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The words are a lie, a façade that neither of us believe. Lily might believe that her father has abandoned her, that his heart is a cold and empty void. But I know that beneath the layers of manipulation and power, there’s a flicker of humanity within him. A glimmer of a father’s love that refuses to be entirely extinguished.
And if I’m wrong, and he really doesn’t give a shit, then he’s going to have to think about how this looks, right? It doesn’t make him look strong to have his own daughter whipped away from him, right from under his nose, and for him to do nothing about it.
“Cut the act, Alistair,” I growl, my voice a low and steady challenge. “You might be able to fool the world, but you can’t fool me.”
For a moment, his façade wavers, and I catch a glimpse of something raw and unguarded in his gaze. It’s a fleeting vulnerability, a chink in his armor that exposes the truth he desperately wants to bury. Lily is not a mere pawn to him, a disposable piece on the chessboard of his machinations.
“You think you understand me?” he sneers, the walls of his defense rising once more. “I take it you haven’t heard the story of my wife.”
I say nothing, because, truth be told, I don’t know much about his past. Alistair’s gaze remains fixed on me, his eyes an enigmatic mix of calculation and detachment. The room seems to shrink around us, the weight of his presence suffusing the air with a chilling intensity. My heart races with anticipation as I sit before him, leaning my elbows on the table.
“There was a time, years ago, when a rival crossed me. A young rival, a bit like you.” He chuckles but no one joins in. “He sought to challenge my hold over certain territories, to prove himself a force to be reckoned with. He wanted to send a message.”
“I… I see,” I stammer because it seems like he expects me to saysomething.
“He came to my home, my sanctuary,” Alistair’s voice remains strangely steady, his gaze distant as if reliving a memory. “He killed her right in front of me. My wife. The person I had chosen to share my life with, in an attempt to take control of the situation.”
The room feels colder, the weight of Alistair’s words settling over us like a shroud of darkness. The story he tells is of unfathomable loss, a testimony to the depths of cruelty and power that defines the world we inhabit. But he says it as if he’s ordering lunch.
“It was a message, you see,” Alistair continues, his eyes locking onto mine with a chilling intensity. “A message that in this world, emotions are weaknesses, vulnerabilities that can be exploited. My daughter, Lily, she is no different. She’s a pawn in a game far larger than any of us. I don’t know what you think you’re going to achieve with this little game, but I can assure you it won’t work. I amnotgoing to lean into what you want from me.”
The implications of his words hang in the air, a lingering reminder of the truth I’ve grappled with since I first met Lily. The revelation of his own tragic past is a calculated maneuver, a method to underscore the ruthlessness he believes necessary to survive in this world.
“Do you think I care for her?” Alistair’s voice turns icier, his gaze unyielding. “You might believe she’s my weakness, but she’s simply a means to an end. A way to keep my rivals in check, to maintain the balance of power. If I can lose my wife, I can lose anyone.”
I look at him, the pieces of the puzzle coming together in a way I had not anticipated. Alistair’s demeanor is a mask, a shield he has forged to protect himself from the pain of a world that has stripped him of his humanity. The story he just shared is not just a tale of personal tragedy – it’s a manifesto of survival.
Finally, as the echoes of his words fade, I know it’s time to play my hand. My gaze meets his, a silent challenge exchanged between predators. I lean forward, my voice carrying a quiet intensity as I break the silence that has settled over us.
“Alistair,” I begin, my tone measured and unyielding. “We have your daughter. She’s ours, kidnapped by us.” I need to rile him up as much as I can, to crack this cold façade of his. “She’s safe for the time being, but I can’t promise you that it will last if you continue to play this dangerous game. Pretending you don’t care won’t make the pain any less intense when she’s killed.”
He regards me with a mix of intrigue and skepticism, his wolf bristling underneath the surface. I can sense how strong his wolf is, but that won’t stop me. “So, what do you want from me, Ryker?”
I take a deep breath, my voice steady as I unveil my proposition, a proposition that holds the potential to shift the balance of power in our world. “I want you to back down from this aggressive expansion. I want you to start settling down, consolidating your resources. I’m the big dog in this territory, Alistair, and I don’t like sharing.”
Alistair’s expression remains guarded, his fingers tapping a rhythm on the table. “And what do I get in return for this concession?”
He can’t seriously be backing down already, can he? No way, not in front of his men. This is more of his game playing, and I’m happy to keep on toying with him.
“Your daughter’s safety, for one. And a guarantee that the power struggles will ease. You’ll have a chance to live a life where you don’t constantly have to look over your shoulder.”
Alistair’s lips curl into a bitter smile, a mixture of amusement and disdain. “And if I refuse?”
My response is a quiet yet potent ultimatum, a challenge that cuts through the layers of pretense. Even every simple man with a gun in here will understand it. “If you refuse, Alistair, you’ll find that the risks outweigh the rewards. The consequences will be dire for both you and your daughter.”
The room seems to vibrate with tension, a battleground of intentions and power dynamics. Alistair’s decision weighs in the air, a precipice that will determine the course of our future interactions. He needs to play this game right or it’s game over for everyone.
“What makes you think I won’t kill you where you sit?”
I laugh out loud, letting the sound of mirth ricochet through the whole room. “Because, Alistair, if you do something that stupid, your daughter won’t live to see the morning. And you can say as much as you want that you don’t care about her, and maybe you don’t, but you wouldn’t want to look like a weak man who sat back and allowed his daughter to die, would you?”
I cock my head to one side as Alistair’s façade falters, his composure giving way to a flicker of genuine fear that dances in his eyes. For a fleeting moment, the veneer of power and control that has shrouded him crumbles, exposing the vulnerability beneath. I’m sure I’m not the only one who sees it. But no one else reacts, so I make sure that I don’t either.
His voice becomes a low rumble, tinged with a mixture of resignation and desperation. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Ryker. But make no mistake, we’re not going to let this go. I’ll send all my forces after you and your pack until my daughter is safe.”
“You would rather fight than settle down?” I mock. “That is a surprise.”
The room seems to close in around us, the air heavy with the weight of an impending storm. The threat he poses is not to be taken lightly, a reminder that this battle will not be resolved easily or quickly. Alistair’s conviction is unwavering, his determination matched only by the ruthlessness that has earned him his reputation.
