“Excuse me, ma’am,” I called out, stepping back up to the desk.
She exhaled, rolling her eyes like I was the biggest inconvenience of her day. “Yes, Kasmine,” she drawled, her voice laced with exhaustion. “What now?”
I dropped the file on the desk between us. “These records aren’t… sufficient.” I tapped the thin folder with my fingertips, keeping my voice steady even as irritation licked at my nerves. “Some vital information seems to be missing. Is there a mix–up somewhere?”
She didn’t even pretend to care. Her eyes flicked to the file, then back to me, her expression blank with careful disinterest.
“This is all there is on Kester Hamilton’s records,” she said flatly. “I’m sorry.”
Π
The apology was false, lacking any real sincerity. It only fueled the slow burn of frustration rising in my chest. I leaned in slightly. “I’d like to speak to someone else. A doctor. Someone who was actually in charge of his case.”
I was also losing my patience. I didn’t know what game she was playing, but I wouldn’t let her win.
“You have to leave, or I’ll call security on you, ma’am,” Her tone turned unfriendly.
There it was. The shift.
She wasn’t just annoyed anymore. She was… nervous. Her fingers twitched slightly as she glanced around, her eyes darting toward the nearest security guard stationed near the exit.
Why?
I met her gaze, watching closely. And that’s when I saw it fear.
It was almost as if they had been compelled to keep Kester’s records hidden from any other person who wasn’t him.
Why did I feel there was more to this woman’s behavior than meets the eye?
Someone didn’t want these records seen.
The realization sent a sharp pulse of adrenaline through me, but I forced my expression to remain neutral. Another perfect idea slipped into my head.
I flicked a glance at the clock on the wall. 1 PM.
Perfect.
Four more hours until the close of work.
I plastered a smile on my face and met her glare, “Thanks, ma’am. Sorry for bothering you. Do have a splendid day ahead.”
In the actual sense, I wished she’d have the worst day of her life today for treating me the way she just did.
KESTER.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 100
I strode into the living room and was greeted by a troubling sight.
My stepmother sat curled up on the couch, her shoulders tense, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to keep from unraveling. Her eyes–puffy, red–rimmed, and glassy–told me everything I needed to know.
Something was wrong.
Across from her, my father sat at the mini wine bar with his fingers curled around a crystal glass of his favorite whiskey. He swirled the amber liquid lazily, taking slow sips, with his face set in a familiar frown, one I had long stopped giving a damn about.
I ignored him.
If there was ever a moment I felt absolutely nothing for this five–foot–three bastard–the man whose face, whose damn existence, was almost a mirror of my own–it was now.
The resemblance was one that even the blind could see. The same deep, green eyes. The same angular features, carved with an authority that demanded obedience. But where he wore his power like a carefully tailored suit, I was power itself–raw, unpolished, untamed.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, they say. But this particular apple? It rolled far, grew sharper and more dangerous edges, and turned into something far worse than the tree had ever intended.
I was the refined, more dangerous version of my father. And the best part? He had no control over it.
Pity.
I walked straight to my stepmother, lowering myself onto the couch beside her. She straightened as if forcing herself to snap out of whatever trance she had been stuck in, then offered me a tight smile. Forced. Weak.
I knew better.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, placing my arm around her shoulder.
Gods, I couldn’t love this woman any less. Each time I am around her, I feel alive with the motherly warmth I almost didn’t grow up to feel.
She is the one I can call my mother.
She shook her head quickly, her fingers tightening around the sleeves of her dress. “It’s nothing, Kester. Really. You should go upstairs and take a shower. You must be tired.”
Tired? Sure. But I wasn’t stupid.
I leaned in slightly. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
She forced another smile, this one even weaker than the last. “I’m fine.”
She wasn’t.
I exhaled, knowing she wouldn’t talk–not now, at least. If there was one thing I had learned over the years, it was that pressing too hard would only make her retreat further
“Alright,” I said finally, rising to my feet. “But we’re talking later. In your room. Don’t think I’m letting this slide.
She nodded, but her eyes flickered briefly toward my father before she looked down again.
My irritation spiked.
Chapter 100
I turned toward the staircase, deciding that I’d get to the bottom of this later, but before I could take a single step
“Have you scheduled a meeting with June’s father yet?”
His voice was smooth and indifferent, but the way he said it like it was the only thing that mattered at this point
sent a slow wave of lee down my spine.
I scoffed, turning back to face him, my lips curling into something between amusement and disgust.
“That’s what you’re concerned about?” 1 tilted my head slightly, mockery dripping from every syllable. “Not the bastard daughter who just showed up out of nowhere?”
His frown deepened, but he said nothing.
Typical.
I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head. “You should have really learned to handle your women better, old manı You got sloppy even before growing old.”
My father’s grip on his glass tightened, the fine crystal barely containing the force behind his knuckles, clenched, and for a second, I almost hoped he’d throw the damn drink at me.
At least, it would give me a reason to break his jaw and some other vital joints in his weak body.
His jaw
Instead, he let out a slow, controlled breath–the kind he always took when he was barely keeping himself together. “Kester,” he called in a dangerously low voice, “watch your mouth.”
I smirked. “Or what?” I took a slow step closer, shoving my hands into my pockets, watching him like a predator studying a wounded prey. “You’ll finally grow a spine and do something about it? Please.” I scoffed.
His expression turned sour, his eyes cold enough to burn. “You don’t get to speak to me that way.”
“Actually, I do,” I said, leaning against the bar, deliberately invading his space, daring him to react. “And the best part? There’s nothing you can do about it.” I tilted my head, my smirk widening
He was quiet. As he should be.
“Tell me, Dad. Are you one of the fools entertaining that nonsense, too? Are you actually in support of Karina taking over as Alpha?”
His face twisted into something between irritation and genuine disgust. “No.”
I blinked once, waiting for him to continue, but he didn’t. He simply took another sip of his whiskey like the conversation bored him.
I narrowed my eyes. “So what’s the problem, then? If you’re not supporting her, why does she have enough balls to think she can just waltz in and take what isn’t hers?”
His silence lasted a beat too long. He hesitated just enough for me to notice.
Then, finally-“Because she has support.”
1
I stilled. “From who?”
He leaned back slightly, swirling the whiskey in his glass before taking another slow sip. “Other Alphas.” His gaze flickered to mine, watching my reaction carefully. “Including her mate.”
A slow, sharp pulse of irritation ran through me. “She has a mate?” I was sincerely too blinded by my rage that I hadn’t even taken note of her mark.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 100
“Alpha Wes.”
My stomach twisted, something dark and volatile coiling deep inside me.
Alpha fucking Wes?
Silver Valley’s Alpha?
One of the strongest in the region and an arrogant bastard that. I had never dealt with him personally, but I knew his type. The kind of man who thrived on power plays who never backed down from a fight–not because he was noble, but because he couldn’t stand the idea of losing
“They all say you are unfit for the position because you make coexistence difficult for everyone. They need someone who can work with them, strengthen alliances, Improve trade-“he paused slightly, then added, “You know how the rest goes.” He explained, and I almost laughed.
Coexist?
What a pretty little word. Wrapped up nicely, tied with a bow, meant to sound like diplomacy. But we all k
what it really meant.
They wanted someone pliable. Someone who’d nod along, sign where they told them to, let them pull the strings while they played Alpha on paper.
If that’s what they were looking for, they’d never get it–not in this lifetime, not in their wildest fucking dreams.
Chapter 101
Chapter 101
