Chapter 465

My heart pounded, but I forced it to a regular rhythm. Any physical reaction would betray me to Vince. I nearly leaped to my feet when he began circling the desk, but then the damned file flashed complete, the screen reverting to the desktop as he looked at it. Relief washed over me.

“Vince,” my voice trembled from the adrenaline surge. I cleared my throat. “I have to leave. There’s nothing left to do. Brandon attacked me. Nix will refuse to bend the knee, something I’m sure you realize.” I swiveled in my chair, letting the next attack go unanswered as I focused on him. The screen illuminated my face as the attacker breached a new firewall. “We both know he launched the attack because I refused to engage.” Rage flared in my eyes. He attacked me without provocation. I won’t let that happen again. My voice was eerily calm. “The next time he tries to lay a hand on me, I will kill him. And I won’t feel an ounce of regret.”

Vince stepped back. “You can’t mean that.” He attempted a smile. “You love him.”

I laughed at his absurd excuse. “I would gut him quicker than you could interfere. And I would piss on his body.” The calmness returned. My eyes shifted. “Do you think I should allow a weaker wolf to abuse me? A weaker wolf to step on me?” Nix’s voice blended with mine. “Do you think I would allow the wolves in my pack to think it’s okay to abuse their mates because they got laughed at? Are you that fucking foolish? Or is it because your mate allows you to fuck around behind your back that you value the mate bond so fucking little?” Our combined rage was overwhelming, and I was barely holding on.

Nix and Megan raged within me. How dare he demand we stay? Nix snarled. Megan dug her nails into the ground. He’s as stupid as his son.

“I care about my mate,” Vince tried to counter, but I just glared. “What?”

“You can pretend the entire pack doesn’t know how you fuck anything that moves behind your mate’s back, but I’m tired of pretending.” My voice was devoid of inflection. All anger, all pain, packed away.

“HEY!” He stumbled forward, but a growl stopped him.

I pushed myself up, painfully. “Don’t fucking ‘hey’ me!” I snarled. “Look at me! He broke my nose, blackened my eyes, broke my cheekbone and eye socket. I have two ribs sticking out. My lungs are half-filled with blood, and I’m sure I missed something.”

“You are a wolf!” He snarled back.

“Yeah, and I’m not healing, am I?” I screamed, and he froze.

I watched him blink slowly, his eyes scanning my body. “Why aren’t you healing?”

“That’s an excellent question, Alpha. What could stop a wolf from healing?” I shot back, sinking back into my chair. “You act like you know everything that goes on in this fucking place, yet you have wolves in your pack slowly dying. You have wolves here bullied by unranked and ranked members. Your own beta attacked female wolves behind your back for his unranked daughter, and you had no fucking idea.”

“You are saying someone poisoned you?” His voice was soft, but he retreated to the chairs in front of my desk as I slowly turned back to my computer.

“What I am saying is that I am an alpha wolf who would have healed all this damage instantly, yet it’s been a few hours, and I still have to have my ribs wrapped so they stay where they need to be so that when Nix can heal me, she can do it properly.” I resumed typing, stopping the attack hitting another firewall. “I’m saying this isn’t the first time my healing has been stunted for random reasons. And the only thing I’ve eaten today was from this kitchen. And we both know the omegas like me. So it wasn’t them.” I cut him a look. “Your security outside the pack is top-notch, but inside…” I trailed off. “You think being who you are would keep your people in line? But,” I looked up, “do you think you are a good enough alpha to be followed blindly?”

He scoffed. “No one is.”

I nodded. “If my father’s best friend can turn his back on him, being who he was, as loved as he was… you don’t stand a chance.” I looked at him. “I have the confirmation letter accepting my transfer from the king himself. And I will be leaving tonight or tomorrow morning.” I turned back to my computer. Vince stared at me for a few minutes before rising and leaving. “Oh, and Vince?” He froze. “Watch your back.”