Chapter 54
Sapphire.
For the next few days, I had a high shoulder and a well–thought–out plan to follow. I knew the questions in his mind when I left the dungeon but I didn’t disclose what I had talked abou with Millicem.
Figured I would leave it for her to tell him. I pushed all my emotions side because Benita summoned me to Aragon’s office. I had asked what she wanted but he said he had no idea and juu gave up his office for us
I stood as she kept writing in her late notebook, “You wanted to see me?” I asked.
“Hmmm. Sapphire White, is it?” she asked back
I nodded, “that’s me,”
She dropped her pen and regarded me with that look that I had gotten used to. The one filled with disdain. 1 held in a snark comment and just stared
back at her.
“Your facher was Marcin While, correct!”
“Yes, he was
“He is a murderer,” she stated.
Yes, he was. Is there a point to this?” I asked, unable to keep the attitude out of my tone
She glared at me. I suggest you drop that attitude when you are speaking to me, Miss White.”
“Do I have an attitude! I am sorry, maybe you didn’t slap me hard enough to get rid of it. Remember yesterday you didn’t apologize to me and now, you want to talk about my father!”
In that shows mercy?”
“Miss White, I don’t know what gave you the courage to talk back at me. Do I strike you as the kind of person
1 scoffed. “I assure you, you don’t but you do not look half as scary as my father and I lived with him for years. There is nothing you would do to me
that would hurt me.
can see that. You so strong, which is why I don’t want to han you. I want to make you an offer instead,”
1 stepped back from the shock, “What kind of offer!
“You see, I knew you were a smart girl. Let me start from the beginning. I have a plan and that plan includes this pack. My lovely daughter and Alpha Aragon were to be united so that our pack would be one. I can’t state the reasons now because it doesn’t concern you. You came along and turned his head. I don’t know what you are doing but 1 need you gone from his life.”
surprised. Did she not realize how much I wanted to be gone thated it here, and the only reason why I was able to endure was because of Leah and Marcel. They made it easy for me and I was graceful.
“Frankly, I don’t care about any arrangement you love with the Alpha. Millice can cover that when the time comes. How much do you need to leave him!”
1 gaped that was hold of her. I knew my plans included escaping but Leah spoke about giving me the money. I had nothing on me here and here she was, offering me money like it meant nothing to her.
“Whac”
“Don’t play dumb with
What is your offer!”
new car in my name.”
I saw this as my opportunity to get away from here. I tilted my chin, “I want ten million dollars in cash, a brand new car Her jaw dropped for a second, “Wow, you didn’t waste any time. He doesn’t mean anything to you?”
“If you wanted to know, why offer me anything? I want all of those and you won’t have to worry about your plans failing through”
“Good, Tam glad we came to an understanding.”
I nodded, “What I don’t understand is why you didn’t do this yesterday instead of carding so much drama.“
“All that led to this, my dear. We are done here, I will contact you when it’s ready. I sincerely hope you don’t disappoint me,”
one who would get me what I needed. I opened the door and paused at
I said nothing and headed towards the door, I didn’t trust her but she was the on the sight of Aragon at the end of the hall.
He started walking towards me and be grabbed me when he got to me, “What the hell did he say to you?”
Ishrugged.
- “Just the usual, warning me to stay away from you because Millicent is your fiance. She didn’t raise her hand this time so don’t worry
“She told you to stay away from me?” he asked, more somber this time…
“Why are you saying it like that! I was going to stay away from you. Lalready told you than I don’t win trouble from your fance her her group of dumb posse. I mind to serve out my punishment and then leave the pack when I am done,”
“And what happens to the mate bond.” he asked.
I chuckled, “What did you think would happen to it when you rejected me in the first place! So you got your dick wet and suddenly, I am appealing
Chapter 34
To you!”
His eyes widened. “No, I wasn’t thinking then and
aren’t thinking now either,” Leut in, “Please leave the alone, I don’t owe you anything. You have a fance that
Don’t act like you were waiting for your mate all this time.”
you wanted over your actual mate.
1 staned walking away before I said something worse, the nerve of men really, Iluted the way they made themselves look like lork while whatever unlucky woman had to wait for them.
I am a survivor and there was no chance in hell I was waiting
ng for him to realize how important I am to him. I would be long gone by then,
“Would you listen to me?” he grabbed my hand to stop me.
1 gave him a look of total boredom. “What do you want to say? What is it you want to my that you haven’t said to me? Please leave me alone,” I yanked my hands away from his and walked away.
The only person I wanted to talk to was Leah, I found myself knocking on her door.
When Leah opened the door, her eyes widened the second she saw me standing there. Whatever she must have read on my face had clearly alerted her. Without saying a word, she quickly siwn the door behind me and led me to her chuir, gesturing for me to sit while she perched herself on the edge of the desk. Her arms folded across her chest, and she stared at me expectantly.
“Start talking,” she demanded,
Thesitated for a moment, gathering my thoughts, before looking up at her. “How secure is this room? I don’t want anybody to overhead, not even by Imistake.”
