Chapter 42

Tyler POV

Moonrise Entertainment

Sources close to the Alpha Council reported Nathan Lewis was pressing hard for a sanction against me as well as for a mating arrangement for himself with Rachel Flores.

I could understand why he wanted Rachel. She was a desirable woman. If the rumors were to be believed, she was from an Alpha House rather than the omega house she had believed to be her home house. Her career was taking off too which would make her a wealthy bride.

Her pregnancy would have made her less desirable to a human man. I'd been exposed to enough human fiction to understand their thoughts about raising someone else's child.

We weren't human though---and a wolfen child with Alpha blood was valuable no matter who fathered him or her.

Nathan Lewis was talking of a blood ceremony for their mating as well which would tie the child to his house before birth. His blood would course through my child's veins; I would be no more valid a father to the baby than he would be. If he were officially mated to Rachel, then he could have the Alpha Council demand I stay away from my child entirely.

I wasn't going to let that happen. Ever. My child would know their father. I would be a better father than my own, than Rachel's, than Nathan Lewis surely.

"I can't believe Nathan is trying to officially mate her! Did you know about this? How long has she been working to steal him from me?"

Charlotte usually keeps her distance from me at work unless her need is work-related. We aren't close. I appreciate her directness, but she's spoiled and I have no patience for the games she likes to play to manipulate others around her into doing what she wants.

Our father has never made it a secret he favors her over me either. I know his favoritism is not her fault. I can't help resenting her for it to some degree all the same.

"I know Nathan Lewis has approached the Alpha Council about a mating ceremony with Rachel, yes. I don't think he's been 'stolen' from you though. Did the two of you even go on more than two dates?"

"Don't give me shit, Tyler! Your slut is ruining the match Father made for me. That's your problem, too. She's pregnant with your baby. You're going to let Nathan take the brat for House Lewis?"

Charlotte was practically foaming at the mouth with anger. I knew there was no way she needed me to defend her. Every now and again the urge to protect her hit me because she is my flesh-and-blood sister and I know I should want to protect her.

I still feel like shit for defending her to Rachel when Rachel deserved my loyalty more than anyone.

"Rachel has been given her options. I can't force her to come back to me."

"Have you even tried?" Charlotte demanded, hands on her hips in a pose so similar to our father's I felt disoriented.

"Charlotte?"

"Yes?"

I knew I was close to losing control. I could feel the anger flooding through my system. If my wolf were awake, I'd probably have shifted by now, but Wynd was lost to me for the moment and I was nothing more than an angry man who carried the Alpha gene.

Exactly like my dethroned and deformed brother William who will never be considered a wolf again.

"You need to get out of my office. Now. It isn't my job to fix your problems with men. If Father wants you to have Nathan Lewis so badly, you should go to him to complain. See if he can't get back to negotiations for you."

I don't usually talk so much to Charlotte or to anyone when I'm angry. Words usually stick in my throat, choking me, but my wolf was silent and I find I couldn't be as a result.

Charlotte looked stunned. I couldn't decide if it was because I've spoken more to her in this conversation than in the last year or because I told her to get lost and run to Daddy with her problems.

"Don't you want to talk about our options? We could help each other! You want that slut back and I want Nathan. I deserve Nathan!"

For once, I actually agreed with Charlotte completely: she did deserve Nathan Lewis. There's something about him which reminded me of her manipulative tricks. I think she's a first-rate bitch and he's the exact same level of bastard.

"Get out, Charlotte. Now!"

I slammed my hands down on my desk to emphasize the word; Charlotte jumped with a satisfying shriek which told me she was more afraid of me than she wanted to let on.

Good. She needed to be afraid of me. If Charlotte was afraid of me, she wouldn't do anything to Rachel because she'd be too scared I would retaliate against her. I had no problem at all with my sister feeling a shiver of fear around me.

I've felt plenty of fear in my life in our father's house.

Charlotte scurried out with a speed I found gratifying. She left behind a faint scent of fake flowers which made me wish I had windows I could open. I reached for my phone and called my assistant instead.

"Bring me some ice water. And arrange for a fan to be put in. The office is stifling. I need to feel the air moving."

I hung up before they could respond. I knew my orders would be carried out. I could ask for someone to find me the Holy Grail and a new Crusade would've started off on expedition by the end of the workday.

Power was something I had too much of and not enough all at once.

Adam came in with a pitcher of ice water in one hand and a glass in the other. I knew I must have been giving off a seriously bad mood for my Beta to be running errands himself.

No one worried about Adam with me which was both galling and gratifying. He was my Beta, true, which meant I had a connection to him I didn't share with any other wolf in our pack, but I didn't want my subordinates to think I was totally tame with anyone.

An Alpha was only as powerful as the fear they inspired. My father had taught me that lesson. I wasn't interested in making friends with the lower ranks of Moonrise Pack. I only wanted to do my duty as Alpha without inspiring any kind of familiarity with those I led.

I was devoting my life to them. They could keep their personal problems to themselves.

"I'm that bad today?" I asked, not really interested in the answer.

Adam placed the glass on my desk in front of me. He poured me a glass of iced water with the grace of a trained waiter though I knew he had never been expected to or called upon to serve in his life.

Being a Beta in a house as large as House Wright came with its own benefits. Adam had no reason to complain given he was treated with respect at all times and compensated very well for his service to the Alpha House.

"You are 'that bad' today," Adam agreed, placing the pitcher of water onto my desk before taking a seat across from me, "You know the whole floor could hear Charlotte, right? We really need to look into soundproofing this place if you're going to be making people crazy enough to start screaming matches."

I had no interest in whether or not Charlotte was overheard. Why did it matter if the gossips got ahold of the news Charlotte was being cast off by Nathan Lewis? Didn't everyone already know he'd gone before the Alpha Council to try to arrange a match with my fated mate?

"I think it will be fine for them to know about Charlotte's dating drama. Have you heard anything about Lewis's appeal to the Council?"

Adam looked down at his hands resting on his knees. He had a problem holding eye contact when he was about to deliver bad news. I wondered how bad it could be for the flush to be rising on his cheeks.

"The Council has approved his match with Rachel. The vote was unanimous. If she agrees to mate him, they're going to allow the mating."

"And my child?" I asked, already knowing I wasn't going to like the answer.

Adam didn't look up as he practically mumbled his response.

"The Council approved a blood exchange. House Lewis will be allowed to lay a blood claim on the child before birth so the baby will be born into their house and fit for inheritance."

No worse information could have been given to me.

Nathan Lewis was worse than a demon. He'd come into my life out of nowhere to seduce my mate away and steal my child before he or she could even be born. What had I done to inspire such a targeted attack?

"Go ask Gladys to put me on Father's schedule. I need to make a plan with him. I can't let Lewis get Rachel and the child. Father will know what to do."

Adam was able to look up at me as he nodded a slow agreement.

Neither of us needed to voice out loud how we hoped I wouldn't regret asking my father for help with my wayward mate.