Amber’s Complaint
(Amber’s POV)
+25 BONUS
It was the last day of August, and I was completely exhausted. I’d woken up at 4 am. for a photoshoot in the northern hills, capturing the sunrise over the valley for a special werewolf resort promotion.
By the time I dragged myself back to my riverside apartment at 4 pan., I could barely keep my eyes open. I collapsed onto my bed without even changing my clothes, my camera equipment abandoned by the door.
This had been the most grueling day I’d experienced in months. Not just physically, but emotionally too. Ryan Quinn had deliberately avoided me throughout the entire shoot, despite being the resort’s promotional coordinator.
Even worse, he’d barely touched the moonlight venison stew I’d prepared specially. I’d spent hours on that recipe, simmering the meat with herbs that enhanced a werewolf’s senses.
I woke hours later to the sound of Dominic entering the apartment. The digital clock on my nightstand glowed 9:30 p.m.
“You’re back,” I mumbled, still half–asleep.
Dominic’s powerful presence filled the room as he loosened his tie “Long day?”
I nodded, watching him through half–lidded eyes. “The longest.”
Later that night, as we lay in bed together, I found myself at a loss for words. There were things I wanted to say, questions I wanted to ask, but they all seemed to evaporate from my mind when I looked into his intense blue eyes.
Instead, I let him take control. Three times he pinned me to the bed, his powerful body moving against mine with an intensity that made my wolf Cora howl with pleasure.
Afterward, as we lay catching our breath, I remembered something from our previous conversation.
“Did you ask Sophia Winters for that autograph?” I asked, tracing patterns on his chest.
Dominic frowned. “What autograph?”
“You said you’d get me Sophia Winters‘ autograph. Remember? You mentioned the Blackwood Pack was sponsoring! charity event.”
He shifted away slightly. “I don’t know any celebrities.”
I sat up, narrowing my amber eyes at him. “But you were the one who brought it up.”
“I must have been drunk,” he replied dismissively. “Ask Jessica about it if you want an autograph.”
xt
“You don’t drink enough to get drunk,” I pointed out, feeling a flicker of annoyance. “And you specifically offered to get it for
me.”
Dominic merely shrugged, his expression unreadable in the darkness.
The next morning–the first day of September–I threw myself into work at my Moonlight Photography studio. The air conditioning hummed quietly as I retouched Shannon’s photos, enhancing the natural glow of her skin and the luminous quality of her eyes.
By 11:30 a.m., I’d finished and sent everything to Paige for final approval. My back ached from hunching over the computer for hours.
Paige’s response came quickly. She called rather than texted, her voice tight with controlled emotion.
“These are fantastic,” she admitted. “Shannon will definitely benefit from our work.”
I could hear the annoyance in her tone despite the compliment. “But?”
Amber’s Complaint
“But I’m still irritated that we had to help her at all,” Paige huffed. After everything she’s done.”
+25 BONUS
I took a bite of the brownie I’d been saving for lunch, savoring the rich chocolate flavor. “Don’t worry. I have a plan for retaliation.”
“Oh?” Paige sounded intrigued.
“I’m going to make her wait 24 hours before I send her the final images,” I declared. “That’ll give us a head start on publication.
“1
Paige laughed, the sound brightening my mood. “That’s surprisingly restrained for you. The old Amber would have ‘accidentally ‘deleted half the photos.”
I shrugged, though she couldn’t see me. “What can I say? I’m evolving.”
“Or Dominic is rubbing off on you,” Paige teased. “He doesn’t like you fighting, does he?”
My cheeks warmed. “He’d be devastated if I got hurt.”
“Sounds like he’s pretty strict with you,” Paige observed, her tone playful.
I felt my blush deepen. “He has his moments.”
Paige’s voice softened. “He really loves you, you know. I can see it in the way he looks at you. And I think your feelings for each other are growing stronger every day.”
Her words filled me with a warmth that had nothing to do with embarrassment.
(Third–person’s POV)
That afternoon, Paige visited her sister–in–law, Jessica Carter, to show her the photo shoot for Moonlight magazine. T puty editor’s office was cluttered with fashion layouts and half–empty coffee cups, evidence of her demanding schedule.
Meanwhile, Amber drove her sleek car toward the Chase Pack house. Harrison Chase had summoned her for a meeting, and she suspected it had something to do with her recent marriage to Dominic Blackwood.