She raised an eyebrow, confused by my question. “You don’t need to worry. Marcel soundproofed this room for security purposes ages ago.”
I nodded, relieved, but the weight of what I was about to share still pressed down on me, “Millicent’s mother called me for a private chat.”
Her eyes narrowed her lips forming a tight line. “That witch,” he muttered under her breach, “What did she want?”
“She said all sorts of crazy stuff about her plan for this pack that would involve Millicent and Aragon getting together,” I continued, forcing the words out. “She told me to stay away from Aragon. And then, then she asked how much I wanted.”
Leah’s face twisted in disgust. “That cold–heartcil woman,” the spat. “She really offered you money to leave your mate! That’s how she operates? What kind of plan is she talking about! Doesn’t she care that she is pimping out her daughter!”
I nodded. feeling the knot in my chest tighten “Yeah. And the worst part? She didn’t even blink when she said it. It was like she’d done this a thousand times before.”
Leah’s jaw clenched. “I hope you slapped her. I hope you spar on every single word that came out of her mouth.”
I shook my head shourly. “No, Leah. I didn’t do that, I am sorry to disappoint,”
Her eyes widened, now filled with shock. “What? What did you do thei?“
“I demanded ten million dollara and a car,” I said quietly
She that up from the desk, her face a mix of disbelief and anger. “What Are you crazy!” She began pacing, her hands gesturing wildly as she processed what I’d just said “Ten million dollars! And a car? Have you lost your hind?“
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, my hands shaking slightly. “No, not crazy. I know exactly what I’m doing.”
She stopped pacing and looked at me, her frustration momentarily replaced by confusion Then when is this! What’s going on? Why would you ask for money from Millicent’s mother Of all people to most What’s the plan here!
“I need to get away from here, we already talked about this and I know the money you would give me would be enough but I need more.” I said. “I need to figure out my life away from the werewolf world, away from everything that’s been tied to me because of my father, I need to be my own
Pro
Her expression softened as she realized the depth of what I was saying, “You’re serious about this,” she murmured, her eyes searching mine.
I nodded. “I have to do this for me, Leah. For once, I need to choose myself.”
She sat back down on the desk, her posture less tense, but her eyes were full of sadness. I had hoped..I had hoped I’d be enough to make you stay. That’s why I never pursued the topic agala,“
The weight of her words hit me hard, and I reached out, taking her hand. “You are enough. You’ve been my rock through all of this. But the… this in something I need to do for myself, I come back. I promise. But right now, I need to go.”
Her hand trembled in mine, and she bit her lips if trying to hold back the emotions bubbling to the surface. “I understand” she whispered. “I just… I just don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t,” I assured her, squeezing her hand. “This isn’t goodbye forever.”
She suffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. “So, how are you going to pull this off Escape, I mean.”
“I’ve already got a plan,” I said, letting go of her hand and sitting back. “Benita’s going to get the car ready. The cash will be inside. Once everything’s ses. I’ll drive off from there and disappear. No one will know where I’m going, not even you.”
Her eyes welled up with tears. For a moment, she tried to blink them away, but they spilled over, running down her cheeks. “Tim going to mass you,” she choked out. “You’re my best friend.”
Hearing her say that broke something inside me. Team ming my own eyes as I reached out to her again
“You’re my best friend ton, Leah,” I said.
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Chapter 34
“And this… this isn’t the end. It’s just something I need to do. For both of us.”
She nodded, wiping at her eyes again as if trying to regain her composure. Tut her voice was still shaky, “I get it. I really do. I just don’t like it.” “I know.” I gave her a sad smile. “I don’t like it either. But this. this is the only way I can figure out who I am. Away from the werewolves, away my father’s name.”
from
She sniffed again and stood up, walking over to the small window, staring out at nothing in particular. “So, that’s it there You’re just going to leave!” I stood up and joined her by the window, looking out into the night, “TII come back I swear I will. But first, I need to find my own path.” Her voice was a whisper when she spoke again. “And what about Aragon! Are you really jou going to leave him behind?”
I sighed, the weight of her question pressing on me. “I don’t know, Leah. I don’t have all the answers yet, But right now just needed space. Inred to breathe. He said himself that he didn’t want me, he wanted power and I understood. He would never be able to look at me without thinking of what my father did.”
She turned to face me, her tear–streaked face full of vulnerability. “I hope you find what you’re looking for. But I’m going to miss you so much.
I pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. “I’ll miss you ton. More than you know.”
For a long moment, we stood there in silence, holding each other, neither of us wanting to let go. But eventually, I pulled back, wiping my own tears
away.
“This isn’t goodbye.“1 whispered.
Leah nodded, her lip trembling. “It better not be.”
With one last look, I turned and headed toward the door, feeling the weight of what I was about to do settling deep in my chest. But as painful as it was, I knew it was the right choice.
“I see you again,” I said, glancing back at her one last time.
She nodded, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You better.”
And with that, left to pack.
It was time to go.
