Chapter 76
Chapter 76:
I sat rigidly at the far end, refusing to touch the food.
Bryan didn’t waste time with pleasantries. He leaned forward, swirling his wine. “Since you are now the Lycan King’s Luna, you will secure an exclusive logistics contract between Parrish Holdings and the Blackstone Empire p>
I met his gaze with absolute, glacial calm. “Pack interests come first, Bryan. I have no right to interfere with Blackstone’s business decisions p>
“After everything we’ve done for you?” Carolyn snapped, her faded floral scent spiking with indignation. “I raised you with your father’s money! You owe this family p>
Kira let out a sharp, mocking laugh from across the table. “Don’t pretend she has any real power, Mother. Look at her neck. A wolfless who can’t even complete a Marking really thinks she can be a true Luna? Kain is just using her p>
I kept my face a mask of stone, refusing to let her venomous words pierce my armor.
Bryan slammed his hand onto the table, his patience evaporating. “Then we skip the pleasantries. You will transfer ten percent of your Pack shares to Brent tonight p>
Rom𝘢𝗇𝖼𝘦 n𝘰𝘷𝗲𝗅ѕ 𝘰𝘯
“On what grounds?” I demanded, my voice slicing through the tension.
Bryan reached into his jacket and tossed a folded document onto the table. “A Pack-sanctioned medical proxy, signed by Elder Maeve when she was delirious with fever last year. If you don’t sign the shares over to my son right now, I will execute the transfer. Your precious grandmother will be moved from her luxury care facility to The Forsaken Crag by midnight p>
The air vanished from my lungs. The Forsaken Crag was a notorious cross-Pack asylum for Rogues and forgotten wolves — a death sentence for a frail Elder.
Panic clawed at my throat, but I forced myself to remember the terrifying, immovable mountain that was my Mate. I stood up, pushing my chair back.
“You’re too late, Bryan,” I said, my voice ringing with cold, manufactured authority. “I already contacted Kain through an emergency channel before I walked in here. Blackstone’s legal team is currently petitioning the Continental Alpha Council for emergency intervention, citing illegal coercion of the Alpha King’s Luna and abuse of a Pack Elder p>
Bryan froze.
“By tomorrow morning,” I continued, stepping away from the table, “your guardianship will be voided, and you will face trial for exile as a Rogue p>
The bluff worked flawlessly. The sheer terror of becoming a hunted Rogue crushed Bryan’s cowardly Inner Wolf. All the color drained from his face, and the sour stench of his fear flooded the room. I had won the standoff.
I turned toward the hallway exit, desperate to escape.
A massive shadow blocked the doorway. Brent stood there, arms crossed, his violent scent suffocating the exit.