bChapter /bb54 /b

ra’s Pov

My hand froze on the doorknol

Through the crack, could hear her voice, Sweet, no sweet, as the cooed in Thorne, “Alpha, don’t you ever get tired of all thes shining Let’s go for a walk, Or maybe hunt in the weeds. We could use the time together, don’t your think?”

endless tanks? The sun’s

have work to do.”

His voice was sharp, but he didn’t push her away. My stomach churned. Something in me snapped, and I had to stop watching, if i didn’t go in now, the next thing I bknew/b, they’d be tearing at beach /bother right three on the desk,

I flung the door open, the force of it startling the woman beside him. She whipped around, eyes shing in invitation. “Why didn’t you knock? The Alpha’s buny

bTraised /ban eyebrows, sarcasm slipping into my voice. “Busy with work? Or busy with you?”

Her face flushed red with anger. “Who the hell are you?”

“ra” I said, my voice steady as I stopped into the room.

Thome shot up from his chair, his gaze lighting up when he saw me.

“Are you here to see me?” he asked, looking genuinely pleased.

“Depends,” I bsaid/b, my eyes flicking to the woman ring at me. “Am internupting

“No. Of course not. His voice was firm, but bhis /bbeyes /btacked back to her as if trying to assure her.

He turned to the woman–Salviab, /bI noted with a sneer–and told her coldly, “Leave us, Salvia”

“No! I’m not leaving you with her!” Salvia’s voice cracked with frustration

She shot me a look that could kill and bhissed/b, “I know exactly who you are. You’re Thorne’s ex, aren’t you? He rejected you. What are you begging him to take byou /bback?”

“Enough, Salvia Thome’s voice rang out, sharp bas /ba whip.

But Salwasn’t done. “You’ve been rejected, ra. You’re damaged goods. If you had any dignity lett, you’d stay far away from him

I gave her a once over, but it was hard to suppress the amusement curling in my stomach. This woman was beautiful–more so than Mi, even–but clearly she didn’t know how bto /buse her beauty for anything beyond petty games.

“If you know my name, you should also know that I’m Gamma of the Blood Moon bPack/b,” I said, my tone cutting through the tension. “And a princess. You should be bowing bto /bme, Salvia. It’s called respect, something I doubt you learned in whatever fancy school you came from.”

Her face reddened with fury, but I wasn’t done

“I’m a noble!” she spat, venom in her words. “I don’t bow to byou/bb./b”

“That’s enough” Thome growled, his patience flearly wearing thin. He stood and gestured to the door. “Guards”

Two bguards /brushed into the room. They flinched under Thome’s re as he ordered, “Escort Miss Salvia out. And if any of you let people into my study without my permission again, you’ll be out of a jobb./b”

They moved quickly, dragging Salvia out with her protests still hanging in the air. Once the door mmed shut behind them, I turned back to Thorne, my

expression hardening

“Do I have your permission to stay, Alpha Thorne?” asked, my voice as cold as

“Thorne walked around the desk, eyes fixed on me with a mixture of relief and something unreadable.

“Lookb, /babout Salvia

“I’m not here to talk about your personal life, Alpha,” I cut him off, my bone sharp. I’m here about Garmon

His brow furrowed inmediately. “What did he do now?”

|id it all out–everything that happened this morning at the training feld–and added, “If you refuse to rece Garron and Owen, Blood Moon Pack will have to step back from this alliance.”

He let out a heavy sigh, but it wasn’t enough to soften his words “understand your frustration, ra. But it’s not as simple as that Garron’s family is powerfal His father, the former Gamma, was a respected warrior”

“More influential than the Alpha interjected, not bothering to hide my sarcasm.

Thorne, to his credit, didn’t flinch. “Garron’s father died in battle, a hero. He was Direstone Pack’s symbol. if I take down his son without ba /bvalid reason, will cause a public uproar.”

That was new information. But it didn’t sway me

“So, you’re just going to let bGarron /brun wild? Let him corrupt your army?” I asked, frowning. “Because let me tell you, Garron is nothing like his father. He’s weakb, /bmaniptive, and he’s more than capable of bselling /byou out to the rogues if it means saving his own skin.”

“I’m well aware,” Thorne replied, pulling a sheet of paper from the pile of documents on his desk. He handed it to me, his eyes dark with frustration. “Here. We have 50% of our budget going into the army, yet the ounts don’t add up. My finance minister and I suspect Garron has been emberring the

bfunds/b.

I looked over the figures. Thome wasn’t lying. The numbers bdidn’t /bmake sense, More than 5 billion was allocated to the army this year, but 80% of it had vanished without a trace.

“If you can prove this,” I said, “you’ll have the grounds to remove him.

“Exactly.” His bvoice /bheld a hard edge.

He leaned back in his chairb, /bbhis /bgaze flicking toward the window. “But the problem is, I don’t know how to get my hands on his ount books. I’m thinking of issuing a search warrant. Time is ticking the war ns are moving forwardb, /band the sooner we get rid of Garron, the better.”

I nodded slowly. “Hold off bon /bthe warrant. I don’t think Garron keeps that book at home, it’s too risky.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

I gave him a sly smile. “I’m not suggesting. I’m bringing you someone who knows everything about Garron’s shady deals–Triss. She’s scared of him, but she’ll talk to me. She knows can help.“.

I bhanded /bthe paper back to him and stood, making my way to the door.

“Don’t you want to know who Sylvia is? Thorne’s voice called after me, a trace of curiosity in his tone

bI /bpaused, hand on the doorknob. ncing bback/b, I sneered. “Let me guess… She’s Garron’s sister, isn’t she?”

The resemnce between them was striking. Same eyes. Same arrogance

Thorne said with a nod. “Garron sent her to put in a good word for him. When we get rid of him, finally have peace in my study.”

“That’s right.” The

I shrugged. “Don’t need an exnation. Not interested in your personal life.”

out thinking, I shot back, “But you doe off as the easily manipted type, don’t you? Why else would everyone send

I moved to leave, but then, without their female rtives to you?”

First M, then Sylvia… What was next?

Thorne’s lips curved into a small smile. He didn’t seem angry. Amused, even. “So when’s Alpha promise, I won’t push her away this time.”

Cael nning on sending his female rtive to me?

My face turned hot. “Don’t tter yourself” snarled. “Now, stop pestering me. I have an ount book to find. A witness to talk to.”

“Not even a little jealous?” His voice was low and teasing

“Not even a bit,” I shot back, mming the door behind me with a bang

AD

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