Chapter 5

Danielle's POV

George laughs loudly, nearly doubling over in his seat. It takes a while for him to realise that he's the only one laughing because aside from him, everyone else knows that Rhett isn't bluffing. 

I can see the dead set look in his eyes. He really did come for his pound of flesh and that pound of flesh is going to be cut from me.

George finally suppresses his laughter and looks at Rhett with bewilderment. "Y-you're serious?" He stutters.

"Did it look like I was joking?" Rhett asks dryly, his attention still fixed on me as though he's waiting to see my reaction. He's probably waiting for a scream, a tantrum, or perhaps a string of insults and curses hurled at him. All of which he would rightfully deserve. Yet none of those responses comes out of me. I sit in my seat, staring back at him as my mind tries to catch up with what is happening in this moment. It all seems like a lucid dream. One that it doesn't look like I'll be waking up from anytime soon. 

I finally find my voice and the first words that leave my lips are, "You're insane."

George's head swings in my direction as he lets out a gasp. From my peripheral vision, I catch him staring at me as though I've lost my mind. But Rhett? Rhett just chuckles. He acts as though I didn't just insult him. As though I couldn't get beheaded for what I just did.

George lets out an awkward laugh to try and salvage the situation. "Alpha, I'm afraid that what you asked for would be impossible to fulfil. Danielle is my Luna." 

At George's last words, the vein at the side of Rhett's neck jumps, and he clenches his jaw. He pins George down with a murderous stare. "When you were on your knees and begging me to save your pathetic pack, I told you that it would cost you greatly. You replied that you were willing to do whatever it takes. Are you going back on your words?"

All the colour drains out of George's face.

I grow tired of sitting quietly while these two men decide over my fate like I'm not even present in the room. "I'm not a commodity to be bought or passed around," I spit out. 

Rhett looks over at me blankly. "I didn't say you were," he replies evenly and calmly. He looks back at George. "Get out," he orders.

George nearly jumps ten feet into the air as he leaps up to obey Rhett's command.

I close my eyes in shame as my husband rushes out of the room and leaves me alone to defend myself. 

"Is that what you call your husband?" Rhett asks, breaking the silence that has taken over the room. "He's a spineless fool. Why exactly would you want to say by his side?"

I open my eyes slowly to find him staring at me with an arched brow. I straighten my spine, not able to let his words get to me. "I don't need him to stand over me and act as my watchdog. I can defend myself."

He tilts his head to the side. "You didn't answer my question. Why do you want to stay by his side when it's obvious that he doesn't care for you? I'm not a saint but I can guarantee that I wouldn't have such a low regard for you if you decide to leave with me."

I breathe in harshly through my nostrils to calm myself so that I don't snap. Lashing out isn't going to get me anywhere. "Do you even hear yourself?" I let out a humourless laugh because if I don't laugh at how insane this is, then I'm going to start screaming. "You just met me today and you want me to leave my pack and go with you?" I ask incredulously. "I have a fucking husband and I'm the Luna of this pack. You're crazy for thinking that I will leave all that behind and go with you."

Something flashes in his eyes but it's gone in a second before I can decipher what it is. 

Rhett shakes his head. "It seems I have been going about this the wrong way." He looks me straight in the eye. "You seem to think you have a choice here."

A chill runs down my spine. 

"Leave with me or I'll wreak havoc on your pack. Everyone you know and love will be a mere memory by the time that I'm done." 

"You can't do that," I whisper shakily, dread curling and twisting within me.

"I can and I will," he whispers back, his voice holding a note of threat. "I will ruin everything you hold dear to you. And you'll have no one to blame but yourself."

The rumours and whispers spoken about him suddenly appear in my mind. All the talks about him being ruthless and heartless hadn't been a lie. They were all right. In fact, they left out the fact that he's a beast because that's all I see as I look at the man seated in front of me.

"So what is it going to be? Are you going to leave with me or am I going to have to kill a bunch of people today?" He asks softly like he's asking me to choose between two breakfast meals. 

I clench my teeth together, hatred growing into a flame within me that threatens to swallow me whole. 

I don't have a choice in this matter. Not if I want to save everyone that I've known all my life. I don't have many friends in this pack, but there are people that I can't bear to bring harm to. 

"What is it going to be?" Rhett questions with a sick smile stretched on his lips.

I pry my teeth open and force the words out. "I'll go with you."

He winks at me. "Good choice."