Griffin’s POV
It has been two weeks. I paced back and forth in my small, dimly lit apartment and the sound of water droplets falling from the leaking roof, the weight of my failures pressing heavily on my chest.
The truth was undeniable: Rolan had seen right through my plans and discarded me like a piece of trash. I had underestimated him, and now I had to figure out how to regain my footing and win him back if I ever wanted my schemes to come to fruition.
He was gaining back the trust of the councilmen and that wasn’t good. Camila sat on the worn-out couch, scrolling through her phone with an air of indifference as usual, her mocking laughter ringing in my ears.
“You know, if I had known you were so clueless, I wouldn’t have agreed to take half from you, that way I would have been able to walk out whenever I wanted,” She taunted, not bothering to hide her disdain.
I clenched my jaw, irritation flaring within me. “Keep your mouth shut,” I snapped, trying to maintain control of the situation. “My plans will still work, and Rolan will be sent out of the pack in disgrace.”
Camila rolled her eyes. “You better hurry, Griffin. You might think you are all that special to me because I had a crush on you, but over here, it’s business first.” Her words stung, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was getting tired of my failures.
I had bigger problems to deal with, and I couldn’t afford to let her antics derail my focus. “How long until you move us to a better house at least?” she asked, shifting gears as if our previous exchange hadn’t even happened.
“I have told you several times that Rolan has frozen all my access to money,” I said, frustration seeping into my voice.
Camila crossed her arms, her expression turning annoyed. “And how are we supposed to survive?”
I took a deep breath, the walls feeling like they were closing in. “You’ll have to give me the money I paid you. I’ll pay you back more once I become Alpha.”
“I’m not giving you all my money, it’s even half, for crying out loud, it’s half the price we agreed on you paid me.” she shot back defiantly.
I felt anger boiling beneath the surface, but I couldn’t afford to lose my temper. “You’re not in a position to negotiate, Camila. I’m broke and need your help. I gave you the money before, I can give you more later.”
“Fine, but don’t expect me to cover your expenses forever,” She snapped before returning to her phone.
I turned away, feeling the tension simmering in the air. My hopes hung on a fragile thread, and I had to find a way to turn things around. I needed to go back to the pack, but first, I needed to regain Rolan’s favor. I was just unsure if my plan to beg Rolan would yield anything.
I picked up my phone and hesitated for a moment before dialing Pandora’s number. She was Rolan’s weakness, and I knew I could leverage that to my advantage. I had to put on my best act to ensure she didn’t see through my facade.
The phone rang, and when Pandora picked up, I took a deep breath. “Pandora, it’s Griffin,” I started, trying to inject as much sincerity into my voice as possible. “I need your help.”
“What do you want, Griffin?” She asked, her tone guarded.
“I’ve changed. I was losing my mind when I did what I did,” I began, lowering my voice. “I regret everything. I just want to make things right.”
“Griffin, you did a lot of damage,” she replied, her voice steady. “We’re still fixing the mess you created. You infiltrated the council and caused a divide. Some still support you as the better choice for Alpha because they think Rolan has become weak.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. I just want to right my wrongs. I really miss Rolan, and I need your help to talk to him. Please, have mercy on me,” I pleaded, injecting desperation into my voice. “He’s blocked my accounts. I have no money to survive.”
There was silence on the other end, and I felt the tension build. I had no idea if my act was convincing enough, but I had to try. Finally, she spoke. “I’ll talk to Rolan. I can’t promise he’ll listen to me, but I’ll try.”
“Thank you,” I said, relief washing over me as I hung up. I laughed mischievously, feeling a sense of triumph. I knew Pandora had a soft heart, making it easy to manipulate her.
“Hey!” Camila’s voice broke through my thoughts, her irritation palpable. “My internet is slow! What’s going on?”
“Not now, Camila,” I snapped, my mind racing with possibilities. I had to make this work. The councilmen couldn’t fail me.
I glanced around my small apartment, the weight of my situation pressing heavily on me. I needed to act quickly and decisively. With Rolan still so close to me, I had to devise a plan that would put me back in the game and rid me of this annoyance that was Camila.
While I knew I needed to mend things with Rolan, I couldn’t shake the fear that he would see right through my act. But desperation pushed me forward. I had lost too much already; I couldn’t afford to lose everything again.
I paced the room, plotting my next moves as I waited for Pandora to get back to me. I needed to ensure that my next steps were calculated. My chance to reclaim my life and power was on the horizon, and I wouldn’t let it slip through my fingers.
I took a deep breath, focusing on the sound of my heartbeat. The kingdom’s fate hung in the balance, and I was determined to tip it back in my favor.
With a bit of luck and some clever maneuvering, I would reclaim my position and finally be free from the chains of my past.