Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 187 - [~] You Can’t *Handle* The Proof!

***[POV: The Most Alpha CEO]***

I met Luca’s gaze, seeing the unwavering loyalty that had made him my Beta and my friend. During moments when my wolf threatened to override my judgment, he had come to my defense in the past.

Normally, I wouldn’t care too much because I know he would look away on his own... but tonight, I’m feeling like I shouldn’t let any sensitive part of me be seen by another person.

"Turn around for a minute."

He immediately turned to look out of his own tinted window, giving me the privacy to pull up my shirt and spray myself down. Over the skin she touched under it, before I apply it around my neckline.

The chemical smell was sharp and medicinal, mixed with ozone split by a lightning storm - and erasing this mix of wild winter woodland spice that had formed. A scent that had clung to me like a promise that I know she will not voice any time soon.

"Done?"

He asked without turning around and I tapped the bottle onto his arm. He took it as I close my eyes and misted more of it over me. Her scent shouldn’t have been on the clothes I changed back into, but it was better to get as much of it as possible.

When it was finished, I felt... empty. Diminished and deeply sober. Like I’d voluntarily severed a connection that had been the brightest part of my day. Week. Years.

I straightened my blazer and pushed every tender emotion behind the wolf scratched boardroom walls I’d built the confines of my heart into. After this meeting, after the threats were neutralized and the politics were settled...

Then I would ask her to dinner again. See if she would like to continue where we left off. And next time, I wouldn’t let anyone or any situation *make* me wash her away.

Though I may bring a bottle of it and ask her permission... see if she would take care of it for me so I don’t have to make the choice.

⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖

The massive concrete pillars of the basement complex stretched up into shadows above us. Surfaces lightly scarred in some places and repaired in other from years of claws scraping during pack runs and combat exercises.

Echoing with the sound of boots clicking and bare feet slapping on concrete as werewolves from both our packs filed into position around the lowered central area, with a set of metal stadium seating on two side. Built for arena style matches, or other sorts of gatherings.

I descended the wide stairs down with a set of heels clicking against stone in a sharp rhythm that announced myself. Carrying only the crisp scent of snow and iron that marked me as Rimecoat Alpha and no one or nothing else.

The Pineheart delegation had already claimed the eastern section of the space. Their Alpha, Ashford, stood with his arms crossed in the way always used by those uncomfortable with the very urban way my pack lived.

Three of his senior members flanked him - his Beta, a Gamma I recognize, and an elder I’d met. My own wolves interested in what we were talking about out in the open like this had taken positions throughout the space. Almost five dozen to their dozen.

It created a subtle but unmistakable message that all wolves liked to make: You’re guests, but you’re surrounded. Luca positioned himself at my right shoulder as I took my place at the center of the clearing. As I prepared to begin to assert myself to them all.

"Ashford. Thank you for responding so quickly."

His old face always seemed neutral enough, but his hazel-blue eyes always tracked everything like a dominant predator would. An ally, but not a friend.

"Voss. Your message said you wanted to talk about precedents. And hired mercenaries."

"Claire, display it now."

When I spoke, the projector hanging high overhead lit up and sent the images down to the spot between us. As always, she is very good at adjusting that thing for clarity and effect. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"My pack detained several rogue wolves recently. Under interrogation, they revealed some... interesting information about what people are doing in my territory."

With soft, unobtrusive tones my assistant whispered information that her devices tell her. Like how their Alpha’s heart rate just spiked. That itself is interesting timing, but it can wait until I make my point.

"They were hired by a member of the Duskpaw pack to kidnap someone that I’ve made fairly clear was under my protection at this time."

On the floor rotated from the pictures of the rogues themselves and to the individual in question. Chad Duskpaw, son of their current Beta. A ripple of murmurs went through both delegations.

"This is who was responsible."

"That’s a serious accusation, Ms. Voss. Do you have proof?"

A recording of the interrogation began to play without me needing to tell her to start it. The rogues’ voices echoed through the cavernous space, rough and crude as they detailed their orders, their expected payment, and repeated apologies with their screams.

For their willingness to touch what Kyrie Voss had claimed. I watched Ashford’s face as the recording played. His jaw tightened with each damning word and his muscles creaked at the sound of violence captured.

"The rogues have also signed sworn statements. All of this witnessed by way of pack law."

"And what does any of this have to do with my Pineheart pack?"

His tone suggested he already knew. I stepped closer and let my wolf rise enough to the occasion that my eyes glowed intentionally. Because dealing with people like him, who want to be direct at times and act dumb at others is a daily corporate affair.

"Everything. Because you know damn well that the Alpha of their pack is losing control if he is not going to punish this."

"Again, I-"

"This same person also contacted your daughter, asking to ’bug you’ for support. Do you think I am going to sit here and have any of that happening under my nose without daring to say anything?"

His silence was answer enough... and my voice dropped by another few dangerous degrees as my final points were made.

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