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• TWENTY-FIVE • In Her Own Hands <Mature Content>
Last Updated:
2025-04-08 23:50:56
Lorea AsheSamantha is completely disoriented, feeling like there's no solid ground beneath her feet after Richard's jarring, but not totally unexpected, shift. His earlier attentiveness now feels like a cruel betrayal. What were your initial reactions to Richard's change in demeanor? Did it surprise you, or did you see hints of it earlier in the day? How do you think this inconsistency impacts Samantha's ability to trust her own judgment and find a path forward? Please consider using your Free Daily Gem to help support the book!
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Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Twenty-Six
After the Full Moon Run, everybody enjoyed a relaxing day off, except Daniel. Despite the late night, he was in his office shortly after the sun came up.He sorted through emails and contracts, deciding to not accept any new offers while he was tied up with the business in North Carolina. A quick review showed that there were no issues or emergencies needing his attention for the time being, which he was thankful for.His pressing concern was the absent shareholder. What kind of game is he playing? Daniel felt the prolonged absence and lack of communication was a setup or power move by the other party. He shouldn’t have negotiated the deal so quickly, but Blue Ridge couldn’t wait.A year ago, Leonar
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Twenty-Seven
“How do you know the dragons were involved with this?” Daniel asked.“Shane and Patrick were with her,” Daryl responded. Leonard had the two restricted to a cabin not far away, and kept under guard. While Daryl showed Daniel the way, Daniel handed out instructions.“I’ll talk to these two, see what I can figure out, but you didn’t know anything about Leonard and Marta?” Daniel dug for any information that might be pertinent.“Marta was always a handful,” Daryl explained. “There were rumors she was sleeping with different pack members, even some of the mated and married ones.” Daryl shook his head in disgust. “At least, that was the case until maybe six months ago. Leonard brought her up to his office to talk about her behavior and she seem
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Twenty-Eight
Leonard looked sadly into his coffee, and watched as he swirled the dark liquid around in his cup, refusing to meet Daniel’s eyes. The swirls released the sweet scent of caramel from the flavored creamer in it.Daniel waited patiently for him to speak.“Mar-, She, um, a mutual friend brought her to me after she’d been turned. I don’t know who did it, presumably some rogue drifter she’d shacked up with for a while,” Leonard told him. “I tried to help her, the best I could.”“You brought her into the pack,” Daniel guided Leonard. He wanted to confirm his wolf was right. “What did your wolf and pack think?”Leonard shrugged. “The pack, they understood she didn’t have anybody and were willing to give her a chance. My wolf… My wolf was against it from the beginning. Always ch
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Twenty-Nine
The door opened after three quick light taps, and Donna came through without waiting for Daniel's response. She made herself comfortable on the deep red leather tufted armchair with dark walnut arms and legs. It matched Daniel’s desk that sat positioned in front of, but slightly off center where Lucas tended to leave it for some unknown reason. Daniel was sure it was just done to irritate him, so after a while, he quit moving it back, hoping Lucas would tire of the game. That was three years ago.The shiny brass buttons on the chair complimented the brass wolfhead embellishment on the corners of his desk and they caught the light out of the corner of his eye as he watched her through his peripherals.“So, you want to tell me about this girl?” she asked knowingly after she adjusted her sweater.&ldq
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Thirty
The rest of the day was spent making sure Clearfork, pack and business, was set to run efficiently for the next month. He went over the changes and schedules Justin had incorporated. Everything looked solid enough, even if Daniel itched to make changes, he reminded himself to trust Justin, that he’d never learn anything if Daniel made him do it Daniel’s own way.“Your plan looks solid,” Daniel complimented him. “Just like last time, any issues, check with Donna first. I know you’ve got Emmanuel and Shane running point on a few things, but if you find yourself needing an extra set, feel free to use Henry.”Daniel wasn’t going to give Henry a push, but it wouldn’t hurt to give Justin a little nudge in his direction.Daniel dropped by the house to check on eve
Last Updated : 2025-04-11Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Thirty-One
The Blue Ridge Pack lived in the mountains about an hour’s drive from the city outside of a small, but bustling town. The town was full of humans, but their packhouse was a larger house tucked into a clearing with a couple of cabins located around the property. The area was big enough for the whole pack so they were scattered in and around the town.About ten wolves stayed at the packhouse full time, including Leonard and Daryl. Daryl’s wife was a human and worked as a nurse at the local hospital. There was an almost relaxed and settled atmosphere that was missing when Daniel came here a year ago.He could also see fresh repairs done to a few of the buildings, a large garden on the side of the house and chickens foraging. The dirt road was freshly scraped and gravel put down in the pot holes. Judd was waiting with Leonard on the porch in rocki
