Chapter 137
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Chapter 137
Laura folded her arms and held Sage’s gaze, her voice dropping lower but losing none of its bite.
“No, Sage. I’m not letting this go this time. Someone has to tell you the truth, and if it has to be me, so be it. You can redecorate this hall until it looks like a royal palace, but it won’t matter if Jason opens his mouth and ruins everything p>
Sage froze, her fingers stilling on the edge of the table she’d been adjusting. She turned slowly, her eyes narrowing into a glare meant to silence Laura, but Laura pressed on.
“You know what I’m talking about. He’s a cheat, he’s careless. And you…” Laura jabbed a finger in Sage’s direction, “…you keep covering for him because you’re terrified people will call it karma. Because deep down, you know what they’ll say. That you stole him from Faye, and now you’re paying the price p>
The words landed like a slap. For a heartbeat, Sage couldn’t breathe.
She tried to laugh, to dismiss it, but the sound caught in her throat. “You don’t know what you’re saying p>
“I know exactly what I’m saying, Laura shot back, stepping closer. “You pretend everything’s fine because you don’t want anyone to see the cracks. But you see them, Sage, every day.
And so do we all p>
Sage’s hands curled into fists at her sides. “Enough p>
But Laura ignored the warning in her tone. “Do you really think he won’t embarrass you in front of them? Alphas, Lunas, people who actually understand leadership? He can barely earn respect from a child, Sage. He doesn’t inspire loyalty…he demands it with a show of power he can’t back up. And when it all goes wrong, who cleans it up? Not him. The elders, his beta,…anyone but Jason p>
Her words were relentless, like arrows loosed one after another, striking truths Sage had fought hard to bury.
“If it weren’t for them holding this pack together, Silver Hollow would have already crumbled,” Laura continued. “And you know it p>
Sage turned away sharply, blinking hard, her throat tightening. She wouldn’t cry. Not in front of Laura. She straightened her shoulders, forcing steel back into her voice. “This summit will be different. He’ll hold himself together….he has to p>
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Chapter 137
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Laura’s laugh was dry, humorless. “That’s not hope talking, Sage. That’s desperation. You’re gambling on a man who doesn’t even understand the weight of what he carries. He thinks. leading is about chest–thumping and intimidation, but when he speaks, he can’t even command respect from his own people. There’s only one thing he’s good at, and we both know what that is p>
The silence that followed was heavy. Around them, servants kept working, but their voices. were hushed, their steps quick, as if they sensed the storm brewing between the Luna and her friend.
Sage finally turned back, her eyes blazing with a fire meant to mask the crack in her armor. He’s my mate. My Alpha. And I will not let you stand there and tear him down in front of me p>
Laura’s gaze softened, but her voice didn’t. “I’m not tearing him down, Sage. I’m holding up the mirror you refuse to look into. Because when those alphas and their Lunas walk into this hall, perfection won’t save you. Jason will have to. And we both know he’s the weakest link in
all of this p>
Sage’s lips parted, but no words came out. She wanted to scream, to defend Jason, to insist Laura was wrong. But every word her friend had spoken was the truth she already knew, the truth she tried so hard to bury under flowers and polished floors and spotless linens.
Because if she didn’t bury it, if she let herself admit it fully, then she would have to face the reality she feared most: that she had betrayed her twin for a man who wasn’t worth the ruin he brought.
Sage’s eyes hardened at Laura’s words, though her hands still fussed with the edge of a tablecloth. She gave a small, dismissive shake of her head. “I hope you realize the gravity of what you’re doing,” she said finally, her voice clipped. “Speaking ill of the Alpha in such a way…it could be considered treason if not for the fact that we’re friends. You’re lucky it’s me you’re saying this to. ”
Laura did not flinch. She leaned her weight onto one hip, arms folded, studying Sage with that steady gaze of hers…the kind that always seemed to cut through excuses. “And because we’re friends, I’m willing to risk my head to tell you the truth,” she countered. “If it were anyone else, I’d keep my mouth shut and let the pieces fall where they may. But you, Sage… you’re my friend. I won’t stand here and watch you run yourself ragged, pretending everything is fine when you and I both know the cracks are wide enough for everyone to see p>
Sage’s lips pressed into a thin line. She busied herself again with smoothing fabric, arranging centerpieces, anything to avoid the sting of Laura’s words.
Laura stepped closer, lowering her tone even more. “And I’m not speaking just as your friend. I’m speaking as someone who belongs to this pack…who cares about the image of Silver
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Chapim 137
Hollow. You know I’m right. You can call it treason if you want, but deep down you know everything I’m saying is true, and that it should concern you more than it does me p>
Sage froze for a heartbeat, then forced a laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. “Concern? You think I’m not concerned? You think I don’t know what’s at stake here p>
“I think you’re too busy trying to polish the walls to admit the foundation is already cracking,” Laura replied bluntly. “If I were you, I’d stop worrying so much about how Faye and her mate will see the guest rooms and start worrying about whether Jason is going to open his mouth and humiliate you in front of every Alpha and Luna who walks through that door p>
That one hit home. Sage’s chest tightened, though she lifted her chin, refusing to show it. Laura, sensing the silence, pressed on.
“If I were you,” she continued, softer, “I’d have a talk with him. At least he still listens to you sometimes. That’s more than the rest of us can say p>
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