My phone vibrated on my nightstand, waking me up.
I peeled open my tired eyes, struggled to pick up the phone, and answered.
"Baby." Roman's voice came from the other end of the line. "I heard you had a high fever yesterday. How are you now?"
Good lord, this person was strange. Did his wolf take over sometimes and make him forget things? We'd already been over the fact that I'd had a high fever and gone to the hospital.
Plus, why did he care? He'd only wanted to sleep with me, so why the questions about my health?
Could it be…he knew I was dying?
I managed to shut that thought away and replied calmly, "I'm fine."
"Okay, good, good. That's great," Roman said mechanically. Then his tone changed, grew more eager. "So, did you finish that thing?"
And there it was. His real reason for calling me.
I sat straight up in bed, supported my forehead with one hand. "I went to Alpha Knight, and he said he would think about it."
The excuse I'd used to get away from Roman wasn't one I could do…and the last thing I was going to do was actually talk to Griffon about Roman. I had no videos or pictures, and no way would Griffon ever listen to me and give the Starke Pack the Western City project.
All I had to do was delay with Roman until after Harper's wedding was over.
Then, I would give my life in exchange for peace for the rest of Harper's life.
Roman seemed impatient. "The bidding conference starts on the tenth of next month. When is he going to consider it?"
Sh it. Harper's wedding was on the ninth of next month.
I had wanted to wait until Harper go mated before going to die with Roman.
Think fast, I told myself, tapping a finger against my chin.
Crap, crap, cra p…
"On the ninth of next month. He said he couldn't give me an answer before then."
"Dam n!" Roman cursed. "Give me the video. I'll talk to him then."
My palms broke out in a cold sweat, and I racked my brain for something else.
"Beta Starke, using this method to threaten Alpha Knight to help you secure the project, has already made him very dissatisfied with you. If you bring the video to him, it will only further anger him. Then, not only will you offend him more, you will also prevent yourself from getting the project-or any other projects in the future. Do you think that is the right strategy to take right now? You'll have much better luck if you let me handle it. Don't you agree?"
Roman was silent while he thought about it, and I waited for his response with bated breath.
He had to know that threatening Griffon in this way wasn't honorable, that he would already be treading on thin ice.
Allva Beta doing it to an Alpha of a stronger, more powerful pack.
He finally spoke again. "I must see the contract on the ninth of next month. Otherwise, it won't be your best friend's new mate claiming her after the ceremony…it'll be a group of my men."
My heart skipped a beat-or ten. Roman knew the date of Harper's wedding? Just how close of an eye had he been keeping on us?
Now, not only Harper, but also her new mate might be implicated. I had to think fast.
Real fast.
I put down the phone and struggled to get up.
I went to the desk, pulled open the drawer, and took out a few medicine bottles.
Taking out the sleeping pills, I put them in another empty bottle.
Then, numbly, I picked up the other pills for heart failure and stuffed them into my mouth.
So help me goddess, I would see Harper mated, and I would see Roman pay.
There were about ten days left before the ninth of the next month.
Every day, I went to different hospitals and got prescriptions, so I could accumulate sleeping pills.
After coming home one day and placing the medicine on the table, I glanced at the box setting to the side.
I hadn't returned the dress and necklace to Roman yet. I was surprised he hadn't asked for it back, given how expensive the necklace must be. Furthermore, I quickly picked up the phone and made arrangements to deliver them to him.
Although I had to deal with Roman, I would return what did not belong to me.
The delivery man arrived quickly. After sending the package out, I felt much more at ease.
When Roman saw the dress and necklace being returned, he was pleased, and his wolf pawed at him."I know, I know," he soothed.
If it were someone else, they would have already sold the Necklace, but Taya had returned it. Which meant she cared about him enough to return something that was his, and she wasn't concerned about the money.
Sure, she was resistant, but he'd dealt with this before with Women. He loved a challenge. Currently, he just needed her to secure the project…and then he'd secure her.
Once I sent Roman's things back to him, I took a nap.
Harper calling woke me up.
"It's ready!" she screamed excitedly into the phone.
"On my way!" I answered.
The wedding dress Harper had custom-made was ready.
As poorly as I felt, there was no way I was missing this, and I was genuinely excited with her.
I gathered myself and tried to forget about the exhaustion I was feeling. When I got to the bridal shop, Damian, Harper's fiancé, was also there. When he saw me coming in, he greeted me warmly.
"Where's Harper?" I asked him excitedly.
Damian raised his chin toward the fitting room. "She's trying the dress on. I saved you a seat over here."Oh, thank the goddess there was someplace to sit.
It was getting harder and harder to stand for long periods of time. My body could never get enough oxygen anymore. The weaker my heart got, the worse the symptoms were. I knew it wouldn't be long for me, but I HAD to see Harper and Damian's mating ceremony if it was the last thing I did. And…it possibly actually be the last thing I did.