Alpha Hayley’s Destined Mate
Chapter 554: Always Known
Hayley’s POV
48 Pearls
The officer’s fingers paused over the keyboard before he nodded. “Sure, give me a second. I need to close out some restricted files first.”
Once he had exited the necessary screens, leaving only a basic desktop interface with a few password-protected police programs, he stood and made room for me. The moment I got my hands on the computer, I started typing at breakneck speed.
Benjamin had always known I was a hacker, but this was the first time he had seen me in action up close and personal. His shock was obvious. I wasn’t surprised by his reaction—nor by the expressions of disbelief from the others around us. After all, my skills were among the best in the world.
It didn’t take long for me to establish an external network connection and hack into the auto shop’s surveillance system. Once I retrieved the critical footage, I discreetly logged out without leaving a trace. Then, I turned the laptop screen toward the crowd and played the video.
In the footage, Jonah had been watching me from the moment he stepped inside. After he sat across from me, his stare grew more blatant—his eyes raking over me with lewd, shameless intent. To make it even clearer for everyone, I zoomed in and tracked his face, ensuring his sleazy expression was unmistakable. The evidence spoke for itself.
“Mrs. Southwell, do you see it now?” I asked Odessa coolly.
She stood frozen, clearly unprepared for the situation to change so quickly. She had pressured me to back down for the sake of the Southwells, but now that I had irrefutable proof, she was at a loss for words. I never expected her to change her opinion of me, so I simply shifted my gaze to the officer and asked icily, “Do you see it now?”
Without waiting for a response, I turned to leave as Hera’s voice urged me forward. The scent of these people was starting to irritate Hera, making her restless—itching to tear them apart.
As I passed Odessa, I hesitated for a brief second before speaking, disappointment lacing my tone. “I don’t understand,” I said. “As a mother, why would you rather trust outsiders than believe in your own son’s choices?”
Chapter 554: Always Known
+8 Pearls
Respect and dignity are things you earn for yourself. If you rely on others to grant them to you, you’ll always end up empty-handed.
For the longest time, I had tolerated Odessa’s hostility because she was Benjamin’s mother. I had tried to be patient, to be understanding. But today, I could no longer force myself to be the docile, obedient girl she expected. I am who I am. I inherited my Alpha title before Benjamin did. I was the first female Alpha in Shadow Pack’s history—one of the strongest Alphas in all of North Annestone. I have never feared anyone, nor have I ever bowed to any authority.
With that, I walked out without looking back. My steps quickened as Hera grumbled in frustration, prompting me to slow down and wait for Benjamin to catch up. Before I could pull away, his warm, strong hand wrapped around mine, holding it firmly as he walked beside me.
I glanced up at him, catching his sharp profile. His jawline was perfect—sculpted, unwavering, like a masterpiece kissed by an angel. For some reason, the sight of him steadied my chaotic thoughts. I didn’t shake off his hand. I let him hold it.
Jonah had always been a favorite target for the paparazzi due to his notorious reputation, and now, with Daniel thrown into the mix, their arrest quickly climbed to the top of the trending searches. Speculation ran wild. Who had the guts to challenge the Ortegas so directly? The Ortegas themselves were in complete disarray.
“Who was the one who put my son behind bars? Hayley was it?” Tina Ortega, the family’s matriarch, demanded sternly, her sharp gaze fixed on the officer in front of her. “Which pack is she from? Who are her parents?”
“I don’t know,” the officer answered carefully, keeping his head low as he reported the only detail he had. “All I know is that her fiancé is Benjamin, the Alpha of Midnight Pack.”