Revenge of His Stolen True Mate

Alaina Cole POV:

The moment the potion spilled, the air in the living room froze. Susan's smile curdled into a snarl of fury.

"You damned girl!" she shrieked, lunging forward, her hand raised to strike me.

I didn't flinch away. Instead, I instantly manufactured a look of pure terror and regret. My body trembled, and tears welled in my eyes. "I'm sorry! I... I was so scared, my hand was shaking... I didn't mean to!"

My performance was perfect. It showcased the expected weakness of an Omega and provided a plausible reason for the "accident."

Sean grabbed Susan's arm, his face a mixture of anger and anxiety. "What's the use in hitting her now? The potion is gone!"

Susan's chest heaved with rage. She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Those herbs are expensive! Do you think they grow on trees?"

I continued to sob, my voice shaky. "I'll drink it, I promise... Aunt Susan, please, just brew another bowl for me. I'll drink it properly this time."

My apparent submission made them lower their guard. To them, I was just a frightened, indecisive Omega.

Sean frowned, pacing the worn floorboards. "There's no time to brew another. Billy is getting impatient. If he finds out the pup is still there, the deal is off."

Hearing this, I knew my chance had come. This was the first step of my plan.

I lifted my tear-streaked face, my voice timid. "Then... what do we do? Maybe... maybe we should go to a Pack Healer?"

The suggestion made both of them freeze.

Susan immediately shot it down. "No! Go to a Healer? Then the whole Pack will know about your scandal! What about the Michael family's reputation?"

I lowered my head, my voice a choked whisper. "But... I heard that Healers have a ritual. They can make the pup's life force fade away quietly, with very little harm to the mother... It's much safer than those strange herbs."

I deliberately emphasized "safe" and "quietly," hitting their precise concerns: they wanted the problem solved without any public exposure.

Sean's pacing stopped. He was tempted. He looked at Susan, a question in his eyes.

I pressed my advantage, speaking even more softly. "And... if a Healer confirms the pup is gone, it would be more convincing for Billy, wouldn't it? What if he has some way to check..."

That was the final straw. Rogues had their own strange methods, and they were genuinely afraid Billy Hicks wouldn't take their word for it.

Sean made his decision. "She's right. Find a reliable Healer, spend some money, and get it done cleanly."

Susan was still hesitant. "But where? We don't know any of the Healers at the main Pack clinic, and they charge a fortune."

I jumped in immediately, feigning an eagerness to solve the problem. "I know one! There's a small infirmary on the edge of the territory. I've seen the nurse there before. We can just talk to her, without alerting a real Healer."

It was a carefully constructed lie. I did know the clinic, and I knew the greedy nurse, Evans. She was a crucial part of my plan.

Sean studied me, trying to gauge if I was telling the truth.

I met his gaze, my eyes wide with a desperate desire to "fix things" and a hint of fear from being cornered.

Finally, his pragmatism won over his suspicion. "Fine. Do it," he said, turning to Susan. "Give her some money. Tell her to handle it herself. And be quick about it. No tricks."

Though it pained her to part with the money, Susan knew it was the best option. She reluctantly counted out a few crumpled bills from an old wallet.

I took the cash, my fist closing tightly around it. This was the seed money for my counterattack.

Sean gave me one last warning. "Remember, if you mess this up, or if you dare to run, I'll break your legs and tie you to Billy Hicks's bed myself."

I nodded obediently, my eyes downcast. "Yes, Uncle. I wouldn't dare."

Inside, a cold smile formed. Just wait. You'll soon find out who the real prey is.

I turned and walked slowly out of the suffocating living room, each step firm and resolute.

I had successfully bent their plan to fit my own design.