Ethan.
I stood in my private quarters, the weight of defeat heavy on my shoulders. Disappointment gnawed at me, but cutting my losses right now was out of the question.
I just can’t let Tyler have her. She was mine first. Mine. It didn’t matter that I had rejected her. A torrent of frustration and bitterness flowed through my veins as I remembered Tyler’s taunt on the battlefield.
I almost had him and his pathetic kingdom.
I couldn’t let Tyler think he won. I needed to put him in his place. Show him how powerful the Crest pack was. How powerful I was.
Arya.
I had to have her, especially now with her powers. The recollection of the lost battle made me
angrier. This win should have been an easy one. I had to strike again. It was the best time to attack. They certainly wouldn’t be expecting it. Especially now that the rogue pack was weak from my attack.
“Fuck!” I screamed as I slammed my fist against my office table, creating a dent in it. She was magnificent in her wolf form and she hadn’t even fully transformed. My blood pulsed with desire as I recalled her display of raw power. I imagined her under me, writhing and fighting, her eyes blazing with defiance.
She was mine, and I would not accept anything less. I turned angrily to my office door as a knock interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in!” I aggressively ran my hands through my hair in frustration, watching as the door creaked open, revealing Robert, Arya's father and my beta. His expression was unreadable but there was a shadow of apprehension that defined his movements.
"Ethan, I apologize for Arya's behavior. I don't even consider her my daughter. I disowned her long ago. You can do as you please with her."
“Of course, I can,” I said, anger boiling beneath the surface of my skin. Hadn’t he been the one to say she couldn’t transform? He’d deceived me but I would not act on it yet because of recent developments.
“You better start considering her your daughter, Robert.” I hissed at him as I leaned forward against my office table. “She is my mate and you’re definitely her father.”
Taken aback by my outburst, he took a step back, surprise evident in his eyes. “But you rejected her. What’s with the sudden change of heart?”
“Why does that matter?” I retorted, cutting him off. “She has become very powerful, and I need to make her my mate, one way or another."
Robert recoiled at the reprimand, obviously shocked by the revelation of Arya's newfound strength. He hesitated, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Perhaps we should strike again, harder this time. Show her the might of the Crest Pack."
My jaw clenched, my resolve unyielding. "Yes, we will strike again. We can't afford to back down now. Arya and her powers will be mine."
While we were discussing war plans, a guard knocked, announcing Lauren from the Rogue pack. Intrigued by the unexpected visitor, I invited her in, my eyes narrowing with suspicion. Lauren, entering with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, watched me as I scrutinized her.
"Give me a reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now, considering you're from the Rogue pack?" I asked, my tone, cold and threatening. I remembered her as one of the wolves who had challenged Tyler. Maybe killing her was not the best course of action to take.
Lauren, undeterred, met my gaze. Seriously. Her arrogance was astounding. "Because I can help get Arya to come to you willingly.”
She was bold. I’d give her that. I was willing to kill any enemy wolf without hesitation at the moment but I kept my anger in check, silently giving her permission to continue.
“Make her your mate, Ethan, and let me have Tyler and the Rogue pack."
This was turning out to be interesting after all. I watched her with narrowed eyes. "Go on."
“Ethan’s supposed to be mine and she came along and ruined that. Let me make it easy for you and bring her to you.”
“So we have a mutual interest.” I chuckled in amusement at her offer.
Tyler couldn’t even control his pack members. This was going to be fun. Using his pack member against him. I smirked as I watched her defiant stance.
She must be foolish to think that I would give her the Rogue pack once I have Arya. How satisfying. No. Along with Tyler, I would destroy them all for trying to covet what was mine.
“How do I know you won’t fail me?” I asked narrowing my eyes at her. This seemed too good to be true.
“I don’t want her in Rogue pack. Besides, I would be stupid to take a risk coming to your kingdom without ensuring the success of my plan.”
“Good answer. However, Lauren of Rogue pack,” I replied curling my lips in disgust. “If you don’t bring Arya to me in three days, I’ll attack your pack and personally ensure that you pay for wasting my time.”
“Three days?” She stuttered in disbelief. “I need time to convince her. We are not exactly on good terms at the moment.”
“That’s your problem woman. Figure it out.” I said as I waved my hand in dismissal.
Masking her shock, she smiled coldly. “It’s our problem, Ethan.”
She walked closer to my table, her eyes radiating defiance and seduction. If I weren’t so hooked on getting Arya back, I would have probably gotten with her. She was a very beautiful woman. “As much as you’re hiding it now, I saw how much you desired Arya on the battlefield.”
Raising a brow at her boldness, I replied steadily, even though it pissed me slightly that she saw through me so easily. “And?”
“You want her, I don’t. It’s that simple. I’ll bring her to you in a week. Besides, you saw her powers. Bringing her forcefully is not an option for me.”
I gritted my teeth in anger as I contemplated her offer. She really wanted Arya gone. Her eyes were filled with hatred at every mention of her name.
But she really had a nerve coming to my Kingdom, my office, to talk to me this way. In the meantime, she was still a pawn. One I would get rid of once she had played her part.
I walked up to her, placing my hands on the table behind her so she was leaning against my table. I watched as her eyes widened in shock at the position.
Yes, she was in my office. I needed to remind her who was in charge.
I ran my knuckles down her cheek, feeling her pulse quicken as I leaned towards her ears. “One week is all you have. Bring me Arya in a week and you can have Tyler and his kingdom. And if you don’t,” I added as I applied pressure on her neck. “You’ll have yourself to blame for my actions.”
She stiffly nodded as I released her. Silently taking a step back, she turned around and quickly walked out of my office.
“That one’s feisty,” Robert chuckled as the guard closed the door after her.
“We’ll see how feisty she is after I have Arya.” It was a win for me anyway.
“Prepare the guards for another attack and send someone to keep an eye on her progress,” I said to Robert as I contemplated Lauren’s offer. I wasn’t planning on taking her word for it.
If she failed or slacked off in any way, I’d be ready for her. As for Arya, I’d make her mine. That wasn’t an option.
I smiled wickedly at the thought of watching Tyler lose everything he had to me.