Last Updated : 2025-04-11Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Thirty-Two
Lucas couldn’t contain his loud bark of a laugh that sliced through the tension building in the room, amused at her audacity. “Damn Leonard, you’ve got a bit of a spitfire on your hands, haven’t you?”“Excuse me?” Paige turned her icy gaze on Lucas in anger and disbelief. Daniel sat back, a sense of unease encroaching within him, waiting and watching how this would unfold. Leonard, his face etched with weariness, closed his eyes briefly. This was not the first meeting he’d hoped for. He knew introducing Daniel to Paige might be uncomfortable, but that’s why he tried to get her to focus on her business idea and why he wanted her to deliver it to Daniel. It was a good one and she was proud of it. He felt it would give her a chance to get to know Daniel apart from the rumors that circulated about him.It was odd she didn’t seem to hold any of that angst against Judd, who was also here at that time. Leonard wondered what she thought she knew. It wasn’t anything they discussed before and
Last Updated : 2025-04-12Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Thirty-Three
Paige didn’t join the guys for lunch after leaving Leonard’s office. She retreated upstairs to her room. The Blue Ridge packhouse was an old, farm style home, with dark wood floors, white trim and walls and a wide staircase that descended into the main foyer. The men heard her as she walked up the stairs.They sat at the dining table and indulged in small talk after the tense conversation. Daniel heard some of the pack members stop in and grab a plate from the kitchen then leave again, without coming into the dining room, letting the alpha enjoy an uninterrupted visit.Occasionally, Lucas would glance up at the ceiling in the direction of where they last heard Paige’s feet move, exposing his curiosity and worry for her. Daniel could see he felt bad for his earlier actions, and Lucas rarely felt bad about anything.“Leonard,” Daniel said, as his index finger tapped his bottom lip and he leaned on his elbows on the table. “I want to start integrating Blue Ridge into Elevated.”“I don’t
Last Updated : 2025-04-12
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Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Sixty-Two
Daniel was up early, feeling refreshed on Friday morning. He put on a pot of coffee for everyone, then slipped out and grabbed some bagels before they woke up.Thomas came out of his room while Daniel was setting the bagels out. “Alpha,” he greeted Daniel. Daniel nodded good morning while he bit into a bagel. Paige came out, looking half asleep still, and following her nose to the coffee.“Oh, good,” she crooned as she wrapped her hands around her mug and sipped the hot beverage before adding sugar and creamers to it. After a few more sips, she peeked up at Daniel with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Thanks, Mr. Covington. Did you sleep well last night?”“I slept very well, Paige,” he said carefully, wondering what she was up to. “And you?” It was almost like a switch had been flipped since yesterday. She seemed comfortable around him this morning.“Well, we were up late last night,” she told him. “But I think we narrowed it down to three for your approval.”“I trust the two of you,”
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Sixty-One
The rest of the dinner and evening with Edward and Mauricio went smoothly, if not necessarily comfortably. Samantha saw Richard was noticing her now, but the looks he kept casting her way were dark and thoughtful. They were making her nervous, but she tried not to show it as she resumed her practiced smile and commented politely when it seemed appropriate.After what felt like forever, dessert was served and cleared. She helped Mauricio with a quick cleanup in the kitchen, then it was time for Samantha and Richard to leave. Mauricio kissed the air next to her cheek, just like when he greeted her, looking for a promise from her to come back and see the horses, and Edward squeezed her hand, letting her know he would be in touch with her soon.Richard opened the car door for Samantha, and she felt he slammed it with more force than necessary. He didn’t look at her
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Sixty
Samantha caught Edward’s comment about being here twice this week. She wondered when and why he was over here, but then realized she didn’t know anything about his whereabouts or motivations anymore.She was anxious to get out of the room and out from under Edward’s scrutiny, so after polite greetings, she retired to the kitchen. She found Mauricio putting some final touches on a charcuterie board. He looked up and smiled widely, holding his hands up in the air.“Ah! Sobrina hermosa!” He exclaimed as he came around the island. He held her shoulders and gave her dos besos, or two kisses, one in the air next to each cheek.“Mauricio,” Samantha greeted him warmly. Maricio always seemed a little more reserved around Richard, but around her, he blossomed like a flower. He claimed she reminded him of his nieces back home, and he was a breath of fresh air after her emotionally tense day.In his presence, she could forget Richard’s oppressive cloud that had been hanging over her. Mauricio was
