Jared sighed internally but let nothing show in his expression, actually smiled and leaned. back in his own chair, stretched his arms out and allowed that mating band to click against the table. To be seen, it was still white, not glowing blue, and he stared right back at his father. Making his own point.
Though he now knew that man was indeed once again trying to play matchmaker for him, and could understand his father’s insistence on Jared having to pick up Wynta for that Luna Celebration. That had, of course, been on a full moon, it just hadn’t been due to set until nearly 8pm.
Him picking Wynta up and bringing her into the pack that day wasn’t just about getting her initiated, it was about trying to see if she would pair up with Jared. She was an unknown she-wolf that could well be his Mate for all he knew. His father liked her stubbornness, and probably thought she would suit him well.
Even if she refused to be initiated that day, due to being tricked into attending, if the moon had set, and she’d scented out anyone inside that pack, it would see her be brought into the pack automatically. If it was himself or one of his two other brothers, that would definitely see it. None of them would reject a Goddess-Gifted.
Though on the same front, that very thing, if his father had gotten his way that night, he or one of his brothers scenting out Wynta during the Luna Ceremony, that would have overshadowed it completely. As well as pissed Lance right off, he was the youngest and that would see whoever was mated to her be promoted to the first heir position instantly.
He wondered now about that as well, if Wynta had come across his two brothers on a full moon at all. Was it just him that hadn’t? Both Ethan and Colby were now living in France running his business over there. ‘Have Ethan and Colby been near her on a full moon?’ he asked his father down the mind-link, by way of letting him know he understood what this was now all about.
‘No, she avoids a full moon like the plague.” His father answered simply, ‘I’m guessing she’s been rejected before, she’s got no marking scar, and being without wolf…
‘Some would be rejected for that. Jared finished his father’s sentence and a part of him understood her better, he thought. Wolf-less and left her pack at 18, it was entirely possible she’d been gifted a mate right away, and they’d simply not wanted her because she would be seen by some wolves as weak. He didn’t think she was. If she had been rejected, that wolf was foolish she was not only beautiful but intelligent, and strong-willed to boot. He thought about that as he saw his father’s smile broaden. That man was betting on Wynta being mated to a highly ranked member of a pack, just from the way she was.
He shook his head slightly and stated, “How about we get to what I believe is actually going on here between Lotti and Wynta.”
“There is nothing going on between us,” Lotti stated, though she now sounded unhappy about having been outed to this room for all her lies.
“Dwane and I don’t feel that is the truth. We both agree that since we’ve arrived home to the pack, something feels off, with Lotti’s behavior, around Wynta specifically, father.” He told him and Dwane nodded as if to concur.
“There is nothing.” Lotti muttered, but was ignored. It was clear she was going to lie about everything, had proved that to this very room already.
“Why son, do you say that?” his father asked, giving him the room, so he could express his own concerns.
“Well, firstly, let’s address something I’ve not discussed with anyone bar Dwane yet. On the day I was to pick Wynta up. She got a text message, apparently from me, worded specifically to make it as though I sent it.”
“The text?” his father asked.
“It stated I was delayed, I wouldn’t be picking her up and that a rogue wouldn’t be missed.” He shook his head. “Now we all know I was delayed, but I wouldn’t not go and pick her up. I was following your order, father, on that one. But that very text led Wynta to change from her dress into work clothes and return to the office.
“So in turn, I wouldn’t be able to pick her up, I’m also of the opinion that the words, ‘a rogue wouldn’t be missed”, meant that the person who sent that very text, clearly has an issue with rogues.” His eyes moved right to Lotti. “As we all know Lotti does.”
He saw nothing in her expression, she only rolled her eyes at his words, but he could see as he looked her over that one of her fists was balled tightly in her lap right now. She was angry about his indirect accusation.
“Something else father, about that text is misleading. I did not know that Wynta was a rogue, you never once mentioned that to me. I did check her company profile before coming home. Nothing on that even states she’s a rogue, just states she’s unaffiliated with the company. I also spoke to you directly, and you alluded to the fact that she belonged to another pack, and you were trying to poach her for yourself.”
“Hmm, that I did.” His father nodded and there was a frown on his face now as he thought about what he was hearing.
“So, it’s clear I didn’t send that message to her. I also turned up at her apartment, broke into it and nearly panicked at the scent of a rogue in that apartment. Thought my being late had seen something happen to her. Creed picked up everything smelled like a rogue, and we figured out she was a rogue. We saw the dress and shoes kind of just tossed on the bed. She’d gotten ready to go, but given up on my picking her up.
“Again, my being there proves I didn’t send the text. Now Wynta told me and Dwane heard her state it was an unknown number to her, but because of the content of that message, why wouldn’t she believe it wasn’t me? So someone deliberately sabotaged my bringing Wynta into the pack that day. Someone that doesn’t like Rogues and…” he looked right at Lotti, “I believe is sitting right at this table.”
“I did not send any text to Wynta, I don’t even have her number. Why would I have a rogue’s phone number?” Lotti stated, “Check my phone if you like.” and she got it out and unlocked it, held it out to Jared.
It was Dwane who reached over and took it, went through the message bank text logs, Jared watched him as he scrolled it all the way back to the date of the full moon, and then a few days prior to it as well and shook his head. “There is nothing,” Dwane stated and handed the phone back to Lotti.
“See it wasn’t me.” she stated, and put her phone away.
“I also only called Dwane about being late that day, no one else. Dwane where were you when I called?”
“In the Beta family suite, we were having a late lunch all together, because dinner wasn’t going to be served until just after eight that night. Lotti was right at the table when I took that call, father can attest to that.”
Jared looked to Ernesto, who nodded. “Everyone was there.”
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