Chapter 131

Catherine POV

Lingering over my morning tea, I congratulated myself on successfully working my way into Nathan’s inner circle.

And so quickly!

Within days I was attending nearly every meeting, advising him on key campaign decisions. And sitting right by his side.

Exactly where I belonged.

And yet…

The morning newspapers sat on the table in front of me, the headlines mocking me.

They were all about Claire.

Royal Princess Enjoys Day Trip to Ice River Pack

Open-Hearted Princess Rules - And Heals - With Kindness

Princess Claire: The People’s Princess

“Open-hearted”?

“The People’s Princess”??

With a sound of disgust I shoved the papers off the table and onto the floor, then stomped on them as I stood up and began to pace.

Why couldn’t people see what Claire was really like?

She was an absent mother, and a terrible mate. Nathan and Andy lived in an entirely separate pack, and she continued to deny their relationship to her.

She continued to lie, and was even allowing another man to court her!

And yet she was still so loved by the press, and by the citizens of the realm.

If only people knew how poorly she treated Nathan.

It had crossed my mind to go to the press, to tell their whole long sad story.

Maybe once people knew that their beloved Princess actually had a mate and child, they wouldn’t be so excited to gossip about Alpha Gavin’s courtship.

I wasn’t as talented as Sabrina at using the press, but I knew I could at least turn the tide against Claire.

And turn it toward me.

But that would drag Nathan’s name through the mud right alongside Claire’s, and so I rejected the idea of using the press almost immediately.

Still…

As I paced, I thought about what I could do.

It wasn’t enough to just be Nathan’s campaign manager, and to slowly seduce him with perfumes and colored contacts.

No, I needed something more dramatic.

Something that would steal attention from Claire and, most importantly, win me Nathan’s heart.

And then I remembered someone.

Someone my father had used once or twice in his bed for leadership of his city.

Feeling a slow smile spread across my face, I realized I knew exactly what to do. And how to do it.

I placed a phone call, and arranged a meeting.

Within hours I sat at a little table in front of a small cafe outside of Silverfang territory. I was fairly sure no one would recognize me, but to be safe I wore a large sunhat and sunglasses.

I was sipping a cup of coffee when the assassin finally arrived.

She was a tall and striking woman, a rogue I knew could be as deadly as she was beautiful.

My father had hired her more than once to take care of the competition, and even one or two inconvenient allies.

So I knew she was skilled, reliable and best of all, discrete.

And I knew she wouldn’t bat an eye at the plan I had in store.

“So, you have a job for me?” she asked, settling herself into the chair across from me with her own cup of coffee.

From the outside, we looked like two friends having a casual chat.

“Yes,” I said. “The candidates for Alpha President are gathering in a few days. They’ll be delivering their final speeches before the election.”

I glanced around, making sure no one was near enough to hear me. Then I leaned forward and lowered my voice, just for good measure.

“When Alpha Nathan is about to finish his closing speech, I want you to make an assassination attempt.”

The woman drew back, as if offended.

“An ‘attempt’? I do not make attempts. I make direct hits.

I do not, ever, miss.”

I smiled. “Oh I know that. And you’re not going to miss. Not when it matters.

“I’m counting on you being very, very good at what you do.”

I motioned for her to lean forward again, so I could tell her the rest of my plan.

“In fact, my own life depends on it…”

Claire POV

“Your Highness?”

My assistant’s voice interrupted me while I sat at my father’s desk, working through the day’s stack of reports and updates.

“Come in,” I said. “What is it?”

“Your transport has arrived to take you to the event tonight. It’s waiting for you out front.”

I put down my pen and closed the file in front of me, sitting back in my seat.

For a moment I sat with my head back and my eyes closed, wishing I could just send my regrets and not go.

Just say I had too much work to do, too much to still catch up on, to take the time to travel to the Iron Claw pack and listen to everyone’s speeches.

It wouldn’t even be a lie. I really did have things I needed to take care of.

But that wasn’t the real reason I didn’t want to go.

Though I wouldn’t admit it out loud to anyone, I had to be honest with myself.

The real reason I didn’t want to go was because I knew that, as candidates, both Gavin and Nathan were going to be there.

And while Gavin’s company was always a simple pleasure, things were more complicated with Nathan.

Much, much more complicated.

And yet, I knew I’d have to see him eventually.

We’d have to talk, sooner or later.

But…

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say.

And Gavin was actually part of the reason for that.

While my heart didn’t yet truly belong to him, I was becoming more and more drawn to the simple and easy courtship he was so obviously offering me.

Our time together was always so pleasant, and fun.

It had been such a long time since I’d been able to relax and just have fun.

My life was so full, and there had been so many changes to it in the last few months.

Despite loving my real pack and all the people in it, if I was being honest I had to admit that I was still struggling to adjust to everything that had happened to me since my abilities and my wolf emerged.

And my time with Gavin gave me a relief from all the stress and pressure my new life came with.

So yes, a part of me was tempted to accept his offer for courtship.

Even knowing it would eventually lead to marriage.

Even knowing my heart could never, fully, belong to him.

I was still tempted to accept, and to find a way to put my relationship, and my bond, with Nathan behind me.

Opening my eyes, I stood and smoothed the lines of my suit jacket.

Whether I was ready or not, I needed to leave for the event.

And try to figure out what I was going to say to both men when I got there.

“I’m ready,” I told Megan, and followed her down to the waiting transport.

As I got in the car and settled down for the long ride into Iron Claw territory, I understood that I already knew how to put my relationship with Nathan behind me.

My mind already knew how simple it could be.

All I had to do was reject Nathan, fully this time.

And that would be that.

But my heart knew it wasn’t nearly as simple as that.

Just imagining the pain and grief that would come from feeling that bond break brought tears to my eyes.

And I knew actually doing it would change me in ways I couldn’t yet understand.

So I wondered, as I rode away from Royal territory:

Was I really ready to go through with something like that?