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Nine
Richard roused when he felt Mari slip away from him. She seemed off and quieter than usual, and he got dressed while she sorted through her thoughts. By the time they finished dressing, an awkward silence had descended upon them.“I’m checking out of the room,” he told her. “Join me for lunch downstairs?” He saw her contemplating his request before she nodded.They were seated at a table in the hotel restaurant when Richard’s phone rang. A quick look told him he needed to answer it.“Uncle Edward,” Richard answered the call matter-of-factly.“Richard,” Edward greeted back with slightly more gusto. “Mauricio is hoping to get together this weekend. He’s been wanting to cook paella, which would be the perfect time for you and Samantha to join us! Please have her call me so
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Eight
Richard was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to pay much attention to Samantha’s quiet distance. He spent the majority of his day in his study, with no interest in focusing on anything he set out to do, which was catching up on his week away from work.He was on automatic pilot as he showered and was getting ready for Uncle Edward’s dinner tonight. He placed the wine Samantha had set aside in a chilled tote and put it in the car. He came back inside and called up to her. She came down the stairs in a peach dress and white cotton wrap, and even though she looked beautiful, the effect was mostly lost on him.On the ride to Uncle Eddie’s, his jaw tensed as he thought about yesterday. He didn’t go back to work; he’d gone back to his room in the hotel, intending to check out, but a knock on the door shortly after he arrived r
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Seven
Saturday afternoon, Samantha was getting ready for dinner at Edward’s. Even though she didn’t see Richard at all yesterday - he was gone before she woke and back after she went to bed, he did text her a couple of times.Good morning, beautiful.She opened it, but then ignored it. The next one came just after lunch.Spoke to Uncle E. He wants you to call him to set up a date for dinner with them.Apprehension filled her as her immediate urge was to decline, but Uncle Eddie didn’t know anything that was going on. She preferred to keep it that way. Just because she was conflicted about Richard, for right now, they had an image to maintain.And Uncle Edward was a true Southern Gentleman. He was soft-spoken, proper, and didn’t outwardly show his anger, and was quick to express his displeasure. And underneath it all, even though he was Richard’s uncle, and Edward had no children of his own, he assumed the role of family patriarch.The downside was that he also believed the husband was the ‘
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Six
A giddy feeling welled up in Samantha. Daniel texted her back. She couldn’t stop the smile on her face when she read his last text.Goodnight, Samantha.He was appreciative of the meal she bought. And he asked if she got home safely. Richard didn’t even care if she was gone, as long as she was here when he was.She felt better for setting an appointment to discuss security options for her home. But it also meant he was going to need to come by to figure out what she needed.She wasn’t ready for that yet, hence why she set a meetup for Tuesday. She inherently knew she could trust him. He had already proven that her safety was a priority for him, whether it stemmed from his profession or because he cared about her, she didn’t know.
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Five
When they returned to the hotel, it was pushing nine. Thomas retreated immediately, grumbling about being up before everyone else this morning.Thomas is getting a little cranky, Daniel thought aimlessly. He poured himself an Irish whiskey.His wolf is cranky, Daniel’s wolf commented. All of their wolves are getting restless.I’ll take everyone up for a run at Blue Ridge on Saturday, Daniel promised. Why aren’t you cranky, then? Daniel heard a coughing chuckle from his wolf at the question.
Worthless No More • Alpha's Treasure • Chapter Fifty-Four
Samantha returned home and retreated to her bedroom. She still wasn’t ready to be in the living room, and she didn’t want to be downstairs when, or if, Richard came home tonight.It was ironic that just a few short weeks ago, his absence upset her, and now, the thought of his presence was almost too much to bear.She ran a hot bath. It was still early in the day, but she hoped the heat and some essential oils would relieve the knots of tension embedded in her back and shoulders, and she thought about her meeting with Mandy. It didn’t go how she expected.What did you expect? The silent, sarcastic voice mocked her. She didn’t have an answer to that. She just knew now that she had some big decisions to make.Mandy laid out a few options. Talk to a psychiatrist. File a restraining order. Petition for Divorce from Bed and Board. All of it was so detailed and were huge steps. It felt like overreacting. He had already left and had a chance to calm down. That moment last night was on both of
