
"That’s not what I asked," Jasper snapped. "Did Freya cause Mia’s injury?"
The weight of the Alpha’s focused attention made Timothy flinch slightly. "No,Alpha. Mia lost her balance when the tea missed its target."
"Its target?" Jasper repeated,his eyes narrowing.
Before Timothy could clarify,Mia’s sobs grew louder. "See how they twist everything? They’re all loyal to her instead of their Luna! This is exactly what I’ve been telling you,Jasper—she’s turned the pack against me!"
I watched the calculation behind Mia’s tears with cold detachment. This woman was playing Jasper like a fiddle,and he—powerful Alpha that he was—couldn’t see past his biological drive to protect his mate.
"Freya," Jasper’s voice was dangerously low. "As Alpha,I expect you to show proper respect to my Luna. Whatever personal feelings you harbor,Mia deserves the deference her position commands."
I held his gaze steadily. "Even when she attempts to sabotage critical pack business?" I lifted the documents slightly. "Do you have any idea what would have happened if these had been damaged? The Blackwood merger would collapse,taking with it over three million in projected revenue and a month of Stone Lake’s work."
Something flickered in Jasper’s eyes—uncertainty,perhaps even clarity breaking through the fog of his mate bond. He glanced at the documents in my hands,then back at Mia’s tearstained face.
"I will speak with Mia about appropriate handling of pack documents," he said stiffly. "But that doesn’t excuse any disrespect toward her position. While you remain part of this pack,you will acknowledge her authority."
I couldn’t help the cold laugh that escaped me. "Her authority? Over merger documents she doesn’t understand? Over business relationships she hasn’t built?" I shook my head. "Your mate bond is clouding your judgment,Jasper. Stone Lake can’t afford that kind of weakness."
Mia gasped dramatically. "How dare she speak to you that way! Are you going to allow this insubordination?"
Jasper’s jaw tightened. "Freya,I expect an apology to Mia. Now."
The room fell silent as everyone waited for my response. I carefully set the documents down on a dry portion of the table.
"I’ll apologize for one thing only," I said quietly. "I’m sorry that I didn’t speak up last night when I saw your precious Luna leaving The Black Wolf bar with Reed Hammond at 11:30 PM. Perhaps if I had,we could have avoided this entire charade today."
The color drained from Mia’s face. Jasper’s expression froze.
"You’re lying," Mia whispered,but the panic in her eyes told a different story.
"Am I?" I challenged. "Reed seemed quite comfortable with his arm around your waist. Perhaps we should ask him about your... business meeting?"
Before Jasper could respond,Mia’s eyes rolled back and she slumped dramatically against him,her body going limp.
"Mia!" Jasper exclaimed,catching her before she hit the floor. "Get the pack doctor!" he barked at one of the assistants,who scrambled to obey.
I watched the performance with thinly veiled disgust. Artemis growled her contempt within me.
"She needs medical attention," Jasper said,lifting Mia’s limp form into his arms. "This conversation isn’t over,Freya," he added,his tone ominous as he carried Mia from the room.
As the door closed behind them,the remaining staff exchanged uncertain glances before quietly filing out,leaving only Timothy and me in the conference room.
"Well,that was quite a show," Timothy said after a moment,breaking the heavy silence.
"Complete with fainting spell to avoid difficult questions," I agreed,running a hand through my hair. "How does he not see through her?"
Timothy leaned against the table with a weary sigh. "Mate bonds can blind even the smartest Alpha. It’s like they lose half their brain function when their mate is threatened."
Despite everything,I couldn’t help but laugh. "Only half? I’d say Jasper’s operating on about ten percent at this point."
Timothy chuckled,shaking his head. "For what it’s worth,everyone saw what really happened. The pack isn’t as easily fooled as Jasper."
I nodded,appreciating his support but knowing it wouldn’t change the inevitable outcome. "Let’s get back to work. Without Jasper and Mia’s constant interruptions,we might actually accomplish something today."
The rest of the day passed in blessed productivity. With Mia at the pack doctor’s office and Jasper hovering anxiously at her side,Timothy and I managed to untangle the Blackwood merger complications and prepare a comprehensive transition plan for my departure.
By the time I gathered my things to leave,the sun had long since set. My phone vibrated with a text message from Silvano:
*Waiting outside. Hope your day wasn’t too hellish.*
A smile touched my lips despite my exhaustion. His timing was perfect,as always. I said goodnight to the security team and pushed through the building’s main doors,breathing in the cool evening air with relief.
The sleek black Aston Martin was parked across the street,engine purring quietly. As I approached,the driver’s door opened and Silvano stepped out,his tall figure illuminated by the streetlights.
"That bad,huh?" he asked,noting my expression as I reached him.
"You have no idea," I sighed,allowing myself to lean into his strength as his arms encircled me.
"Tell me everything," he said,opening the passenger door. "Over dinner. You look like you could use a drink."
I laughed softly. "Make it a double."