CHAPTER 107: CHAPTER 107 NOT YOURS TO JUDGE

Caroline’s POV

My first day back at Thorne Enterprises was incredibly hectic. Between Ava’s planned fight with Linda, Joseph showing up angry because Ava was attacked, and the general mess of returning to work after my break, I barely had time to breathe.

Linda’s firing was a relief, though. I couldn’t have worked next to someone who was clearly spying on me for Howard. The mood on the executive floor had gotten a lot better; the pressure had eased, and there was so much work that Draven and I didn’t even have time for our usual playful teasing.

It was Friday when, coming back from lunch with Ava, Howard stepped into the elevator with us. I felt Rory tense up right away inside me, her hackles rising in warning.

The doors shut, and the elevator started going up. Suddenly, Howard turned to me and stepped closer than needed, using his rank as pack elder to scare me.

"You’re feeling pretty safe now that you’ve got our Alpha wrapped around your finger, aren’t you, little she-wolf from Maplewood?" His voice was full of mockery.

"That’s really none of your business, Elder Howard," I said quietly, trying to keep pack manners even though I was getting mad.

"Oh, but it is my business," Howard snapped with hate. "An Alpha like Draven needs a real Luna, not some poor, weak bloodline from a third-rate pack. Did you think you could just walk in from your sad little town and take the role of Luna?"

"Elder, you need to step back from her. You’re breaking pack rules by threatening another member," Ava stepped in.

"Look, the other troublemaker talks too!" Howard said with a twisted grin. "Let me tell you something about our Alpha that you might not know—he’s been looking for his true mate for three years. Do you really think he’d choose an unmated, scentless wolf with a kid from another male? Real Alpha lines only take proper mates with strong children."

"You will show me some respect!" I said, Rory pushing hard inside me. "My son and I might not have the status you care about, but we have something your daughter clearly doesn’t—dignity and self-worth."

Howard’s eyes narrowed sharply. "Dignity? My daughter Ella slept with Draven, and he tossed her aside like garbage. He’ll do the same to you. It’s only a matter of time before he sees you’re just a short-term distraction."

I felt my throat close up. I’d heard rumors about Draven and Ella, but hearing them from Howard made my stomach twist.

"That’s enough! I’m calling security. You have no right to bother pack members like this," Ava said, pulling out her phone.

"Just a friendly warning, Caroline. Our Alpha needs a real Luna who can make our pack stronger, not some broken girl from Maplewood," Howard said.

As he stepped out of the elevator, he turned back with a final jab, "And ask Alpha Draven about his night with my daughter, she still calls his name in her sleep!"

The doors closed, and I felt my legs go weak. Ava held me as I leaned on her, hot tears building in my eyes. When the elevator opened again on the executive floor, I tried to pull myself together, but as we stepped out, we saw Ryan, Joseph, and Draven sitting in the reception area, talking.

"What happened, sweetheart?" Draven asked right away, his wolf Alaric clearly picking up on my pain.

"Howard happened, Alpha," Ava said when I couldn’t get the words out. "He cornered us in the elevator. He insulted Caroline’s bloodline and rank, then threw in her face that you slept with his daughter Ella and that you’d never accept a wolf without a mate and with another man’s child as your Luna."

"That awful old wolf!" Draven growled, his eyes flashing violet with anger. "Caroline, none of that matters to me. You know I love you. The only reason I haven’t kicked him out of the pack yet is because I need to catch him in the act with solid proof."

"But you did sleep with Ella, didn’t you?" I asked, stepping away from him and walking toward my office. Ava came with me, staying close.

The rest of the day, I felt upset and couldn’t focus. Ava kept trying to remind me that this was exactly what Howard wanted,to shake my trust and push me away from Draven.

"Don’t let him win, Carrie," she said."Your connection with Draven is stronger than any pack rule."

She was right, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what Howard had said about Draven still looking for his true mate. Before I could fall too deep into that thought, Draven called us into his office.

"Ladies, this is Daniel. He’s from the security team and will be watching the elevator door. Whenever you leave the floor, he’ll go with you to make sure this doesn’t happen again," Draven told us.

"Draven, I don’t want to feel like I’m being watched," I said, finding it strange.

"It’s for your safety," he replied.

"But it seems like too much," Ava added, supporting me.

"Ava, Joseph told me I had to do something. You know I can’t kick Howard off the pack Elder council yet. And I don’t want him getting near Caroline with his lies. She’s so upset, I hate seeing her like this."

"Just inside the elevator?" I asked.

"Yes, sweetheart, only in the elevator. That’s where you’re most at risk. In the rest of the building, loyal pack members are around, and he won’t be able to reach you," Draven said gently.

"Alright then," I agreed. "What do you think, Ava?"

"I agree too. That old wolf shouldn’t be near Carrie again. He’s clearly trying to hurt her," Ava said. "Anyway, I’m going back to work now. We’re finishing the reception area and Ryan’s office. I’ll call you both when it’s done!"

Ava left, excited about her design work. Draven stood up, walked to the door, locked it, then came over and took my hand.

"Come here," he said, his eyes glowing that deep violet color that always made my heart race. "We still have something to finish on that couch."

I couldn’t help smiling, and Rory purred happily inside me.