Tyler.
As Arya turned to me in the car, her eyes reflecting a mix of anticipation and concern, I marveled at her resilience. "Are you ready?" she asked, her voice steady despite the underlying tension.
"Of course, I am, Little One," I replied, the endearment slipping off my tongue effortlessly. I stole a glance at her, before returning my gaze to the imposing gates of the Crest pack. "I'm just taking it all in. Alpha of Crest pack," I added with a chuckle.
Leaning back against the leather seat, I couldn't shake off the memories that flooded my mind as we approached the pack gates. Leaving Crest pack behind was a decision fueled by anger and betrayal, yet fate had led me back to reclaim what was rightfully mine. The mantle of Alpha of Crest pack was not one I sought, but it was one I couldn't refuse—a duty bound by blood and legacy.
But as Arya's fingers intertwined with mine, her touch grounding me in the present, nagging worry gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. She had endured so much during her time at Crest Pack, her past marred by Ethan and the scars of her family's betrayal. I didn't want to bring her along with me, but she insisted on coming.
"I'm more worried about you, you know?" I confessed softly, turning to face her fully, my gaze searching hers for any hint of doubt. "Are you sure you want to join me? I could ask Nate to take you home, just say the word."
Her smile was radiant and resolute. "As long as you're here, love," she reassured me, her grip on my hands firm yet gentle. "I'll be alright."
With a nod of gratitude, I turned my attention to the guard stationed at the gates, silently signaling him to open the gates. The heavy metal gates groaned as they swung open, granting us passage into the heart of Crest pack territory.
Upon reaching the grandeur of the Crest Pack mansion, Arya and I stepped out of the car, our footsteps echoing against the cobblestone driveway. I watched her closely as she surveyed the familiar surroundings, a flicker of concern shadowing her features.
Then she took my hand in hers. With a silent nod of approval, I turned to the housekeeper waiting patiently by the entrance and instructed him to show Arya to her room.
"I'll be at the office, in case you need me," I said as I kissed her forehead.
She nodded, then kissed me before following the housekeeper.
As she disappeared into the depths of the mansion, I felt a pang of longing at her absence.
But duty called, and I had promises to fulfill. With a final glance at the retreating figure of Arya, I made my way to the office.
On getting to the office, I opened the door, a room steeped in memories, both bitter and sweet. This space, once my father's sanctuary, then mine, had belonged to Ethan.
As I stepped inside, the air seemed to grow heavier. My gaze drifted to the imposing desk, a relic of my father's reign, where he had held court with authority and pride. Now, it was mine again, after killing my brother.
I shook off the tendrils of nostalgia that threatened to ensnare me and focused on the task at hand. I found the financial records on a shelf behind the office chair. With a resigned sigh, I sat down on the office chair and opened the book.
After almost an hour of perusing the records, I was almost down with a headache. This turned out to be more tasking than I thought and for some reason, the numbers were not adding up. I sighed as I slowly massaged my temples, frustrated at the account's records. What was Ethan doing with the missing funds?
I snapped my head up as I heard the door opening.
Ayra.
"Am I distracting you?" she said as she closed the door, leaning against the door frame. She wore a simple red white short floral gown. She looked simply gorgeous. My pretty little one.
"You're a good distraction," I chuckled as I watched her move towards me and leaned against the table. "How are you doing, love?"
"I'm alright, Tyler," she replied, frowning in concern. "You look like hell though. What's got you all frustrated?"
"I was going through the financial records that Ethan kept," I replied as I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. "It's not adding up."
"You'll probably have to consult his secretary, if he has one." She said as she watched me, hands folded across her chest. "You need to rest though. I'm pretty sure you don't have to do all the paperwork today."
"Well, the earlier I get this done, love," I replied as I stood up and went round the table to meet her. She turned to face me, her eyes glinting with amusement. "The better for us." I leaned in, kissing her passionately.
"As I said, you are a really good distraction, Little One," I murmured huskily against her lips as I broke the kiss. "But there's a lot of work to be done." Ayra would really be the death of me one of these days.
"I trust you," she replied as she placed her hands on my cheeks. "I'll be waiting for you tonight though. I'll come and drag you out of this office if I have to."
A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "I'd love to see that though." I chuckled as she walked towards the door, my voice laced with amusement as she turned towards the door.
"Don't test me, Tyler," she laughed as she left the room, the sound echoing in the silent room long after she was gone.
Alone once more, I drew in a deep breath, the scent of her lingering in the air like a sweet memory. With renewed determination, I turned back to my desk, I set to work once more, the weight of her trust buoying me up.
Ethan's mismanagement of funds had left the pack teetering on the brink of collapse, a fact that filled me with both annoyance and frustration.
Tired from all the calculations, I reached for my phone, dialing Nate's number.
"Nate," I greeted when he answered. "Can you help me set up a meeting with the Elders of the Crest pack?"
"Yeah, sure," came Nate's easy reply. "How's the financial records?"
"Honestly," I confessed, the admission heavy on my tongue like a bitter pill, "it's missing some numbers. Ethan mismanaged the pack finances."
A heavy silence settled between us. I could almost hear Nate's sympathetic nod through the static of the phone line.
"Just get the meeting set up today," I instructed, my tone firm despite the weariness that seeped into every word, "so I can notify the elders about my plans."
"Alright," Nate agreed readily, his voice tinged with concern. "Take it easy, mate. And get some rest if you need it."
The concern in Nate's voice struck a chord within me, a reminder of the toll that leadership exacted upon me, body and soul. As I ended the call, I leaned back in my chair, exhaustion dragging me down like an anchor.
With a weary sigh, I turned my attention to the office laptop and logged in to my business account, fingers flying across the keyboard as I composed emails to my business partners regarding the impending merger.
With a sense of relief tinged with apprehension, I hit send on the last email.
I looked at my phone as I got a notification. Nate had organized the meeting. Sighing, I took my car keys from the table and left the office.
Pulling into the temple grounds, I parked my car and stepped out into the cool night air. The scent of pine and earth hung heavy in the air. The temple itself stood tall and imposing against the backdrop of the night sky, its ancient stones weathered by time and the elements.
As I entered the temple, I was greeted by the sight of the familiar faces of the elders, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension. With a nod of acknowledgment, I made my way towards the center of the room, the eyes of the assembled crowd following my every move.
"Tyler," came a voice from the crowd, tinged with authority and respect. It was one of the elders, his gaze piercing as he addressed me. "We've been expecting you."
I nodded, a tight smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Thank you," I replied, my voice steady. "I'm ready to fulfill my duty as the new Alpha of the Crest pack."
But before I could say another word, another voice cut through the air—a voice filled with disdain and contempt.
"We don't want you as our Alpha," came the voice, its words like a slap in the face. It was another elder, his tone laced with bitterness and resentment. "You abandoned us when we needed you the most."
I sighed internally, clenching my jaw. This was going to take longer than I thought.