Chapter 3
I watched from across the room as Charles paced before the pack council, his gestures animated as he spoke. The emergency meeting had been called to discuss what he called "Sophia's unreasonable demands" – as if my decade of service entitled me to nothing.
"She's being emotional," Charles declared, his voice carrying that false sincerity I'd once mistaken for charm. "The division of assets she's requesting would destabilize everything we've built."
I sipped my coffee, remaining silent as several council members shifted uncomfortably. The guest house had become my sanctuary these past few days, a place where I could plan my next moves without the suffocating presence of Charles and Vivienne.
"Luna Sophia has always been fair," Elena, our head of communications, spoke up. "Perhaps we should hear her side."
"She's not Luna," Charles corrected sharply. "She never was."
The room fell silent. I felt a strange calm wash over me as I watched the dynamics shift. For years, I'd been the one building relationships with these people, solving their problems, creating opportunities. Charles had been the figurehead; I'd been the foundation.
"I believe Sophia deserves what she's asking for," Marcus said finally, his voice low but firm. Charles's loyal Beta – the man who'd stood by him through everything – was now questioning him.
One by one, others joined in. The head of security. The territory manager. Even Charles's own cousin.
"She built the northern territory expansion from nothing," someone said.
"The mining contracts? She negotiated those when no one else could."
"Remember when she saved us from bankruptcy three years ago?"
Charles's face grew increasingly pale as his support crumbled around him. "This is ridiculous," he snapped. "You're all forgetting your loyalty."
"Loyalty is earned," I said quietly, setting down my cup. Every head turned toward me. "And I've earned mine."
---
The pack's financial advisor, Mr. Winters, spread the documents across his desk with methodical precision. His office smelled of old paper and coffee, a comforting combination as I faced the reality of my situation.
"These are quite straightforward," he said, adjusting his glasses. "The northern territory property is indeed jointly held. The investment portfolio lists both your names. And these business contracts..." He shook his head in admiration. "You were smart to insist on being named as co-signatory."
I smiled thinly. "I wasn't being smart. I was being practical."
"No, Ms. Rothschild. You were being smart." He tapped a finger on the documents. "Many of these agreements specifically state that should you leave the pack, your portion of the profits follows you."
"Charles doesn't know that," I said softly.
Mr. Winters gave me a knowing look. "No, he wouldn't. He never bothered to read the fine print."
I felt a surge of vindication as I signed the papers he slid toward me. "And the personal accounts?"
"Your personal savings and investments are entirely separate from pack funds," he confirmed. "You've been careful to maintain that distinction."
For once, my obsessive need to keep things organized had worked in my favor. While Charles had been busy playing Alpha, I'd been building safeguards – not because I expected betrayal, but because I'd learned early in life that an Omega needed protection.
"I own more than I thought," I murmured, scanning the final tally.
"Much more," Mr. Winters agreed. "The question is: what do you plan to do with it?"
I gathered the signed documents into my briefcase. "That depends on whether Charles decides to fight me on this."
---
I was halfway to my car when I spotted Vivienne striding across the pack grounds, surrounded by a small entourage. She wore a dress that was obviously new – something she must have purchased to play her role as the future Luna. The sight of her made my stomach clench, but I forced myself to continue walking.
She spotted me and changed course. "Sophia," she called, her voice carrying across the lawn. "Just the person I wanted to see."
I stopped, turning to face her with a neutral expression. "Vivienne."
"I wanted to discuss the transition," she said, her smile not reaching her eyes. "As the new Luna, I'll need access to all your files and contacts."
"Transition?" I repeated.
"To the Luna position," she clarified, her smile widening. "Charles and I thought it would be best if you handed over everything now, rather than dragging this out."
A few pack members had stopped to watch our exchange. I noticed their expressions – curiosity mixed with discomfort.
"I see," I said calmly. "And has Charles made this announcement officially? At a pack gathering or council meeting?"
Her smile faltered slightly. "Well, no. But it's understood."
"Is it?" I kept my voice level. "Because last I checked, there hasn't been a formal announcement. No ceremony. No pack recognition."
"Charles said—"
"What Charles says and what actually happens seem to be two different things," I interrupted gently. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
I walked away, feeling her glare burning into my back. The pack members who'd been watching quickly dispersed, but not before I caught their expressions – not deference to Vivienne, but discomfort at her presumption.
---
The guest house was quiet as I methodically packed my belongings. Charles would be at his weekly Alpha meeting for another hour – plenty of time to gather what remained of my life here.
I folded clothes into suitcases, wrapped pictures in tissue paper, and carefully packed away the awards I'd earned for the pack's business achievements. Each item represented a piece of myself I was reclaiming.
In the bottom drawer of the dresser, I found the velvet box with the sapphire ring. For a moment, I held it in my palm, remembering the hope I'd felt when I bought it. The decorations for my planned proposal were still in the hall closet – streamers, champagne, and a small cake with "Will you be my Luna?" written in elegant script.
I gathered everything together – the ring, the decorations, the cake – and placed them on Charles's desk in the main house. Alongside them, I left the formal notice of asset division, already signed by my lawyers.
As I drove away from the pack grounds for what I knew would be the last time, I felt strangely light.
Ten years of my life were behind me, but for the first time in a long while, I was looking forward, not back.
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