106 I bsaid /bIt

Mara

Despite everything I knew about Alpha Vander, I was still stunned by the venom in his words. There was no mistaking his intent. This wasn’t concern. This wasn’t about business. This was about control–and keeping Martha happy.

That was the part I couldn’t wrap my head around: that a man once feared and revered by many would threaten his son’s marriage, his Luna, just to pacify a woman who had already done so much damage. He was choosing her side again–always her side.

As much as I believed in Lucian–believed in us–I knew better than to get careless. A wedge between father and son, if forced too wide, could hurt more than either of us were prepared for. And with Martha already set against me, I didn’t need Alpha Vander turning into another enemy.

But I wasn’t going to back down either.

I held his gaze. Long. Unblinking. And for a flicker of a second, something shifted in his eyes. His posture softened–barely–and I knew he felt it: the weight of what he’d just said.

He looked away first.

“Do as I’ve said, Mara,” he ordered, but his voice was no longer as firm.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Lacy smirking. Subtle. Smug. As if this entire conversation had confirmed everything she hoped for.

And right then, I was done being diplomatic.

if/ii**/iik /iibeing /inice. iThis /iigirl /iiis /iigoing /iidown/i.

I turned back to Alpha Vander, my voice calm–icy, even.

“As I said, I have no issue with your threats. If you want your son to throw me out, that’s your prerogative. And

if Lucian agrees, I won’t fight it. But ihe /istill needs to approve Lacy working with Mary. That’spany

protocol. I’m just a ceholder, remember?b” /b

My itone /istayed icool/i. Measured. Unshakable.

“I am insignificant. Receable. I don’t make decisions. I don’t even suggest them. If tomorrow Lucian decides I’m no longer worthy of this position or of him, so be it. That’s not my call. But thank you, bAlpha /bVander, for reminding me where I stand in your eyes–and how conditional your affection is.”

Thatnded. bI /bsaw it hit.

He didn’t speak right away. Just stood there, the weight of his own words curling around him like smoke. Eventually, he turned away ifrom /ithe window and began to pace the office slowly, more thoughtful bthan /b

before.

“You don’t have to worry,” I added. “I won’t tell Lucian what you said in here. But if you want bto /bbgo /bbthrough /bwith your threats, I won’t stop you.”

He stopped mid–step. Looked bat /bme.

1061 said h

“Why don’t you like Lacy?” he asked.

I raised an eyebrow. “May I speak freely?”

He nodded.

I didn’t hesitate.

“Well,” I began, eyes steady on his, “she’s older than me, clearly, though you say otherwise. bFine/b, I won’t argue

that.”

I let the next words fall deliberately.

“But she’s not rted to Lucian. Not by blood. Not by bond. And I’ve seen the way she looks at him–every time. The way she flirts, touches his arm, tries to draw him in. It’s disrespectful. She’s never respected me, Alpha. Never has. Never will. And more than that–she’s Martha’s niece. The same Martha who helped Daniel Northwood siphon millions from thispany. With zero consequence.”

His jaw clenched.

“And Martha?” I continued, “She’s desperate. She’s looking for money because she’s been paying off a

ckmailer.”

That made him blink. Confused. Defensive.

“For how ilong/i?” he asked, voice rising.

“Twenty–three years,” I said.

He exploded. “iWhat/ii?” /i

Lacy’s voice cut through the tension, shrill and desperate. “That’s a lie–she’s lying, Uncle-”

“Enough,” he snapped, spinning toward her. “Quiet.”

I didn’t flinch. I pressed on.

biour /i/bbw /b

i“/iShe and Lacy intercepted Lucian and me on our way to the holiday house. bShe /bbegged Lucian for help–told him she’d been paying someone for twenty–three years, and she was drowning. Lucian said no. He told her bto /bconfess to you. She took offense.”

I met his gaze head–ion/i.

“That’s why she’s been stealing, Alpha. I have her bank records–two years‘ worth of massive transfers bto /bban /boffshore shellpany named Lambshed. She pleaded with Lucian not to tell you. That’s bthe /bbonly /breason he’s stayed silent–he hoped she’de clean. But now you understand why I can’t have her niece banywhere /bnear this office. Not near Mary. Not near any sensitive information. If Mary needs help, I’ll hire someone vetted, qualified, and ountable, Someone with no immunity if they betray bus/b.”

Alpha Vander didn’t say a word. He simply sank onto the couch like the air had left his lungs. He looked pale. Shaken. A man who just realized he’d been sleeping beside a stranger for over two decades.

“Should bI /bcall the medical staff?” asked gently.

He shook his head band /bloosened his btie /bwith ba /btrembling hand.

Behind him, Lacy started again. “Uncleb, /bshe’s lyingb–/bbshe’s /bbjust trying /bbto /bbruin /bbme- /b

bi“/i/biShut /iiup/ii!/ii” /ihe barked, his voice breaking.

He stared at her, his enger now full whe rew “wow dare you at you as a dower ta sha maghe be intense But she’s never tied to the 1 batuge tub

Then he turned to me

“Call HR. I want Lacy’s appointment terminata tradurry

The shift was so sharp, it slmost made meugh Almost But kept mypute faimly picked up the

phone

“Yes. Please send someone from HR to my office now We have a damigeal to process

As I hung up, I nced at Lacy, who now stood frozen in this corner, her snirkling genk

And for the first time since they walked in, I felt something cold and satisfying settle in my chest

Checkmate

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