Chapter 257 Don’t Make Me Choose
Author’s POV
Scott stood motionless outside the restaurant, his jaw tight.
Something wasn’t adding up. The manager’s explanation had come too smooth, too rehearsed. Mustard "accidentally" added to a dish that was never supposed to have it? And served to their table when he hadn’t even ordered it?
His wolf stirred, uneasy, sensing his suspicion.
Scott turned on his heel and strode back inside. The manager paled the moment he saw him coming.
"I need a word with you," Scott said, calm on the surface. "Privately."
The manager swallowed and gestured toward a corner. Once they were out of earshot, Scott leaned in, his green eyes cold. "Let me ask you something. Did that mustard end up in the soup by accident, or did someone pay you to put it there?"
The manager went ashen. "I already explained. It was an honest mistake. We’re normally very careful with allergens—"
"Don’t insult my intelligence." Scott let his Alpha aura leak out, just enough to set the man’s hands trembling. "I’m the Alpha of the Lightning Pack. Do you really think I can’t smell a lie?"
The manager stepped back, his wolf instincts screaming at him to submit. Sweat broke across his forehead.
"I could shut this place down with one phone call," Scott went on, his tone easy but lethal. "One word to the health inspector about deliberate contamination and you’re out of business by morning. Or," he pressed the aura down harder, "you tell me the truth right now, and I might forget this ever happened."
The manager crumbled. He glanced around, then dropped his voice to a whisper. "Not here. Please. Can we talk outside?"
Scott pulled his aura back and nodded curtly.
Minutes later he stood outside his mother’s apartment at Peaceful Bay Resort, staring at the door. His wolf was growling now, restless and angry.
She wouldn’t. Would she?
He rang the bell.
Claudine Tucker opened the door, smiling brightly. "Scott! That was quick. How was dinner?"
Scott didn’t smile back. He just stood there, watching her, until her smile faltered.
"You did it on purpose, didn’t you?" he said quietly.
"Did what on purpose?" Her tone stayed light, but her eyes turned guarded. ⑬
"You wanted Sebastian to see me with Emilia. You wanted him to think something was going on between us."
"I don’t know what you’re talking about—"
"Don’t." Scott’s voice sharpened. "I know everything, Mother. The manager told me. You ordered him to put mustard in that soup. You knew Emilia was allergic. And we didn’t even order that dish. It was sent to our table anyway. So they made two mistakes? The wrong condiment and the wrong table?"
Claudine’s composure cracked. For a moment she said nothing. Then she lifted her chin. "Fine. Yes. It was me."
Scott’s hands curled into fists. "Why?"
"Because you like her, don’t you?" She stepped aside to let him in. He walked in stiffly, anger held on a short leash. "I was helping you. She needed rescuing, you were there, Sebastian saw you together. Men like him don’t like other Alphas touching what’s theirs. It would’ve driven a wedge between them—"
"And you thought that was helping me?" His voice rose through the apartment. "You think I want her like that? By manipulating her? By putting her in danger?"
"It was just a mild reaction—"
"It could’ve been worse!" Scott shouted, his wolf snarling in his head. He made himself breathe and rein in his temper. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Do you really think Sebastian is stupid enough to fall for something this obvious? He’s the Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. He didn’t get there by being a fool."
Claudine crossed her arms. "He’s also possessive and paranoid. I thought—"
"You thought wrong." His tone went cold. "I’ve told you a hundred times, Mother. I like Emilia. I’ll pursue her my own way, on my own terms. I don’t need you pulling strings behind my back."
"I’m your mother. I’m trying to help you get what you want—"
"What I want is for you to stop." Scott stepped closer, his eyes hard. "This is the last time I’ll say it. Stay out of my personal life. Stop scheming. Stop manipulating. If you ever pull something like this again, if you ever put Emilia in danger again, I will be very disappointed in you."
The word disappointed landed like a blow. Claudine flinched.
"And trust me," Scott added, his voice dropping low, "you don’t want to disappoint me."
He turned for the door, his wolf still growling.
"Scott—"
"I mean it, Mother." He didn’t look back. "Don’t make me choose between you and my conscience. You won’t like the outcome."
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving Claudine alone in the quiet.