Chapter 2
“Where to? I can give you a lift.” Finn’s deep, commanding voice snapped me back to reality, his Alpha aura pressing subtly against me, a reminder of his status I couldn’t ignore.
A dull ache spread through the three fingers on my right hand, the permanent reminder of my shattered dream of becoming the Lane pack’s musician. I slipped my quivering hand into my pocket and took a step back, distancing myself from him, the space between us feeling both too close and impossibly far.
“Thanks, Beta Hernandez, but that’s not necessary. I’ve already ordered a car.” I kept my tone formal, respectful, as protocol demanded when addressing a Beta of his standing.
He glanced down and chuckled softly, the sound smooth and rich, like the hum of a well-tuned engine. With gentle reproach, he said, “You’ve been gone for a few years, and now you don’t even call me Finn?”
A lump formed in my throat, but sarcasm slipped out before I could stop it. “How could I dare to call you that? Have you forgotten, Beta Hernandez, the time you told me to know my place six years ago?”
“I’m not lacking in memory skills. Once burned, twice shy. I should thank you, Beta Hernandez, for such a vivid lesson—it was truly memorable.”
The moment the words left my mouth, regret flooded over me. I’d held onto that statement for so long, and he would instantly grasp its significance.
Finn looked up, his dark eyes filled with tumultuous thoughts, his Alpha presence intensifying as if he were wrestling with something unsaid. After what felt like an eternity, as my palms began to sweat, he finally spoke in a low, measured tone. “You’ve always been a cheeky girl, sharp-tongued as ever.”
With a quick tap on the car window, he called, “Uncle Lee, let’s go.”
Only when the car drove away did I exhale a sigh of relief. Six years. Over two thousand days and nights, yet facing him again left me utterly defeated.
My assistant, a young Delta from the pack’s entertainment division, watched me closely, hesitant to speak. “Gamma Ivy, I heard you call him Beta Hernandez? In Edinburg, with that last name… could he be…”
I nodded, and her eyes widened in surprise. “I heard that Beta Finn’s company invested in Hector Zane’s new movie. If you’ve known Beta Hernandez for so long, why bother meeting with Bill Aiden? You could just…”
“I will never ask Finn for help!” I interrupted sharply, my voice cutting through the air like a whip.
She recoiled, quickly lowering her gaze. “Understood, Gamma Ivy.”
The car finally arrived. I collected myself and picked up my suitcase, the weight of it grounding me. “Contact Mr. Aiden’s secretary and let her know we’ve arrived. Request an appointment with him.”
After giving instructions to my assistant, I leaned back in the car’s rear seat and closed my eyes, seeking rest. The encounter with Finn had left me completely drained, my wolf stirring uneasily in the back of my mind, a faint whimper echoing my own turmoil.
Just as I needed some respite, another annoyance cropped up. Call after call from Waylen Price, relentless as ever, shattered the silence.
With a sigh, I surrendered.
“Hello? You better have a good reason for calling me. I’ve been on a plane for four hours and I’m wiped out.”
She sounded amused, her voice dripping with mischief. “More exhausting than dealing with my brother?”
“Cut me a break. Where are you hiding now, watching the drama unfold?”
Waylen clicked her tongue several times, her voice dripping with intrigue. “Today was the Hernandez Corporation’s big meeting. My uncle, father, brother, and cousin were all there. It’s Beta Finn’s most crucial meeting of the year, yet he kept checking his watch, clearly distracted. As the head of the corporation, he was eager to leave halfway through. Can you guess why?”
I wasn’t foolish enough to think it was because of me.
“Waylen, you know I’m not one to speculate. I have work to do, talk later.”
Waylen yelled into the phone, “Hey! Ivy! My brother—”
I decisively hung up.
Now that Waylen knew I was back in Edinburg, peace and quiet would be hard to find.
A headache began to form. I had to act swiftly.
If this meeting went well, Hector Zane could use this film to reach new heights. While he often claimed he was fine with hovering just below the big leagues, I felt guilty.
Over the years, Hector had helped me so much, and I just wanted to return the favor.
This time, I had finally managed to secure a meeting with Bill Aiden at Starbright Pictures. I had to grasp this chance.
Eventually, my assistant arranged for us to have dinner and discuss business in two nights. After settling into the hotel, I decided to make a quick trip back to the Lane family estate.
Bill Aiden wasn’t easy to impress. To secure resources from him, I needed something from the Lane family that would boost my credibility—something that would remind him of the power and legacy of the Lane pack, even if it was now crumbling under the weight of its own failures.
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