Pandora’s POV
I sat at my desk, staring blankly at the papers spread before me, my mind miles away from the words on the page. How was I going to talk to Rolan about giving Griffin a pardon? The very thought made my stomach twist.
Griffin had called me earlier, his voice laced with desperation. He sounded sincere, and despite everything he had done, I found myself wanting to help him. It was a feeling I couldn’t quite shake, even as I reminded myself of the chaos he had caused in our lives.
Griffin had infiltrated the council, creating a divide among the members. Some believed he was the better choice for Alpha because they thought Rolan had become weak.
I couldn’t deny that the chaos he had created weighed heavily on my mind, yet there was a part of me that wondered how he was managing to feed himself.
Rolan had frozen his accounts, leaving him in a precarious situation. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice Rolan enter the room until he touched my shoulder, causing me to jump.
“What’s the problem?” he asked, concern etched on his face. “Why are you so absent-minded?” he sat down beside me and held me close to himself.
I shook my head, forcing myself to focus. “I didn’t hear you come in. I guess I’m just… preoccupied.”
“Preoccupied with what?” he pressed, his gaze steady.
I hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s about Griffin.”
Rolan immediately stopped in his tracks, his expression hardening. “I’m not interested in discussing him,” he replied, his voice cool and firm. “Griffin is not someone with a good heart. He’s a pretender.”
“I know,” I said quickly, trying to soften the blow. “But he’s in a difficult situation. I was hoping you could unfreeze his accounts, just so he has some money to survive on.”
Rolan’s jaw tightened, and I could see the anger simmering beneath the surface. “Why should I help him? After everything he’s done?” he asked me and to be honest, I didn’t have any reasonable response but I had to try because I had promised Griffin that I would.
“Because I think he’s changed,” I insisted, my voice growing more passionate. “He sounded sincere when he called me. I believe he wants to make things right. We can’t ignore that.”
He crossed his arms, shaking his head. “Pandora, he’s dangerous. You’re risking too much by even thinking about this. He successfully manipulated everyone around him, including you.”
“Maybe he did,” I admitted. “But people can change. If he’s trying to do better, shouldn’t we at least give him a chance?”
Rolan’s expression softened slightly, but I could see he was still weighing his options. “I’ll think about it,” he said reluctantly, but I knew better. If he didn’t agree to do it now, he would put it off for as long as possible.
“Rolan, please,” I urged, feeling a lump form in my throat. “I want you to agree that you’ll do it right now.”
His eyes narrowed, and I could sense the battle within him. After what felt like an eternity, he sighed. “Fine. I’ll unfreeze his accounts. But you need to understand that this doesn’t mean I trust him.”
Relief washed over me, and I felt my shoulders relax for the first time that day. “Thank you,” I said, my voice filled with gratitude. “It means a lot to me.”
“But,” he continued, “there will be a price.”
I raised an eyebrow, uncertainty creeping in. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not doing this for free, Pandora. You’ll have to pay me in kind.”
My heart raced, and I felt a mix of emotions swirling within me. “What does that mean?”
Rolan stepped closer, his gaze intense. “I want you to promise that you’ll stay by my side, no matter what. You’ve been pulled in two different directions, by me and by Griffin. I need to know you’re with me completely.”
I hesitated, torn between my loyalty to Rolan and the concern I felt for Griffin. “You know how I feel about you, Rolan,” I said carefully. “I want to be by your side. But I also want to help Griffin. He’s still your brother.”
Rolan’s expression softened again, but he remained firm. “I understand, but I need your commitment. If I’m going to unfreeze Griffin’s accounts, you have to make it clear where your loyalties lie.”
“Okay,” I said slowly, knowing this was a significant moment. “I promise to stand by you.”
He smiled, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Good. I’ll have my people take care of the accounts.”
“Thank you,” I replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “I really appreciate it.”
Rolan leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “Just remember, Pandora, I’m your husband. Don’t let Griffin’s words or desperation sway you.”
“I won’t,” I promised, but I could already feel the weight of my decision pressing down on me. I had made a commitment to Rolan, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was wading into murky waters to help Griffin.
As I watched Rolan leave the room, I felt a mix of satisfaction and unease. I had gotten what I wanted, but at what cost? I knew I had to keep my wits about me. Griffin was still a wild card, and I had no idea how this would play out in the end.
In the days to come, I would have to navigate the tension between my loyalty to Rolan and my desire to help Griffin. And I knew without a doubt that in the case of choosing a side, Rolan was where I stood.
I sat back down at my desk, staring at the papers that had long since lost their meaning. My mind raced with thoughts of Griffin and if I had not made the wrong choice but then, I had made my choice, even though I couldn’t shake the feeling that the consequences were far from over.
I had opened a door, and I just hoped it wouldn’t lead to more chaos than I was already dealing with.