BONUS CHAPTER: BORIN'S POV

BONUS CHAPTER

***BORIN'S POV****

​ The notification on my private phone chimes at exactly 11 : 42 PM. It must be important for it to be on my private phone.

I exhale deeply as I narrow my eyes to go over the documents detailing the expenses of transport for one of my hubs at Perth.

It's a lot. And we're running out of time.

I bring my head even closer to the laptop on my desk to read the sub headings of this document.

Why are the letters so small?

My doctor has advised to take my meds more often or at least wear glasses and I've refused every single time.

Werewolves are supposed to have exceptional eyesight and it is a taboo for especially an alpha to wear glasses. Although, it's hard to maintain such eyesight as a Veil. Shadowcrests have a long history of being more susceptible to blindness.

Masking comes at a price.

I don't look at the message immediately, instead, I reach for the glass of whiskey beside me. I swirl the amber liquid, watching the ice cube melt against the crystal, before finally taking a sip.

I finally glance at the encrypted text from my assistant, Emily.

More work.

​

"Sir, a representative from Moss City just reached out. Mei Chatteris is requesting an immediate, one-on-one meeting with you. Her assistant explicitly stated it must be 'on her terms.' "

​A slow, genuine smile spreads across my face. I down the rest of the whiskey, the burn a welcome distraction from the stagnant air of my private study.

Miss Chatteris never ceases to amaze me.

​

"On her terms," I murmur to the empty room, letting out a dark laugh. The sound vibrating through the walls of the room.

​

Fascinating.

​

Most Alphas—hell, most corporate titans—would be on their knees begging for our defensive perimeter coordinates after the stunt the Ironclaws pulled tonight.

My intel network had flagged the explosion at Hub Three exactly six minutes after it happened.

A localized strike.

A show of raw, unchecked physical dominance meant to terrify her human staff and rattle her cage.

​

The Ironclaws expected her to run. I knew she would fight.

​

I lean back in my chair before reaching for the small, black leather-bound notebook. Flipping it open to her page, I run a finger down the bullet points I’ve compiled.

​

• Absolutely hates being cornered.

• Values leverage over money.

​

I pull a heavy silver pen from my desk and add a new line to the bottom:

​• Becomes lethal when backed into a wall.

​

The fact that she didn't call the human authorities proves she understands the true gravity of the situation. She knows she's dealing with monsters now, not rival tech CEOs. But instead of calling me to plead for protection, she throws down a gauntlet. She wants me to think she’s still holding the leash.

​

I tap my fingers rhythmically on the desk, my inner wolf stirring with an intense, predatory anticipation.

​If I reject her terms, she’ll dig her heels in out of pure spite, risking her empire just to prove a point. If I accept too easily, her sharp instincts will sniff out the trap.

I need to give her the illusion of victory.

​

I pull up my phone and stare at the blurred figures on the report for another stubborn minute.

Damn it.

I unlock the third drawer and hesitantly reach for the glasses tucked deep in it. I wear them before dictating a reply to "Emily".

​

I will wear them only this once.

"Tell her assistant we accept. Let her name the place and the hour. But clear my schedule for the entire day. When she arrives, I want no elders, no security details, and no disruptions. Just her and me."

My eyes relax into the glasses and I stare at the texts before me.

Not bad.

I nod my head and refuse to let this make me have a change of heart.

I take them off and return them to where they belong.

​

Mei Chatteris thinks she is marching into enemy territory to dictate a treaty. She doesn't realize that I am willingly handing her the reins, purely because I want to see how hard she pulls them.

​

Let her believe she is the one calling the shots. By the time she realizes the trap has already sprung, she’ll already be wearing my ring, and the Ironclaws will be nothing but ash beneath our combined feet.

There'll be no turning back.

​

I lean back in my chair, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the motion sensor lamps illuminating the garden up ahead.

​

Bring it on, little wolf. Let's see what your terms are.

Hi there,

Phoenix here, how are y'all doing?

are we excited withhow things are going?

both alpha's think they're playing each other.

who's gonna tell them? lmao.

see you in the next chapter.

Love,

Phoenix.