Time to Have a pup
+25 BONUS
Time to Have a pup
(Amber’s POV)
Henry left the hospital room without another word, his shoulders slumped in defeat. The weight of my recording and the truth about Victoria had crushed whatever delusions he’d been clinging to.
Now it was just me and my parents in the sterile hospital room.
Harrison’s eyes fixed on me with a mixture of suspicion and exhaustion. “Last night, was it you who did it?”
I lounged back on the hospital sofa, crossing my legs with deliberate casualness. A smirk played at my lips as I met his gaze.
“Was it me? How could it be me? Did I make Victoria forcibly kiss Henry?”
Harrison fell silent. He couldn’t deny the truth his adopted daughter had initiated that inappropriate display of affection with his son. No one had forced her hand to Henry’s face or her lips to his.
Melanie stirred on the hospital bed, her eyes fluttering open. Despite her earlier fainting spell, she looked alert now, though pale.
“Amber,” she said weakly, “what about Naomi Warren? Her stepmother is the biggest gossip in the Warren Pack. We need to make sure she keeps quiet about what she saw.”
I waved my hand dismissively. “Already handled. Naomi swore on her wolf’s honor not to reveal anything. I also paid her five million dollars for her silence.”
Melanie’s eyes widened. “Five million?”
“Yes. I expect reimbursement immediately.”
Melanie looked stricken. After all the money she’d already spent on Victoria’s pack training and education, plus the recent financial demands, she was reluctant to part with more.
Harrison quickly interjected, his voice sharp. “Five million is nothing compared to what you’ve spent on Victoria over the years. Transfer the money to Amber now.”
Melanie’s jaw tightened, but she remained quiet. I could see the resentment building in her eyes – not toward me, but toward Victoria for destroying their family’s reputation.
Harrison turned back to me, his Alpha authority wavering. For the first time in years, he looked genuinely lost.
“Amber, I need your advice. How do we handle this scandal? I was thinking of sending Victoria abroad to one of our European territories.”
I scoffed. “Henry opposed that idea, didn’t he? Arguing that Victoria would be alone without pack support in foreign la
Harrison nodded grimly.
“How touching,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “A ‘lunatic‘ like me was shipped off at eighteen to study how to control my wolf. But Victoria, at thirty years old and supposedly ‘normal, needs special protection?”
Heaned forward, my amber eyes flashing. “Here’s the absurdity of Henry’s devotion maybe Melanie should just let them complete the mate bond.”
“Unless I die first!” Melanie snarled, her wolf surfacing briefly. “Henry is my absolute bottom line.”
Harrison looked visibly aged, his face drawn with defeat. “Amber, please. Help me persuade Henry to agree to send Victoria to our European territories.”
I examined my freshly manicured nails with deliberate indifference. “Your plan is flawed, Old Chase. Sending Victoria abroad would only make it easier for Henry to continue their affair.”
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Time to Have a pup
+25 BONUS
Harrison frowned. “What do you mean?”
“All Henry needs is a business trip excuse to slip away and visit Victoria. They could even have an illegitimate child abroad.
4
Imagine that disgrace to the Chase Pack.”
Melanie went white at the thought. “Amber, please. Offer a solution.”
I smiled, remembering Dominic’s strategic advice. “Instead of letting her run wild in foreign territories and live in fear every day, it’s better to keep her under your nose within our pack lands.
Both parents leaned forward, listening intently.
“Put Victoria in charge of Lunar Heights Real Estate’s heating system crisis. The project needs a complete overhaul and public relations management.”
Harrison’s eyes lit up with understanding. “That would keep her occupied…”
“This idea came from Dominic,” I continued. “He advised that sending Victoria abroad would be like ‘raising a rival Alpha.‘ She’s accumulated significant influence within Chase Pack Headquarters.”
I paused, letting that sink in. “Dominic believes the best course is removing Victoria from the center of pack power while keeping her in the Northern Territory.”
