Zander’s POV.
The phone rang twice before Sarah’s voice came through the line, laced with her usual sugary sweetness. “Alpha Zander,” she said smoothly, her tone practically dripping with honey. I could almost see her lips curving into that smug little smile she always wore when she thought she had the upper hand. “What a wonderful surprise. To what do I owe the honor of this call? What can I do for you today?”
I leaned back in my leather chair, the creak of it breaking the silence in the dimly lit room, and swirled the glass of whiskey in my hand. The amber liquid caught the flickering light of the fire roaring in the hearth across the room. My gaze stayed fixed on the flames as they danced, wild and untamed, a perfect reflection of the anger simmering inside me. One name-*Asher*-kept circling in my mind like a predator stalking its prey. My ex-best friend, the man who had once been like a brother to me, was now nothing more than a thorn in my side that I couldn’t seem to pull out. He had no business being anywhere near my wife, yet there he was, prowling around her like she was some kind of trophy he was determined to claim.
“I wanted to remind you about Thailand,” I said finally, my voice calm, collected, but laced with the kind of intent that couldn’t be ignored. I kept my tone casual, as if this was just another conversation, though every word I spoke carried weight. “We leave in two days. Make sure you’re packed and ready. You’ll be joining us.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line, just long enough for me to hear the faint hitch in her breath as she processed my words. Then her voice came back, brighter now, tinged with a mix of excitement and smugness that she couldn’t quite hide. “Oh? You’re inviting me along?” she said, and I could practically hear her grin widening. “How thoughtful of you, Zander. A honeymoon trip with you and Aria, and I’m the guest? That’s so… romantic.” Her voice dripped with playful mockery, but there was an undercurrent of satisfaction there too, as if she thought she’d just won some invisible game.
I smirked slightly at her response, though the expression was cold and didn’t come close to reaching my eyes. “You’ve been such a good friend to Aria,” I said, my tone smooth but with just enough edge to remind her who she was dealing with. “I thought she’d enjoy having some company. Someone she trusts.” My words were deliberate, calculated, each one carefully chosen to remind her of her place while still feeding into her ego.
Her laugh floated through the phone, soft and melodic, but I wasn’t fooled. I could hear the satisfaction in it, the way she was probably leaning back in her chair, smiling to herself like she’d just been handed a prize. Sarah thought she was winning, that she was inching closer to whatever goal she had in mind-whether it was me or some twisted version of power she thought she could gain by staying close to me. She was clever, I’d give her that, but I wasn’t blind. I knew her games, and I didn’t care. In fact, I was counting on them. If anyone thought they could outmaneuver me, they were in for a rude awakening.
“Of course,” Sarah said smoothly, her tone practically purring now. “I’ll make sure to keep her entertained. Anything for you, Alpha.”
“Good,” I replied flatly, the single word sharp and final. “Be ready. And no trouble, Sarah.” My voice dropped slightly at the end, the warning clear.
She let out a soft, airy laugh, as if the idea of her causing trouble was absurd. “Oh, you know me,” she said lightly, her voice playful. “I’m always on my best behavior.”
I didn’t bother responding. Instead, I ended the call with a deliberate click, tossing the phone onto my desk without another glance. The smirk that had briefly played on my lips vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving my face a blank mask of cold calculation.
For a long moment, I sat there in the silence, staring at the fire. The flames crackled and roared, their heat filling the room, but it did nothing to ease the cold anger swirling inside me. Asher. His name burned in my mind, a constant reminder of everything he’d done and everything he was still trying to do. The fact that he’d dared to approach Aria, to speak to her, to *spend time with her*-it was unacceptable.
This trip to Thailand wasn’t just about business or pack alliances anymore. It was a test, a game of strategy, and I intended to win. There was no room for mistakes, no room for weakness. And if Sarah thought she could play her little games without consequences, she was about to find out just how wrong she was.
Two days. Two long, unbearable days of tension building inside this castle like a storm waiting to break. Two days of restless pacing, sleepless nights, and the gnawing thought that Asher was out there, somewhere, plotting his next move. His presence loomed over everything like a shadow, taunting me with the memory of his betrayal and the possibility that he would strike again. And now, he was circling the one thing I couldn’t afford to lose.
I paced the length of my office, the familiar space offering no comfort as my thoughts spiraled. I had convinced myself when this all started that I could handle it. This marriage was supposed to be nothing more than a calculated move, a temporary arrangement to secure my title as Alpha King. A year-that’s what I’d told myself. One year of this charade, and then I’d release Aria from this bond. Divorce her. Move on with my life. It was supposed to be simple, clean, and emotionless.