Chapter 0490

Athena

"Just let me go!" I hear Jasmine's voice before I see her.

Zachary rolls his eyes from his seat across my bed.

'Does she ever stop talking?' Nyx grumbles.

'Never.'

"You really can't stand her, can you?" I whisper to Zachary.

"Could you tolerate someone who says ridiculous things every time she opens her mouth?" he snaps. "One moment she's begging to leave, the next she's giving orders."

The door swings open and her eyes immediately lock onto Zachary. "Why are you here?"

"I'm supporting my brother and my Alpha." he states coldly.

"Sit!" Alexander commands.

She shuffles to the empty chair reluctantly.

"I've already told you everything." she says defensively. "What more do you want?"

Alexander leans forward. "Luc seems to believe you're lying."

"Luc?" I ask.

"He was questioning her." Alexander explains. "He made it very clear our guest isn't being truthful."

I study Jasmine as she lowers her gaze. Luc was rarely wrong about detecting lies.

"Why were you speaking with Luc?" I ask.

"I was seeking help." she snaps, glaring at Zachary. "I didn't expect to encounter the other father of your child. Quite a messy situation."

"Remind me why I should accept you as my mate?" Zachary retorts sharply.

Jasmine closes her mouth into a tight pout.

"What about Alpha Julian?" I press.

She straightens immediately.

"You were running from him?"

"Yes." she murmurs.

"Why?"

"I already told Theodore."

"And I'm guessing that was a lie." Alexander states. "Otherwise Luc wouldn't have held a gun to your head."

"You couldn't know that." she scoffs.

"I have eyes everywhere." I reply calmly.

Samara had linked me, but Jasmine didn't need that information.

She slouches back, keeping her head low. "I was running from him." She drums her fingers nervously. "But the story I gave was fabricated. I thought... I'm not sure what I thought. Maybe safety. A chance to find someone who understands. Someone who would help. I didn't expect to find my mate."

"Understand what?" Alexander demands. "Without information, how can we trust or help you?"

"Alpha Julian is dangerous." she whispers.

'She won't look at us directly.' Nyx observes. 'And she shows no fear.'

'She's lying.' I whisper back.

"Is he dangerous," Zachary frowns, "or are you making excuses to cover yourself?"

"When he killed Alpha Ryan, it was shocking. Alpha Ryan had no enemies. Alpha Julian came at night. Slaughtered him in his sleep. It wasn't just a throat slitting. They ripped him open, spread his organs across the bed. I found him."

'Pack takeovers aren't uncommon.' Alexander's voice echoes in my mind. 'But not like this.'

"I sounded the alarm. When Alpha Julian discovered it was me, he promised to make my life hell. I became a slave in my own pack. He forced me to do things." She shivers violently.

"What kind of things?" I ask.

"Do I need to spell it out?" she frowns. "I'm sure you can imagine. I escaped by sheer luck and ran. I ran until I scented Levi. He was watching me and offered safety."

Her words flow too smoothly. None feel authentic. She avoids eye contact with everyone. It's all fabricated, but I want to see how far she'll take this.

"Call Alpha Ryan." I tell Alexander.

"No! Wait! He's dead!" she panics.

"Then Julian will answer, won't he?" I watch her horror-stricken expression. "If Julian answers, we'll know you're partially truthful. If Ryan answers, we'll know you're lying."

"Please don't. He'll know I'm here."

"Who? Ryan or Julian?" Zachary presses.

"Alpha Julian. He controls everything tightly. No one leaves his pack alive. If they try... well, you can imagine."

'That's the second time she's said that.' Nyx notes.

"He keeps everything locked down. He doesn't want anyone knowing he's there. If you call, you'll become his next target." Jasmine warns.