Lauren.
“I expected better from you, Lauren. How could you ruin such a good plan?”
Father's tone cut through the silence like a sharpened blade, and I couldn't escape the weight of his disappointment. The failed attempt to expose Arya's true identity had left a sour taste in the air, and my father's displeasure was evident as he paced the living room with controlled frustration.
I shifted uncomfortably on the plush sofa, battling the urge to defend myself. After all, I didn’t see him looking for ways to achieve our goal. “Father, I thought revealing Arya's true identity would make Tyler reconsider. I didn't anticipate his stubborn loyalty.”
His pacing halted, and his stern gaze fixed on me with a disapproving intensity. “Stubborn loyalty? You've underestimated the situation, Lauren. Tyler isn't a mere pawn. He's the Alpha, and we need him on our side.”
I bristled at his rebuke, a spark of defiance igniting within me. “I understand the stakes, Father. But Arya is in the way of what rightfully belongs to us.”
Whatever plans my father had were none of my business, frankly. I couldn’t care less. All I wanted was what was due to me and that was Tyler Lockhart. I loved him and I knew somewhere, deep down, he loved me too. At least he had until that silly, pathetic little shit came about.
“You need to be strategic, not impulsive.” My father’s expression hardened, his disappointment turning into stern resolve. “If you want Tyler to marry you, use his loyalty as a strength, not a weakness to exploit recklessly.”
“You’re my father,” I shot back defiantly. “Shouldn’t you be making sure my future is secured?”
His eyes flashed with anger. “I’ve given you my money, opened up a path for you straight into his heart, invested all I have into this city. How dare you?”
“Maybe you need to do more.”
“Am I supposed to seduce him for you, Lauren? Because if so, I’m sure I would have been Luna by now!”
The silence hung heavy after our exchange, each passing moment amplifying the urgency of the situation. Father took a seat across from me, his piercing gaze holding a mixture of expectation and impatience.
“I know you love him but your recklessness jeopardizes everything, Lauren. You can’t win this with sentiments. You’re a beautiful woman. Use it.”
The room was charged with tension as I absorbed his scolding. I fought to maintain my composure, unwilling to show weakness in the face of his disapproval.
I had not told him about Tyler’s recent rejection. Father would not like that. Ever since I was a child, he’d expected nothing but perfection. I’d grown up without a mother and so striving to please my father was all I’d ever known. Coming to Rogue City, we’d had only one plan: I was to become Luna. A woman of power. It wasn’t enough that my father was the city’s richest investor and as such, was one of the most influential men.
He wanted more.
“I'll devise a new plan, Father. One that ensures Tyler sees the benefits of aligning himself with our interests.”
His gaze softened marginally, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. “Do it quickly, Lauren. Time is of the essence. Our future depends on Tyler's allegiance, and you must play your part convincingly.”
As I nodded in reluctant agreement, I couldn't shake the lingering hostility in his tone. The pressure to succeed weighed heavily on my shoulders, and failure in this endeavor could have consequences beyond my personal ambitions.
I nodded, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. “I understand, Father. I'll be more calculated in my approach this time.”
He leaned forward, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation. “You know I care about you, right? I’m doing this for you, you know that.”
I nodded again, though I knew he was telling a lie. Even if he was doing this for me, he was also doing it for him. I wasn’t so dense that I didn’t know he wanted to use my power for himself. But I didn’t care. All I wanted was the man I loved.
Arya.
I had to find a way to get rid of her. But damn, she was persistent. I leaned back against the chair. She was also a daughter of the moon goddess. What better way to get rid of her than that? If I managed to convince the pack that she was the wrong mate for Tyler, wouldn’t that be enough? Then he would have no choice than to marry me.
But what if the elders finished with her and found out she was a good match for him? Was there a way to bend the rules to my tune? Bribe an elder? I shook my head. If they figured out my plan, I would be banished.
Magic? A potion? I doubted a potion would work on an Alpha, much less one as strong-willed as Tyler. Whatever it was I came up with would have to be done in secret. No one could know if was me.
The challenge was not only to separate him from Arya but to do so in a way that strengthened our pack. Only then would Tyler see reason. Because goddammit, I had him first. He was mine first. I couldn’t just sit back and watch some silly little girl swoop in and steal him from me.
Tyler's unwavering loyalty to Arya was a formidable obstacle, but obstacles were meant to be overcome. I reached for a leather-bound notebook, its pages filled with meticulous notes and plans, and began to jot down my ideas.
If there was one thing I could count on, it was my brain. I’d always been good at concocting. Father had said so himself. All I needed was time. As long as Arya was away from Tyler right now, I knew I could get through to him.
All I had to do was give him a reason to stop and think.
Easy peasy.