At the Chase Pack headquarters, Harrison paced his office, phone pressed to his ear.
“Henry, I need you he
when Amber arrives,” he instructed his son. “Yes, now.”
Harrison glanced at his watch. “Listen carefully. If Amber tries to trick me, I’ll pretend to cough. That’s your signal to interrupt
her.”
On the other end of the line, Henry sighed audibly. “Father, I’m supposed to be at the territory meeting. This is the third time this month you’ve pulled me away for Amber–related concerns.”
“This is different,” Harrison insisted, running a hand through his graying hair. “She’s mated to Dominic now. That changes everything.”
“You never worried this much about her before,” Henry pointed out.
Harrison’s expression darkened. “Before, she was just my rebellious daughter. Now she’s the Luna of the most powerful Alpha in the Northern Territory. Her unpredictability concerns me.”
“You’re overreacting,” Henry said.
“Am I?” Harrison countered. “Have you forgotten what happened last time she was here? She smashed our ancestral pack portrait, and within hours Dominic had frozen three of our business accounts.”
Harrison lowered his voice, though no one else was in the office. The future of the Chase Pack is now tied to Amber’s well- being. Dominic has made that abundantly clear. If she’s unhappy, we all suffer.”
(Amber’s POV)
Amber’s Complaint
+25 BONUS
I strode into my father’s office with my head held high, my amber eyes sparkling with confidence. The familiar scent of Harrison’s moonlight tea collection filled the room, bringing back memories of childhood negotiations in this very space. Henry was already there, looking uncomfortable in a chair near the window. I flashed him a teasing smile as I settled onto the leather couch.
“Still haven’t found a mate, little brother?” I asked, enjoying the way his jaw tightened. “At your age, father had already claimed mother.”
Henry’s expression shifted from annoyance to something more complex. “Actually, I’m meeting with Niamh Walker next week. Her father is Alpha Walker from the eastern territory.”
I raised my eyebrows in genuine surprise. “Niamh? We went to school together.”
Harrison nodded, his amber eyes- so similar to my own–watching me carefully. “The arrangement would benefit both packs. Walker’s territory borders our southern expansion project.”
I studied my father’s face, noting the calculation behind his casual tone. “Seems like a mismatched pairing to me.”
“How so?” Harrison asked, his fingers drumming lightly on his desk.
I shrugged. “Niamh has a weak character and an even weaker wolf. She’ll never stand up to Victoria or Mother. Plus, she has terrible taste in furniture.”
Henry shifted uncomfortably. “I should go. The territory meeting started ten minutes ago.”
As he left, I noticed the relief in his posture. Clearly, this wasn’t a discussion he enjoyed.
I turned back to Harrison. “Seriously, Father? Niamh Walker? You’re setting Henry up for misery.”
“You forget that I knew Niamh at the Northern Territory Werewolf Academy,” Harrison replied smoothly. “She has qualities you might not have noticed.”
“Like what? Her family’s strategic territory?” I asked sarcastically
Harrison didn’t deny it. “It’s a win–win pack strategy. We strengthen our territorial claims, and Henry gets a suitable mate.”
I rolled my eyes. “How romantic.”
I leaned forward, shifting tactics. “I have a proposition for you. I’m willing to offer my 9% territorial rights in the Chase Pack.”
Harrison’s eyebrows rose slightly, showing his interest despite his attempt to appear unmoved.
“In exchange,” I continued, “I want Moonlight Photography to handle all promotional material for any paranormál movies the pack invests in.”
рису
Harrison dismissed my offer with a wave of his hand. “You don’t have the experience or connections for that scale of work.”
“I could contact Aunt Iris,” I suggested, referring to my aunt who was a well–known director in the paranormal community.
“Your aunt is busy with her own projects,” Harrison countered. “Besides, why burd
her? You nearly bankrupted her last time.”
I bristled at the accusation. “That’s not true.”
Harrison’s expression hardened. “You treat your aunt better than your own parents. Always have.”
“Can you blame me?” I shot back, years of resentiment bubbling to the surface. “Let’s talk about why that might be.”
Harrison sighed, recognizing the dangerous territory we were entering. “Amber-
“No, let’s discuss it,” I interrupted, my voice rising. “Let’s start with when Victoria first arrived at the Chase Pack.”
