***Author's Note.
There aren't many chapters left, but thank you all so much for reading. I hope you enjoy the book so far! Don't forget to vote and comment if you like it! Thank you!******

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The rest of the camping trip is smooth sailing. Ashley stays out of our hair. Actually I'm pretty sure she just ended up going home because I haven't seen her around at all. Jayden is still pissed about everything she has done. He is planning on telling his dad tonight about the whole Ashley manipulating the boys in the pack thing. Hopefully they will believe us and Ashely will finally leave Jayden and myself alone.

The boys managed to kill a couple of deer and some birds when they went on their hunt. We ate one of the deer while we were on the grounds, but decided to share the rest of their kills with the pack. The boys packed the deer onto a few cars and off we went, back home.

I'm finally back at my place, unpacking all of my stuff. My mind goes back to the night Jayden and I spent together. Although the only thing we did was make out, I have never felt more connected to him. I know the bond between mates is strong, but this feeling was not what I was expecting. He truly makes me feel complete. Like with him, I can get through anything.

A knock I sounds on my door. I turn my head and yell, "Come in."

The doorknob turns, followed by the door opening. My mom walks in smiling. He brown hair fall neatly around her face.

"Oh hey, I didn't know you were home, you're car wasn't in the garage." I say to her.

I abandon my bag and skip over to Mom. I wrap her in a hug and she follows suit.

"My car had to go into the shop yesterday. It needs a few repairs. I'm so glad you are home, was your trip fun?" She asks.

We break the embrace. "It was a blast! Well most of it. Ashley, the Beta's daughter almost messed some of it up. But we got past that situation quickly."

She gives me a look of curiosity, "what do you mean Ashley almost messed it up, what did she do?"

Should I tell her? I mean I don't know if she will believe me. Lexi almost didn't believe me when I told her. She thinks the idea is crazy, but I will need to practice telling the story if I'm going to confront the Alpha about it tonight with Jayden.

"Well it's kind of complicated, are you sure you want to hear it?" I ask.

She laughs and sits onto the bed next to my bag. "Of course I want to hear it."

I smirk as I continue to unpack. "Just making sure. Well the story begins after we got to the campsite. I set up the tent and everything, but I soon realized I hadn't seen Jayden in a while. So I went to look for him but no one had seen him either. When I go to check out his tent, some kid grabbed me and started dragging me into the woods."

My mom's eyes widen in fear. I quickly add, "don't worry, he didn't hurt me, he just dragged me to Ashley and Jayden who were together in the woods. At first I was upset that they were together, but then I realized that something was wrong with Jayden, it was like he was being controlled. Same with the boy who was holding me. Both of their eyes were dilated and blank. Then Ashley somehow manipulated Jayden into telling me that he loves Ashley. But then the weirdest thing happened. Ashley and I got into this fight, and  right after she fell Jayden started to regain consciousness. Ashley fled, and when I helped Jayden up, he had no recollection of anything."

"She got Jayden to say that he loves her?" She asks. I nod my head.

"And that's not the only thing. Ashley also manipulated all the guys in the pack to attack me when I went to the water fall early last week. It's weird, none of them remember attacking me or why they would attack me. And another thing is that I don't think Ashley can manipulate girls. I'm not sure why it's only guys, and I know this all sounds crazy and impossible, but trust me Mom, she tricked them and got into their heads." I ramble on quickly, trying to defend my statement.

I watch Mom process the information. She doesn't show any emotion. I seriously can't understand what she is thinking, but I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm insane. Honestly, who wouldn't? How is it possible for someone to manipulate another person's brain like that? It just doesn't make sense, but I trust Jayden, and I know he wouldn't say that he loves Ashley unless he was being forced. Especially since he has never even told me that he loves me, and I'm his mate.

"Okay, I believe you." Mom announces, catching me off guard.

I give her a strange look. "You do?"

She laughs. "Don't look so surprised. You're my daughter, and I know you well enough to know that you don't lie very often, especially not with a huge accusation like this."

