Chapter 26 Veiled Ambitions
A few days had blurred into a monotonous routine of pretense and simmering tension. Late November's chill had deepened, frost blanketing the estate like a shroud, mirroring the cold war unfolding within its walls. Ben's "husband" act had escalated to unbearable levels, constant touches, forced endearments, and "couple" activities that left me nauseated. Alexander, buried in work and what I now suspected were pack matters, had become a ghost in his own home. We hadn't shared a stolen moment in over a week; his texts were brief, his presence fleeting. The bond tugged relentlessly, a constant ache of unfulfilled need, but Ben's vigilance and Alexander's packed schedule, endless meetings, late-night calls,kept us apart. No sex, no intimacy, just the frustration of proximity without release.
I spent my days at college, attending practical lessons on campus with my friends to escape the mansion's suffocating atmosphere, also I couldn't afford to slack off, not with finals looming in the new year and my family's financial future hanging by a thread. Visiting my mum at the hospital before going back to the estate.So, I spent my "free" time at the campus library or study groups with friends, poring over notes and practicing our drawings. It was a welcome escape from the mansion's suffocating atmosphere, where every glance between Alexander and me crackled with unspoken hunger, and Ben's performative husband act grew more obnoxious by the day.
That morning, after a quick breakfast where Ben had once again piled my plate and held my hand like a trophy, I drove to campus. The library was quiet, a haven of fluorescent lights and hushed whispers. My friends, Clara and Sophia were already there, sprawled across a table with laptops and textbooks.
"Maddie! Thought you'd be honeymooning or something," Clara teased, pushing a coffee toward me.
I laughed it off. "Honeymoon? With Ben? Please. We're just settling in. Besides, I need to nail this Architecture exam."
Sophia grinned. "The mysterious Mrs. Hargrove. How's married life treating you? Lavish estate, hot husband and stepdad-in-law?"
I nearly choked on my coffee. "They're... fine. Let's focus on the sketches, okay?"
For a few hours, I forgot the werewolf symptoms, the persistent heightened senses that made every rustle of paper thunderous, the odd dreams that left me waking with an itch beneath my skin. But even here, the bond tugged gently, reminding me of Alexander.
That evening, after a grueling day of finals prep, I returned to the estate to find the dining room set for three as usual. Ben was already there, pacing with a glass of scotch, his face flushed with excitement or nerves, I couldn't tell.
"Darling!" he exclaimed, pulling me into a hug that reeked of liquor. "Perfect timing. We've got big things to discuss tonight."
Alexander entered moments later, suit jacket slung over his shoulder, tie loosened. His gaze met mine briefly, dark, intense, laced with apology, before settling on Ben with cool detachment.
"Dinner first," Alexander said evenly, taking his seat. "Business can wait."
Ben snorted but sat, launching into his routine: serving my plate with roast chicken, potatoes, and greens, his hand lingering on mine as he passed the wine. "Eat up, love. You look tired."
I forced a smile, the bond pulsing with Alexander's restrained fury. Dinner proceeded in tense silence, broken only by Ben's monologues about "our" future investments. Alexander responded minimally, his focus on his phone, pack alerts, perhaps? I caught fragments through the bond: whispers of territory disputes, rival alphas probing boundaries.
As dessert was served, warm apple tart, Ben leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Alright, Ale… stepdad. Let's cut the bullshit. The board meeting is in two weeks. I've held up my end, married, stable, all that crap. Time to nominate me for the seat you promised."
Alexander set his fork down, expression unchanging. "The board votes on merit, Ben. Marriage was a condition, not a guarantee."
Ben's face reddened. "Merit? I've been grooming for this for 2 years. With Maddie by my side, I'm the picture of reliability. The family man the investors love."
I shifted uncomfortably, sensing the undercurrent. Ben had been making calls all week, schmoozing board members via video chats from his suite. I'd overheard snippets, promises of aggressive expansions, cost-cutting that sounded ruthless.
Alexander's voice remained level. "The board appreciates stability, yes. But they also value vision aligned with our core principles. If you can't be patience sell your shares."
Ben slammed his hand on the table, rattling silverware. "Core principles? Like hoarding assets while competitors eat our lunch? I've got plans to modernize, streamline operations, and cut dead weight. With my seat, I can push for votes on key acquisitions."
There it was, the leverage. Ben wasn't just after a seat; he wanted control. I'd pieced it together from overheard conversations: the marriage was his ticket to legitimacy, a way to sway conservative board members who valued family ties. But his "plans" involved aggressive takeovers, potentially dismantling parts of Alexander's empire, parts tied to pack interests, though Ben was clueless about that.
Alexander's eyes narrowed fractionally. "Those plans sound... ambitious. Perhaps too much so."
Ben smirked. "Ambition built this company.
I felt Alexander's control fray through the bond, a growl suppressed, alpha instincts rising. But he merely stood. "We'll discuss at the meeting. Goodnight."
As he left, Ben turned to me with a triumphant grin. "He's cracking. Once I'm on the board, we'll flip the script. You and me, Maddie, we'll be untouchable."
His words chilled me. This wasn't about us; it was about power. Ben was human through and through, blind to the supernatural undercurrents, seeing only dollar signs. And 90 percent of the board? If Alexander's world was any indication, they weren't purely human either, werewolves or allies, protecting pack secrets woven into the company's fabric. Ben had no idea he was playing with fire.
That night, Ben "escorted" me to my room again, lingering in the chair with a smug recount of his boardroom strategies. "I've got allies already, three members eating out of my hand. They think Alexander's too conservative, too young to be the CEO, and holding back growth."
I nodded absently.
He excused himself to the balcony when his phone started ringing.
Ben's voice, low and conspiratorial on speakerphone.
"...yeah, the marriage sealed it. Alexander's corner. Push the vote on the merger, I'll back it. We strip his holdings, redistribute. He'll never see it coming."
A pause, then laughter. "Human resources? Cut 'em loose. Efficiency first."
My blood ran cold. Ben was plotting a coup, using our fake marriage as leverage to dismantle Alexander's control. And if the board was mostly supernatural, this could ignite something far worse than a business war.
After the call he bid me goodnight.