I counted off on my fingers. “My favorite stuffed wolf had to be given to Victoria because she liked it. Victoria fell down the stairs
by herself but claimed I pushed her, so I was locked in that dark basement room for three days.‘
Amber’s Complaint
+25 BONUS
The memories came flooding back, each one sharper and more painful than the last.
“Victoria said she was sad when her birth father died on my birthday,” I continued bitterly. “So I haven’t had a birthday celebration since. Victoria wanted my bedroom, and when I refused to give it up, I was locked in the basement again.”
My voice cracked slightly. “Three days without food or water. If Grandmother hadn’t come home early from her trip, I might have died of thirst.”
Harrison’s face had gone pale, but I wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot.
New Tricks for Scamming an Alpha
(Amber’s POV)
I strutted out of Harrison’s office with five boxes balanced precariously in my arms, feeling like I’d just pulled off the heist of the century. The satisfaction of outmaneuvering my father warmed me from the inside, better than any moonlight wine could
The pack secretary, Gwen Harper, stood frozen outside the office door. Her jaw literally dropped when she saw what I was
carrying.
“Are those… the Moon Goddess Healing Crystal and the Jade Moonstone?” she stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief.
I shifted the boxes in my arms, letting her catch a glimpse of the ancient artifacts nestled inside. “Oh, these old things? Father insisted I take them. Family heirlooms and all that.”
Gwen’s face paled. “But I was instructed to hide all valuable artifacts before your arrival.”
“Oops,” I said with mock sympathy. “Guess you’ll be in trouble with the big bad Alpha, huh?”
She fidgeted nervously with her pen. “Mr. Chase will be furious.”
I leaned in conspiratorially. “Between us, I think his blood pressure might be running a bit high today. Maybe suggest some moonlight herb tea? It really helps calm an agitated wolf.”
Gwen nodded frantically, already reaching for the phone, no doubt to warn Harrison about his daughter’s latest plunder.
I couldn’t help but smile as I walked away. Father should know better than to mention ancient prayer beads to me – especially ones that were rumored to help control a werewolf’s transformation. Those were just begging to be “borrowed.”
(Henry’s POV)
I waited for my sister at the elevator, checking my watch impatiently. The territory meeting had already started, and my absence would be noted. Father’s obsession with controlling Amber was becoming increasingly disruptive to pack business.
When the elevator doors opened, I was stunned to see Amber juggling several large boxes. I recognized the ornate carvings on one of them – it contained the Celestial Clarity Inkstone, a priceless heirloom dating back centuries.
“What the hell, Amber?” I blurted out. “You’re like a robber raiding the den.”
My sister’s amber eyes gleamed with triumph. “Harrison insisted I take these. Said they belonged to me by birthright.”
I snorted in disbelief. “Right. And I’m secretly an Omega.”
Amber shrugged, nearly toppling one of the boxes. “Believe what you want. But he practically begged me to take them.”
As we entered the elevator, I decided to change tactics. With Amber’s newly elevated status as Dominic Blackwood’s mate, she
could be useful to me.
“I need your help,” I admitted, pressing the button for the lobby.
Amber raised an eyebrow. “That’s a first.”
3
“It’s about Niamh Walker,” I explained, lowering my voice though we were alone. “I don’t want to mate with her.”
“Then don’t,” Amber replied simply.
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration. “It’s not that easy. Father’s determined to secure the Walker territory.”
“And that’s my problem because…?”
“Because you could help, “I insisted. “At the next pack dinner, you could voice your dislike for Niamh as your future sister–in- law. With Dominic backing you, Father wouldn’t dare push back.”
1/3
New Tricks for Scamming en Alpha
+25 BONUS
Amber stared at me for a long moment, then burst out laughing. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. You want me to save you from an arranged mating? After everything you’ve done?”
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped into the lobby. Several pack employees were milling about, pretending not to watch
- us.
“Please, Amber,” I whispered urgently. “I’m desperate.”
My sister’s response was swift and unexpected. She kicked me hard in the backside, sending me stumbling forward with a yelp of pain and surprise.
The pack employees froze, shocked by the display of disrespect toward one of their leaders.
“That’s for asking me to fight your battles,” Amber said loudly, adjusting her grip on the boxes. “Next time, grow a spine and stand up to Father yourself.”