"But do you think it's possible for her to be able to control someone's mind?"

"I think it's very possible."

"Do you think the Alpha will think it's possible?" I ask.

"Why does it matter what the Alpha thinks?" She asks curiously.

I place my empty bag under my bed and gather my hair brush and cosmetics into my arms. "Because tonight Jayden and I are going to tell the Alpha all about it. If he doesn't believe us, I don't know what he's going to do. Jayden seems confident, but I'm not so sure the Alpha trusts me. Especially when I'm with Jayden. He doesn't want me to be with him, so I think he might use this opportunity and turn it on us."

"He is just a sour man Soph. Don't let him tear you and Jayden apart. On another note, you're going there later tonight? Will Ashley be there?" She asks.

I shrug as I walk into the bathroom to drop off my items. "I'm going to assume that she will be there. I mean she will probably be brought in to defend herself. We are accusing her of some horrible things, I don't think the Alpha is just going to believe us with just our words." I organize everything into their usual spots on my bathroom counter.

"How about I come with you Soph? I don't want you and Jayden facing the Alpha alone. I should be there to help defend my daughter."

I walk back to the bed and pick up my dirty clothes. "Mom I'm not sure that's the best idea. I don't know if the Alpha likes you very much..."

She snorts, "who cares what that old lunk thinks? I certainly don't, but it looks like you will need some form of support and I want to be there with you."

I smile as I dump the clothes into the laundry basket. "Mom you're crazy, but if you want to come, I think that would be nice. I can always use the support." I tell her honestly. If Mom comes, then I know I will be more outgoing with the Alpha and more willing to speak my mind.

She claps her hands together, her bracelets jingle around her wrists when she does. "Perfect. I will drive you there after dinner, how does that sound?"

I smile, "that sounds perfect. Thanks Mom, you're the best."

She smirks. "And don't you forget it."

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I knock on Jayden's door. My mom stands behind me, clutching her purse strap in her shoulder. I can tell she doesn't feel the most comfortable in the pack house. It makes sense, considering she was once kicked out of this place for not listening to the rules.

The door creaks open, revealing my handsome mate. I smile up into his beautiful emerald eyes. He smirks down at me, glad to see me. He looks behind me and notices my mom.

"Hello Mrs. Hail." She goes to correct him when he says, "I mean Rachel."

My mom smiles, "hello Jayden. I hope Sophia told you I was coming."

He smiles and closes his door behind him. "She did. Thank you for joining us. The more people on our side the better. I have already told my dad that we need to talk about something Ashley did. He is waiting for us in his office. You two ready?"

I nod and so does my Mom.

"Awesome, let's go." He motions toward the stairs. My mom heads off first.

I go to follow her when Jayden quickly grabs my hand and pulls me into him. I look up shocked. He gives me his sexy smirk and plants a gently kiss on my lips. I close my eyes to savor him on me. He pulls away and drags me off toward the stairs. A blush lingers on my cheeks as we catch up to my mom quickly.

We get to the Alpha's office and my heart starts pounding nervously in my chest. I forgot just how intimidating it is being here. I can remember the last time I walked into this room and the Alpha told me I couldn't mate with Jayden. He must be pissed that we are together, but I haven't mated with him, so it's not like I broke any of his rules.... Yet.

My mom turns to us, "Ready?" She asks us, but mostly she is referring to me, the girl shaking in her boots.

Jayden looks down at me expectantly. I squeeze onto his hand a little more, trying to calm myself. I take a deep breath in and let it out. I nod subtly, I think I'm ready. At least I'm more ready than I will ever be. My Mom knocks on the door.

"Come in." The deep and serious voice answers. I feel my body tense nervously.

Jayden must realize my state, because he reassuringly squeezes my hand. I don't dare look up into his eyes or else I will lose all my confidence and want to hide behind him the entire time. Mom then opens the door. I gulp as we step into the familiar office.

