POV: SAINT
Yesterday was an emotional whirlwind for me. I went from bawling my eyes out after being rejected by my mate to being attacked by a strange woman, and then ending up at his place, wearing one of his shirts. I couldn't help but shiver as I inhaled the scent lingering on his shirt still draped over me. A giggle escaped my lips as I rolled onto my back, gazing up at the ceiling. I lay there, reflecting on the conversation we had in his study yesterday.
It was hard not to consider his perspective. Losing a mate leaves a deep impact on us, even long after they're gone. I think I understand his feelings better now—perhaps I can relate to his pain because my mother experienced the same loss? I really hope that our friendship can blossom into something more, maybe he just needs some time. I'm not sure. For my own peace of mind, I need to focus on the bright side.
In the morning, my mom and Mateo dropped by to check on me. I noticed Jackson giving Mateo a look that hinted at some unspoken tension, but I chose to brush it off as unlikely.
My mother was quite concerned about me, but I reassured her that everything was okay. Jackson wanted me to stay at his place, so my mom had gathered all my things, saying it was for "future safety." I felt a mix of joy at moving in with him and sadness at the thought of leaving my mom alone. We talked it over, and she insisted I shouldn't worry; she would be just fine. Apparently, she had made some new friends, so everything would be alright.
Jackson informed me that the crazy strange woman was set to be questioned later this afternoon, and I told him I wanted to accompany him. My curiosity about who had wanted me dead and their motives was overwhelming.
Now we're in his office alongside Chris, and I felt a wave of anxiety as I awaited the guards to bring her in. When she finally entered, her hands were bound behind her back, flanked by two guards. She wore a vacant expression, her gaze directed toward the floor. For some reason, her demeanor struck me as innocent, which only deepened my confusion and unease.
"Did she provide any useful information while in her cell?" Jackson's deep voice pierced the tension as he addressed the guards.
"No, Alpha. She has remained like this since she regained consciousness," one of the guards responded.
"You're a nursery teacher, correct?" Jackson inquired. She nodded slightly, still unable to lift her eyes.
"I need you to tell me who sent you to kill Saint and why," he urged.
"It's the v-voices, Alpha. They keep whispering his name, telling me to kill him," she replied, her gaze briefly meeting mine before dropping back to the floor.
"Not this again. What voices? I'm lost here, and you're not making this any easier," Jackson said with a firm expression.
"I can't really explain it. It feels like a child is whispering in my ear, urging me to kill Saint," she explained, beads of sweat forming on her brow despite the coolness of the room.
"But you don't even know me. Why would they instruct you to kill me specifically?" I interjected, feeling increasingly confused as her words unraveled the situation further.
"T-they keep saying you kill—" she paused abruptly as a group of people burst into the office. Samantha, Delta Sam, and two unfamiliar women entered, drawing our focus. One of the women moved to stand next to Chris, while the other took her place beside Delta Sam. I assumed they were their Mates.
"I heard what happened yesterday, Jackson. Is this the woman?" Samantha inquired, and Jackson nodded in response. "Are you alright, Saint?" she asked, her gaze filled with concern. I offered a slight nod.
"I brought Evelyn along just in case, since they both work in the nursery," Delta Sam explained.
"I know her, Alpha. She's a kind woman who looks after the children well. I never imagined she could do something like this," Evelyn said, eyeing the woman with disbelief.
Our attention shifted back to the woman, who was trembling uncontrollably. Her eyes darted around the room in sheer panic. What was going on with her?
"T-the v-voices, Alpha, they—" That was all she managed to utter before she let out a piercing scream and collapsed.
She was dead.
«»«»«»«»«»«»«»
The office fell into a heavy silence after her body was taken away. My mind was racing—what had just transpired? The woman was dead? just like that?!
"What voices was she referring to? As far as I know, she wasn't mentally unstable. She seemed completely fine. I really can't wrap my head around it," Evelyn broke the stillness, her voice shaky. I glanced at Jackson, who appeared lost in thought.
"Could it be possible that magic was involved?" asked the other woman standing next to Chris. I didn't know her name.
"Magic? But there aren't any witches in our pack. How could that even be possible?" Samantha questioned.
"That could explain a lot. If what she claimed is true, then those voices she was hearing are anything but normal," Evelyn chimed in.
"I'm confident that the border guards would have alerted us if a witch tried to infiltrate our territory. Still, I'll double-check with them," Delta Sam replied.
"We can't jump to the conclusion that it's magic; perhaps she's just been unwell. Maybe her symptoms have only surfaced recently," Chris suggested.
I found myself leaning towards Chris's viewpoint. Witches? While we were aware of their existence, werewolves generally kept our distance from them. Witches, vampires, warlocks, and fairies tend to stay apart from one another. Our interactions with them were minimal. The idea of a witch manipulating a pack member into killing someone in the pack was quite alarming.
Finally, Jackson spoke up. "Sam, check with the guards at the borders for any unusual activity. Evelyn, see if anyone at the nursery school noticed any odd behavior from that woman recently." They both nodded and exited the office.
"I'm unsettled by all this, and I hope witches aren't involved. I won't show any mercy if they are," Jackson said, locking eyes with me. I held his gaze for a moment before looking away as Samantha continued.
"I'm confident we'll uncover who's behind this. In the meantime, Saint, please stay vigilant. We don't know how many of them might be coming your way," she warned, sending a shiver of fear through me.
The apprehension I felt must have been evident on my face, as she approached me, placing her hands gently on my shoulders. "I didn't mean to frighten you. Just take care so you don't get hurt, alright?" she reassured me softly.
"He's staying with me; I won't let that happen," Jackson declared with a fierce determination that sent a shiver down my spine.
"I believe you will. Just be cautious, both of you. I'll take my leave now, but keep me posted so I can assist when needed," she replied.
"Thank you," I murmured. She had been incredibly kind since we met. With a nod, she departed, leaving Chris, his mate, Jackson, and I behind.
"So, are you his mate?" she asked, pointing at Jackson.
"You told her?" Jackson whispered in a half-yell at Chris.
"What? You didn't say I couldn't tell anyone, and she is my mate," Chris defended himself. Jackson let out a frustrated sigh.
He really doesn't want people to know, huh?
"I would have figured it out anyway; I could see how you looked at him," she remarked to Jackson, who seemed puzzled by her observation. "I'm Lynn, by the way, Chris' mate," she introduced herself, turning to me and extending her hand.
"I'm Saint, um, Jackson's mate," I replied, shaking her hand.
"He told you to call him Jackson? Interesting, I thought I was the only one allowed to call him that," Chris pouted slightly. Jackson rolled his eyes in response.
"Let's be friends! Don't hesitate to reach out to ask me anything, okay? And I must say, you're quite handsome," she added with a broad smile.
"Alright, Lynn, let's head out now. Come on, give your mate some attention," Chris said, pulling her closer to him. Lynn just laughed at his antics.
"You both need to leave my office," Jackson said, in a light, unserious tone.
"Alright, Mr. Alpha, just know that you'll be seeing more of me from now on. Take care, Saint!" Lynn remarked as I nodded in agreement.
"I'll make sure to let you know if I hear anything new. See you later, man." With that, they both turned and walked off, leaving Jackson and I behind.