Alpha Rolan’s POV
I sat in my study, staring at the fire crackling in the hearth. Pandora’s request lingered in my mind, a thorn I couldn’t easily remove. She wanted me to release Griffin’s accounts, to give him another chance after everything he had done.
Deep down, I wasn’t convinced. Griffin had proven himself to be untrustworthy more than once, and though Pandora’s soft heart often swayed me, this time, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Still, I had agreed to give Griffin an audience. Perhaps it would be a chance to see if he had truly changed, or if he was still scheming, waiting for the right moment to strike.
I sent for him to come to my study. If nothing else, it would give me a clearer picture of where his loyalties truly lay.
When Griffin arrived, he entered with an air of unease, glancing around the room as though expecting a trap. I gestured for him to sit, my eyes following his every move as he lowered himself into the chair across from me. There was something about the way he carried himself, nervous, but trying to hide it.
I stood, walked to the door, and latched it with a quiet click. The sound seemed to make Griffin even more uncomfortable. He shifted in his seat, his fingers fidgeting in his lap as he tried to maintain composure.
“Why did you want to see me?” Griffin asked, his voice uncertain. He avoided my gaze, his eyes darting toward the fire instead.
I took my time returning to my seat, letting the silence stretch between us until the tension in the room became almost unbearable. Finally, I leaned forward, locking eyes with him.
“You’ve been a lot humbler when you were begging to have your account unrestricted,” I said, my tone calm but laced with warning.
Griffin swallowed, his face tightening momentarily before he forced a weak smile. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to speak out of turn.”
I studied him for a moment, noting the way his hands trembled slightly. “I didn’t call you here to apologize. I called you here to tell me the truth about all the things you’ve been hiding from me.”
Griffin’s eyes widened, and I could see the panic flash across his face before he quickly masked it. “I haven’t been hiding anything,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “I’ve only ever tried to help you, to get you to return to the Alpha you used to be.”
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms as I watched him squirm. “Which Alpha would that be, Griffin?”
He hesitated, his fingers still fidgeting. “You used to be ruthless,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “Decisive. You didn’t let anything or anyone stand in your way. But now, with Pandora… you’ve softened.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling the anger simmer beneath the surface. “So, Pandora is your problem, then?”
Griffin’s face tightened again, but he quickly shook his head. “No, that’s not what I meant…”
“But it’s what you’re thinking,” I interrupted, my voice sharp. “You think I’ve grown weak because of her, and that’s why you’ve started scheming behind my back. You want to take power off my hands, don’t you? As the illegitimate son of my father, you think you have some claim to the title of Alpha.”
I could see the fury building in his eyes, the way his hands clenched into fists in his lap. For a moment, I thought he might lash out, but then he relaxed, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“You’ve got it wrong,” he said smoothly, his tone changing. “I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for the pack.”
I leaned forward, narrowing my gaze as I studied him. There was no doubt in my mind now. Griffin hadn’t changed. He was still the same snake he had always been, waiting for the right moment to strike. But I wasn’t about to give him that chance.
“You can go,” I said suddenly, leaning back in my chair.
Griffin blinked, clearly confused by the sudden shift. “What?”
“I said you can go,” I repeated, my voice calm. “I’ll overlook everything you’ve done. I’ll even restore you to your former position as Beta.”
For a moment, Griffin’s face was frozen in disbelief, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. He didn’t want to believe me, didn’t want to trust that I could be so forgiving. Then, slowly, his expression changed, and he forced another smile, this one more convincing than the last.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice thick with false gratitude. “I… I can’t tell you how much this means to me, Rolan. You won’t regret it.”
He stood from his chair and crossed the room, pulling me into a hug that made my skin crawl. I could feel the tension in his muscles, the way he was holding back his true emotions. He was pretending, playing the part of the loyal subordinate, but I could see through him. I always had.
“I’ll make you proud,” Griffin said, stepping back and looking me in the eyes. “I swear it.”
I smiled, though it was a cold, humorless smile. “I’m sure you will. And I’ll work hard to be the Alpha you used to admire, the ruthless, decisive leader you seem to miss.”
Griffin’s smile faltered, and for a moment, his true emotions flashed across his face, anger, frustration, resentment. But he quickly covered it with another smile, this one tight and forced.
“I look forward to it,” he said, though his voice was strained.
I watched him leave the room, closing the door softly behind him. As soon as he was gone, I let out a slow breath, leaning back in my chair.
The game had begun, and Griffin had just made his first move. What he didn’t realize was that I had already seen his hand. He hadn’t changed. He was still plotting, still scheming. And I wasn’t going to let him get away with it.