The Alpha is sitting at his desk with the Beta standing next to him. The Beta watches me carefully as I walk into the room. His eyes scan my body and land where my hand meets Jayden's. My cheeks flush but I still don't want to let go. I'm so nervous, I don't know what I would do on my own. The Beta looks back into me eyes. He glares for a moment before the Alpha speaks.

"Please, sit." He motions us to the chairs.

Before we came in they have pulled up a third chair next to the original two in the room. Jayden must have informed the Alpha that my Mom was coming.

Jayden and I sit in the two seats that are normally in the room while my Mom sits in the pulled up chair that rests partially behind my own. Jayden doesn't let go of my hand when we sit down, which I'm thankful for. I try to relax my beating heart, but between both the Alpha's and the Beta's stares, I can't seem to calm my nerves.

"So I hear you're trying to place blame on my daughter for doing some sort of crime?" The Beta hisses at me. My face blazes red as my heart sputters uncontrollably in my chest. Oh man. I really don't know if I can do this.

The Alpha raises his hand, silencing the Beta. "Calm down. Let's hear them out before you go jumping to conclusions."

The Beta huffs angrily and stares up at the ceiling. I can feel the rage seeping off of him. He is really angry with me...

"Jayden, care to explain what's going on here?" The Alpha asks him, clearly annoyed with this whole situation.

"Of course." Jayden responds, he clears his throat before he says, "Ashley has the ability to control the minds of some of the boys in the pack. She can get into their minds and manipulate their actions. Making them do whatever she wants them too. They are put under a spell and can't remember even doing what she manipulates them into doing."

The Beta laughs out loud, no humor in his voice. "You have got to be kidding me? Did this girl put you up to this Jayden? You know how ridiculous you sound? The ability to control people, come on Jayden you're better than this."

Jayden turns to him. "No one put me up to this. I know it first hand. She even got into my head and controlled me."

This sparks the Alpha's attention. He cuts in, "Ashley got into your head?"

Jayden nods his head, "yes. She tricked me into following her into the woods. Then she used me in my controlled state to try and fool Sophia into believing that I love Ashley."

The Alpha gives him a questioning look, "if that was her goal in the first place, then why didn't she just manipulate Sophia?"

"Because she can't manipulate girls." I blurt out quickly without thinking. Everyone's eyes turn my way. I feel my face grow beet red. Oops.

"And why is that?" The Alpha asks me.

I swallow nervously then answer his question, "we aren't really sure. We just notice that every time she manipulates someone, the person is never a girl. It would be easier for her to get what she wanted if she could manipulate females, but she never does and we think it's because she can't."

"So you're saying she has controlled people a few other times?" The Alpha asks.

The Beta leans off the wall and grunts, "you've got to be kidding me. You can't actually believe my daughter has the capability to manipulate people's minds?"

The Alpha turn to him glaring. His voice booms throughout the small office and I find myself cowering deeper into my seat. "Speak out of term one more time and I won't hesitate to put you in your place." The Beta flinches and leans back against the wall. He nods and the Alpha turns back to Jayden. "When else has this happen?"

Hope sparks in my head. It seems Jayden's dad is believing us. He must really trust Jayden.

"One other time, when we were at the waterfall in the woods. Ashley manipulated a handful of boys in the pack to attack Sophia. I talked to them afterwards and none of them remember attacking her or even why they did. The last thing they all remember is noticing Ashley. Their bodies just moved on their own. Even the boy who dragged Sophia to meet Ashley and I in the woods was being manipulated. I talked to him after and he has no recollection of the event. The last thing he remembers is seeing Ashley. Same thing for me. The last thing I remember before gaining consciousness is seeing Ashley approach me. It can't be a coincidence." Jayden answers.

The Alpha growls. It appears he is actually listening to Jayden. I think he believes us.

The Alpha turns to his Beta and says, "go get Ashley." The Beta hesitates for a moment before the Alpha adds, "Now!"

The Beta scurries off, leaving the office in a hurry. The Alpha touches his right hand to his forehead and rubs it frustratedly.

