CHAPTER 12

Ryley

My stomach grumbled as I made my way into the dining room. It wasn't busy, so I grabbed a sandwich, some fruit, and a bottle of water. I had Channing's voice nagging in my head about eating more, so I grabbed a diet soda too. I sat down at an empty table, opened the container of cut-up fruit and berries, and started scrolling through my emails. I could feel curious eyes on me, and it twisted my stomach. I should have taken everything back to my office to eat at my desk.

It didn't take long before I was lost in all the unread messages, and by the time I looked up, I'd already finished eating. I was just wrapping up an email before heading back to my office when the clicking of heels on the tile floor caught my attention. They stopped right in front of my table. I could feel someone's intense glare, but little did they know I was used to being glared at, and no one intimidated me. A foot started tapping impatiently while I took my sweet time finishing my email before finally lifting my eyes to the woman standing over me.

A tall brunette in a very short black halter dress, a full face of makeup on. She looked ready to hit a club, not the pack house dining room. I glanced at my phone screen to check the time Beta Luca would've come and found me by now if I was actually running late.

"Our alpha will never want a rogue," she sneered, her nasal voice making me cringe.

"Excuse me?" I asked, standing up from my seat. I sized her up. I was taller than her, even in her four-inch heels.

"Alpha Blake is too good for you. Leave before you humiliate yourself," she snorted. I stood there, staring at her glaring face, unable to decide whether I wanted to laugh in it or feel sorry for her stupidity.

"But he's good enough for you?" I asked with a smirk. Who was I kidding I could never back down from something like this.

"How dare you? He is mine, and everyone knows it," she shrieked.

"Does he know that?" I pressed my lips together to hold back a laugh at her gaping expression.

"Of course he does. We're just waiting until his son leaves for alpha training," she huffed, actually stomping her foot like a child. The mention of Aspen alone had my blood boiling. I'd only known him a few days, but he was wonderful the perfect best friend for my son.

"And what the hell is wrong with Aspen?" I gritted out.

"I will never be that bitch's replacement," she growled, and the venom in it caught me off guard.

"First that 'bitch' was your former Luna, so show some goddamn respect. Second, a bitch like you would never be good enough to replace his mother in the first place. And third, if you actually loved the alpha, you'd love his son too. So take that all away and what's left is you wanting his title, his money, and his power. And if he didn't want you before I got here, he's sure as hell not going to want you once I'm gone. Not that I blame him. How does someone get that heartless toward a child who lost his mother, your Luna? Says everything about what a selfish cunt you actually are," I finished, bitter to the last word. I could shrug off insults aimed at me and even at the alpha. I couldn't shrug off Aspen. He deserved better than that, always.

"You — bitch," she screamed, snatching my open water bottle off the table and flinging what was left of it straight into my face.

Before I fully registered what had happened, I had her pinned across the table, my hand at her throat, nails digging into her skin.

"I signed a contract to respect this alpha's rule over his pack. But if you ever come near me again, my wolf will drag whatever's left of yours across the border and rip it apart. Are we clear?" I growled, inches from her face. She clawed uselessly at my grip, tears welling up as my Luna's aura pressed down over her like a physical weight. I shoved her back, and she stumbled, barely catching herself before she hit the floor. I cleaned up the mess on the table, grabbed my phone, and marched out of the dining room with my head held high, even with my white blouse gone completely sheer.

I needed my keys before I could head home to change.

"You should have let me kill her," Lily growled in annoyance.

"And piss off the alpha? I can't let you kill someone for no reason," I retorted.

"Oh please. All you'd have to do is get on your knees and all would be forgiven." I groaned at her response.

"And what kind of message would that send? He's bound by the law, same as his pack, same as us now, apparently. As long as this contract's still valid, we follow the rules." Lily growled, clearly unhappy with my answer, before retreating to the back of my mind.

I walked into my office and found more boxes waiting. Sighing, I grabbed my keys and purse and locked the door behind me on my way out. Good thing the house was close by and thankfully, with my purse clutched in front of my chest, no one could see just how soaked my blouse actually was. Walking up the porch steps, my phone chimed.

Channing: Going out with Aspen tonight.

Me: Okay, sweetie. Be safe. Text me when you get home. I may still be at the office.

Channing: Lots of work?

Me: You have no idea. Love you.

I unlocked the front door and rushed to clean myself up. I might need to start keeping a spare change of clothes at the office and this was only my first day. I grabbed a sweater to leave there, just in case this turned into a regular occurrence.

I changed into dark jeans, a blouse, and my white sneakers. If I was going to spend the rest of the night on the floor going through boxes, I could at least do it in comfort. My back and my legs might never fully forgive me for this case.

I made myself a coffee, grabbed a fresh bottle of water, and headed back out. I wasn't setting foot in that dining room again if I could help it.

Monday. Why do you have to suck so bad?