All Chapters of SCARLETT: Possessing The Queen They Tried To Ruin: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

“She's not even his real daughter.”I froze outside Father's study, my hand inches from the doorknob. Luna Blackwood's voice carried through the heavy oak, sharp with satisfaction.“Are you certain?” That was Elder Morrison, his tone grave.“Completely. Richard suspected her two years before he died. The timeline never matched—Margaret was already pregnant when they mated. With some rogue's bastard.”My knees nearly gave out. The world tilted sideways as sixteen years of questions suddenly made sense. Why Father never looked at me the same way he looked at the boys. Why did my wolf never came. Why I never belonged.“That explains everything,” Elder Morrison murmured. “The weakness, the failure to shift…”“Tainted blood,” Luna Blackwood said with finality. “And now she's sixteen”I pressed my back against the wall, Pip warm in my arms. He sensed my distress, nuzzling closer.“What do you propose?”“Banishment. Tonight, while the pack's still gathered. We can make it official.”My stoma

“If you think fifty million is acceptable for the Seattle waterfront project, you're clearly not paying attention.”I leaned back in my leather chair, watching the three suits across from me squirm. The conference room overlooked the Crimson Moon territory's business district—glass towers and green spaces that I'd helped design and finance.“Miss Valdris,” the lead developer stammered, “the market projections—”“Are conservative bullshit.” I slid the revised contract across the polished table. “Seventy-five million, or find another investor. I don't do charity work.”The man's face flushed red. “That's highway robbery.”“No, that's business.” I smiled, my expression sharp enough to cut. “You want to build on prime real estate in my territory, you pay prime prices. Simple economics.”His colleague leaned forward. “Perhaps we could discuss a compromise—”“There is no compromise. Seventy-five million, take it or leave it.” I stood, smoothing down my tailored black suit. “You have until f