“Managing Lunar Heights would be challenging,” Harrison mused “The renovation, handling public scrutiny from both human authorities and supernatural community leaders…”
“Exactly. It would keep Victoria occupied and benefit the Chase Pack’s reputation.” I didn’t mention Dominic’s hint about an impending major crisis that could destroy Victoria’s standing.
Despite my reluctance to help Victoria, I understood the strategic advantage this would give me in our ongoing power struggle.
The afternoon passed with detailed discussions about moving Victoria to Lunar Heights. I stressed the importance of the project for the Chase Pack’s reputation and how it would divert Victoria’s attention from Henry.
Harrison, who had initially considered this plan but abandoned it due to the scandal, was persuaded by my arguments and my
status as Dominic’s mate.
I peeled an apple for Melanie, offering it with uncharacteristic gentleness. “Keep a close eye on Victoria if she lives at the pack
house.”
Melanie accepted the apple, surprised by my gesture.
“Use emotional tactics through your pack bond,” I advised. “Feign illness or distress signals to control Henry, rather than confronting him directly about his inappropriate relationship.”
Melanie stared at me, a strange mix of emotions crossing her face. This display of filial piety was so unlike me
As I prepared to leave the hospital, Melanie reached out and grasped my hand. For the first time in years, she spoke to me as a
mother.
“You shouldn’t be so impetuous all the time. Dominic is not young anymore. You two have been mated for almost a year. It’s time to have a pup.”
I acknowledged the timeline – Dominic and I had agreed to wait a year before trying for children. But I pulled my hand away, my
expression cooling.
“I don’t need your guidance on when to expand my new pack family.”
I reflected on my relationship with the Chase Pack. While I could maintain peace for strategic reasons, I would never forgive, never forget. Our pack bonds were shallow and broken.
My wolf Cora stirred in agreement, still harboring resentment for years of being treated as secondary to Victoria.
Time to Have a pup
+25 BONUS
Later that evening, I met Paige at the Moonlight Club in a private dining room. The exclusive supernatural establishment provided the perfect setting for our conversation.
Paige’s eyes sparkled with excitement as I recounted the previous night’s events.
“My goddess, your mother personally caught her son and adopted daughter in an inappropriate embrace – is it that explosive? Did you record a video? I want to see it!”
I showed her the video on my phone. Paige watched with fascination, her expression shifting between shock and amusement.
“Victoria seems so impulsive,” Paige remarked. “Does she genuinely have feelings for Henry, or is she just using him?”
I dismissed the idea of genuine love. “Victoria relies on Henry as her devoted protector within the pack hierarchy. Someone who will shield her from consequences regardless of her behavior.”
The conversation shifted, and I brought up Sophia Winters. Paige’s expression changed immediately, concern replacing her earlier excitement.
“Then… what are you going to do? Sever the mate bond with Dominic?”
I shook my head firmly. “No, I’m in love with Dominic. Unless he tells me himself that he doesn’t want me as his mate.”
Paige reached out and gently touched my forehead, worry evident in her voice. “Unless he tells you himself… Amber, are you falling in love again?”
I swatted her hand away. “I would only consider severing our mate bond if Dominic explicitly rejected me, or if I felt truly uncomfortable in our relationship.”
I met her gaze steadily. “I’m certain Dominic doesn’t have romantic feelings for Sophia. And my love for him currently outweighs any desire to end our mating.”
“If one day, Sophia’s existence truly makes me uncomfortable, I will reject Dominic myself. I love him, but now I love myself more. I won’t be caught between two wolves again.”
I had already sacrificed too much emotional energy for Ethan Blackwood. I wouldn’t repeat that mistake.
Paige looked relieved by my newfound clarity and strength. She changed the subject to our upcoming collaboration with Silvercrest Television and the project leader, Oliver.
I remained silent for a long time.Finally, I spoke, my voice calm and resolute. “It’s fine. I can handle whatever comes next.”
3/3