I rubbed my backside, feeling the eyes of every subordinate pack member on me. The humiliation burned hotter than the pain.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I growled, keeping my voice low despite my anger. “Why are you always so happy to see me humiliated?”
Amber shifted the boxes in her arms, revealing the ancient prayer beads Harrison had apparently given her. She dangled them teasingly.
“Remember when you used to give me piggyback rides around the mansion?” she asked, her voice softer now. “You’d howlike a wolf, and I’d laugh so hard I couldn’t breathe.”
The unexpected memory caught me off guard. “That was a long time ago.”
“Before Victoria,” Amber said, her amber eyes suddenly vulnerable. “Everyone changed after she came. Mother, Father, you… even the pack staff treated me differently.”
She fidgeted with the prayer beads, her fingers tracing the smooth surfaces. “Was I such a terrible sister? Did I deserve to be cast aside when she arrived?”
The raw hurt in her voice made my chest tighten uncomfortably. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came.
“That’s what I thought,” Amber whispered, turning away. “You can’t even deny it.”
As she walked toward the exit, the boxes clutched protectively against her chest, I felt a wave of shame wash over me. My wolf whimpered inside me, recognizing the pain we’d caused.
(Harrison’s POV)
I summoned Henry back to my office immediately after Gwen informed me about Amber’s departure with our treasured artifacts. My blood pressure was indeed elevated, though not for the reasons my daughter had suggested.
“I hear your sister gave you quite the send–off,” I remarked as Henry slunk into my office, still looking embarrassed.
He glared at me. “This is your fault. Why would you mention the prayer beads to her? You know their significance to our pack’s history.”
Tleaned back in my chair, recalling the conversation with Amber. She had skillfully listed my past wrongdoings, making me feel
a guilt I rarely acknowledged. Before I knew it, I was offering her gifts from our treasured collection, desperate to ease the weight of her accusations.
“She played me,” I admitted, a growl of frustration escaping my throat. “Again.”
Henry dropped into the chair across from my desk. “She’s getting better at it. More strategic.”
“It’s Dominic’s influence,” I said, drumming my fingers on the desk. “She’s learning from him.”
The realization that my daughter was sadopting her mate’s tactics was both concerning and oddly pride–inducing. The Alpha in
2/3
New Tricks for Scamming an Alpha
me recognized the strength of her adaptation.
+25 BONUS
“I lost more than just artifacts today,” I confessed. “I lost the opportunity to discuss the amusement park territory project with the future Luna of the Blackwood Pack.”
Henry’s eyes widened. “You were going to ask for her help with that?”
I nodded grimly. “The project is stalled without Blackwood support Dominic listens to Amber, whether he admits it or not.” “So you’ve been scammed twice,” Henry observed. “Once out of the artifacts, and once out of the business opportunity.”
I couldn’t argue with his assessment. My daughter was becoming a formidable opponent, using my own guilt against me like a
weapon.
Henry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “She said something else, Father. Something that’s been bothering me.”
I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue.
“She asked why everyone changed after Victoria arrived,” he said quietly. “Why we pushed her aside in her own pack. She. seemed genuinely confused and hurt.”
I felt a twinge of discomfort at his words. It was true that our family dynamics had shifted dramatically after Victoria’s adoption, but I’d never considered how it might have appeared from Amber’s perspective.
“She was always difficult,” I said defensively. “Victoria was easier to manage.”
“That’s the point,” Henry insisted, rising from his chair and pacing restlessly. “We chose the easier path. We favored Victoria because she didn’t challenge us.”
His admission hung heavy in the air between us. My wolf stirred uneasily within me, sensing the truth in his words.
“I feel terrible,” Henry confessed, his restlessness betraying his remorse. “I think I contributed to her unhappiness within our own family pack.”
I stood, placing a hand on my son’s shoulder. “Don’t dwell on it. Focus on your upcoming mating ceremony with Niamh Walker. The territorial advantages will benefit the entire Chase Pack.”
Henry’s distress only seemed to increase at the mention of Niamh. ““That’s another problem entirely. Her wolf is completely incompatible with mine.”
“Compatibility is less important than pack strength,” I insisted, repeating the mantra I’d lived by for decades.
But watching my son pace anxiously at the thought of being forced into a mate bond with a she–wolf whose wolf was incompatible with his own, I wondered if I truly believed that anymore.
