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The Alpha Queen Returns – Episode 05
Before Jessica’s arrival, Rex had dragged Caroline into a narrow passage beyond the main hall. He pinned her against the wall, blocking the light with his broad frame while raised voices gathered around the injured Reva in the next room.
“When your mother gets here, you won’t say a word.” His wolf aura rolled over Caroline, hot and predatory. He seized her arm, pressing his thumb into a bruise left by an earlier punishment. “If you tell her anything about this family, I’ll hunt her down and kill her.”
Tears filled Caroline’s eyes. Her mother lived alone at the edge of the territories, without guards or pack protection. Caroline had no idea that Jessica had once commanded armies. To her, the threat was horrifyingly possible.
Rex released her and smoothed the front of his coat as though he had merely offered friendly advice. “Do you understand?” When she managed a nod, he smiled. “Good. Wash your face and put on something decent. You look filthy, and we won’t have your mother blaming us for that.”
By the time Jessica entered the hall, Caroline wore a clean dress that hung too loosely from her shoulders. She wanted to run into her mother’s arms, bury her face against the familiar scent of herbs, and confess everything. Then Rex moved into view behind Jessica, and his silent promise locked every word inside her.
Jessica knelt and brushed her fingertips over Caroline’s cheek. “Tell me what happened, sweetheart.” Her voice was gentle, but her gaze searched every detail—the swollen eyes, the rigid posture, the faint red marks not quite hidden beneath a sleeve.
Truth rose to Caroline’s lips. She glanced at Rex, and his icy stare returned her to the dark passage. If she spoke, her mother might never reach home alive. Caroline lowered her head. “It was an accident.”
Jessica’s hand paused. “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt Reva.” Each word felt like a betrayal of herself. “I’m sorry.” She stared at the floor so her mother would not see the lie, unaware that her refusal to meet Jessica’s eyes revealed almost as much as a confession.
For a long moment, Jessica said nothing. Instinct warned her that something was wrong, yet Caroline had always been sensitive about admitting mistakes. Pressing her in front of an audience might frighten her further. Jessica tucked a strand of hair behind her daughter’s ear. “Try to be more careful, all right?”
Caroline nodded, crushed by the thought that her mother believed them. “I’m sorry,” she repeated.
Melissa entered the silence with a forgiving smile. “There’s no reason to dwell on a childish misunderstanding. Reva and Caroline have worked things out.” Her sweetness bore no resemblance to the woman who had accused Caroline minutes earlier.
Jessica looked toward Reva, whose small bandage sat dramatically across her forehead. “I can examine the wound. Falls against stone can be more serious than they appear.”
“Our pack doctor already treated her,” Melissa said quickly. “She’ll be perfectly fine. Since Caroline has apologized, we’re happy to continue caring for her here.” She placed a fond hand on Caroline’s shoulder, and the girl fought not to flinch.
Relief loosened some of the tension in Jessica’s chest. She had chosen the Russos because they offered stability, education, and a respected place in pack society. One troubling scene did not erase years of apparent generosity—or so she wanted to believe.
Melissa exchanged a brief glance with Rex. “Although caring for another child has become financially difficult,” she added, lowering her eyes as though embarrassed. “Rogue attacks have disrupted trade, and our pack resources are stretched thin.”
Guilt struck Jessica at once. She earned enough from healing to live simply, but she had old accounts and royal holdings she rarely touched. If the Russos had borne Caroline’s expenses without complaint, she owed them more than thanks. “Then let me help. How much do you need?”
“We would never demand anything.” Melissa hesitated with careful reluctance. “A million dollars would ease the immediate burden, but even that is a great deal to ask.”
“I’ll transfer a billion.” Jessica answered so casually that Melissa’s mask nearly slipped. “That should cover Caroline’s schooling and give the pack enough protection against shortages. Use whatever remains for the other children.”
Greed flashed in Melissa’s eyes before she arranged her features into gratitude. Rex looked equally stunned. Only Caroline understood the cruelty of the moment: the people who starved her, threatened her, and made her scrub their floors were being rewarded beyond their wildest hopes.
