Chapter Three
1145 Words
DAMON
“If you’d just listen to what I’m saying—”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass about what you’re saying!”
I slowly massaged my temple, trying to push back the migraine that was threatening to rear its head forward.
The council table with all its grandness was half-empty. We were in the middle of a pack meeting and things were more heated than ever before.
“Enough!” He slammed a hand on the table.
The silence that followed was only the slightest bit satisfying. This room once used to echo with strength.
Now, the only thing that followed was tension and debt collectors. Even thinking about it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Marco.” I turned to my beta.
He nodded, gaze dropping to the papers in his hands. “The current accrued debt of the pack totals to two hundred and forty million. Asides that, there’s a couple more pressing issues.”
I tried to still my shaking hands. “Go on.”
“Pack trade routes are failing by the day. Most of our allies have been withdrawing and several of our subsidiaries went mysteriously bankrupt overnight.”
One of the elders clicked his tongue. “How exactly do we handle this? The numbers alone are pretty grim.”
“You’re not asking the right questions,” Another one growled. “How did we even get to this point?”
“Investigations will be launched into the finances of the subsidiaries,” I cut in coldly. “In the meantime, actions are in play to ensure the debt is fully paid. There’s nothing to worry about.”
The cold, emotionless tone was only a mask. Deep down, I was more exhausted than ever. My pride had been silently bleeding for years and no one had even realized it.
Three years. That was how long it had been since Sienna disappeared from the pack without a trace.
Even now, her name remained unspoken in the pack. Like some forbidden ghost.
Marco cleared his throat again. “Another one of my investments failed due to a cyber breach.”
I felt a tick in my jaw. This had been happening way too often to just ignore.
“Someone’s playing a long game with us,” I mumbled under my breath, trying to push the gnawing feeling I’d been getting away.
A ragged breath left my lips as I sank into the soft leather couch. My head throbbed from all that happened in the meeting and I wanted nothing more than to forget I exist. If only I—
The door slammed open harshly. “You asshole.”
Lila looked pissed as hell, her usually flowing blonde hair swept into a careless bun. I fixed her a nonchalant look.
“What now?”
Once upon a time, she’d been the comfort I needed when things got messy. Now she was all sorts of bitter, insecure and only ever desperate for validation.
She scoffed. “Oh, I’ll tell you what. You are the problem, Damon. What happened to the connection between us? What happened to all the promises you made me?”
I groaned, already feeling another headache coming. “Not now, Lila.”
“Hell, no.” She screeched, standing before me. “You’ve been neglecting me. Still mourning that—that b***h that left the pack. Left you.”
My eyes narrowed instantly. Wordlessly, I got out of the seat and met her gaze.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Lila.”
She reeled back. “Excuse you?”
“You were never her replacement,” I scoffed. “Just a distraction I should have known better than to choose.”
My head whipped to the side, cheek stinging lightly. I turned to her, noting the anger and hate burning behind her eyes.
“Leave.” It came out smaller than I intended.
Tears pricked her eyes as she glared back. “f**k you.”
Wordlessly, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door harshly. Even after all this time, I don’t exactly regret letting Sienna go. What I regret is how she left. How I let her leave.
I’d barely reached out for my brandy in time when the door flung open. Marco was breathless, stopping before me.
“I’ve got news,” he went on. “There’s this new investor. S. Croix. She’s apparently a reclusive billionaire, and she’ll be visiting SilverMoon for potential partnership.”
I waved it off. “Could just be all talk for all I know. We can’t be too trusting.”
“No, no, no.” Marco inched closer. “She’s already taken over multiple northern territories and their business holdings.”
I stopped, curiosity slowly settling in. Something about the way she moved felt calculated. And strangely familiar.
“Okay,” I nodded. “But I want to meet her in person.”
Marco seemed to hesitate. “Sir, she doesn’t meet anyone face-to-face unless it benefits her directly.”
A slow smirk spread across my face. “Then I’ll make sure it does.”
For the first time in years, I could feel something stirring in my stomach. Intrigue, and maybe even challenge.
The hotel ballroom seemed to have been doused in gold and power. I adjusted my black suit, shoulders high and face straight as I walked in.
It didn’t matter if there’d already been rumors about my failing pack. To hell with the lot of them. Lila’s nails seemed to pierce right through my suit jacket.
“Smile,” she whispered, the word coming out forced.
I turned away, noting other powerful people in the room. Politicians, businessmen and other Alphas.
“Please welcome, the enigmatic CEO of Croix Industries. Miss Selene Croix.”
My head turned in sync towards the center of the room. Slowly, a woman descended down the stairs, how gown sleek and aura magnetic.
The crowd seemed to make way for her on instinct. I felt my breath stutter. Why did she look so familiar, and…oddly changed?
Her gaze turned to each and every person in the hall with a slow grace. Then, they landed on me, and the world seemed to tilt.
My wolf began to stir instantly, restless and also confused at finally feeling her presence again after so long.
“Mine.” He continued to whisper. “Mine.”
I did my best to shut it down immediately. I couldn’t cause a scene. Not now. Now when the very woman I’d been so eager to meet was right before me.
Everything about her was calm and poised, dark hair making her look elegant and untouchable.
When she finally reached me, her lips stretched into a small smile. The kind that feels like a blade being drawn out.
“Alpha Damon Quinn,” She smiled. “We meet at last.”
- Writer
