The carriage ride back to the Alpha estate blurred past in a stream of city lights and restless thoughts. My crystal communicator lay on the seat beside me, vibrating again and again during the last twenty minutes.
Jareth: [Where are you?]
Jareth: [Celene said you came to the tower. Why did you not come to my office?]
Jareth: [Shara, answer me. You make me worried.]
Jareth: [Are you safe? Call me.]
I watched the messages pile up on the screen. Each one revealed his fear.
He was not worried about me. He was just afraid of being exposed.
He feared that I had stood outside his office door and heard everything. He was already calculating the damage, wondering if the careful life he built was about to fall apart.
I did not answer. Instead, I pressed the power button and watched the screen turn dark.
I leaned my head back against the seat and closed my eyes. I needed to think.
The pack lawyer had already begun the process, but for now I still had to act like the loving and clueless mate.
I needed him to feel safe. Only then would my final move destroy him completely.
When the carriage reached the estate, I noticed Jareth’s carriage parked carelessly near the entrance, as if he had returned in a hurry.
Luvena’s carriage was there too, parked quietly on the side.
Of course she was here. Like a parasite that refused to leave.
I paid the driver and walked up the stone steps. The front door was unlocked.
As soon as I stepped inside, voices drifted from the living room.
They were arguing. Their voices were low but tense.
“So what?” Luvena said sharply. “If she heard us, she would have burst into the office. She would have screamed. You know how emotional she is. She would never just walk away.”
“You cannot be sure,” Jareth answered nervously. “She has been acting strange since the pup died. She’s quiet and distant. What if she is planning something?”
“You are just overthinking, Jareth,” Luvena replied with a scoff. “Maybe she only dropped off the plans and left, or maybe she heard nothing at all. Why so panicked?”
“And what if she did hear?” Jareth’s voice rose with stress. “What if she demands a separation? Do you understand what happens then? The alliance with the northern packs depends on my stable mate bond. My grandfather will disown me if a scandal breaks now. I will lose everything.”
“So your wealth matters more than us?”
“I care about our future,” he snapped. “And our future requires power and money.”
I took a slow breath and forced a confused smile onto my face before walking into the room.
“Hey, why so noisy here? What’s happening?” I asked lightly.
Both of them jumped.
Jareth turned around quickly. His face looked pale and sweat covered his forehead. While Luvena looked furious, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
“Shara,” Jareth said as he rushed toward me. His expression held panic and relief at the same time. “Shara, thank the Moon Goddess. I thought something had happened to you.”
He grabbed my hands. His palms were damp.
“I have been calling you for an hour. Why was your crystal communicator off? Where did you go?”
I blinked at him with innocent surprise.
“My communicator?” I said softly. “It must have run out of energy. I forgot to charge it last night. I am sorry. Did I make you worry?”
“Worry?” he said. “I was losing my mind.”
His eyes searched my face carefully, looking for anger or suspicion.
“Celene told me you came to the tower. Why did you not come to my office? I was in a meeting but I would have ended it for you.”
“I did not want to interrupt,” I replied calmly. “Celene looked very stressed and she said you were busy. I only came to leave the blueprints.”
“But where did you go after that?” he asked, narrowing his eyes slightly. “You were gone for hours.”
I paused.
I allowed the silence to stretch just long enough for his heart to race.
“Oh, something important came up,” I said casually. “I went to visit a lawyer for unbinding decree.”
The room fell completely silent.
Jareth looked like someone had punched him in the stomach.
“What did you say?” he whispered weakly. “Unbinding decree? Shara, what do you mean? Are you leaving me?”
I watched him carefully. The fear in his eyes was not fear of losing me. It was fear of losing his inheritance.
Then I suddenly laughed.
“Oh, look at your expression,” I said, playfully tapping his arm. “Do you want a severance, Jareth? Is that what you are thinking?”
He blinked in confusion.
“What? No! Of course not. Shara, you are joking, right?”
“Of course I am joking,” I said as I stepped closer and wrapped my arms around his neck.
His body relaxed with relief.
“Why would I leave my wonderful mate? You are the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Then I kissed him. It was a perfect performance. My lips moved against his while my eyes looked directly at Luvena over his shoulder.
Her face burned with pure anger. Her hands were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white.
I pulled away and smiled sweetly at Jareth.
“I visited the lawyer to update my will,” I explained. “After the accident with the pup it made me think about protecting our future.”
“Oh,” Jareth breathed out as a nervous laugh escaped him. “A will. That makes sense. Shara, please don’t scare me like that again. You nearly stopped my heart.”
“I would only leave you if you betrayed me,” I said quietly. “Like what happened to Freya. Did you hear about her mate? He was sleeping with his assistant. Imagine destroying a bond for such a cheap affair. Disgusting!”
Jareth stiffened slightly.
“Yes,” he said awkwardly. “Disgusting. I would never do that to you, Shara. I swear.”
“I know,” I replied gently. “You are a good mate.”
I turned my head slightly and met Luvena’s burning gaze.
“Well,” I said while sliding my hand down Jareth’s chest. “If you love me that much, why don’t you prove it? Kiss me again.”
“Hmm… but we are not alone here, Shara,” Jareth murmured, though he did not move away.
“Why not? Luvena will not mind,” I said sweetly. “Besides, she’s also like a family for us. Right, Luvena?”
Luvena said nothing. She looked like she might explode.
I pulled Jareth down and kissed him again, longer this time, making sure she saw everything.
My hands moved over him, claiming what she believed she had taken.
“Let’s go upstairs,” I whispered loudly enough for her to hear. “I want to be close to you tonight.”
Jareth hesitated and glanced toward Luvena, but he had no escape.
“Alright,” he said finally. “Alright, my Luna.”
I pulled away and gently tapped his cheek.
“I will take a shower first,” I said. “The city dust makes me feel dirty. Stay here and finish whatever you were discussing with her.”
I gestured lightly toward Luvena.
“And Luvena,” I added with a bright poisonous smile. “Thank you for keeping my mate company while I was gone. You know the way out.”
Without waiting for her answer, I turned and walked toward the staircase, moving slowly. Halfway up the stairs I looked back.
Luvena was staring at Jareth with fury and humiliation.
Jareth rubbed his temples like a man trapped in deep water.
I entered our bedroom and closed the door. The smile disappeared instantly.
I rushed into the bathroom and rubbed my lips harshly with the back of my hand until they stung. Then I turned on the shower to cover any sound.
I sat on the edge of the bathtub while my heart pounded.
My crystal communicator vibrated on the counter. I picked it up. A message from Uncle Marcellus.
Uncle Marcellus: [Everything is ready. The private jet is prepared. Your transfer has been approved. You may leave whenever you wish.]
I stared at the screen.
“Soon,” I whispered softly to the empty room.
“Just one more performance.”
