Chapter 186

Tony’s POV

Harold escorted me toward the set where my interview was to be conducted. As I followed along, I tried to focus on what to do in the here and now. I would need my wits about me to get the most from this interview, and if I focused too much in my mind about all that had gone wrong, it would only distract me.

That the recording device would likely be discovered if it hadn’t been already likely wouldn’t bode well for me, especially since Penny and Aunt Kathy saw me messing with that painting, thanks to Alice.

When I went to Julian’s estate this morning, it had been with the intent of retrieving that recording device before it was too late. I hadn’t realized it was already too late.

I could only hope now that my family would keep my involvement under wraps, or that I will be able to convince them it was a coincidence.

For now, I had to place that aside. Family was family, so hopefully I could work that out in time.

The more important factor here and now was convincing the rest of the pack to my way of thinking.

With the audio recording leaked, Julian’s reputation was in tatters, and as he didn’t seem to be in any hurry to repair it, that plenty of time for me to swoop in and handle things myself.

“You should know,” Harold told me, “That Alpha Julian came by this morning to try to get us to pull this story. He even threatened litigation.”

“I hope you told him to take a hike,” I said.

“Not in so many words,” Harold replied. “Truly, I tried to get him to do an interview.”

I huffed a harsh, bitter laugh. “Ever the pragmatist, Harold.”

Though Harold and I traveled in the same circles, he wasn’t really a friend. We shared a dislike of Julian’s consistent absence, enough for Harold to share with me that he would consider backing me under the right conditions.

But I knew for Harold, like many in the upper class, money was the ultimate decider.

“It would have been a great opportunity,” Harold said. “And it would have given you more soundbites to counter directly.”

I didn’t need more soundbites. The ones that had been leaked were more than enough to reveal the changes in Julian’s priorities. And with that, I could twist the knife, further dividing the pack away from its absent Alpha.

“Don’t worry,” I told Harold. “What I have to say will help the viewership.”

Harold hummed, seemingly unconvinced, but then he nodded. “Let’s get you ready for your interview then. Hair and makeup is just over here.”

Amber’s POV

Still in the supervisor’s office, as we talked about some medical matters concerning not just Gloria but other patients at the hospital, I noticed on the monitor behind the supervisor, that displayed the camera feed from Gloria’s room, that Julian and Alice were together visiting Gloria.

The supervisor, noticing my distraction, glanced over his shoulder to the monitor. “Ah. You should probably get going. We can continue this later.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. It had been a nice distraction, talking about work, and I didn’t want to leave any patient in the hospital unattended if they needed some of my expertise.

With the supervisor’s kind smile though, I realized that he had only brought up these topics to distract me from my worries and all the problems that were happening today. He must have had an idea that Julian was going to be coming here, and kept me busy until then.

I was grateful for it. But now that Julian was here, I really needed to talk to him.

“Go on,” the supervisor said. I will alert you at once if there are any changes.

“Thank you,” I told him, stood and left the office.

Emerging from the back offices, I ignored even looking at Julian’s family as I made my way to Gloria’s room. Or, at least, I tried too.

Only the way, I heard Tony’s voice.

I lifted my head, searching across the waiting room for him, but he wasn’t there. Instead, some of his family were watching their phones, and it was from them that I head Tony’s voice. It wasn’t a conversation, either. He spoke like he was giving an interview.

A pit in the bottom of my stomach opened in that moment and my chest started to sink down into it, as dread replaced whatever hopeful feelings I had been able to hold onto today.

Rushing now, I hurried into Gloria’s room. The enforcers gave me no more than a passing glance as I went, recognizing me as Julian’s mate. Per Julian, I had the leeway to go wherever I wanted.

Julian seemed startled as I burst into the room, but as he saw it was only me, he relaxed somewhat.

“Amber, there you are. I really need to talk to you.”

“I know. We definitely need to talk,” I said. “But right now, there’s something we need to see first.”

I went to the center of the room, where the television remote sat on a coffee table in front of a gray couch. I grabbed the remote and clicked on the television.

The television hung in the corner of the room, diagonally facing the room. I flipped until I reached the news channel. As Tony’s face filled the screen, I knew that I had guessed correctly.

Tony was giving an interview.

Julian was immediately by my side. “What is…?” his voice trailed as I turned up the volume, Tony’s voice instead filling the room.

“Alpha Julian is my dear cousin who I love as family,” Tony said, “And for years, he has led us as a capable and proud leader. But the fact of the matter is, he has changed. We’ve suspected for a time that his attention has diverged, as he’s been so absent from our pack to pursue his own private interests. The only difference between now and then is that we have proof of his divided loyalties.”

Julian cursed under his breath. I couldn’t look away from the screen, and what was happening here. It was becoming abundantly clear that Julian was very capable of being the one who poisoned me. Or, at least, he had a motive.

And that motive was stealing the pack right out from under Julian’s nose.

“Can we truly have an Alpha who doesn’t want to be in his own pack?” Tony asked. “Can we trust him to keep the best interests of his own pack at heart, when that heart is already so consumed by a woman?” Tony shook his head. “It’s great that he loves his mate, but for Alphas, the pack is to come first. If he cannot agree with that, then many it’s time he stop being Alpha.”

I gasped. Julian growled.

Even the reporter seemed surprised by that. “Are you suggesting Alpha Julian step down?”

“I’m hoping he will peacefully, to make room for someone more capable,” Tony said.

“And who would that be?” the reporter asked.

Tony smiled. “Me.”

“That –” Julian started to say, but stopped when a different gasp sounded in the room.

Alice said, “Grandma?”

Julian and I turned to look.

Gloria was awake.