Chapter 33 -Little Joys of Life Selene's POV: Half an hour later, the neon glow from the riverside café shattered into shards on the water's surface. I pushed open the door, and there was Lars, hunkered in the corner booth, a cup of stone-cold black coffee sitting untouched in front of him. He looked a decade older: eyes puffy and red-rimmed, tie askew, like life had gnawed him down to scraps. Was this still the Alpha of the Ice Moon Pack? Sure, it wasn't the mightiest pack out there, but he'd always carried himself like he owned the damn moon. But then, beneath that weary mask, I caught it-a flicker of that familiar slyness. His narrowed eyes gleamed like a fox sizing up prey, the corner of his mouth twitching up not in remorse, but in the probe of his next move. Maybe he thought the pitiful act would tug at my heartstrings? A daughter's pity for her old man? Yeah, right. As if I'd forgotten how he'd treated me. No way was I falling for that crap. "Selene." He rose, voice quivering, arms half-outstretched for a hug. I sneered and stepped back, keeping my distance. His hands hovered in the air for a beat before he yanked them back, rubbing his nose in feigned innocence-the move too rehearsed, like he'd practiced it in a mirror. "Sit down, Dad. What's this about?" He swallowed hard, wringing his hands, but I spotted the subtle rub of his fingers, like he was weighing the chips in his pocket. "Your sister... Vanessa. She's suffering in there. Crying every day, wasting away. Selene, she's your sister. Mom's daughter. We're family." I crossed my arms, staring him down with a smirk plastered on my face. "Yeah, she is. But she tried to kill me, Alpha Lars. Swapped me out with black magic, turned me into the damn sacrifice. Family? What the hell did you take me for? Spare change?" His face drained white, eyes dropping low-but not for long. He snapped them back up, a glint of vicious calculation flashing through, like he was testing my breaking point. "I was wrong. Selene, I know I was wrong. From the day you were born, your mother died... I was scared of that birthmark. The elders called it an omen-I believed them. Exiling you and Fiona? That's on me. But Vanessa... she needs help. Please, drop the charges. Let her out. We can be a family again." His voice went soft as silk, but his words hid barbs-"a family again" dangled like bait, reeling me back into the web he'd spun long ago. His fingers curled under the table; I could almost see the gears turning in his head: if I softened, he'd score half the win; if not, he'd line up the next dirty trick. I shut my eyes, drawing a deep breath. Vanessa was Mom's daughter-I didn't want her rotting in a cell. But Lars? This man who'd sold his own kid for cash, banished me and Granny? His plea wasn't genuine; it was a sly deal, that greedy glint in his eye giving him away. He wasn't begging for forgiveness-he was upping the ante. "Lars, I don't hate Vanessa. She's... all the blood we've got left. But you? What you owe me ain't fixed with a sorry." He looked up, fake hope sparking in his eyes, his mouth curving just a touch-like a fox catching the scent of blood. "Name your price. Money? A house? Whatever-just say it." 15:17 89.19% I shook my head, voice ice-cold. "No cash. I want your company. All of it, transferred to me. Ice Moon Publishing-Mom's legacy, what should've been ours. And get me and Granny back in the pack. Official, elders as witnesses. No more rogue status, no more shame." His color shifted, blood draining like he'd been gutted. Eyes slitted, fists clenched till his knuckles bleached, but in that squint, the sly spark flickered-he was scheming, figuring loopholes, how to skim off the top in the handover, how to sic the elders on me as cover. "The company? Selene, that's everything! Ice Moon... that's my blood and sweat. You'd leave me with nothing?" His tone dripped grievance, but he dragged the end out like casting a net, waiting for me to slack. "Your blood and sweat?" I barked a laugh, bitter as bile. "You sold Mom's blood and sweat for schemes. Now it's your turn to pay up. Agree, and I'll drop the charges. Vanessa walks tomorrow. No deal... she stews in there till she learns what family's supposed to mean." The air went thick, frozen solid. He stared, sweat beading on his forehead, lips twitching. Shadows of wealth warred in his eyes: the company, status, pack glory. Of course he hated it. But Vanessa wailing in lockup? She was his favorite, and it tore at him-or so his abacus clicked, weighing her freedom against his empire. Finally, he choked out the word, voice raspy as sand, laced with buried venom: "Fine. I agree. Tomorrow... lawyers handle the papers. Pack stuff, I'll lean on the elders." His gaze slid away, fingers gouging the table edge like ripping at his last shred of pride, but in that dodge lurked a sinister ember- I could feel it, him already plotting the backpedal, how to choke me with fine print. I clocked his reluctance: eyes dodging, nails digging like he was clawing his dignity to shreds. Wealth was his armor-stripped bare, he'd be naked. But screw it. Vanessa rotting in jail? That was my call. He'd learn to pay up, even if his fox cunning had him gnashing teeth in the shadows. "Deal." I stood, tone even. "Dad, remember: last chance. No tricks." He nodded, eyes glassy but dry-that sheen too phony, like crocodile tears. I turned and bolted, shoving the door open to a slap of cold wind. Behind me, Aaron's silhouette idled motionless in his car across the street, a sentinel wolf in the dark. On the ride home, I slumped in the passenger seat, watching streetlights streak by. Lars's promise hung thin as tissue, ready to tear. But hey, tonight I'd clawed a win. Aaron's hand found mine, warmth seeping into my knuckles. "Good job, short stuff. You're tougher than all of 'em." I managed a smile, bone-tired but lighter. "Hope so. Aaron... thanks for always having my back." He said nothing, just squeezed tighter. In the night glow, his profile cut sharp as myth. But I reminded myself: he's just the driver, a solid guy. Don't overthink. Don't fall in. Yet a whisper nagged deep down: What if? What if he's the one? 1517 Leave a comment $0.70%