Griffin’s POV
The weight of betrayal sat heavily on my chest, and as I paced the room, I could feel the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Rolan had begun to sideline me, his own brother as if I were some outsider.
But I wasn’t. I had just as much claim to this pack as he did perhaps more. I was the late Alpha’s blood, even if my lineage was stained by the word “illegitimate.”
That didn’t matter to me. It never had. What mattered was power, and Rolan was making it clear he had no intention of sharing it with me.
He thought he could just push me out, make decisions without consulting me, and keep me in the shadows like some tool he could discard when it suited him.
But I was more than that. Much more. And I’d make him see it. If I couldn’t rule beside him, I’d make sure I ruled without him.
I ran my fingers through my hair, frustration boiling over. No, I couldn’t hold back anymore. The time for loyalty had passed.
If he wouldn’t give me a seat at the table, I’d take it. All I needed was the right plan, the right alliance, and the right person to help me execute it.
With that thought, I reached for my phone, my fingers hesitating for only a moment before dialing a number I’d kept buried for far too long.
The phone rang twice before a familiar voice, smooth and full of disdain, cut through the silence.
“Finally,” she drawled. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten all about me. But of course, now you reach out, and I bet it’s because you need something. Not because you suddenly care about going public with us, right?”
I clenched my jaw, already bracing for the barbs she loved to throw. “It’s not like that,” I gritted out, though we both knew it was a lie. “I need you to come down to the pack. I have things that need doing, and you’re the only one I trust to get it done right.”
There was a pause on the other end, a silence so sharp it almost stung. “So now I’m useful, am I?” Her voice was laced with sarcasm. “You’re finally asking for my help, but let’s be honest, Griffin. You still plan on keeping me hidden away, don’t you? Your little secret lover, always there when you need me, but never when it counts.”
I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. This was the last thing I needed right now. She knew how to dig under my skin like no one else, but I couldn’t let her get to me. Not today.
“If you come,” I started carefully, “I’ll introduce you to everyone as my mate. You’ll have the status you deserve.”
A short, mocking laugh echoed through the phone. “Don’t play with me, Griffin. Do you think I don’t know how this works? But fine. I’ll come. Just remember, once I’m there, there’s no turning back. We do this on my terms, or not at all.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I replied, though my mind was already calculating how to keep her in check once she arrived.
She had creativity, certainly, and a mind sharp enough to match her ambitions. But she had no idea what I was planning.
As we spoke, the room felt suffocating, as if the walls were closing in. I needed air. With the phone pressed to my ear, I stepped out onto the balcony, my mind still spinning.
The pack compound stretched out below me, dark and silent under the night sky. Somewhere in the distance, Rolan was probably plotting his next move, blissfully unaware that I had already made mine.
Just as I was about to hang up, something caught my attention-a scent, faint but unmistakable. My pulse quickened, and I froze, every sense suddenly on high alert.
It was Kiara. Her scent was unmistakable, lingering in the air like a ghost. She’d been here.
“I have to go,” I muttered into the phone, barely waiting for her response before I ended the call. My heart pounded in my chest as I moved toward the door, following the scent.
Kiara had always been careful, always cautious, and avoided anything that brought her trouble except Eric. But what had brought her so close to me tonight? I stepped into the hallway, scanning the shadows, but there was no one in sight.
Still, her scent was stronger now, pulling me toward the stairs. I moved quietly, making sure not to make a sound. If she had overheard anything, if she knew even a fraction of what I was planning, everything could fall apart.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I caught another whiff of her scent, but it was fading now, drifting toward the exit. She’d been here long enough to listen, but she hadn’t stayed.
Damn it!
My thoughts raced, and panic clawed at my chest. If Kiara had heard me, there was no telling what she might do.
Her loyalty to Pandora was unshakeable, and if she went to her with any suspicions, it could ruin everything. I needed to know what she’d heard.
Without thinking, I bolted toward the door, my eyes scanning the darkness outside. There was no sign of her, but I knew she couldn’t have gone far. Not this quickly.
I cursed under my breath, clenching my fists. Kiara might have slipped away tonight, but I would find out what she knew. I had to. Too much was at stake. I couldn’t afford for Rolan to learn of my plans. Not yet.
Standing there, I let the cool night air wash over me as I considered my next move. The pieces were falling into place, and soon, I would have everything I wanted. But first, I had to deal with Kiara.
And if it came to it, I wouldn’t hesitate to take her out of the equation.
Not for Rolan. Not for anyone.
All for the throne.