Howard’s POV
On my way to the office, I kept thinking about that ridiculous lunch yesterday. I wanted to kill that arrogant Alpha. The things he’s been saying and doing to and my daughter only intensified my hatred for that privileged pup.
But I couldn’t eliminate him yet,I needed him to mate with my daughter and ensure she bears an heir with the Thorne bloodline.The Thorne na opened many doors throughout pack territories and would guarantee that everything that fool has would belong to my daughter and grandson, and consequently, to .
The worst part was that he managed to postpone the mating ceremony by three months. This delay was frustrating my plans, but my daughter had to throw a fit over a damn ceremony. However, in the end, it was better that this ceremony be grand and pompous, featured in all the pack newsletters, just as little Ella wants. This way, there would be no doubt that my daughter would be the Luna and mother of a legitimate Thorne heir.
But there was still one thing—I wanted that pack house, his parents’ ancestral ho. A beautiful property with centuries of pack history and power! After his parents died in that "accident," he closed up the house and moved to that little penthouse. And now he wanted to stuff my daughter into so crummy apartnt too. But my little Ella was clever; she assured she’d handle it.
I was arriving for another day of work at what would soon be my company and pack. My plans wouldn’t take long to materialize. That idiot Alpha thought he was so smart, but he couldn’t even figure out who set up that bland no-scent Caroline, even though he discovered she hadn’t cheated on him and brought her back. He had no idea what was happening right under his snout.
But sothing’s bothering —the renovation on my floor never ends. It’s been a month since they started, and there’s no sign of completion. Sharing the floor with marketing has slowed down my business. I had to be much more careful now; there were too many people from outside my departnt whom I don’t even know. Plus, Alpha Draven ca up with new guidelines because of so new system they were implenting, and Gilbert thought it better to pause transactions for a while. Well, he’s the accounting director, so he knows what he’s doing. Besides being my packmate whom I trust.
Today I was going to pressure Draven to clear my floor. And to lift the overti ban. Since he prohibited entry to the building at night and on weekends, it’s been harder to swap docunts for fraudulent ones.
Co to think of it, there have been many strange changes in the last month. Maybe he was suspicious, but if that were the case, he would have exiled already—he can’t stand . I would pressure him to return to the old rhythm.
The downside was that without Linda, I have lost my source of information from the Alpha’s office. That incompetent woman,did she really have to assault that freak of a newcor? Of course, he wouldn’t let that slide. Now that stupid Linda is completely useless to ; she only served for so silly things my daughter wanted, nothing more. But she kept mind-linking all the ti, such a nuisance.
I parked my car and walked from the parking lot toward the Thorne Enterprises building, which was also getting on my nerves. Ever since I lost my designated pack-elder parking spot at the company, I’ve had to rent a space in the lot a block away. What a hassle and a complete waste of an elder’s ti.
I was almost at the entrance when I noticed that idiot was waiting for . I’d been dodging and stalling her since she got fired, but today she showed up here. Linda really is too stupid. If we were seen together by another pack mber, it’ll ruin my plans.
"Elder Howard, don’t even think about pretending you didn’t see . Co on! I need to talk to you," she hissed, careful not to be overheard.
"Linda, this isn’t the place. There are pack mbers everywhere."
"I don’t care! I want to talk to you now! Let’s go to that little coffee shop across the street. Nobody from our pack goes there at this hour. Move it."
"Fine." I sighed in irritation and crossed the street.
We entered the coffee shop and ordered two espressos. A quaint little place. We always ca here to handle ergencies. It’s quite discreet. Usually, the owner is alone and always focused on her crossword puzzles, sotis so distracted she doesn’t even notice when we call her. The scent blockers I always carry made sure no one could trace our eting through lingering slls.
"So, Linda, make it quick, we can’t be seen together now that you no longer work there."
"Watch how you talk to , Howard. I know a lot. I could destroy you and your precious daughter! I could expose everything to the Alpha Council!"
"Don’t threaten , Linda. Rember who ranks higher in the pack."
"Then don’t abandon , Howard! And if anyone sees us, just say I ca begging for your help to get my job back and that you felt sorry for ."
"Fine. What do you want?"
"Oh, what do I want, Howard? Money, of course. And my job back. And to know why you’ve been avoiding . It’s been a long ti since we t, I miss you!" She said in a syrupy voice, tried to be seductive. Goddess, this woman was pathetic!
"Linda, things got really complicated after you left the Alpha’s office. I don’t know what that Alpha pup is up to anymore. So you need to be patient."
"Howard, I’m not patient. Figure sothing out, do sothing for , or I’ll start talking. You better not forget that I was the one who planted that fake waiter at the pack gathering to serve the drugged drink to Alpha Draven, and that’s the only reason your little daughter could make him think he slept with her, but we know he didn’t, right? What I gave him knocked him out cold." Linda had a malicious little smile on her face. "Besides, your daughter isn’t even pregnant yet, and it was only thanks to that that idiot managed to forge the test at Draven’s trusted lab. But I had to pay good money to the nurse who helped with that inside, and you still haven’t paid back for it."
