Liana sat at her desk, a glass of wine in hand and a satisfied smile playing on her lips. Everything was going according to plan. Mira was gone, Kaelan trusted her more than ever, and the pack saw her as a hero. The path to becoming Luna was finally within reach.
She leaned back in her chair, allowing herself a moment of indulgence. Images of the future played in her mind: standing beside Kaelan as his mate, commanding respect and admiration from the pack, her name spoken with reverence. It was so close she could almost taste it.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
“Come in,” Liana called, setting her glass down.
The door opened, and Gareth entered. He moved with his usual confidence, his sharp eyes gleaming as they met hers.
“Well,” he said, his tone light but pointed, “it seems our hard work has paid off.”
Liana smirked. “You doubted me?”
“Not for a moment,” Gareth replied, closing the door behind him. “But we both know this wasn’t just your doing. Without me, none of this would’ve been possible.”
Liana gestured for him to sit, but Gareth remained standing, his smirk widening.
“True,” Liana admitted, leaning forward slightly. “You’ve been… instrumental.”
“And now it’s time for you to repay the favor,” Gareth said smoothly, stepping closer.
Liana tilted her head, feigning curiosity. “And what exactly do you want, Gareth?”
He leaned against the edge of her desk, his voice dropping to a low, possessive tone. “You. You’re the prize I want.”
Liana’s smile faltered briefly, but she quickly masked it with a playful chuckle. “That’s bold of you.”
Gareth didn’t waver. “You owe me, Liana. And you know it.”
Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her. The boldness of the gesture caught her off guard, and for a moment, she froze. Her mind raced, calculating the risks and benefits of giving in to him. Gareth was dangerous, but he was also powerful.
After a brief hesitation, she kissed him back.
When Gareth pulled away, his smirk returned, satisfied and self-assured. “I knew you’d see things my way.”
Liana forced a smile, her voice smooth as silk. “We’re partners, Gareth. Always.”
But as he left, her expression darkened. She sipped her wine, her mind spinning with thoughts of how to manage Gareth. He was becoming a liability, and liabilities had no place in her plans.
For now, she would keep him close. But when the time came, she would deal with him—just as she had dealt with Mira.