Griffin’s POV
I sat in the corner of the dimly lit room, my fists clenched tightly around the armrests of the worn-out chair. The shadows danced on the walls, mocking me, much like Camila had earlier. Her words, replayed in my head, a vicious echo I couldn’t shake.
“If I’d known you were just the bastard son of the former Alpha, I’d have set my eyes on Rolan instead.”
I ground my teeth, swallowing down the surge of anger that threatened to boil over. Camila, with her sharp tongue and constant mockery, had no idea what I was capable of.
She could laugh at me all she wanted, but it would be her turn to grovel soon enough. Rolan, that self-righteous fool, had seen through my plans and discarded me like I was nothing more than a broken tool.
He thought he had beaten me, but he had no idea just how far I was willing to go to teach him and Camila, a lesson they’d never forget.
Camila sat across from me, a smug smile playing at the edges of her painted lips, her arms folded in defiance. “You’re awfully quiet, Griffin. Should I take that as a sign that you’ve finally realized how pathetic your little scheme is?”
I glared at her, my patience thinning. “Keep your mouth shut, Camila. I’ve got everything under control. When my plan falls into place, you won’t be able to mock me anymore. Neither will Rolan.”
Her laughter was cold and mocking, like shards of glass cutting through my pride. “Your plan? The one that’s somehow going to miraculously make you Alpha after Rolan threw you out of the pack? Don’t make me laugh. You barely have two coins to rub together now that he’s frozen all your accounts.”
She leaned in closer, her eyes gleaming. “I’m starting to wonder if I backed the wrong horse, Griffin.”
I ignored the jab, knowing full well what she was implying. I knew she had gone behind my back to meet with Rolan, trying to weasel her way into his life now that she thought I was down for the count.
She didn’t think I knew, but I had eyes everywhere. Camila had always been a snake, and I’d been foolish to trust her. But I couldn’t afford to lose her just yet. She was still useful to me, at least until my plans came to fruition.
“I know you’ve been seeing him,” I said, my voice low and controlled, though the anger simmered just below the surface. “Don’t think I’m blind to it. But go ahead, play your games. It won’t matter soon enough.”
Camila’s smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, shrugging as if it didn’t matter. “Believe whatever you want, Griffin. But if you want to keep me around, you’d better hurry up and show me some results. Time’s ticking, and I don’t work for free. The money you paid me is almost gone.”
My jaw tightened. The truth was, Rolan had cut off all my access to the pack’s funds. Without those resources, I was stuck, broke, and powerless. But I couldn’t let Camila see that. She’d abandon me in a heartbeat if she thought I had nothing left to offer.
“I’ll get the money,” I snapped, though I had no idea how. “You’ll get your full price when I take back what’s mine. But right now, you’ll have to settle for half. That’s all I’ve got.”
Her eyes narrowed, lips curling into a sneer. “Half? Are you serious?”
“It’s that or nothing,” I shot back. “Take it or leave it.”
She huffed, crossing her arms again. “Fine. Half, but you’d better come through on the rest, or I’m walking.”
I nodded, though inwardly, the frustration was eating at me. Camila wasn’t the only one I had to worry about. The councilmen had promised their support in helping me take down Rolan, but their loyalty was as fickle as the wind.
If they sensed weakness, they’d turn on me, and then I’d have nothing left. No leverage. No power. No pack.
But I still had a card to play.
The council wanted to believe in the idea of tradition, of an Alpha with strength and cunning, someone who could lead them into a prosperous future. Rolan had them convinced that he was that leader.
He’d made it seem like he was the perfect choice, but I knew better. I knew the cracks in his armor, the secrets he hid. And once I exposed them, once I tore his reputation to shreds, they would see him for what he truly was, weak.
“Rolan thinks he’s untouchable,” I said, more to myself than to Camila. “But he’s made enemies, and soon enough, those enemies are going to help me get rid of him.”
Camila raised an eyebrow. “And you think these councilmen are really going to help you? What makes you so sure they won’t turn on you?”
“They want an Alpha they can control,” I explained. “Rolan’s too independent. He doesn’t play by their rules, and that scares them. They want someone they can manipulate, and once they realize I’m that person, they’ll back me.”
She tilted her head, watching me carefully. “And you really think they’ll stick with you long enough to make that happen?”
“I don’t need them to stick with me forever,” I replied, the bitterness in my voice unmistakable. “Just long enough to get rid of Rolan. After that, I’ll deal with them the way I’ve dealt with everyone else who’s underestimated me.”
Camila smirked. “You talk about a big game, Griffin. But you’re not exactly swimming in allies right now. What’s stopping them from siding with Rolan the second things go south?” She asked but I didn’t answer her.
She stood up, smoothing down her dress and glancing at me with a look of mild disappointment. “Well, you’d better hope you’re right, Griffin. Because if you fail…” She let the sentence hang in the air, her meaning clear.
I wasn’t going to fail. I had spent too long in Rolan’s shadow, pretending to be his loyal assistant, his confidant. That time was over.
Soon, Rolan would pay for discarding me so easily. Soon, they would all see just how dangerous it was to underestimate me.