LOGINThis chapter took forever because my hands decided my keyboard was a bed. Worth it, though
Melvin POV"You think you can just stand there and ignore me, Santiago?" I slam my fist onto the top of the cocktail table.The crystal flutes rattle against the glass surface. The champagne inside them sloshes over the rims, spilling onto the polished marble floor.Santiago does not even turn his head. He stands ten yards away in the center of the Eternal Palace, surrounded by the Alphas of the southern packs. He wears the heavy, gold-trimmed robes of the Lycan King. His broad back remains a solid, unmoving wall of muscle. He completely blocks me out from the circle of power."Melvin, lower your voice," Chloe whispers, her hand snapping sideways to grip my forearm. Her manicured nails dig straight through the fabric of my suit jacket, biting into my skin. "Everyone is looking. The cameras from
Penelope POV“What, here to give me another warning?”The laptop screen flickered against the dark walls of my office. Julian stared back at me, his jaw set so tight the skin around his mouth looked grey. His uniform was immaculate, every button on his collar done up to the throat.“That is not what I meant, Penelope,” he said.I leaned back in my chair and let out a dry, rattling laugh. “Didn’t you Blue-Claw Pack folks scheme all this just to take me down a peg?”Julian blinked once, his eyes cold and steady through the digital feed. “You went too far today. Violence only drives resentment deeper. Just return the item to Melvin, and I will take care of the rest. I will clean up the mess online.”My finge
Julian POV“What did you say?!” Father Melvin roared through the comms.The sound tore through my skull.“Santiago went to Westview himself?!”I kept silent.My boots scraped against the cold stone floor of the Blue-Claw Pack headquarters.I leaned my weight against the heavy oak desk just to stay upright.The world tilted under my feet.It was over.Everything we built was over.The reporters Father sent to humiliate Penelope did not break her.They did not force her to crawl back to us.Instead, they delivered a massive slap across our faces in front of the Lycan King himself.This was not a simple family dispute anymore.This was an act of total war against the Rogue Pack royal family.It was direct.It was unprovoked.It was completely unforgivable.&ldquo
Penelope POV"Get back in the car, Penelope," Leif says, his hand slamming against the cold metal of the VIP exit door.I don't move. I pull the black cap lower until the brim cuts off my vision, hiding everything but the hundreds of lenses flashing on the other side of the glass."They are waiting for a bloodbath," Leif mutters, his fingers twitching toward his waist where his piece is tucked into his belt. "Let me take the front. You take the tunnel.""No," I say.I push past his shoulder. My boot hits the concrete outside."Is it true you slept your way to the top of the Westview Governorship?" a reporter yells, shoving a microphone five inches from my nose.
Melvin POV"Bring me the Ancestor's Fang by midnight, Penelope, or I will burn every single thing you love to ashes."I slam my fist onto the mahogany desk. The polished wood splits down the centre."Is that a threat, Alpha Melvin? Because it sounds a bit desperate."Penelope's voice leaks out of the encrypted communicator speaker. She sounds bored. She sounds like she is chewing gum."It is a promise," I growl."Right. Well, I am currently trying to buy a limited edition bracelet online, so you are really throwing off my timing.""Three days, Penelope. Three whole days I have let my media storm tear your name to shreds across the Pack network. You are a rogue
Penelope Rogue Pack POV“He activated every hidden intelligence channel and media mouthpiece under the Blue-Claw Pack control.”My brother Cooper stared out from the glowing screen on my desk. His face held a knowing, cold smile. The pixels cracked slightly as he leaned forward, shifting his weight.“His goal is simple, Penelope. Melvin wants to force you to surrender. He wants to use your reputation as leverage to get the Ancestor Fang back.”I looked down at my knuckles, tracing the pale skin over the bone.“What a clever move,” I said.I did not let the anger hit my face. I forced a laugh, making it drop flat in the quiet room.“Fat







