Page 17

I wait for Rhett to say something, for him to acknowledge what we both know, instead, he simply nods. “Pleasure to meet you.” He holds out his hand for me to shake. My fingers tremble as he grips my hand, bringing it to his lips, yet his eyes don’t leave mine. I see the spark of fury behind them as they flicker briefly to his wolf.

He lets go, and I retake my seat, waiting for him to out me. Yet, he doesn’t. Why? Is this part of his game?

Max stumbling with his pencils scatters them across the table, Damian and I move to help scoop them up while Rhett takes his seat.

Gathering the pencils, I sit up and pretend to help Max with his coloring book, but my ears are attuned to every word Soren and Rhett exchange. The tension is suffocating, and I can’t stop my hands from shaking as I pass Max a new pencil. I force a smile, trying to hide my nerves, my thoughts racing too fast to focus on anything except the conversation unfolding around me.

“I take it this is about the situation at the docks? Or if it’s about the debt, it has been paid,” Rhett assures Soren.

Soren leans back in his chair, his expression calm, yet there’s a sharpness in his eyes as he looks at Rhett. “Rhett,” he says, his voice cold, “the council’s concerns aren’t about the debt. It’s about the tensions between your pack and Alpha Jefferson’s. Humans are in the city. If this escalates into a full-blown war, there will be too much life lost. The council can’t afford to let that happen.”

Rhett shifts uncomfortably, running a hand through his hair. “I understand that, My King, things got complicated. I’ve been doing my best to manage the situation. I just need a little more time.”

“Soren. I’ve watched you grow up, and your father was a close friend,” Soren corrects him and my heart stutters hearing that. Rhett nods and his eyes dart to me while Soren’s fingers tap rhythmically on the table.

I don’t want to be here, don’t want to hear any of this, but I’m rooted to the spot, every instinct telling me to run while every ounce of curiosity keeps me frozen, eavesdropping on the conversation.

“Rhett,” Soren says, his voice low but stern, the kind of tone that makes my skin prickle. “The council won’t wait forever. You know this. You need to settle this feud. The fact you went behind their backs and had Alpha Jefferson’s shipments raided has only made things worse.”

My breath catches. Alpha Jefferson. My father.

Soren’s remark hits like a punch to the gut. Rhett had my father’s boats raided? It’s no wonder tensions are on the verge of exploding into war. How did I not know this? Surely, this would be news, not that I have much chance to watch TV, unless the council is trying to keep everything under the rug. My mind reels, flashing back to the way my father had always hated Rhett.

“My pack’s been running those docks for years,” Rhett says, his voice tight, defensive. “Exports are our lifeline. Without them, we have nothing. I had no choice, he wasn’t letting my men in.”

“You had a choice,” Soren cuts in sharply. “You could’ve paid your debt when it was due initially. Instead, we’re here.”

Rhett’s pack has always controlled the major export lines through the southern ports. They move everything—raw materials, food supplies, even technology for trade. It’s how they’ve survived, despite Rhett’s terrible leadership since taking over from his late father. My father, Alpha Jefferson of the Blackwood Pack, has always worked alongside Rhett’s. My fathers pack deals in luxury goods, rare commodities, making him one of the wealthiest Alphas in the region. I grew up surrounded by that wealth, never realizing the extent of my father until I was due to take over.

And now, I’m here, stuck in the middle of a conflict I never wanted to be part of.

“I already paid the fines Jefferson was hit with because of the raids,” Rhett says, and I can hear the exhaustion in his voice. “It’s settled, we’ve come to an agreement already. I told you this last time.”

“Settled?” Soren’s voice is full of disbelief. “You think paying the fines is enough? You crossed a line. The council’s demanding retribution. I vouched for you, Rhett. I gave my word you would make this right, and then you pulled a stunt like that, drawing the human council’s attention.”

I feel sick. Soren vouched for him? If the council wants retribution… Soren’s hands are tied, or he would risk a war between our kind and the humans.

“How exactly do you plan to make this right?” Soren asks, his voice hard.

“I…” Rhett falters, then speaks again, more quietly. “I had a plan. The pack member who stole the money was caught. She’ll be handed back to Jefferson for punishment, though I know now the council probably won’t accept that.”

My breath catches in my throat. Me. He’s talking about me. And he’s lying through his teeth.

“Handing them over doesn’t fix what you’ve done,” Soren replies. “You raided his boats. You attacked his livelihood. Now you’re trying to placate him with some bargain? A thief isn’t going to solve this, Rhett.”

“His daughter is the one who stole from me,” Rhett says, his voice heavy with the weight of the revelation.

His daughter. I thought my father hated Rhett because he was vicious, that they clashed over the usual Alpha conflicts. Now I realize it was always about power, money, and the ports they control. And I, caught in the middle, had no idea. It also makes me wonder if this was Rhett’s intention all along. He clearly didn’t want me as a mate, which now makes me wonder if he only convinced me to stay with him to use me over my father.

“Jefferson’s daughter?” Soren sounds surprised, and I can hear the wheels turning in his head. “This is why he’s so enraged.”

Rhett doesn’t add anything to his statement, and I feel cold sweat forming at the back of my neck. I’m the reason for all of this. If Soren knew… if he realized I’m the thief who started this chain of events, everything would collapse. I swallow hard, fear coursing through me like ice in my veins. I need to get out of here, need to think, but I can’t move. My ass feels glued to the chair as I listen to their voices.

“You can’t keep playing both sides, Rhett,” Soren says. “You need to settle this. I can’t keep covering for you. And if Jefferson comes for you, I won’t intervene. He wants your pack dissolved. And frankly, at this point, I’m inclined to agree.”

Rhett doesn’t respond immediately. When he does, his voice is flat. “I’m handling it. I just need more time.”

Soren’s reply is quick, cutting. “You’re out of time.” I bite my lip hard enough to taste blood. And now, I’m more terrified than ever. If Soren finds out… no, I can’t think about that. I can’t tell him. Not now. Not when I know he’s been protecting Rhett. I never knew how deep his involvement went. I thought this was just about resolving a pack dispute, but it’s so much more.