Griffin’s POV
I walked out of Rolan’s office with a smug grin on my face. The fool had fallen for my act, hook, line, and sinker. I’d convinced him that I had turned over a new leaf, and in return, he had agreed to unfreeze my accounts and restore me to my position.
It was almost too easy. As I headed home, the satisfaction of my victory washed over me, filling me with a sense of power I hadn’t felt in weeks. I was back, and soon, I’d be more than just a Beta. I’d be the Alpha.
When I stepped through the door of our small, dingy apartment, the first thing that hit me was the sharp smell of cigarette smoke. I wrinkled my nose in disgust, my mood souring instantly.
There, sitting at the dining table, was Camilla, a cigarette dangling lazily between her fingers. She didn’t even bother to look up when I entered.
“Camilla,” I snapped, my voice cutting through the air like a whip. “How many times do I have to tell you not to smoke in the house?”
She glanced at me, her eyes half-lidded and bored. She took another drag, exhaling the smoke slowly before hissing at me like a serpent. “Unless you’ve got a real plan for us to work with, stop telling me what to do, Griffin.”
“I do have a plan,” I said, my voice smug. “And it’s already in motion. Rolan bought the whole thing. My account’s been unfrozen, and my position as Beta has been restored.”
That got her attention.
Her cigarette fell to the table, forgotten, as she jumped to her feet, rushing over to me. Her arms wrapped around my neck, and she pressed herself against me, her eyes wide with excitement. “You’re serious? You did it?”
I smirked, feeling her body against mine, the excitement radiating off her in waves. “Of course I did. Rolan’s an idiot. He believed every word I said.”
Camilla squealed with delight, practically bouncing in my arms. She kissed me, her lips hot and eager, and for a moment, I let myself enjoy it. But even as I held her, I couldn’t shake the bitter edge of resentment building inside me. I knew Camilla.
She wasn’t loyal to me, not really. She was loyal to what I could give her, money, status, power. And the second I didn’t have those things, she would drop me like a bad habit.
That was fine though. I had no intention of keeping her around forever. She was useful now, but once I had what I wanted, once I was Alpha, she’d be nothing more than a memory.
Camilla pulled back slightly, her eyes shining. “When do we move out of this dump?”
I chuckled, enjoying her enthusiasm but not sharing it. “I’ve already secured a new place within the pack,” I told her. “It’s secure, quiet, and out of the way.”
Her face fell slightly, the excitement dimming. “You mean we’re not going back to the palace?”
I shook my head, my tone firm. “The palace is too public. I need to operate in the shadows for now, make moves that no one can see coming. The last thing I need is Rolan or anyone else keeping tabs on me.”
Camilla blinked, clearly disappointed, but she quickly recovered, flashing me a sly smile. “You’re so smart, Griffin,” she purred, running her fingers through my hair. “You always know exactly what to do.”
I smirked, though her flattery felt hollow. Still, it was nice to hear after the weeks of scraping by, living like a shadow of my former self. I could feel the power returning to me, the control I’d once had slipping back into my grasp. And I liked it.
“What do you want to eat?” Camilla asked, her tone playful now that she knew I had regained my power. “We could order in, or I could make something.”
I tilted my head, considering her offer. The old Griffin, the one who had been struggling to survive, the one who had lost everything, might have settled for ordering out. But not anymore. I was back in control, and I wanted things done my way.
“Make me something fresh,” I said, my voice cool and commanding. “I’m tired of junk food. I want a proper meal.”
Camilla’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. “Of course, anything you want. Now that you’ve got your money and influence back, we can eat like royalty.”
She practically skipped off to the kitchen, humming to herself as she began preparing a meal. I watched her for a moment, leaning back against the wall, feeling the familiar surge of power pulse through my veins. It was intoxicating, the knowledge that I was back on top or at least, close to it.
Camilla reappeared an hour later, setting a plate of food in front of me with a flourish. “Here you go,” she said, beaming. “I made your favorite.”
I glanced down at the plate, then up at her. “Good,” I said, though my mind was already elsewhere, plotting my next move. The food was just a means to an end, like everything else in my life.
As I ate, I thought about the steps ahead and the pieces that needed to fall into place for my plan to work. Rolan thought he had me under control, and thought that by giving me back my position, I would fall in line.
But he was wrong.
I wasn’t going to stop until I had everything. And if Rolan stood in my way… well, I’d deal with him, just like I’d dealt with everyone else.
Camilla sat across from me, watching me with adoration in her eyes, oblivious to the plans swirling in my mind. She didn’t know that she, too, was just a pawn in this game. For now, I’d let her think she was part of something bigger. It made her easier to control.
And as for Rolan? He wouldn’t see it coming.