Page 126 of Alpha-Ex Wedding Ruse
“Civil?” Alpha Moreau barked, surging up from his seat so fast the chair screeched against the floor. “You have the gall to stand there and talk about civility after what you pulled?”
I gripped the edge of the table, grounding myself. “If you’re going to throw words around like a drunken brawler, Sterling, I suggest you get the hell out of my company.”
His nostrils flared, rage flaring in his eyes before he turned to my father for backup. My father didn’t so much as blink in his direction.
I stepped forward, sliding a folder onto the table. “I had Legal draft out a new contract—something that could sustain our deal. Let’s be honest, it benefits both our packs massively. Walking away would be foolish.”
I pushed the contract toward him. “And I’ve stepped up our offer. In addition to the original terms, I’m adding—”
He didn’t so much as glance at it. “You humiliated my family,” he growled. “My daughter is afraid to step outside because of you.”
“No one’s going to offer you what I’m offering,” I said evenly.
He slammed a hand on the table. “To hell with your offer, Vaughn! You think money fixes this? My daughter hasn’t stopped crying since the night you threw her aside like she was nothing.”
“Would you rather she stayed in a loveless marriage?” I shot back. He froze, shock flickering over his face before it twisted into deeper fury.
I let out a dry, humorless laugh. “You knew I wasn’t in love with her. You were just using her to leverage the best deal out of LUNA-tech. Now I’m offering something better.”
“I don’t care how much money you’re offering,” he roared. “You disrespected my family and my pack. Deal’s off, Vaughn.” He snatched his jacket from the chair. “And you better pray nothing happens to my daughter—”
“I don’t tolerate threats,” I cut him off before he could finish that sentence.
The air turned razor sharp. Sterling’s gaze darted to my father again, but found no ally. Thirty seconds of taut silence passed before he scoffed and stormed out, the door slamming behind him.
I sank into the chair at the head of the table, rubbing my temple. “Come on, Father. Silence isn’t your style. We both know you’ve got plenty to say.”
“The council of elders called an impromptu meeting this morning,” my father began, his voice low. Not the usual booming rage—this was quieter. More dangerous. Beneath the calm, his eyes held something I couldn’t pin down. Fear. Guilt. Or maybe both. My gut told me it had to do with my mother showing up again.
“They’re demanding I name a new Alpha heir,” he continued, “since the one I named is apparently incompetent and can’t think straight without a woman clouding his judgment.” His gaze flicked to Victor. “Your brother isn’t exactly winning hearts either. They’re even talking about calling a vote to strip us of the Alpha seat entirely.”
I scoffed. “That’s a little too dramatic—”
“Dramatic?!” His roar hit like a gunshot. He slammed a hand on the desk, shooting up from his seat. There he was—the man I’d grown up with. That was the father I knew all too well.
“You destroyed a critical political alliance, Luca! This deal was supposed to be my legacy, and you burned it to the ground because of that—”
My glare cut him off before he could finish. He caught himself, but the heat in his eyes didn’t dim.
“You’re reckless. You’re selfish. And you’re weak,” he spat. “I thought you were the one capable of leading this pack into its strongest era. But you’d set the whole damn thing on fire for a woman.”
Beside me, Victor let out a quiet scoff. I didn’t miss the smirk that curved his mouth as he spun a pen in his fingers.
“What now?” my father pressed. “What happens between you and that woman? The council will never accept her. You know that. She’shalf human, which makes her weak and unfit to be Luna of this pack. You of all people know that, Luca.”
“The council needs to rethink its definition of strength,” I said coolly. “Leila’s father is a member of this pack. I don’t care if her mother was human, it still makes Leila a wolf shifter. It makes her one of us.”
My father’s laugh was sharp, ugly. “You’re delusional. She’s turned you into a fucking weakling.” He snatched his car keys from the table, his gaze cutting between me and Victor. “The gods punished me with two useless sons. Just like your fucking mother.”
And then he was gone, slamming the door behind him.
Victor was leaning smugly against the chair, arms folded like he’d been waiting for this moment. That damned smirk was still playing over his face.
“I always knew you were crazy about Leila,” he said, voice dripping with satisfaction, “but I didn’t know you were this crazy.”
I looked up from the contract I was putting away. “So you can speak. Here I was thinking you were mute.”
He ignored the jab and kept going, enjoying himself far too much. “You know, Luca, I always envied you. I mean, you had it all. Alpha title, CEO, our father’s love and respect. That’s power, Luca. Raw, undiluted power—which you just threw away because of a woman.” There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. “I may be interested in Leila, yes. She’s beautiful—one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen—”
