Chapter 302

No way in hell that Neil is actually thinking about the Alpha King’s offer?

Return back to normal, and all it would cost is my future. Sure, my life would be spared. Maybe, if the Alpha King actually keeps his word. I feel like I’m more likely to turn up in a ditch somewhere. Still while taking all the blame, of course.

But even on the off chance that the Alpha King lets me live, any hopes I would have for a successful future would be straight in the gutter. Forget being a warrior, I wouldn’t even be able to get a job! I’d be labeled forever as the tramp who tried to ruin the prominent Hayes family.

I could imagine the campaign posters: pictures of my face with the eyes scratched out. ‘Harlot’ written across it in red lettering. You know the font, the one that makes the letters look like they are dripping blood.

I stare hard at Neil. He doesn’t once look away from his father. Though he doesn’t say anything either. Not yet.

Inside, my heart is in turmoil. Betrayal echoes in my head. It can’t be true, though. I don’t want to doubt the brothers or their affections for me.

But there’s no denying this would be a relatively painless solution for them to return to their regular, pampered lives. They would only lose me. And who am I, to them?

Just the nanny.

“Say we want to do that,” Beau says, and it’s a fresh hurt that this is the topic that makes Beau speak up. Even if he’s suggesting this as a hypothetical, it still slices me up inside. “What assurances do we have that you would hold up your end of the bargain?”

The Alpha King’s smile starts to reach his eyes at last. It’s not a good look. It’s an evil kind of victory that’s shining there. A spoiled child receiving his way once again.

The Alpha King doesn’t seem to know what to do when people tell him no. But when the answer is yes, as it so often is, he slips right back into his confident demeanor, the kind that no doubt wins him votes at the ballot box.

He’s in that overconfident state right now. Even his hand on the gun steadies.

“You’ll just have to take my word for it,” the Alpha King says. “What choice do you really have?”

Beau looks at Archer, who hasn’t stopped glaring since the moment we sat down.

“And you’d let Chloe go?” Beau asks. It’s startling, to hear him call me by my name, and not the usual, Nanny. It feels more distant somehow. With Beau, and Beau alone, I much prefer the nickname.

“What does it matter honestly?” the Alpha King says. “But yes, if it’s so important to you.”

“It’s not terribly important, no,” Beau says. “But I want the terms to be clear.”

“Beau,” I snap. I’ve had enough.

“Quiet, Chloe,” Archer says.

I turn my hurt anger on him instead. “You guys can’t actually be considering this?”

The Alpha King laughs at my outrage, but I ignore him. I couldn’t give a flying fuck about him right now. He might be the one holding a gun on me, but he’s not the one tearing out my heart at the moment.

“It’s a generous offer,” Beau says with a shrug. “Honestly, I have been tired of fighting lately. It was so much… easier before. When we did our own thing, and dad did his. Why not go back to that?”

“Because it could cost me everything,” I argue.

“Chloe,” Archer snaps again.

“No, allow her to speak,” the Alpha King says. “I’m enjoying watching her whole world crumple. What did you think, little nanny? That my sons ever gave a shit about you? That you were anything more than a bed warmer, a passing fancy?”

I school my face, trying to hide the hurt. This can’t be real. I can’t believe the brothers would hurt me this way.

But… haven’t they always been selfish? Maybe the sides they showed me when I first arrived at the Pyramid were the true them. Maybe they haven’t changed. Maybe they’ve just been playing games with me this whole time.

And here I am, the fool. Falling in love. Ready to renounce my true mate just to stay with them.

To be their… plaything.

“If you look in her eyes, you can physically see her heartbreak,” the Alpha King says, delighted. “Women like you are all the same. You want and dream for more than your station. More than your worth. In truth, you are nothing but a whore –”

“Alpha King Hayes.” Isaac’s hands slapped the table top. “That is my step-daughter you are talking about. Regardless of what your sons decide, I will not renounce her as such.”

“Then you can live in misery and squalor with her, Isaac,” the Alpha King says, turning his full attention to my step-father. He’s not smiling anymore, but the victory still gleams in his eyes. “How is your health these days? A cancer diagnosis, wasn’t it?”

I gasp. What?

Isaac doesn’t deny it. Oh my Gods.

“Those costs can be expensive,” the Alpha King says. “However will you pay for it if you lose all of your health insurance.”

Isaac is not cowed. He keeps his head up high. “I’ll find a way.”

The Alpha King narrows his eyes.

The brothers look at each other.

I’m at wit’s end. Fresh worry for Isaac floods in with my own misery. I can’t take this anymore.

I’m done being a prop.

I will be in charge of my own destiny.

I don’t give a warning. I don’t give a second thought.

I just move. My hand shoots up, collides with the Alpha King’s wrist and pushes the gun wide.

The Alpha King startles. He didn’t expect me to act.

At the same moment, Neil, Archer, Beau, and Steven all move in unison. They jump from their chairs and attack the guards around them. They go down quickly. As they tense as they were, they hadn’t been ready for a fight this soon, mid-conversation.

“You fucking bitch!” the Alpha King growls. He turns the gun on me again. I twist away. I try to punch him in the stomach, but the officer grips my arm. Immediately, I elbow the officer in the stomach instead.

But in the scuffle with the officer, the Alpha King has time to reorganize. He turns the gun on me.

Archer dives over the table and tackles the Alpha King. They topple over the back of his chair. The Alpha King hits the ground first. He’s still holding the gun.

Archer reaches for it.

The officer grabs my neck, and I return my attention to him. I stomp on his foot, then jam the pad of my palm straight up into his nose, breaking it.

True, I may not yet have the strength to stand against wolves in honest, one-on-one combat. But I have speed. And I have agility. And I also have knowledge of where to hit to cause as much pain as possible with as little force.

The officer lifts his hands to his bloody nose.

I turn to Archer, only to find the Alpha King hit him with a few sucker blows all on his own. The Alpha King reaches for the gun.

I rush forward.

“Archer!” I cry.

“Chloe!” Neil calls from across the table. “Stay back!”

The gun goes off.