Chapter 9 – The Price of Choices

Alpha Jason stood up abruptly, his eyes blazing with fury as he looked down at his son, Jerome. His voice cut through the air like a sharp blade, filled with anger and frustration. "You have one day, Jerome. One day to think carefully about what you're going to do."

Jerome’s jaw clenched, but he remained silent. Nathalie, still crying, whimpered as Jason turned his back on them and stormed out of the room, leaving an oppressive silence in his wake.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Nathalie rushed toward Jerome, wrapping her arms around him in desperation. "Jerome, please. Be responsible for me, choose me as your mate!" she pleaded, her tears soaking into his shirt.

Jerome, visibly annoyed, pushed her away. His eyes flashed with frustration as he glared at her. "Why the hell did you go to my father and talk to him? Do you know what you've done?"

Nathalie sobbed, her voice trembling. "I had no choice! You already rejected Emily, and she’s seen us together! What was I supposed to do?" She fell to her knees, clinging to the hem of his pants.

Jerome massaged his temple, overwhelmed by the situation spiraling out of control. "Stand up, Nathalie. Just... stand up." His voice was tired, drained of energy.

Nathalie wiped her eyes and slowly stood, her lips trembling. "Please, Jerome. Choose me as your mate. I can't go back to the pack like this, with everyone judging me. I need you."

Jerome sighed deeply, stepping back from her. "I need time to think. I don’t know what to do right now. You need to leave and give me space."

Nathalie stared at him, heartbroken, but nodded weakly. "I understand." She tried to look pitiful, hoping that her vulnerable state would sway him. "I’ll go now, but please... think about it, Jerome. I only have you. I am already an omega, if you not make me as your mate, the whole pack will surely ruin my life if they know the issue."

Without another word, Nathalie turned and left the room, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hallway. Jerome stood there for a moment, staring at the door, wondering how things had escalated to this point.

When Nathalie arrived home, her parents, Miguel and Cielo, were waiting for her in the living room. They stood up immediately, anticipation in their eyes.

"Well?" Miguel asked, his voice sharp. "Did Jerome and Alpha Jason agree?"

Nathalie frowned, frustration evident on her face as she dropped onto the couch. "Not yet. Alpha Jason gave Jerome one day to think about it."

Cielo, her mother, crossed her arms and scowled. "One day? That’s not good enough! Jerome should’ve agreed on the spot!"

"I tried," Nathalie muttered, her voice tired from all the crying. "I begged him, but Jerome’s still thinking. He didn’t give me a clear answer."

Cielo’s eyes narrowed, her face twisting in anger. "This won’t do. We need a plan. Jerome has to choose you, or else everything will fall apart."

Nathalie glanced at her mother, confusion clouding her face. "What plan? What else can I do?"

With a greedy gleam in her eyes, Cielo leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You need to go to Emily. Pretend you’re so pitiful and beg her for forgiveness. Ask her to help you make Jerome choose you."

Nathalie’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Emily? You want me to beg Emily for help?"

Cielo’s lips curled into a wicked smile. "Yes. She’s the only one who can convince Jerome to stay with you. She still loves him, and she’s too weak to fight back. Use her emotions against her."

Nathalie sighed heavily, feeling a pang of doubt. "I’m not sure Emily will even want to talk to me after everything. I hurt her too much."

"That’s exactly why it will work," Cielo pressed, her tone growing more insistent. "She’ll be too focused on doing what’s right for Jerome. She’ll feel sorry for you and do whatever she can to make sure Jerome doesn’t abandon you."

Nathalie frowned, unsure. "And what if she refuses? What if she tells Jerome to stay away from me?"

Cielo waved her hand dismissively. "She won’t. Trust me. Emily is too good-hearted to leave you in the dust. She’ll want to help, especially if she believes Jerome might get hurt in all of this. All you need to do is make her feel guilty."

Miguel, who had been silently listening, finally spoke up, his voice cold and calculating. "Your mother’s right, Nathalie. If you want to secure your place, you need to play your cards right. Jerome won’t stand up to Emily if she’s on your side. Go to her. Make her feel like it’s her duty to help you."

Nathalie remained quiet, her mind racing as she considered her parents’ plan. She had hurt Emily badly, and it felt wrong to go back and beg for help now. But at the same time, she knew her parents were right. If she didn’t act quickly, she could lose Jerome forever.

"I’ll think about it," Nathalie finally said, though doubt still lingered in her voice.

Cielo leaned back, satisfied with her daughter’s response. "Good. But don’t take too long. Time is running out, and you need to secure Jerome before he makes any rash decisions."

Nathalie stood up, her legs heavy with the weight of the situation. "I’ll talk to Emily tomorrow... but I don’t know if this will work."

"It will work," Cielo said firmly. "Just remember to play the victim. The more pitiful you seem, the more she’ll be willing to help you."

As Nathalie headed to her room, her mind was a whirlwind of uncertainty. Could she really manipulate Emily into helping her? And even if she did, would Jerome truly choose her in the end?

Her heart raced with fear as she lay down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Jerome had one day to decide, and everything hinged on his next move.

But what would he choose? Would he stand by her? Or would he reject her completely, leaving her to face the wrath of the pack alone?

As the night deepened and the moon hung high in the sky, Nathalie's thoughts swirled with anxiety. And somewhere, deep in the shadows of the mansion, a plan was forming that could change everything.