Chapter 12
Chapter 12
(Siena’s POV)
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The dim glow of my phone fades, leaving me staring at the reflection in the black screen–my reflection.
Drumming my fingers mindlessly againstthe smooth surface of my desk, a hollow weight of regret settles over me.
Ollic lounges on the couch infront of my desk, scrolling her phone, absentmindley chewing on the end of a pen.
“He still hasn’t replied?” She asks, glancing at me from under thick luxuoripus lashes.
I shouldn’t expect a response.
Ollie purses her lips, twirling the pen between her fingers. “You’re spiraling.” she notes, shifting her position. “I get it, but let’s not pretend this was ever going to go differently.”
I say, “You know Zion has always looked down on me. Olic.”
Olivia says, “Okay, let’s wait him. By the way, Windhowl has kept your father’s passing a secret… Alpha King–I mean, Raiden, does he know?”
I reply, “I wanted to tell him, but obviously, he would only take it as a joke.”
…Without a doubt, he would.
Raiden has already lost patience with Windhowl, and my pack is in an extremely fragile state. Even the slightest turmoil could cause drastic changes. At this critical moment, I cannot afford to make any reckless decisions.
Thinking of my father, a sharp pain pierced my heart for a moment.
…I will tell him when the time is right,” I say.
Time ticks by, sharing in my agony until a half–hour of complete silence has passed.
Then, as if the Goddess herself had inetrevened, the phone vibrate.
My pulse jumps.
IT’s not a reply from Zion–it’s a call form Raiden.
Raiden never calls. Ever.
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Ollie sits up straight, eyes widening. “Raiden? That’s weird.”
This can’t be good.
Hesitating, I take a deep breath and decide to do the unthinkable–answer.
“Hello?”
I pick it up.
“Siena.” A heavy pause.
“I hope you’ve not cooked anymore of your fantasies about this marriage. We have a solid agreement. Do not embarrass me and do not betray.”
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Chapter 12
…Betray? What?
IIIs voice is cold, blunt. It’s unusual. All I can think of is what does he mean?
“Excuse me? Raiden-“1.
“I know you contacted Zion.” Him.
His words land precisely where they’re meant to.
I gripping the edge of my desk. “My business with Zion is my own, Riaden.”
“Increet. You are my business. He is my best friend. This has everything to ddo with me.,” he replies flatly. “If this is aboutthe SOA (The Summit of Alphas) competition, i’ll warn you off it now. Don’t even bother fighting for a spot, Siena, you won’t win.”
Ollie narrows her eyes, silently shaking her head in disbelief.” Unbelievable,” she mutters, crossing her arms. “The audacity of this man.”
Anger simmers beneath my skin, bubbling up aster than I can control. “You almost never call me, and when you do it’s to remind me I’m a usueles Luna? Is that the long and short of it?”
For a moment there’s silence on teh oher end. I can just imagine him standing there, perfectly composed, lips pressed teogetehr in an unbreakable fashion.
“Listen, I …I just wanted to let you know that teh first round of SOA is next week. I will need yo to attend as Luna naturally.”
I stiffen immediately. The tone is devoid of warmth, emotion–anything remotely suitable for a husband.
But then again, you’re divorcing him.
The thought rattles in teh back of my mind. It’s a small comfort, but in the face of my greatest opooser, I will take what I can
get.
He releases a sigh, as if each second on the line subtracts from his serenity. But you are right–I truly gave too little in this marriage.”
“I’ll compensate $10,000,000. Not a penny more. I will expect you there at the appropriate time and location.”
I cut him off, “Wait, betray, what you mean?”
“I love you so much…past. You know it, I will never do it!”
Ten years…ten wasteful, painful years. He’s had warmer inetractiosn over business dinners with perfect strangers.
He’s treating this like a reward. As if I’m something that can be boougt, paid for, and delegated at will.
A pawn.
Now, he’s even questioning my love…?
My fingers tighten around the phone. Ittakes all my strength to remain composed and play my part.
“Lila will make the necessary arrangements….as usual.” He did not answer me.
And that’s the answer.
Of course. Of course she will.
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Chapter 12
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Swallowing down the lup in my throat, the voice i force past my tongue is steadeier than I thought it would be and I am grateful. “Noted.”
The line dies.
Ollie throws her hands up in frustration. “Are you kidding me?” she practically yells. “He’s letting Lila handle this? Has he lost his mind? That girl won’t do a damn thing to help you!”
I rub my temples, exhaustion pressing down on me.
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“Maybe he trusts her.” The words taste bitter. “Lila’s work ability is well–known. For something this important, she wouldn’t deliberately go against me.”
But even as I say it, doubt creeps in. I send Lila a message, a simple request for information.
Her response is immediate. Mocking.
A curt dismissal followed by an unmistakable message: she won’t be helping me.
And then–she blocks me.
I exhale sharply, tossing my phone onto the desk. “Well, that went about as expected.”
Ollie scoffs. “She’s unbelievable. But lucky for you, I have my own sources.” She winks, then pulls out her phone, scrolling rapidly. “It’s not as much as Lila would have, but it’s something.”
I lean in as she shows me the details. The competition is built around the theme of strength–a concept that, in our world, usually equates to raw, brute power. Every alpha is expected to submit a proposal showcasing their pack’s might and unique characteristics.
Ollie watches me carefully. “Siena… you do realize this plays right into Raiden’s strengths, right? He’s the Alpha King. His army is powerful, his strategies flawless. He’ll dominate this competition.” She hesitates. “Do you really want to go up against him?”
I sit back, thinking. Strength. Everyone assumes it means force, war, dominance. But does it?
I am a sovereign as much as he. I have dreams, ambitious…
I think of my father. Before he died, he was a great alpha–not just because he was strong, but because he understood the true weight of power.
He and my mother built schools, organized relief efforts, worked on projects that changed lives. Their strength wasn’t in how many battles they won, but in what they built for their people.
A spark ignites in my chest. Maybe my strength isn’t in fighting. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have any. Absentmindedly, I grab a pen, letting my thoughts spill onto paper. I sketch, I write, my mind racing with ideas.
After a while, I push the paper toward Ollie. “What do you think?”
She scans it. “Siena…”
I waited a long time for her reaction.
Olivia has always been the smart one among us. Slightly rebellious by nature, she ran away from home before she even came of age and built her own small business. She has seen many remarkable things, and this proposal is merely something I put together casually…
After a long silence, Olivia’s expression shifting from curiosity to shock.
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Chapter 12
I bite my lip. “…How you think?”
“…It truly shocks me.”
Olivia looks up, eyes wide. “This is brilliant. I’m not joking at all.”
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She stares at me intently, her expression firm and serious, and says, “…I owe you an apology, Siena, my best friend. I always knew you were smart, but I still underestimated you.”
“If it’s this proposal, I believe we can definitely win!”
