KESTER
“Kester? Aren’t you concerned that your sister just left without a word?” My father said to me as soon as I stepped into the house.
I’d spent the night in my office, tying up every thread, smoothing out every wrinkle in my plan. Today was execution day. Every piece was falling neatly into place–Karina included. And once that was done, my company and my Alpha title would be secured, solidified, and untouchable. Then I can go get my mate and take her back to our home, and we’ll live in peace.
Things had never been this perfect before.
Everything was aligned, gliding forward on greased rails.
Suspiciously perfect? Maybe.
But perfection isn’t impossible–not when you have the right brain and a flawlessly loyal right–hand man like Norlan. With Norlan, even impossibilities get scheduled and signed off.
The intervention team should be pulling up any minute now. And June proposed to visit tomorrow. I didn her. She had to be here for me to end things with her.
stop
“She’s fine. No one should bother her,” I said, brushing past my father, already halfway to the stairs. “What do you mean? Jorja’s been crying her eyes out, and she’s been calling nonstop. Kasmine isn’t answering her phone either!”
He sounded panicked and desperate, as if I didn’t hear him the first time or as if I didn’t know all this.
“I said she is fine. I spoke with her. She doesn’t need to be disturbed,” I said through clenched jaws in a clipped voice before walking away, barely leashing the irritation curling in my chest.
Let him pace the floors until his knees gave out. Let him panic himself into a migraine. That was his luxury, not
mine.
I moved fast, taking the stairs two at a time, heading to my room to check the documents Alfred sent to me two days ago, showing the completion of the Elvris contract with Kex – One more locked door in my fortress – 1 bumped into the devil herself.
“Ooh…” she breathed, taking a step back with her hands raised in mock surrender. “Easy there, brother.”
Karina.
I stopped dead in my tracks. One hand slid into my pocket, and I regarded her with calm detachment as if I were seeing her through glass. I didn’t need to speak. I was too busy imagining how she’d look in that soft, sterile white robe real soon–barefoot, her hair pulled back, pupils dilated. Clean, they’d say. Safe. Sedated.
Guess what she had in her hands? The fucking wine bottle that would soon put her out of her current, boring misery into a better one.
“Karina. What were you doing in Kasmine’s room?” I asked leisurely.
She turned lazily, the wine bottle still in her hand like a fucking trophy.
“Nothing” She shrugged, casual to a fault. “Just went to check if she was back. You know, after running off in that ridiculous dramatic fashion One would think she was in some kind of danger.”
25 BONUS
Chapter
“And since when do you care about her this much?” I leaned against my door, my hands still in my pocket. “She’s family,” she replied with a smirk. “You do remember what that means, don’t you?”
I paused, just for effect. Then, I tilted my head.
“How was your little secret meeting with part of my council yesterday?” I asked, almost bored. “Did it yield anything… useful?” I added, studying her.
Oh. Her expression. Her pupils shrank just a bit. Her fingers twitched around the neck of the bottle. She hadn’t expected me to know.
How pathetic.
“It went well,” she said, rallying fast, shoulders straightening. “I’ve convinced more than half the council. They’re beginning to see reason. They know I’m the better fit for the Alpha seat.” She grinned, and I also grinned. If she were smart, she’d know I never laughed, especially at stupid victories declared by inconsequential people like her.
But instead, she stepped deeper into her delusion, her grin widening like a fool walking into her own grave.
“Good luck with that, dear sister,” I murmured, pushing off the wall and reaching for the door handle when she stopped me.
“I think it’s best you just give it up already, Kes. You wouldn’t want things to get messy,” She said, and I knew where this was headed. But I played dumb.
“Messy?” I sighed like she was boring me. “What are you talking about now?”
“Don’t tell me you didn’t get my anonymous email…?” she purred like she was in control of something.
“You just called it ‘anonymous.‘ What makes you think I’d waste a second on anything that doesn’t have a face or a. name behind it?” My brows lifted slightly as if genuinely curious how she could be this stupid.
“Of course, it had more than a face. It had yours and Kasmine’s faces,” She laughed, but I didn’t say a word. I just watched her.
“Well,” she said, stepping even closer, “there’s more where that came from. I already told the council I have damning evidence against you to share in twenty–four hours.” She met my gaze without blinking. “That’s how long you have to step down, Kester. Otherwise, everyone finds out about your little secret with your little sister.” If I hadn’t had every piece of this under control and hadn’t already seen ten steps ahead of her, that might’ve shaken me.
It was one thing to be mated to my stepsister. That alone could stir a scandal among the more self–righteous wolves. Let them talk. They could also take a pilgrimage to the Moon Goddess herself and demand answers for why she bound us.
But what would really get tongues wagging… was the fact that I’d been fucking my stepsister long before fate
sealed it.
That? That was the real bomb. The one Karina thought she was holding. But I guess I didn’t have a damn to give at this point.
“You aren’t saying anything?” Karina probed, but I just chuckled and opened my door.
“Karina…” I murmured, “always so clueless “I shook my head slowly at her before disappearing into my room.
Chapter 144
+25 BONUS
The contracts looked perfect.
My bank account looked even more perfect.
A breathtaking row of digits that made all the stress, all the lies, all the backdoor manipulation worth it.
And now?
Now we had Kex waiting, salivating, and expecting a product that would never fucking arrive.
Poor, stupid bastard.
He really thought he could bleed me dry, smear my name through the dirt, sabotage my company, and walk away unscathed?
He should have known better.
Hell, he should have died smarter.
Knock Knock Knock Knock
The knock was insistent, like someone pounding out a code for urgency.
My head snapped up.
“What the fuck?” I stood up abruptly, wondering who the fuck it was.
I crossed the room, unhooked the latch, and yanked the door open.
It was Jorja
“Mum?” I blinked. Her eyes were wild, her mouth set in a tight line. But she wasn’t panicking, Thank the heavens.. 1 half–expected blood and sirens or something even worse.
But was she… Angry?
“There are men outside,” she said curtly. “Asking for Karina.”
I frowned.
H? Go get Karina, then.”
But she didn’t move. She just stared at me like I had personally betrayed her.
Her face contorted, frustration bubbling to the surface.
“This is what I’ve been saying to your father!” she burst. “That woman brings nothing but trouble! Always stirring and scheming, trying so hard to ruin our name! I warned-”
“Jorja. I placed both hands on her shoulders to steady her “Slow down. You’re rambling What exactly is going on? Who are these men?”
She heaved a deep sigh like she’d been holding her breath for too long, “The Crisis Intervention Team.” She said in a light voice.
A slow, delicious sinile curled up the side of my face.
They were finally here.
Chapter 144
And now, my judgment would come upon Karina in a way she couldn’t escape.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 145
