Chapter 50: A Message
Chapter 50: A Message
(Scarlett’s POV)
Nathan stood in front of me like a man balancing on a thin thread. His frustration was visible, his sharp jaw clenched tightly as though holding back
words he wished he could say.
His Alpha energy lingered faintly in the air, but it wasn’t enough to faze me.
Sophie had already skulked out of the room moments earlier, her bitter stare doing
doing nothing to mask the humiliation she’d just endured.
Now it was Nathan’s turn to fix the mess she had made.
T’d like to formally apologize, Nathan began. His tone sounded rehearsed, clipped. Like every word was dragged out of him. “Sophie’s actions were unacceptable. Her words crossed many lines, and they do not represent the Blake Pack or my leadership.”
I let out a short laugh, leaning casually back in my chair. My emerald eyes bore into him, watching his composed façade grow thinner by the second. “An apology?” I repeated, tilting my head and letting just enough mockery slip into my tone. Really, Nathan? Coming from you, I’d almost believe it.”
Nathan’s amber eyes darkened slightly, though he kept his expression tight. I could tell he was trying to keep his emotions in check, likely because he
didn’t want to make things worse,
1t’s not just an apology, Scarlett,” he said through gritted teeth. “It’s an acknowledgment that what happened at the council meeting should not have
happened. Sophie’s behavior reflects poorly on my leadership, and I take full responsibility for it.”
I raised one eyebrow, letting his words hang awkwardly in the air. His attempt to salvage the situation was admirable, I supposed, but it wasn’t enough to erase the damage Sophie had caused.
“Does it reflect poorly, though?” I asked lightly, keeping my
my tone playful but sharp enough to make him squirm. “Or is this just what your pack has
grown accustomed to under your command?”
Nathan’s hands tightened into fists at his sides. It was subtle, but I noticed it. He probably wasn’t expecting me to cut so directly into his leadership.
His shoulders squared slightly as if bracing against an attack.
1 don’t think this is the time to question my leadership, Scarlett,” he said, his voice low and controlled. I’m here to make amends, not to argue.”
“Make amends?” I repeated, letting out another short laugh. My fingers drummed lazily against the surface of the desk between us. “Nathan, you’re acting like Sophie’s actions were some kind of isolated incident. But they weren’t, were they? If anything, they were just the tip of the iceberg.”
He bristled slightly, the tension in his body growing more pronounced. But he didn’t argue. Not yet, anyway.
I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on the desk and steepling my fingers beneath my chin. “Let me make something very clear to you.” I said. my voice dropping an octave as I locked eyes with him. “Whatever grudges Sophie has against me–and let’s not pretend this is just about her–they end here. You will ensure that this doesn’t happen again. Orl will”
Nathan’s jaw worked silently for a moment before he finally nodded. “I understand,” he said, the words stiff and reluctant but undeniably genuine.
“Good.” I leaned back in my chair again, letting the faintest of smiles play on my lips. Then I suppose we’re halfway to being even. For now,”
Nathan let out a long breath through his nose, clearly relieved that the conversation hadn’t escalated any further. But before he could turn to leave,
spoke again.
“One more thing I said, my voice light but firm enough to stop him in his tracks.
He turned back to face me, his expression carefully guarded. “What is it?”
I smiled faintly, letting a sharp glint of amusement shine in my emerald eyes. “Daniel” I said simply watching Nathan’s reaction carefully
His posture stiffened visibly, and his amber eyes narrowed slightly. Finally, the mask of calm cracked just a little.
“What about him?” Nathan asked cautiously.
I tilted my head slightly, feigning an innocent expression. “Oh, nothing much. Just a little bird told me he’s been spending quite a bit of time with someone from… outside the pack, Someone human”
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Chapter 50 A Message
Silence followed my words, and I watched as Nathan’s face shifted from confusion to realization.
“You know how these things go, I continued, my tone almost playful. It doesn’t take much for a harmless little rumor to spiral into something much bigger. And we wouldn’t want that, would we?”
Nathan’s jaw tightened again,
his fists curling once more at his sides. I’ll look into it, he said stiffly
“Of course you will, I replied sweetly. The sharp edge in my voice didn’t go unnoticed
unreadable, before finally turning on his heel and striding toward the door.
ed after him, unable to resist one last jab.
Nathan gave me one last look, his
Do let me know if Sophie needs another lesson in etiquette I called
He didn’t respond, but the way his shoulders tensed told me I’d hit my mark
When the door clicked shut behind him, I allowed myself a small, satisfied smirk. Nathan might have walked in thinking he still had some upper hand, but it was clear he had left knowing otherwise.
(Roman’s POV)
The faint hum of the lamp overhead was the only sound in the study as I leaned back in my chair, staring at the swirling smoke from the cigarette in my hand. Scarlett’s voice still lingered in my mind from our earlier mindlink, though her words didn’t ease the tension in my chest.
“How’d it go with Nathan?” I had asked her, knowing full well it hadn’t been a pleasant interaction.
“As well as expected,” she had replied, her tone light but tinged with the sharpness that always followed encounters like these.
Though she didn’t explicitly say it, I knew Nathan had questioned her about us–about me. The thought made Logan stir restlessly within me, his
growl reverberating faintly in my chest.
“You didn’t let him push, did you?” I asked, my voice already dipping into a growl
Scarlett’s soft laugh floated through the link. “Roman, please. You think I’d let someone like Nathan outmaneuver me?”
Pride warmed me briefly, but it didn’t completely snuff out my irritation. “Good” I muttered. Yet the protective instinct within me raged quietly. “But
handle him from now on. He doesn’t get to involve you in their games”
She let out a soft sigh, clearly trying to brush off my concern. But I wasn’t so easily deterred.
As my mind replayed the conversation, I reached for the stack of papers on the desk–arranging them with sharp, deliberate movements as Logan
continued to bristle.
“She handled it well, Hunter remarked from the other side of the room, his arms crossed as he leaned casually against the bookshell.
“I know” I replied shortly, the glowing end of the cigarette flaring briefly as I took another drag. “But it’s not about her handling it. It’s about them
knowing where to draw the line. And they won’t.”
Hunter didn’t argue, his gaze steady as he watched me sort through the documents.
Brief flashes of memories flickered through my mind like ghosts. Scarlett’s fourteenth birthday–sitting alone by the Thorn Pack training tree as the other kids celebrated nearby. Her sixteenth birthday–pretending not to care that the Winters Pack had conveniently scheduled a council meeting the
Years of isolation. Of misery. And those wolves thought they could still control her?
“I take it you’re still thinking about her birthdays, Hunter said quietly, his voice even but not without a hint of softness.
Lexhaled a slow stream of smoke, nodding “Everything they did,” I murmured, “they thought it would break her
“But it didn’t,” Hunter pointed out, his gaze sharpening
“No,” I agreed, though my jaw clenched slightly. “But that doesn’t mean fill let it happen again.”
The documents detailing Scarlett’s upcoming celebration lay neatly spread across my desk, a stark contrast to the tangled thoughts in my mind. This year would be different.
2/3
Hunter glanced at the papers curiously, his brows lifting slightly “You’re really going all out for her birthday, aren’t you?”
I stubbed out the cigarette, the faint hiss of the ember extinguishing filling the quiet space. “She deserves better, i said simply
Chapter 50 A Message
Hunter smirked faintly. “A message, then?”
“Yes,” I replied, my icy blue gaze fixed ahead like stone–unyielding “A message they won’t forget”
