I nodded. “I came here to finish up my work and to push back an attack that was under way when I got here.”
“Where is Rick?”
“He helped me to the hospital, but then went home to check on Abby before coming back here. She isn’t doing well.”
I saw anticipation light his eyes, but then it was gone. “Oh, that’s unfortunate.”
I nodded, then tensed when he stood up. “Is there anything I can do?”
I shook my head. I turned to face him. “No. Thankfully, it’s not hard to push them back.” He started to walk around the desk. I looked at him and raised my eyebrow, which had him stopping with a grin on his face. My eyes landed on the laptop screen for a second. Ninety-three percent. Come on! “Do you know anything about coding or hackers?”
Ninety-five.
Vince knocked on my desk, bouncing from foot to foot at the corner as he thought about his answer. “I’m not great, but I know enough.” He laughed a little as he stared at me. I blocked another attack and glanced at Vince. He looked like he was trying to decide if he should come closer. “Amy…is thereanything I could do or say that would get you to change your mind?” He started around the side of the desk.
Ninety-nine percent.
I growled, making him pause. “You are asking me to convince my wolf to settle for a male that doesn’t want me.” But he sighed and walked around the desk.
He glanced at my shirt, the replacement from the hospital, but turned away. “I am just trying to find a solution that doesn’t have you leaving.”
My heart wanted to race, but I had to focus on keeping my heartbeat steady. If I allowed my body to react in any way, Vince would know something was up. I nearly jumped to my feet when Vince started around the desk, but then the download flashed complete, and the screen reverted to the regular desktop just as he looked at it. I nearly cried in relief.
“Vince.” My voice wavered from the adrenaline coursing through me. I clear my throat. “I have to leave. There is nothing else to do. Brandon attacked me. Nix will refuse to bend the knee, something I am sure you realize.” I swiveled in my chair and allowed the next attack to go unanswered as I focused on him. The screen lit up the side of my face as the attacker breached a new firewall. “We both know he landed the attack because I refused to engage.” I allowed the rage to enter my eyes. “He attacked me without provocation. I won’t let that happen again.” My voice was eerily calm. “The next time he tries to lay a hand on me, I will kill him. And I won’t feel an ounce of regret.”
Vince stepped back at that. “You can’t mean that.” He tried to smile. “You love him.”
I laughed then at his absurd excuse. “I would gut him quicker than you could interfere. And I would piss on his body.” The calmness was back. I felt my eyes shift. “Do you think I should allow a weaker wolf to abuse me? A weaker wolf to step on me?” Nix’s voice combined with mine. “Do you think I would allowthe wolves in my pack to think it is okay to abuse their mates because they got laughed at? Are you that fucking foolish? Or it is because your mate allows you to fuck around behind her back that you value the mate bond so fucking little?” Our rage was unmatched, and I was barely hanging on by a thread.
Nix and Megan raged inside of me.How fucking dare he fucking come here and demand we stay here?Nix was snarling.
Megan dug her nails into the ground.He is as stupid as his son is.
“I care about my mate.” Vince tried to fight back, but I just glared at him. “What?”
“You can pretend that the entire pack doesn’t know how you fuck anything that moves behind your mate’s back, but I’m tired of pretending.” My voice had zero inflection. All of my anger, my pain, I packed it away.
“HEY!” He stumbled forward, but I just growled, stopping him.
I pushed myself up, painfully. “Don’t fucking hey me!” I snarled. “Look at me! He broke my nose, blackened my eyes, broke my cheekbone and eye socket. I had two ribs coming out of my side. My lungs are half filled with blood and I am sure I missed something.”
“You are a wolf!” He snarled back.
“Yeah, and I’m not healing, am I?” I screamed back, and he froze.
I watched him do a slow blink, eyes dancing over my body. “Why aren’t you healing?”
“That’s an excellent question, Alpha. What could stop a wolf from healing?” I shot back and then sank back into my chair. “You act like you know everything that goes on in this fucking place, yet you have wolves in your pack slowly dying. You have wolves here that are bullied by unranked and ranked members.Your own Beta attacked female wolves behind your back for his unranked daughter and you had no fucking idea.”
“You are saying someone poisoned you?” His voice was soft, but he stepped back to the chairs in front of my desk as I slowly turned my chair back to my computer.
“What I am saying is that I am an Alpha wolf that would have healed all of this damage instantly yet it’s been a few hours and I still have to have my ribs wrapped so they stay where they need to be so that when Nix can heal me, she can do it properly.” I started typing again, stopping the attack that was hitting another firewall. “I’m saying that this isn’t the first time that my healing was stunted for random reasons. And the only thing I’ve eaten today was from this kitchen. And we both know the Omegas like me. So it wasn’t them.” I cut him a look. “Your security for outside of the pack is top-notch, but inside…” I trailed off. “You think that being who you are would keep your people in line? But,” I looked up. “Do you think you are a good enough Alpha to be followed blindly?”
He scoffed. “No one is.”
I nodded. “If my father’s best friend can turn his back on him, being who he was, as loved as he was. You don’t stand a chance.” I looked at him. “I have the confirmation letter that accepts my transfer from the king myself. And I will be leaving tonight or tomorrow morning.” I turned back to my computer. Vince stared at me for a few minutes before getting up and turning to leave. “Oh, and Vince?” He froze. “Watch your back.”
Chapter Nine