"Sophia, you saw Jayden when he was being controlled by Ashley?" He asks me, his voice straining to be calm but I can tell he is barely controlling himself.

I nod my head, "yes sir. His eyes got dilated and blank. But if you didn't look closely, you would think he was conscious and awake. I didn't notice his eyes until I really stared into them."

"What did she make him do?"

"She was a little out of her mind, sir... She thinks that Jayden loves her, so she got him to tell her that. That way Ashley felt justified in her actions." I answer.

Just then the Alpha looks up at the door and we all turn. The Beta walks in with Ashley close behind him. She glares at me as she walks into the room and past the chairs. Both her and the Beta take their positions next to the wall beside the desk. The Alpha stares into Ashley's eyes.

"Hello Ashely." He says, trying to be calm.

"Hello Alpha. What can I do for you?" She asks him. Her voice is laced with innocence.

"You can start by telling me how you manipulated and controlled my son." The Alpha comments.

Her face grows confused. "Manipulated? What do you mean sir?"

The Alpha sighs angrily. I know he is getting annoyed with this act she is putting on. "I know you controlled my son and some of the other boys in the pack, but how did you do it?"

"Alpha, I really don't want to be rude, but I never manipulated your son. The only person manipulating or controlling anyone is Sophia."

My jaw drops as anger fills me, "are you kidding me? Why would I make a pack of boys shift and pounce on me? It makes no sense."

Ashley looks my way, "probably to play innocent and frame me," she turns to the Alpha, "but I swear sir, I haven't done anything wrong."

The Alpha grunts frustrated, "so you're saying this was Sophia's doing? Then why did Jayden agree with her that this was your doing?"

Ashley shrugs, "who knows. Maybe because it's hard for him to admit that he doesn't love his mate."

I growl, "what the hell is wrong with you? Stop trying to put this on me. We all know you're at fault, so just admit it and tell us how you're doing it."

"Oh I'm not at fault. I haven't manipulated anyone."

I turn to Jayden, "can you please tell her she's being crazy? She won't listen to us."

Jayden slowly releases my hand and turns to the Alpha. "Ashley's right. She's not the one who has been manipulating me this whole time. It's Sophia."

My jaw drops to the floor. What the hell?

The Alpha looks at his son shocked. "Sophia? Then why didn't you say this earlier?"

What? No this can't be happening.

"I didn't have the confidence to say it alone. Ashley said she would help me admit it to Sophia, I didn't have the heart to do it alone."

The Beta laughs looking me in the eye, "serves you right to be out in your place. And here you were trying to frame my daughter. You were the culprit the whole time."

My heart races in my chest. No this isn't right, I know Jayden wouldn't do this. Ashley has to be behind this again.

"Jayden look at me." I barley manage to whisper out. "Look at me and tell me you don't love me."

I see Ashley smirk in the corner of the room, "yeah Jayden, tell her."

On Ashley's cue, Jayden looks my way. Our eye's meet. My heart pounds as I notice the dullness and dilated eye. Jayden is about to speak but suddenly he comes down with another head ache. He grabs his head in his hands and moans. The Alpha strands abruptly.

"Jayden are you okay?" His voice laced in worry.

"She's doing it again, she got into his head!" I shout nervously, "this is what happened last time!" I grab Jayden's right wrist. Unconsciously he lets that arm down, landing it in my lap.

My mom places a hand on my shoulder and leans in close to my ear. She whispers low enough that I can barely hear her, "your bracelet. Place it on his wrist, but don't let anyone see." My bracelet?

The Alpha turns to Ashley, "what the hell are you doing to him?" He shouts furiously.

Ashley's eyes are wild and scared, "Nothing sir!"

I glance down and notice the bracelet my Mom gave me a while ago. The family heirloom she asked me to never take off. I subtly slide it off my wrist. While the two of them bicker, I clamp the bracelet onto Jayden's arm which is on my lap.

"Make it stop!" The Alpha demands, full on Alpha tone. I feel myself shake a bit at the force.

