Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Hidden Agendas
Author
Alpha Dominic had arrived halfway through Elara’s phone call and caught the last part of her conversation.
"Well, look who found her claws today," he said with a raised eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe.
Elara frowned. "Dominic, why do you always listen in on my calls?"
"Hmm, ungrateful little wolf," Alpha Dominic said, pretending to look hurt, though his wolf was clearly enjoying her reaction. "Maybe I should have left you in that storage room after all."
Elara knew she had messed up. She gave him an apologetic smile and tried to fix things. "Dominic, if you didn’t like the cruise gift, I could get you something else?"
His intense stare fixed on her. His lips curved into a smile that made her wolf stir nervously. "I’d like that."
"Then how about matching watches? For us?"
Elara froze, her wolf suddenly alert. She cautiously asked, "Do you mean... for you and your boyfriend, or..." she swallowed, "do you want me to pick them out for you two?"
The smile that had been playing on Alpha Dominic’s lips vanished instantly. "For us as a couple, Elara," he stated flatly, his eyes darkening. "You and me. Not me and some imaginary boyfriend."
Elara forced a tight smile, pressing her lips together as her wolf whined with confusion.
This man’s moods shifted like weather patterns. One minute warm, the next ice cold.
What had triggered his defenses this time?
--
Nadia discovered she’d been blocked almost immediately.
When Alpha Enzo questioned her about the situation, she couldn’t bring herself to admit the truth.
He simply assumed she had smoothed things over with her daughter.
This was the first time Nadia had ever seen her typically compliant daughter push back so forcefully. She acknowledged she might have shown favoritism, but with Elara’s father gone, she needed to secure her daughter’s future.
Being good to Selina was the only way to maintain their position in the Amberpack.
Selina observed her parents’ troubled expressions and seized the opportunity. "Dad, Mom, is it my sister causing problems again?"
The word "again" carried clear manipulative undertones.
"Selina, if only Elara were half as considerate as you are," Nadia sighed, managing to compliment both daughters while making her preference clear.
Selina’s smile was honeyed poison. "Mom, Elara probably still resents me. You might not know, but when she worked as Zack’s secretary, she had... feelings for him."
"What?" Nadia gasped. "She actually harbored such thoughts?"
"Yes," Selina nodded with false magnanimity. "But Zack only has eyes for me, so I can’t blame sister for disliking me."
"Don’t worry, she won’t bother you anymore since she’s already marr—"
"Enough!" Alpha Enzo cut in sharply, his Alpha energy silencing both females. "I believe Elara has moved beyond any interest in Alpha Zack. Let’s eat."
Selina cast suspicious glances between her parents.
[Our conversation had been deliberately cut short. What could they possibly be hiding from me, their precious daughter?]
Since Selina had lunch plans with Alpha Zack, she didn’t dwell on it and went upstairs to prepare herself.
Alpha Zack made time in his schedule to pick Selina up from her home. As always, she was dressed in soft pink, projecting calculated innocence. Standing beside her, Alpha Zack couldn’t shake the feeling he was accompanying a teenager rather than his future Luna.
He unconsciously adopted a paternal tone. "The weather’s changing. Aren’t you cold dressed so lightly?"
Without waiting for her answer, he retrieved a blanket from the trunk and draped it over her legs.
Selina stuck out her tongue in practiced cuteness. "I knew my Zack wouldn’t let me get cold."
"By the way," she continued, her voice deceptively casual, "did you know my sister got into another fight with my mom again?"
Alpha Zack’s fingers tensed slightly on the steering wheel. "What about?"
Selina pouted dramatically. "I don’t really know, but Mom was furious. Apparently, she’s forcing Anthony to apologize to her for something. Things have been tense at home."
"My father even kicked Anthony out," she added, deliberately exaggerating to tarnish Elara’s image.
Alpha Zack kept his expression neutral, though his wolf was restless and agitated. "As long as she’s not bothering you, that’s all that matters."
"Let’s go. Don’t let someone so insignificant ruin your mood."
Selina’s lips curled with satisfaction. "She wouldn’t dare bother me because I have you to protect me, Zack."
--
Despite dismissing Elara as insignificant during the day, that evening found Alpha Zack checking into the Park Hotel Group.
By coincidence, Elara was showing the new security chief around the facility.
Normally this wouldn’t be her responsibility, but Tyler’s child was sick, and she wasn’t the type of boss to be unreasonable about family emergencies.
Their paths crossed unexpectedly in the lobby.
Elara gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, planning to continue without stopping. The brief gesture was only offered out of professional courtesy since Alpha Zack was a guest in her hotel.
In any other setting, she wouldn’t have bothered.
"Do you know that man, Elara?" the new security chief asked after they had passed.
Elara shook her head. "No, just a VIP guest. In our business, the customer comes first, isn’t that what they say?" Her tone was matter-of-fact.
"True enough," the security chief agreed with a chuckle.
Alpha Zack watched her retreating figure before finally entering the elevator, his wolf unusually restless.
By the time Elara finished the walkthrough with the new security chief, it was nearly 6 PM.
"That covers everything for today. You can start fresh tomorrow morning," she told the new hire.
"Thanks for staying after hours to show me around, Elara. I really appreciate you taking the time."
Elara smiled, pleased with her choice. The new security chief was a quick learner, showed strong leadership potential, and had handled all the emergency scenarios she’d thrown at him well. He met her standards.
As long as he made it through his probationary period successfully, his future would depend entirely on his performance.
Elara was heading to the elevator when a tall figure suddenly blocked her path.
"Elara, would you prefer to have our conversation here under the security cameras, or should we move to the stairwell?" Alpha Zack’s intense stare conveyed absolute determination.
Not wanting to create drama in her own hotel, Elara kept her expression neutral. "The stairwell is fine."
Her wolf rose defensively as she added, "But I only have five minutes, Alpha Zack. My husband is coming to pick me up after work."
