Chapter 3

Connor tried to use that holding agreement to snatch my shares. He miscalculated.

The agreement would only be valid if he formed the mate bond with me during the ceremony. Now that the ceremony was over, the agreement was invalid.

But I still needed to get the High Elder Council's final confirmation before tomorrow's board meeting.

I hailed a cab and made a beeline for the High Elder Council building.

The High Elder Council was on the mountainside of the Wolfe territory, with tight security everywhere.

I flashed my ID and walked up to the meeting room without a hitch.

The door was half open, and I could hear Connor's voice inside. "Members of the High Elder Council, Vera is mentally unstable and not fit to hold an important role in the Wolfe Group. I propose that Anna should take over all her duties."

One elder, Quill, hesitated for a moment before saying, "Connor, Vera has done a lot to help the pack. Not everyone will be on board with this."

Connor replied firmly, "I'm the Alpha. My word is law for the Wolfe clan. Anna is as capable as Vera, and she's more obedient. We don't need some power-hungry woman to point fingers in the Wolfe Group."

Another elder, Paxton, chimed in. "Alpha's right. Vera's been crossing the line lately. The Silvermoon Mine is massive. With her holding all the power, it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong."

I burst into the room. All eyes were on me.

Connor slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. "Vera, who let you in? Get out!"

I strode up to the long table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. "I'm a key member of this pack. I have the right to attend any meeting."

I swept my gaze around the room. "If you want to take the Silvermoon Mine from me, you'll have to see if I agree."

Connor stormed around the table and grabbed me by the collar. "I'm being kind enough, so don't force my hand. Do you want me to lock you up in the dungeon right now?"

I met his furious gaze. "Try me. I'm the only one who knows the password to the Silvermoon Mine's core data.

"If anything happens to me, the entire Silvermoon Mine will shut down. The Wolfe territory's energy supply will be cut off. Are you ready to deal with the fallout?"

Connor suddenly released me, gritting his teeth in rage. "Are you threatening me?"

I adjusted my collar and said, "It's not a threat. It's a fact."

Quill tapped the table. "Vera, calm down. Connor's thinking about the bigger picture. If you hand over the data, the pack will make it worth your while."

I scoffed. "Make it worth my while? You mean kicking me out and giving my place to some scheming bitch?"

Anna was standing at the doorway. No one knew when she got there. Her eyes were rimmed with red as she walked in, looking hurt. "Vera, why are you always picking on me?

"I only wanted to take some of the burden off Connor. If you don't want to hand over the Silvermoon Mine, I'll back off."

Connor, feeling heartbroken, immediately drew Anna close. "Anna, this has nothing to do with you. She's the greedy one here."

Then he pointed at me and shouted, "Vera, this is your last chance. Give me the password, or I'll make your life a living hell."

I stood up, refusing to back down. "The password's in my head. Try cracking open my skull and see what you get."

Connor raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

I didn't dodge. The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the meeting room.

My head snapped to the side, and I tasted blood.

Connor looked stunned for a second. He glanced at his hand and then back at me. "You brought this on yourself," he said.

I spat out a mouthful of blood and turned to face him. "That slap pays you back for saving me back then. From now on, we're even."

I turned and walked toward the door.

Quill called out from behind me, "Vera, you better think this through. Once you walk out that door, you won't be protected by the pack anymore."

I didn't look back as I said, "I don't need your protection. Tomorrow night at the clan party, I'll give you a big surprise."