Ashley feels a direct hit and sinks to her knees in fear. "I swear I didn't want to hurt him." She whispers and reaches up to her necklace which she must have fixed. I didn't even notice she was wearing it again.

A moan sounds as Jayden starts to straighten his back. He massages his forehead with his left hand. "Shit, what the hell just happened?"

Ashley glares over at him, then down at her necklace. "How are you free?" She whispers.

I squeeze Jayden's hand reassuringly. "Are you okay?"

He looks over at me, "I'm fine but this feeling is awfully familiar." He glances at Ashley who is frozen in place. "You did it again. You got into my head."

"I..." Ashley stutters and her dad looks at her shocked.

"So it was you Ash?" He asks his daughter. "How?"

Ashley starts to shake as she clutches her necklace in fear. I almost feel bad for her. Almost.

"Um..." She mutters but doesn't say any real words.

My mom stands. She says, "it's the necklace."

The Alpha turns to her. My mom looks him in the eye and I fear for her for a second. Luckily the Alpha doesn't take offense as he says,"what do you mean it's the necklace."

My Mom steps away from the chairs and waltzes over to Ashley. She squats down to her level. "The necklace she is wearing is an ancient artifact. One that has the power to manipulate love. Although, it's love manipulation type come from the user. It appears that Ashley has a false sense of what love really is and that's why it's being forced out in a negative way. Her victims don't remember falling for her because Ashley doesn't know what true love is yet, so she can only place a false and defected sense of love into her victims. It's an unfortunate but rare case."

"An artifact? Like the one you stole Rachel?" The Alpha asks angrily.

My mom turns to him, "yes. Except the difference is, I don't use the artifact. I am merely keeping it safe and hidden. Ashley here, has been using it for all the wrong purposes."

The Beta growls, "I can't believe you would do this." He reaches out and yanks Ashley up. She squeals as he tears her hand away from the necklace and tries to yank it off of her. "What the hell?" He snickers.

"Only she can take it off." My mom announces casually.

The beta growls at my mom, but doesn't make another comment. The Alpha's voice booms and I clutch onto Jayden's arm for security. "Drop her." He commands the Beta. He listens and Ashley steadies herself. She looks up scared. The Alpha put his hand out, "give me the bracelet." He growls in Alpha tone.

My legs shake from the force of his voice. I can even see Jayden a little taken aback. Ashley hesitates but reaches up to the clasp of her necklace. Her arms stop there.

"Now!" He hisses at her.

Ashley knees buckle bellow her, but she manages to hold herself up. She quickly unclips the necklace and hands it over to the Alpha. Once she is free, Ashley drops to her knees.

The Alpha places the necklace on the desk.

"Where did she get it?" I ask suddenly. I catch myself off guard by speaking my question aloud.

The Alpha looks at me, then turns to Ashley. "Where did you get it?"

Ashley hesitates as she says, "Manus gave it to me..."

My jaw hits the floor. Manus? My freaking kidnapper?

The beta growls, "you talked to him? When?"

"When he was first taken into the prison, I felt a strong urge to go see what was so frightening about this guy. But when I met him, it's like he already knew everything about me. He offered me a deal. He said that if I was able to help him out, he would promise me the love of whoever I wanted." She sighs, "so I accepted. He told me to separate Sophia and Jayden because he wants Sophia back."

A growl erupts deep within Jayden as he shouts, "you agreed to that? Are you insane? Do you know how long it took us to finally get her back, and here you are trying to separate us because Manus wants her in his possession? Why the hell would you agree to those terms?" Ashley freezes in fear.

My thoughts begin to form into words. "Because she loves you too Jayden. Manus wasn't the only one who was going to profit from us being split up." I whisper, barely able to speak. My heart pounds nervously in my chest as my hands begin to shake. So all those days I was pretending to be Mom, he knew I was Sophia? I feel bile rise in my stomach at the memories of that time.

"Sophia are okay?" My mom asks suddenly.

The room starts to spin. "Yeah, I think so...." is all I can mutter out before I fall forward and black out.