Chapter 35-Father's Latest Scheme Selene's POV: Brian ushered me to my desk with all the fawning grace of a hotel concierge, sliding over a stack of proofs, his voice low and rock-solid. "Selene, you're not ordinary. I saw those sketches yesterday afternoon-the lines, the colors, pure talent. Thompson needs people like you. Probation? Forget it. As long as you want it, you'll stick around here. Hell... even faster." His eyes bored into mine, laced with this weird certainty, like he was handing me a promise on a silver platter. I took the stack, fingers quivering just a touch. Why? A newbie like me, "untouchable"? Brian's praise hit like a candy-coated grenade-sweet on the surface, shrapnel underneath. I dropped into my chair, glaring at the screen, brain churning to mush. Aaron's "connections," the colleagues' warmth, Brian's ironclad assurances... it all flowed too smooth, too damn eerie. Luck? Maybe. But a voice nagged from the pit of my gut: Something's off. Lost in the whirl, my phone buzzed. "Fiona" flashed on the screen, and my heart melted like butter. Granny. "Hey, Granny?" "Selene, my darling!" Her voice bubbled through the line, alive with a spark I hadn't heard in ages-like sunlight cracking through storm clouds. "Your dad... Lars, he brought me back! The pack! The elders welcomed me home, everything's golden. Come quick, sweetheart-I miss you!" Tears pricked my eyes. Last night's showdown replayed: Lars's grudging "fine." Didn't think he'd actually follow through. Granny home-no more hospital cot, no more rogue stigma. "Granny, I'm on my way! Hold tight!" I snatched my bag and bolted from the office. Brian called from the hall, "Everything okay?" I waved over my shoulder: "Family emergency! Back this afternoon!" Elevator plummeting, I hailed a cab-the plain kind this time, no bothering Aaron. The ride to Ice Moon territory had my pulse thundering. Granny was home. We were finally... home. Ice Moon Pack's gate hadn't changed: wrought iron choked with vines, air thick with pine sap and earthy wild. Cab pulled up; I paid and hopped out, steps bouncy as a girl's. Elders' cabins dotted the woods, smoke curling lazy from chimneys. I beelined for Granny's old place-that cottage with the vine-draped sill. Door creaked open, and there she sat in her rocker, cheeks flushed with life long missed. "Sweetheart!" Arms out, I dove in, wrapping her frail frame. She still smelled of lavender and yellowed pages. "Granny, you okay? Lars... he really let us come back?" She nodded, eyes twinkling like stars. "Yes, the elders bore witness. Medical bills covered too-I'm feeling stronger already." But her hand trembled on my back, and my stomach dropped. Footsteps crunched outside. Lars strode in, two burly packmates at his heels, door slamming shut like a trap springing. "Selene." His tone even, but that fox-sly glint reignited in his eyes-last night's echo, but sharper, hungrier. "Quick on the draw." Granny stirred to rise, but he pinned her shoulder-gentle on the surface, iron underneath. "Lars... what 15:17 94.59%%% Chapter 35-Father's Latent Scheme the hell is this?" I backed up a step, guts roiling. The room's air thickened, heavy as pre-storm hush. Lars chuckled, low and empty, mouth stretching like a hook. "Welcome home, daughter. But not the full family reunion fairy tale." He flicked his wrist, the goons lunged, clamping Granny's arms and "escorting her to the back room-lock clicked, her muffled cry slicing through: "Selene!" "House arrest?" My voice cracked sharp, rage clawing up my throat. "You promised! The publishing ho use, me and Granny back... you lied?" He shrugged, claiming the chair, leg kicked over the arm like he owned the prey. "Promised? Sure, I fetched her. But the company? Ice Moon Publishing's my lifeline. Hand it over? In your dreams." His eyes slitted, cunning laid bare like a fox digging its den. "Drop the charges, Selene. Spring Vanessa. She's my eldest-twenty years by my side. Your sister too. Blood. Or... Granny stays in this 'home' forever. Pack cage-cozy enough, right?" Fists balled, nails biting palms. Last night's beg was bullshit, tears rehearsed-he'd played me from jump, betting on my soft spot, Granny as the lever. "Lars, you bastard! The press is Ice Moon Pack's- Grandpa built it, Mom's inheritance. You squatted on it, and now you wanna hoard it eternal?" Lars's grin darkened, greed flaring in his stare like hellfire. "Inheritance? Mine now. I'm Alpha of Ice Moon. Selene, you're the jinx, that mark's curse. Push me, and I'll get meaner." He paused, voice slithering low like venom dripping. "And keep that 'driver' of yours away. Aaron. I smell it-he ain't normal. Hell, he's got Alpha stink... Blood Shade whiff? Pray he's not tangled with them. Bottom line: no meddling, or Granny doesn't see sunrise." Ice flooded my veins. Aaron? Lars sniffing Blood Shade ties? Thinking of their Alpha Damien-that decrepit, ugly bloodthirsty monster-sent my heart into chaos, but fury smothered the fear. "Touch Granny, and you'll regret spawning me!" He rose, closing in, breath sour with booze. "Drop 'em. Today. Lawyers primed. Or... you know the fallout." I locked eyes on Lars-that face, once Dad, now beast. Lockdown, threats, betrayal. Back to square one. But not this time. No tears. I'd fight. "Fine." The word scraped out, cold as frost. "But mark it, Lars. What you owe? Comes due." Stepping from the cabin, sunset dragged my shadow long. Cab idled; I climbed in, hands shaking. Phone lit with Aaron's missed calls. I ghosted them. Lars's barb stuck like a thorn: He ain't ordinary. So who was he? Just a driver? Night choked the territory, but fire kindled in my chest. Drop charges? Seemed I had no play. My dearest Granny, sole kin, clutched in Lars's jaws. But after? I'd make his sly ass taste the backlash. Wait for it! I swore it! 15:18 Leave a comment 94.59%