Chapter 31

Sabrina POV

I left my father’s house, fuming. The smile I’d held in place while we spoke cracked like a mask, and my rage bubbled up and through.

First my father outright rejected the idea of Nathan and I marrying, even though it made perfect sense, and then he told me I needed humility??

Humility was for poor people.

The news that I would be stuck volunteering at a dirty, low class clinic was intolerable. I didn’t need to associate with common people - I was a princess!

They were beneath me.

But worse, oh so much worse, was the idea of having to work with - no, for! - that stupid, worthless, wolfless Omega Claire.

“Why does everything always come back to that stupid woman??” I shouted. It was beyond unacceptable.

It was intolerable.

I drove aimlessly while I vented out my rage, half convincing myself I should just drive over to the clinic right and deal with Claire right then and there.

My wolf growled low as I imagined marching through the clinic, following Claire’s scent. I’d corner her in an exam room, letting her know exactly what I thought about her and the little “innocent healer” game she insisted on continuing to play.

And then I’d tear her throat out.

She may have my father fooled, somehow, but I wasn’t falling for it.

Both my wolf and I were eager to get Claire out of the way, and to do so violently. The idea of truly venting my anger by tearing her to pieces.

Luckily my phone signalled before I could commit to the idea of ending Claire’s life. I stopped at a redlight, and checked the notification.

It was Soren.

I’d be happy to help you deal with taking out your trash. For a price. Meet me at Quarter Moon Cafe in an hour.

That cafe was a few towns away, and was a smart choice. We’d be less likely to be recognized in the larger, busier town. And a popular cafe meant there would probably be a crowd of people, whose conversation would cover our own.

Perfect.

I drove to the cafe, my temper cooling and hardening into determination.

Once parked, I took my time fixing my hair and touching up my makeup. I’d heard of Alpha Soren but never met him, and I wanted to look completely put together for our first meeting.

The cafe was indeed busy when I went inside.

And Soren was easy to spot.

He was a tall and imposing man, his shoulders broad and his gaze sharp and cutting. His hair was long and tied back with a bit of leather cord.

There was a rough wildness about him that I found both appealing and slightly alarming.

This man was dangerous, and didn’t care who knew about it.

The cafe was crowded, but he had a small table to himself. With his commanding presence, he could have made anyone in the building give him their seat.

It was exactly the sense of confidence and authority I’d expected from the Alpha of the Bloodclaw pack. They were known for their power and ruthlessness. And so was Soren.

He stood as I approached, pulling out a chair.

“Princess Sabrina,” he greeted me, his voice low and gravelly. “The pictures I’ve seen on the news don’t do you justice. You’re even more beautiful in person.”

I thanked him, enjoying the compliment but not wanting to let him see. Flattery could lead to flirtation, and I wanted to keep our relationship strictly business.

Which was a shame. He’d be a prime candidate, if I was in the mood to take a lover.

But I had more important business at hand.

“Alpha Soren,” I returned his greeting. “I appreciate you meeting me, and at such short notice.”

“Of course,” he said as he returned to his seat. “I was intrigued by your message, especially after all this time. I was beginning to think you weren’t interested in my offer.”

His initial offer when he’d first contacted me was to help me… “take care” of my father, so I could take the throne. In exchange, I’d grant him royal favor and help him achieve his plans for domination over the other packs.

“I was simply taking my time considering it,” I said easily.

In fact, I’d been very seriously considering it, until Nathan reached out to me for help with his campaign to become Alpha President. That’s when my focus shifted toward getting Nathan, and becoming Luna, before I tackled taking over the Royal throne.

“Let’s just say I have more pressing concerns to deal with first,” I added.

“Ah, yes. The ‘trash’ you spoke of,” he said with a small smile, clearly amused.

I tossed my hair over my shoulder and huffed out a breath. The temper I’d thought I had carefully under control was still close to the surface.

“Trash is exactly the right word for it. Her. She’s an Omega, and she’s gotten in my way one too many times now.”

I told Soren the story I’d decided to tell him: That Nathan, who I intended to marry, had an illegitimate child with his nanny, and now she was causing trouble for me by refusing to accept that he was no longer interested in her.

“What’s worse is, now she’s got everyone believing she’s some kind of extraordinarily gifted healer. So no one will believe she’s actually just a wolfless Omega that nobody should listen to.”

On a roll, and happy to have a willing audience, I also told him about my father’s newest idiotic idea to have me volunteer at the clinic - under Claire’s personal direction.

He frowned at that. “That doesn’t make sense. Even if your father wants to teach you a lesson, placing a Royal under the authority of a commoner is inappropriate.”

Pleased that Soren understood, I smiled at him. “Exactly! Volunteering is one thing, I admit - it can be a great publicity stunt - but actually having someone like her in charge of me? It’s outrageous!”

“Absolutely. And yet…” He was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Perhpas it’s also a perfect opportunity.”

Surprised, I asked him what he meant.

He leaned forward, his large form making the small table between us seem downright tiny. His large hands dwarfed the to-go cup of coffee he held.

“What I mean is, I already know all about your Omega problem. I’ve had a nurse from my pack working at that clinic for months now, trying to get all the information I can about Nathan’s pack.”

“What??” I was stunned. “You have a - ”

I cut myself off, realizing how loudly I’d been speaking. I leaned forward, lowering my voice.

“You have a spy in the Silverfang pack’s clinic?!”

He smiled, showing off sharp teeth. “Yes, I do. And if we add in a Royal Princess working at the clinic, it seems like the perfect time to discredit Silverfang’s miraculous new ‘healer’ - and undermine Nathan’s reputation at the same time.”

The way he said Nathan’s name, with a disgusted twist of his mouth, I knew Soren’s hatred for my future husband was deep, and personal.

“Between the two of you,” he went on, “you can work to sow doubt and mistrust about the Omega’s abilities. And my people have been working on a poison, one that acts quickly and will be easy to blame on Claire.”

I sat back, not only surprised at the information Soren had just given me about his spy, but at the thought of being able to take Claire down so completely.

Why hadn’t I thought of this?

Being forced to work at the clinic was actually the perfect opportunity to show that wolfless her place, and get her out of my way once and for all.

“That’s…brilliant. I love it!”

Once people started getting sick or even dying on her watch, no one would believe she was this great heroic healer anymore.

And Nathan would see her for the fraud that she really was.