Chapter 6

Derek was seated on his couch, going through a few pages of his documents when Anna walked in with a smile.

“Well aren’t you as busy as a bee,” she laughed as Derek sighed.

“What do you want?”

“I’m just here to see you and how you’re doing.”

“I’m not in the mood for your games Anna,” the alpha growled. “Tell me what you want or leave.”

Anna stepped closer, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. “It’s about Lyra, the traitor you’ve locked in the dungeons.”

The sound of Lyra’s name caused Derek’s jaw to tighten. “What about her? She’s a threat to us all and she’ll remain where she is.”

He didn’t believe that but he didn’t care at this point. She had slept with the enemy and that meant that she was a traitor.

“I do too, Alpha. She’s betrayed us all and doesn’t deserve our mercy. I don’t even know what she did but you’re right. She deserves to be locked up to never see the sun again. But don’t you think it’s about time someone took care of her? You’ve got too much on your plate to do with the pack to even think of sorting her out yourself. You can’t deal with her. You need someone else to do the dirty work for you. I’m sure even you can attest to that.”

She smiled and got to him, rubbing his shoulders while he turned to face her as she smiled at him with a seductive smile.

His eyes fell to her showing cleavage as he turned back to her face.

Derek thought about what she’d said, frowning as he leant forward slightly in his seat. “What exactly are you suggesting here?”

Anna took another step closer, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. “Just let me handle her for you, Derek. Give me the right to punish her.”

He frowned at her. “You’re not an enforcer or warrior, Anna. Why would I give you that right?”

He turned to face his desk as she rushed around to stand before his chair with a smile.

Anna’s smile didn’t waver as she knew what she wanted and she was ready to get it. Lyra had crossed the line when she tried getting close to her man. Why beat her illegally when she could do it before her alpha and get applauded for it?

She placed a dainty hand on the armrest of his chair, her fingers barely grazing his. “Because I care about you, Derek. That’s why I want to do this. I care about this pack. I want to show you how much I love this pack and you.”

Derek reclined in his seat, gaze searching hers. “Love? Or are you hoping to get back at Lyra for something?”

Anna’s expression shifted and a touch of sadness crossed her face. It was fake but she didn’t care. She was going to act like she cared so it would drive home the point of her being before the alpha. “I’m not going to lie, Lyra hurt me too. She betrayed us all. But this isn’t about me, it’s about showing the pack that no one can get away with treachery. They are your people, your responsibility as Alpha is to deliver justice. Let me help. I am your woman. Let me do what I can to relieve the stress off your body and let me do what I can to make her regret what she has done. Next time, if there would be a next time, I can swear that she would not do this again.”

Derek didn’t respond and Anna watched him, she could see his doubt seeping back in and knew there was no more time.

She leaned in close and her voice became softer, persuasive. “You’ve always been strong and fair. The pack respects you because you make the hard decisions.” She stepped back and gave him a sad half-smile. “But sometimes, delegating is part of being a leader.” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand and he didn’t know if it would be possible but she’d earned at least that much from him. “Trust me with this, and I swear to you I won’t disappoint you.”

Derek’s lips thinned into a line as his brows drew low over his eyes. “And just how the hell do you plan on ‘dealing’ with her?”

Anna hesitated for a moment before responding. “I’ll question her, make her confess everything she knows. If there are others involved in her betrayal, I’ll find out. And then… I’ll ensure she faces the consequences.”

Derek’s eyes searched hers as if trying to read her true intentions. “This sounds personal, Anna. Are you sure you can handle it without letting your emotions cloud your judgment?”

Anna placed a light but firm hand on his shoulder. "Let me handle it, Derek. For you. For the pack. And this is personal for me. She betrayed the pack, my pack. She doesn’t deserve to be treated well. She is a common criminal and she deserves no mercy.”

He blew out an unsteady breath, holding on to his frustration with iron willpower. "You're nothing if not persistent."

Anna smiled, she could practically feel his resolution crumbling. She brushed her lips against his ear, whispering softly, “Because I have faith in you Derek. Faith in the vision you have for our pack. Let me show you how truly loyal I can be.”

Derek’s shoulders went slack and he slowly nodded, “Okay… okay but Anna this is a heavy burden you're taking on… don’t make me wish I hadn't given it to you.”

Anna smiled wider and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Alpha. You won’t regret it, I promise.”

She backed away and turned, walking toward the door with confidence in her steps.

‘‘Anna,” Derek called after her.

‘Yes, Derek?’ She looked back at him.

“Be careful,” he said.

Anna nodded, her smile never waning. “Always.”

And with that, she was gone, down the corridor and her mind already come alive with plans for where to go next.