Chapter 39 Chapter 39

Chapter 39 Chapter 39
Chapter 39: Secret Deals

Stan’s

I slipped into the half-finished building, the huge concrete beams casting jagged, distorted shadows in the moonlight. My heart pounded hard against my ribs, and my wolf was restless and agitated, as I spotted Eric leaning against a large pillar. His back was to me, acting as if he didn’t even care that I was there.

He turned slowly, his sharp smirk immediately visible, his dark eyes glinting with that infuriating smug look that made my blood boil. “Well, look who has decided to show up,” he said, his voice smooth and mocking. “Stan, the pack’s little submissive wolf, sneaking into rogue territory alone. Why did you call me out here to this abandoned place? Do you have something that’s actually worth my valuable time?”

I stepped closer, my jaw tight with tension, my hands clenched into fists. “Cut the crap right now, Eric,” I said, my voice low and sharp. “I’m not here to play any games with you. You know I’m Dean’s mate. I want to make a firm deal with you, but it needs to be just you and me. No one else ever hears about this conversation.”

Eric chuckled loudly, crossing his scarred arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. “A deal?” he said, his tone dripping with condescending amusement. “You, a low-ranking submissive, think you can truly bargain with me? The leader of the rogues? What could a guy like you possibly have that I’d want in a transaction?”

I laughed, a sound both cold and deeply bitter, stepping even closer to him. “You think I’m just Dean’s passive shadow?” I said, my voice hard and challenging. “I know you desperately want Enzo’s Alpha position, Eric. You’re completely unsubtle about it. And Dean? He’s actively after the exact same thing. But I’m offering you a clean way to get the Alpha spot and, more importantly, make absolutely sure Dean doesn’t get it. Are you interested in my proposal or not?”

Eric’s smirk faded quickly, his eyes becoming sharp and focused as he stepped toward me. “You’re willingly betraying your own mate?” he said, his voice low and intensely curious. “That’s incredibly bold, Stan. Why the hell would you suddenly turn on Dean like this? What exactly is in this entire scheme for you?”

“I want him back all to myself,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady, though my heart was racing inside my chest. “Dean’s obsessed with you, with Noah, with this entire ridiculous Alpha power grab. I’m truly sick of being completely ignored by him. You kill Noah, Enzo’s human mate, and I’ll help you effectively take Enzo down for good. Noah’s gone, Enzo’s left weak and broken, and Dean is forced out of the running for the title. You get the pack title, and I finally get my mate back to myself.”

Eric laughed, loud, sharp, and entirely without humor, his head tilting back in amusement. “A submissive wolf with a strategic brain,” he said, his voice mocking but definitely intrigued. “You’re significantly smarter than I initially gave you credit for, Stan. But why should I trust your word on this? What’s going to stop me from killing Noah, taking the pack, and then killing you right afterwards, huh?”

I stepped closer to him again, my eyes flashing with absolute seriousness. “Don’t try to play games with me, Eric,” I said, my voice sharp and demanding. “You seriously need someone on the inside of the pack. I know all of Dean’s current plans, and I know Enzo’s weakest spots. You want the Alpha pack? You absolutely need my help. Noah is the most vital key—kill him, and Enzo will completely fall apart. Then, you swiftly take out Enzo, and I will deal with Dean afterwards.”

Eric’s smile widened dangerously, his teeth flashing as he stepped closer to me. “Deal with Dean?” he said, his voice low and skeptical. “You think you can genuinely control your mate? He’s not exactly the type of wolf to sit pretty and obey your orders. What makes you so sure he won’t turn his anger on you when he finally figures out you’re actively scheming behind his back?”

“He’s my mate,” I snapped back immediately, my voice shaking with conviction. “I know Dean better than anyone else in this pack. Once Noah is gone for good, he’ll immediately drop this silly Alpha nonsense. He’ll come right back to me and our life. You just need to do your part—kill Noah as quickly as possible.”

Eric leaned closer to me, his breath hot and unpleasant on my face. “You are truly desperate,” he said, his voice a low, knowing whisper. “I can easily smell it all over you, Stan. You’re scared that Dean is quickly slipping away from you, aren’t you? That’s the only real reason why you’re out here in the middle of the night, making dangerous deals with a known rogue leader.”

“Don’t act like you’re above this plan,” I said, my voice low, my hands clenching tightly. “You would do absolutely anything to take Enzo down, wouldn't you? So what is it going to be, Eric? Are you going to kill Noah and accept the deal, or are you just wasting both of our time?”

He chuckled softly, placing a large, heavy hand on my shoulder. “You have serious guts, Stan,” he said, his voice smooth and considering. “I actually like that kind of boldness. But what if Dean were to find out about this? Do you honestly think he’s going to be happy that his mate is plotting his downfall behind his back?”

I shoved his hand off me roughly, my inner wolf snarling. “He won’t find out anything,” I said, my voice hard and final. “This conversation stays strictly between the two of us. You get rid of Noah for good, and I’ll make absolutely sure Enzo is distracted and emotionally broken. Dean is too busy chasing his dream of power to notice anything wrong. So, do we officially have a deal now?”

Eric’s eyes glinted with cold satisfaction, his smile widening unnervingly. “You’re playing a very dangerous game of chance,” he said, stepping back slightly. “But I’m in the game. Noah is as good as dead right now. You better firmly hold up your end of this bargain, Stan. If Dean catches even a whisper of this deal, or if you dare to screw me over, you will be the next one to die.”

I held out my hand to seal the agreement, my heart pounding hard. “It’s a deal, then,” I said, my voice steady and determined. “Just between the two of us. No one else will know.”

Eric shook my hand, his grip tight and demanding, his eyes cold and untrusting. “Done,” he said firmly. “But don’t think for a single second that I actually trust you, submissive. One small slip-up, and your life is finished.”

I pulled my hand back immediately, my jaw tight. “Just do what you agreed to do,” I said. “Kill Noah, and we both finally get what we want the most.”

Eric smirked, then turned his back to me. “Go home now, Stan,” he said. “I’ll handle the human problem. You just make sure you keep your beloved mate in line and far away from my plans.”

I walked out of the building, the night air hitting my face, but it didn’t manage to cool the burning fire of resolve in my chest. My blood was still hot, my mind racing with the deadly deal I had just made. Betraying Dean felt wrong, but he had completely left me no other choice. He was never here for me, always chasing power, always obsessing over Noah.

I got back to the house, my steps heavy with exhaustion, and quickly checked the time—it was past one in the morning. Dean still wasn’t back home. My hands clenched tightly again, my wolf snarling in anger, my frustration boiling completely over. “Where the hell are you, Dean?” I growled softly, my voice low and desperate, my fists tight at my sides.
“Why can’t you ever just make time for me?”