Emily’s pov

My blood ran cold, but not from guilt. From the sheer inconvenience of it all. Knox’s threat hung in the air like a cheap grenade, ready to blow up the careful life I’d built. His eyes were wild—anger, desperation, that pathetic obsession he called love. His cheek still stung from the slap I’d given him, but it was nothing compared to the irritation clawing at me. This idiot was going to ruin everything if I didn’t shut him down fast.

"You wouldn’t," I whispered, keeping my voice low and steady, playing the scared damsel just enough to buy time. "You’d destroy everything. Not just me—Aiden, the pack, your position as Beta. All because I won’t spread my legs for you anymore?"

He stepped closer, breath hot and desperate against my face. That cologne he wore used to be useful when I needed a distraction after Lucian tossed me aside like yesterday’s trash. Now it just made me want to gag. "Maybe I would. You think you can rewrite this? Pretend I was some meaningless fling while you play perfect Luna?" His hand twitched toward my stomach, but he caught himself. "I fell for you, Emily. I gave you what Aiden never would. And you used me."

I backed up until Aiden’s desk pressed into my hip, mind already spinning through options. Seduce him again? Threaten him back? Or just string him along until the baby came and my position was locked in? "Knox, please. This isn’t love. This is you being reckless. I was lost okay? You were convenient. But I chose Aiden for a reason. Status. Power. Security. Things you could never give me"

His laugh was bitter and ugly. "Convenient? You begged for it, Emily. Crawled into my bed while Aiden was busy being Alpha. You came on my cock moaning like you needed me to breathe. And now you want to lock me out?" He leaned in, voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "Does perfect Aiden know how wet you got for me? How would you text me the second he left the room?"

The words didn’t shame me—they annoyed me. Lucian’s rejection had already hollowed me out; I wasn’t letting Knox’s drama crack the facade I’d worked so hard to build. I was Luna now. That was all that mattered. The title, the respect, the safety net. Aiden was just the vehicle. Love? I’d stopped believing in that after Lucian looked me in the eyes and told me he wanted nothing to do with me.

Before I could fire back with something sharper, the door handle turned.

Aiden stepped inside, pocketing his phone. The room snapped back to normal in an instant. Knox straightened, wiping that desperate look off his face and replacing it with polished Beta mode. The red mark on his cheek was still obvious, but he didn’t seem to care. I turned toward the window, smoothing my expression into calm interest, my hands steady on the desk now. No trembling. Just cold focus.

"Everything alright?" Aiden asked, his sharp gaze moving between us. He sensed tension, but he had no idea.

"Fine," Knox said smoothly, forcing a smile. "Just giving the Luna a quick overview of pack operations. She’s very... eager to understand her role."

I nodded, keeping my voice light. "Yes. It’s informative." No warmth. Just enough politeness to sell it.

Aiden didn’t look entirely convinced, but he dropped it. "Good. Knox, we’ll finish the reports later. I want to show Emily the operations floor before the next meeting."

Knox nodded respectfully, but as he turned to leave, his eyes burned into mine with that same warning: This isn’t over.

The door shut. Aiden came over and slid an arm around my waist, his hand settling over my stomach like it was something precious. I leaned into it because that’s what the role required.

"You sure you’re okay? You look a little off."

I gave him a practiced smile. "Just taking it all in. First day jitters." Inside, there was no guilt twisting in my chest—only calculation. Knox was a loose end. A dangerous one. I needed to handle him before he opened his mouth and stripped me of this title. The baby was his, but it would wear Aiden’s name. That was the only version of the story that kept me on top.

Aiden kissed the top of my head, all protective and doting. "We can head home if it’s too much. You’re pregnant, Emily. You don’t have to push yourself."

How convenient for me, I thought. His kindness made him easy to manage. "I’m staying," I said firmly, squeezing his hand back. "I need to learn. It’s my place now."

My words brought a faint smile to his lips. He looked at me with warm eyes.

"You know, Emily, this is the version of you I love to see," he said. "We won’t have to fight about anything again."

I smiled back at him, tilting my head just right.

"I will do my best also for you not to get mad at me in the future," he added. "Our baby should grow in a good environment."

If he really wanted us in a good place, he would send Alina away, I thought. But of course he will never do that and that pisses me of so much.

I just nodded.

As we left the office together, the greetings and respectful bows from the pack members washed over me like a drug. This was what I wanted. What I deserved. After everything, I would get respect and love. I would have all the power in the world if I had to. Alina got her wolf and became cocky. I needed to break her wings no matter what, and I must do it very fast. The power hummed around us, and I drank it in.

But Knox’s threat lingered in the back of my mind like a splinter. I had to end this — quietly, cleanly. Before it cost me everything I’d schemed to gain.