Chapter BB

Jason turned to me, his gaze intense.

“It was Adrian who kidnapped her, wasn’t he?”

I was shocked. He knew the truth!

“Brother, how do you know?”

“Alpha, I can sense things. I know who did what. Now tell me, why did he do it?”

I lowered my head, mumbling, “He wanted to know the truth.”

“Bastard! What did you say to him?”

I remained silent. What I told Adrian was too embarrassing to repeat. He was my big brother, but that conversation was private.

Eric replied for me, “She said their father was dead.”

“And?” Jason asked. “Did he not want to learn about his identity?”

“She said it was a one-night stand, and she didn’t know much about him.”

Jason was quiet for a moment, then sighed.

“You did a foolish thing, Natalia.”

I lifted my head. “But brother, I had no other option. I had to make an excuse.”

Jason gave me a disappointed look. “He’s no longer just Adrian, your husband. He’s Alpha Adrian, leader of the Crystal Blood Pack. He’s not a schoolboy who’ll believe such a lie.”

I frowned. “He believed me, brother. He got angry and let me take Aria away.”

Jason turned to Eric, his eyes darkening. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you let her go to that man?”

Eric lowered his head in submission. I was shocked by Jason’s anger. He’d never spoken to Eric like that before.

“Brother, it wasn’t his—”

Jason raised a hand to interrupt. “Is this how you protect my sister? By sending her to her ex-husband?”

I felt awful. Because of me, Eric was being scolded.

“I’m sorry, Jason,” Eric muttered, sounding furious but still apologizing to his Alpha.

“Brother, please don’t be mad at him. He did nothing wrong. I begged him to let me go to Adrian so I could explain.”

“I want to talk to Natalia alone,” Jason said angrily.

Eric nodded, without looking at us, and left the room.

I watched him go, feeling upset for him.

“Look at me. When will you start sharing your problems with me? Why are you always afraid to tell me anything? Am I not a good brother?”

I turned back to Jason. He looked fierce. I hugged him to calm him down.

“Brother, I’m so sorry. Please don’t be mad. You love me and care for me, and I feel the same. That’s why I didn’t want to burden you.”

I broke the hug when he didn’t return it. His anger was evident. He was usually so sweet, so protective, but his anger was terrifying. His inner wolf was unleashed.

“Okay, I’m telling you the truth. I thought you’d hurt him, so I didn’t tell you.”

He looked at me and asked, “Do you still love him?”

His question surprised me. Did he not know the answer?

“No, brother.”

“Then why did you care if I hurt him?”

I tried to explain, “As Head Alpha, you can’t harm other Alphas attending your events.”

Jason sighed and sat on the bed. I sat beside him.

[The remaining text is largely unintelligible and appears to be a jumble of words and possibly fragments from other sources. It needs significant rewriting to be included in the cleaned-up version.]

“Brother, you know I don’t want to leave you all and start a new life.”

He stood and replied, “You don’t have to leave us. Nothing will change. He’ll never leave the pack house.”

I turned to him. “Brother, what are you—”

“No one can be a better man for you, or a better father for your children, than Eric. Accept him, Natalia.”