Chapter 436

Nathan

I adjusted my tie in the mirror, meticulously combing my hair to perfection as I muttered to myself.

“No, no, no,” I muttered, loosening my tie. “Can you hand me the blue one instead? The red looks stupid.”

Levi, who was leaning on my desk behind me with his arms folded across his chest, shook his head. “Nathan, you look fine,” he said.

I caught his gaze in the mirror. “You’re sure?” I asked.

“Yes,” he chuckled. “And by the way, relax your shoulders. You look like you’re bracing for a fight.”

I tried to ease the tension in my shoulders, but it was a futile effort. The day of my interview with the Alpha association had finally come, so relaxation felt worlds away at that moment. In a matter of minutes, the Alphas would be walking through the doors, ready to bombard me with questions and scrutiny.

“I feel like a terrified schoolboy about to give a presentation to his whole class while his crush is watching,” I admitted, feeling slightly foolish. “And it’s silly, right? I’ve held press conferences, given speeches... I even delivered my wedding vows in front of the entire pack just a few weeks ago.”

Levi chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “This is different, Nathan. The Alphas from the association are high profile, well-known, and very intimidating. They’re not exactly your average audience.”

I rolled my eyes, a sarcastic laugh escaping my lips. “Gee, thanks, Levi. That makes me feel a whole lot better.”

“Sorry,” Levi said, his laughter subsiding. “But you’ll do fine. Just be true to yourself. And relax those damn shoulders.”

As I turned my attention back to the mirror, adjusting my suit jacket, Levi’s voice broke the silence again. “Picked out a honeymoon spot yet?”

A small smile tugged at my lips. “Yeah, I found a place down south. Beautiful beaches. I want to take Olivia there for two weeks once this is all over. She deserves it, and I want to treat her like a princess.”

Levi nodded, his expression softening. “That sounds perfect. But what if you don’t make it onto the association?”

The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Truthfully, I had avoided thinking about it.

“I’m… not sure,” I confessed. “I really need this funding for the pack. We’re still dealing with the aftermath of the Redclaw attack, and there’s so much I want to accomplish—building a new school, for starters. I’m not sure if I should be taking time off without that funding guaranteed.”

“Nathan, you still deserve a honeymoon,” Levi said. “Funding or no funding.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, the secretary’s voice suddenly buzzed through the intercom. “Alpha Nathan, the Alphas from the association have arrived.”

My throat tightened, and I took a deep breath. “Invite them to the conference room, please,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Levi pushed away from the desk, crossing the room and clapping a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve got this, Nathan. Just remember who you are and what you’ve already achieved, alright?”

I nodded, taking one last look in the mirror.

It was time.

…

As I entered the conference room, the faces that stared back at me from around the table were nothing short of professional. High profile Alphas, leaders I had only heard of in the news, were there to meet me.

The weight of their presence was almost tangible, leaving me momentarily starstruck as I walked into the room.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” I said as I entered. “Thank you so much for the honor of meeting with me today. Please, feel free to help yourself to some beverages, as well as some pastries from our local—”

“That won’t be necessary,” one of the Alphas, a man who I knew only as Alpha Montgomery, said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Let us get started.”

I nodded; although the perfunctory nature of his action was a little diminishing, I put on a smile and sat at the end of the table, prepared for my interview.

The meeting began with formal introductions. Each Alpha introduced themselves with a sense of pride and authority that I couldn’t help but respect. And yet, as the interview progressed, it became increasingly grueling.

“So, Nathan,” began Alpha Montgomery, his voice deep and authoritative, “tell us about your achievements as the leader of your pack.”

I cleared my throat, steadying my nerves. “Well, under my leadership, we’ve successfully dismantled the Redclaws, a rogue group that posed a significant threat to our region. We’ve also rebuilt our town’s economy, recovering from the destruction caused by various downfalls.”

Alpha Montgomery nodded, but his gaze was skeptical. “Impressive feats for a youngling,” he remarked, the term ‘youngling’ echoing among the other Alphas, their expressions unreadable as they jotted down notes on their clipboards.

I felt a twinge of irritation at the term but held my ground. “Yes, I may be young, but my actions have proven my capabilities as an Alpha,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “My pack has faced numerous challenges, but we’ve come out stronger with each one.”

“Such as?” Alpha Montgomery prodded. “You speak of challenges, but you haven’t elaborated.”

“Such as,” I said, biting my tongue, “my father, for example.”

“Ah,” Montgomery said thoughtfully. “Colin.”

I nodded, the mention of his name making my blood boil almost instantly. “As you all may know, my father has been incarcerated,” I said. “And rightfully so. His actions plunged our pack into an economic recession. I’ve sought to remedy that since the moment I took his place.”

The other Alphas nodded thoughtfully, but Alpha Montgomery only leaned forward, leveling me with a stern gaze. “And how can we be assured that you won’t end up like your father?”

Alpha Montgomery’s question struck me to my core. I had expected questions like this, but it still felt like a knife twisting in my gut.

“All I can give you is my word,” I said slowly, meeting his gaze.

There was a silence following my response. The Alphas glanced around at each other, clearly not expecting an answer like that, but Alpha Montgomery just stared at me, his gold gaze unblinking. For a moment, I thought that the interview had just reached an untimely end.

But I was wrong.

Much to my surprise, Alpha Montgomery leaned back in his chair, looking shockingly satisfied. “Hm. I like that,” he said, flashing me the slightest hint of a smile. “Plucky, this one.”

Plucky. The word was just as offensive as ‘youngling’, but I bit my tongue once more, deciding that it was better to get through the interview without any incidents.

Next, Alpha Richardson, the Alpha of one of the largest packs in the region, leaned forward. “We’ve heard about this upcoming auction your pack is organizing,” he said, referring to Olivia’s passion project. “I’m intrigued. Tell me all about it.”

I straightened up, a sense of pride filling me. “Yes, the auction,” I said. “It’s actually my wife’s project; it was her idea. She’s been working tirelessly to organize it in the hopes of bringing more business and tourism to the town.”

Their reactions were not what I expected. The Alphas exchanged looks, their expressions bordering on condescension.

Alpha Richardson raised an eyebrow. “Your wife, the Luna, is organizing this event?”

“Yes,” I said. “Is that a problem?”

“Well, it’s rather… unconventional,” Alpha Richardson replied. “Typically, the projects of Lunas are relegated to smaller things; bake sales, food drives, storytimes at the library. That sort of thing.”

I swallowed. “Olivia and I believe in a more egalitarian approach,” I said. “She’s a brilliant woman, and she works hard. Not that there’s anything wrong with bake sales, food drives, and storytimes, but it’s not what she’s interested in.”

The Alphas whispered among themselves, their skepticism hanging heavily in the air. It became clear to me, then, just how they felt about the role of a Luna: that projects such as this one weren’t meant for women. And that made my blood boil.

Finally, Alpha Montgomery spoke up. “Very well then,” he said. “We will be attending this auction, Nathan. If it’s as successful as you claim it will be, it might just sway our decision regarding your application to the association.”

I nodded, feeling a surge of determination outweigh my anger.

“But,” Alpha Richardson added, his gaze piercing, “we expect this event to be a significant demonstration of your pack’s capabilities.”

“Raise a hundred thousand dollars, Nathan,” Alpha Montgomery added, his piercing gaze locked onto mine. “Only then will we seriously consider your application.”