"Alright, Linda." I sighed, trying to think,this woman had beco a real thorn in my side. "Do this, et at the apartnt during lunch, I’ll give you a little treat."
"Great! I’m heading there now."
Linda stood up and left. What a devil of a woman. I needed to keep her quiet until my plan ca together. Or made her disappear. But she could still be useful; she has many contacts in places Draven frequents. At the Pack Social Club, for instance, the receptionist always lets us know when that dimwit is there, which would make things easier for little Ella.
I finished my coffee and went to the office. The café owner didn’t even see leave; she was glued to her crossword puzzle. I bet if a rogue wolf ca in and cleaned out the place, she wouldn’t even notice.
I looked at all these people I didn’t even know rushing back and forth on the floor. These marketing folks made too much noise, they were too cheerful,didn’t even look like they were working. I entered my office, which was basically a cubicle, and it put in a terrible mood. This place was becoming hell for an elder of my standing.
My phone vibrated and I checked the ssage,
"Do you know anything about the system that’s going to be implented?"
It was Gilbert. Why this now? I had no idea what system he was talking about. Must be so other piece of junk on the market. I told him exactly that, and another ssage from him arrived imdiately.
"Better be junk. I had breakfast with an accountant friend who told about a new Puma Global system that connects the entire company and is fraud-proof. One decimal point out of place and the system flags it and blocks operations. Puma’s owner is friends with Alpha Draven; I hope he hasn’t bought this system. The Puma system costs a fortune."
What the hell was this? I didn’t even know this was possible. But it was definitely not that one—I received the contract and paynt order; it was from another company and relatively cheap. Ah, Gilbert was just being paranoid. I sent him a ssage telling him this and to calm down.
I was going to pressure Draven about my floor now. I picked up the phone and that secretary who ca from who-knows-where answers. I said I want to speak with her Alpha, and after so delay, she transferred .
"Alpha Draven, I need to talk to you," I snapped impatiently, forgetting my place.
"What do you want, Elder Howard?" His voice was cold and authoritative.
"In person. Let co up."
"If you want to talk to , it’ll be by mind-link or phone. I’m not in the mood to look at your face or sll your scent." This pup would pay for every humiliation.
"Look here, Alpha, I can’t stay on the marketing floor anymore; it’s like a bunch of oga wolves living in chaos. These people have no discipline, no manners, no respect for an elder. Too much noise, too much chaos. And my floor has been under renovation for too long; this needs to end."
"Listen here, Howard, show more respect for MY pack’s employees. MY floor will be ready when I want it to be, and anyway, I’m keeping you there with marketing just BECAUSE I WANT TO." This son of a bitch was using his Alpha tone on . I was going to kill him.
"Alpha Draven, don’t be childish. You know finance has always had its own floor, and there’s a reason for that."
"Howard, it’s decided. Finance will permanently share the floor with marketing." He said this and ended the call abruptly! I was going to kill this worthless excuse for an Alpha!
Right after, my phone rang and it was my insufferable mate demanding money because she was taking Ella shopping for a mating ceremony dress. And that I should go with them. Of course I wouldn’t, but I made a transfer to that annoying woman’s account and she left alone.
I spent the rest of the morning irritated, and now it’s ti to et that idiot Linda. What a shitty day! I left my office and headed to the apartnt. When I arrived, I found that annoying woman already waiting for with a sandwich.
"What the hell is this, Linda! You couldn’t possibly have ordered sothing decent for my lunch?"
"Be grateful I even ordered a sandwich. I’m not your mate, Howard."
I sighed and sat down to eat that sandwich. For the Moon Goddess’s sake, I like good food, I hate sandwiches, and this idiot knew that.
After eating, Linda starts,"I think you’re very stressed, Howard. Co here, I’ll give you so tea to calm you down."
"That’s good. I’ll punish you until I’m nice and calm."
I went to the bedroom and spent the rest of my lunch break with that woman. After getting dressed, I took my phone and transferred so money to her account.
"I sent you so money. Save it because things are tough at the company. Until the final move, it’s going to be complicated."
"Fine, it’s enough for sothing," she said, looking at the amount I transferred on her phone. "But what about my job?"
"That’s not possible right now, darling. Only after I take over. You know we’re together, and you’ll be my assistant."
"And when are you going to leave your mate, Howard? You promised to perform the rejection ritual with her and take as your new mate. I can’t stand my idiot mate anymore."
"Darling, we’ll have to put up with it until everything is finished. I can’t stand that stupid woman of mine either. But as soon as the company and pack are mine, we’ll be together. Just have a little more patience."
"Alright," she sighed. "Your little daughter wants my help choosing her ceremony dress."
"Great, choose the best one, my stupid mate has terrible taste."
I left that woman there. I would get rid of her very soon, I couldn’t stand her anymore!
If all else failed, I had other plans.
Draven has always been a soft Alpha, too concerned with pack welfare rather than power. If necessary, I’d arrange for him to have an "accident" just like his parents did. Then with my daughter’s pup as the only heir, the Storm Valley Pack and enterprise would eventually fall to my control. After all, every Alpha can be replaced, and this one has been more trouble than he’s worth.
User Comments
0 comments from readers