Chapter 51

Renee

My body guard was next to me in an instant. My head pounding again as I swooned. He steadied me with a hand on my shoulder.

“What is it?”

I just turned the screen toward him.

He took one look, and I watched the tension coil through him like a wire pulled too tight. He didn’t say anything at first—just stared at the clip as it looped again.

His jaw flexed. “Do you recognize the number?"

I shook my head.

"We'll keep an eye on it. Ms. Mountainhowl, but for now, why don't you head into class?"

I'm nodded, but I wasn't entirely happy about it. Would I have to change my number every few months now? Every a few weeks? How long would this go on?? After all, I didn't think Tyler was actually that popular. He was honestly kind of an asshole. Well, more than just kind of an asshole.

I walked into a class trying not to think about it, but my mind kept turning it over. It had to be one of Tyler's friends. It had to have been someone who had been around when Neil and I had lunch together, but I couldn't pick out anyone from my memories, especially since I saw the guards taking people's phones. Maybe Vivian had already sent it before she had her phone confiscated. It was hard to say. Maybe it was one of her friends.

The rest of my day passed in a blur. I texted Neil as the day started to wind to a close. By the time I slid into the passenger seat of Neil’s car, my entire body felt like it had been rung out and left in the sun to dry. My temples throbbed again, my back ached, and the lingering sting of that video still buzzed at the back of my thoughts.

Neil didn’t say much as he drove. Just a soft “seatbelt” reminder as I got in and nearly dozed of, lulled into relaxation by his scent. There was a quiet offer to put on music if I wanted it. I didn’t. I just let the silence press in, eyes fixed on the blur of trees and buildings passing outside the window.

It should have been comforting—this quiet, steady ride with someone who’d stood up for me. Someone who brought me food, who didn’t demand explanations or make me feel like I owed him anything.

And yet…

Somewhere in my chest, a knot tightened. A whisper of guilt. Or maybe frustration. Because there was a part of me—tiny but growing—that kept asking why I wasn’t doing more. Why I wasn’t reaching for his hand, or brushing my arm against his, or leaning in a little closer when the car slowed at red lights? Wasn’t that what I was supposed to want? He was kind. Attractive. Loyal. Interested. Safe. Genuine.

But the idea of touching him, of initiating something, even something small, felt…off. Like walking into a room that looked like home but didn’t smell right. I hated that I couldn’t explain it. I hated even more that I knew exactly whose face kept floating to the front of my mind when I wasn’t paying attention.

There were a million and three reasons why Dominic shouldn't be coming to mind, and yet he was. Incessant.

Neil parked outside the building and looked over at me. “You good?”

“Yeah,” I said quickly. Too quickly. “Thanks for the ride.”

He parked and we walked in together. Side by side. No part of me leaned in. If he noticed, he didn't say anything, thankfully. We parted without saying much of anything, and I felt kind of crappy about that. I'd have to apologize to him later. The office was already humming with activity by the time I got to my desk. And as soon as I sat down, the stack of work waiting for me slammed the door shut on any lingering thoughts I’d had about Neil.

It was taller than yesterday. Twice as disorganized. And the migraine was already starting to come back in full force. No note. No explanation. Just the tower of it, daring me to complain. Daring me to crack. I didn't even look up as my supervisor left. I took a deep breath and wished that I had gotten a really big thermos of coffee made before we'd left campus. But I made a note to get one later.

I straightened my spine, clicked into my workstation, and started sorting.

One page at a time.

One foot in front of the other. One moment at a time. Because all I had to do was survive this internship. Until I hit the hours I needed—until that license was in my hands and my freedom secured—I had no choice but to survive this.

Romance could wait. Rest could wait. My head would just have to deal with its own problems for a few hours.

I had work to do.

Vivian

I needed to unwind. Badly.

Everything had been pissing me off lately—Renee slithering her way into the company, Neil acting like some knight in shining armor for her of all people when he wouldn't even look my way. I'd make him look my way, as soon as I got Renee out of the way. Tyler was going to have to work harder to get Renee back, or I'd find someone else to go after her after I had destroyed her reputation for getting in my way in the first place.

Then, there was Dd pretending like I didn’t exist except to scold me about bullshit that didn't matter. I was his daughter, the daughter of Alpha Brightclaw, and it was my right to treat whoever I wanted however I wanted.

Renee was the least of it.

I was sick of it. All of it. I'd have to wait a little longer to push Dad off his high horse about he money, but as soon as he did I was making up for all the stuff I had missed out.

For now, though, I just needed some good sex. I flipped through my contacts, and huffed. None of my usuals held any appeal for me. So, naturally, I went looking for Tyler.

Knowing that every time I fucked him, I was just enjoying something else that Renee wanted. I still hadn't found a tailor to take in that red dress. If only the wench wasn't so fat, it would fit me perfectly. I was going to make sure to have tons of sex tonight with Tyler. We were going at least three rounds. Sex with him wasn’t romantic. It was convenient. Familiar. He knew exactly what I wanted and he was obedient. He knew his place. And right now, I needed the distraction—needed to remind myself I still had power over someone.

I stepped into the Brightclaw estate, fully expecting to find him lounging somewhere, pretending to be too busy to text back. But no matter how I look, I couldn't find him. No matter where I looked in his usual spots, he wasn't there. The other gammas shield away and scurried away as soon as I asked, not answering. Some of them gave me a quiet "I don't know”, but I knew something was going on. Someone had to know where he was. Instead of finding his sister who knew full well that I used her brother for se and was more than happy to help me, I was met by two of the house maids where his family lived, cleaning in the main hallway. Both of them looked entirely too hesitant to meet my eyes.

“Where’s Tyler?” I asked, dropping my bag onto the nearby table.

The older maid cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, Ms. Vivian… he’s not here.”

“I can see that. Where is he?”

They exchanged a glance. That alone set my teeth on edge.

"Answer me now, or you're both fired!"

“They haven't been here for more than a few days. Alpha instructed us to pack all of their things up and have them removed from the estate."

“What?” I blinked, not sure I’d heard correctly.

"Alpha had us --"

"I heard what you said stupid!" I snarled. "What do you mean he had them removed from the Estate?"

“Alpha,” the younger one said, voice barely above a whisper. “Made it clear that they've been exiled from the pack… I believe everyone but his mother is actually in jail."

My breath caught, then sharpened into a hiss. I screeched.

"You can pack your things why you're at it, stupid bitches!"

I turned on my heel, fury bubbling in my chest, threatening to boil over. Tyler was gone. His whole family—gone. Cast out like trash. And Dad hadn’t even thought it necessary to inform me? I was his daughter! This affected me, too. How dare he do this to me without even asking me!

This was all about Renee, I knew it, and I made a mental not to ensure she suffered for it, but right now, I was going to find Dad and make him bring them back or there would be hell to pay.