Chapter 88
Sining in class after weing what I did feel a little redundant. I should fr for used on today’s lectures, bur all I can think about is going to see if Anastasia Pohnect is doing any better. However, Ragnar said it would probably be a while before they allow me to see her or go anywhere near her again. Mr Polici ems like the emotional type, and I understand. I get it, but 1 want to see her anyway
I’m walking towards my car when Ivar comes running out of nowhere.
We’ve got to go, he rushes to me and snatches my things. 1 rum fter him as he dumps everything in the front trunk of my Beetle and jumps into the driver’s seat. I get in the car and start fitting my seatbelt on. “Hey, short stark
“Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, placing my smoothie in the cup holler.
“The big guy is in some trouble with the old people and asked me to bring you to him as soon as you were out of class, but I was a little late.”
“Mhm, what’s her name?” I ask.
“How do you know it was because of a girl?” His face turns bright red.
“You smell like one for starters,” I laugh, knowing that scent all too well. I spent the last two years living with her and her wives. “Is it serious?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ve only gone out with her a couple of times,” he shrugs. “Don’t get mad.”
“Is it Kennedy?” I laugh.
“You’re not mad this time?”
“I wasn’t mad the last time. I only warned about how conservative she is. Not for her sake, but for yours. Wolves are different. Our belief system is very singular. Especially for females. I wanted you to tread lightly.”
“Not even cause I tried to hide it
from
“I would never be upset about something that isn’t my business. You’re family, I know you would have told everyone eventually,” I shrug. “I’ve also tried giving you the same space you gave me after the rejection. It’s not a topic one wants to talk about.”
“There was really nothing to say,” he sighs. “She said being mated to a Lycan wouldn’t be ideal for her family. I tried to talk her out of it a few times before she told me that she was already arranged to marry someone suitable and that she knew what she wanted her life to look like. I had to accept it and move on.”
“Look at us,” I bump him playfully. “Not enough,” I point at myself and then at him. “And a little too much.”
“Shut up,” he laughs and then looks over at me with a serious expression. “I don’t think he believed you weren’t enough. I think he believed you’d be better at being the alpha than him. You’re compassionate, and you’re always looking out for others. He wanted you to be less.
“The new Luna of the City is a bitch. We’ve been keeping tabs, and the way she treats the people is insane. Since she’s become a public figure, people have left the city. Crime is up, and their companies are losing a shit ton of money. They’re using their other assets to keep up appearances. Everyone knows that Santiago is going feral. There’s only one way to stop it, and he’s refusing to do it.”
“He thinks I’m coming back,” I shrug.
“My brother would kill him,” he says softly.
“I know,” I smile. “But it has nothing to do with Ragnar. Even if he
mate, I would never go back. This is my home
1/3
10:52 Tue, Feb 10 BOO
Chapter 88
now, and I want to be here with people who accept me even if I not like you?
“But you are like us,” he reminds me.
74%
“Yeah, I know. Now I am, but I wasn’t when I made friends with the people in my life now, and they accepted me without asking for anything in return. Kaylee and I were friends because my grandmother paid her family to look after me in the academy.
“She doesn’t know I know, but I’ve seen the statements and their contract. My grandmother saved her dad’s business from going to shit. They would report everything back to her. She admitted that when we were going to therapy together.
“Alpha Dominic is nothing. I’m sure she carries the weight of ther region while he’s out partying and testing the boundaries of their arranged mating. They run the downtown district. His family owns the strip, but if they do somehow ever have pups, they’d be strong enough to take the city. If and when the Romanos are taken off their pedestal, they’re up for the position.”
“Wait,” he laughs. “She’s mated to Dominic Wyatt?”
“Yeah, you didn’t know that?”
“I didn’t,” he shakes his head. “He’s all over social media over an affair that resulted in a pregnancy. It matters to us because we own a bunch of shares in their companies. Especially the luxury stuff.”
“That sounds about right,” I scoff. “When this is over, she might be the new Luna of Artume City.”
“You know how I told you I wasn’t salty about what happened?” he smirks. “I kind of lied.”
“I know you did,” I roll my eyes.
“You keep valuable information to yourself until it is absolutely necessary for us, you know that?”
“No, you guys just don’t listen to me. I told your brother to remove all the wolves from court, and look what happened. I told your father that they weren’t going to keep their promises, and look what happened. I warned you about trying to date the girl whose family is obsessed with power-”
“Okay, okay,” he growls. “I get it. We’re hard–headed and like doing things our way. We’re not like you, Soph. We take in a scene and take a leap of faith. We’re not in the background watching everyone’s move. That is why you’re perfect to stand at Ragnar’s side.”
We arrive at the castle. I can’t help but remember the last time I was here, and the lawn was covered in wounded Lycans from the explosions that were set off. That part of the castle is under construction. It’s been a rough couple of weeks back.
“This is what I’m talking about, you acted without thinking this through. If these wolves fall, we will be to blame. We will have to conquer this city, and I know that stupid fuck isn’t just going to let us have it without setting the packs on us,” the King is shouting at Ragnar, who is barely listening to him. “And you not only involved Zara, but Sophia as well. You’re supposed to be protecting her. She is your mate!”
Ivar clears his throat to catch their attention. The King’s eyes snap to us. Ragnar smiles and motions for me to go sit beside him.
“Sit,” the King orders angrily at the two of us. Ragnar glares at him for speaking to us that way.
“How was your day?” he asks when I sit in the seat beside him. “You have no idea, do you?”
“None,” I admit.
“I can ask them, but you know how it is,” he sighs. “Maybe Aimee will have some insight later.”
“Hopefully,” I nod. I see some of the rage in his father’s eyes flame out when she sees how calm his son is now that I’m sitting
2/3
Tue, Feb 10
Chapter 88
bere beside him. He growls and takes his wat at the head of the ble
“Hello,” my grandmother walks in with Kelly, her personal assistant, following behind her “Is he done bitching you?”
“Not yet, Ivan and Ragnar answer at the same time. I press my lies together to keep myself from laughing.
74%
“I’m not wrong, the King growls. He waves at Kelly, who comes ever and serves us what I hope is orange juice, not alcohol.
I am usually one to want to prove that, my King, but you are in het wrong” my grandmother says. “We just have to change the narrative here. We don’t want that fuck ass city, but we still want to profit off it. Anyone got any ideas? One good enough to sell to the Alpha King?”
Ivar bumps me hard enough to knock the glass I took out of my band.
“Dude,” I laugh.
“Tell them the thing you told me in the car,” he whispers.
“What?” Ragnar asks. “Did something happen?”
“Show them the scandal,” I bump him just as hard. He rolls his eyes and holds up his phone. He would already have it ready to go.
“What is this?” the King asks, taking the phone from his son.
“That is the next Alpha of the City. Dominic Wyatt, the son of Lucinda and Jeremiah Wyatt. You know, the CEOs of Wyatt Enterprises?”
He places the phone on the table and slides it back to Ivar. When he looks up at Ragnar and me, he nods.
“This plan to remove the Romanos, I want to see it. All of it. My office, one hour,” he says, standing up and then turning to my grandmother. “If you keep this attitude of yours up, I will promote you and find your replacement.”
“You can’t do that anymore, Baldr,” my grandmother says dismissively. “You are no longer acting King, and threatening me with retirement is not a punishment. At least, not for me. Sophia and Ragnar are in the midst of fulfilling their mating, and knowing him, he won’t disappoint when he grants me great–grandchildren sooner rather than later. I would rather stay home with them than continue babysitting you, you fucking toddler.”
3/3
田
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
