VICTORIA
I stormed out of Batista's chambers, slamming the door harder than necessary — not that I gave a damn. Bastard. The word hissed past my lips like venom, and I didn't care who heard it. Let them whisper. Let them talk. Hell, let them choke on it.
He knew exactly what he was doing, stringing me along like this. Pushing back the bonding ceremony, making up excuses, pretending like Rain's ghost mattered more than his obligations to the pack… to me. It was bullshit, and I'd had enough.
I could still feel his smug indifference lingering in the air, like stale smoke. The way he looked at me, like I was a problem to be solved instead of a woman to be loved — or hell, even respected. And then to bring up her. As if I was supposed to throw ashes on my head and wail at the moon because Rain was dead. Last time I checked, he was the one who gave the damn order.
Let's see how long you keep playing King once I'm done with you.
I gritted my teeth and made my way through the dimly lit corridor, my heels clicking against the marble like war drums. The pack mansion loomed behind me as I headed straight for Dan's quarters. He was the only one I could trust in this cesspool, and even that trust was hanging by a damn thread.
I didn't bother knocking politely. My fist pounded against his door like it owed me money.
"Open the fucking door, Dan!"
A few seconds later, he opened up, shirt half-buttoned, hair a mess. "Jesus, Vic, what the hell—"
I shoved past him before he could finish.
"When are we killing him?"
Dan blinked, confused. "Who? Batista?"
"No, Dan. Fucking Mickey Mouse," I snapped. "Of course, Batista!"
He sighed and closed the door behind me, rubbing a hand over his face. "Vic, you need to calm the hell down."
"Don't tell me to calm down." I spun around to face him. "I don't understand you anymore, Dan. Are you losing your nerve or what?"
He held his hands up, backing toward the couch. "Relax. We literally just tried to kill him yesterday. Or did you forget? Or maybe you caught a case of selective amnesia?"
"I haven't forgotten," I growled, pacing the room like a caged animal. "But you look uncomfortable as hell right now. What's going on?"
Dan dropped onto the couch, rubbing his jaw. "He told me this morning he's planning to go on vacation with his family."
I froze mid-step. "Wait, what? Just like that?"
He nodded.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You sure he's not onto us?"
Dan shook his head. "If he was, we'd already be dead. He didn't act weird. Just… like he needed a break."
"Well, isn't that fucking convenient," I muttered.
I started pacing again, my mind racing. "When's he leaving?"
"In a week."
I stopped and faced him. "Then we've got one week, Dan. One week to end this. If he leaves now, we'll lose everything. The coup won't work if he's not here. You know that."
"I know, I know," he muttered. "I'm already working on it."
I watched him, really watched him this time. He looked tired. Stressed. And honestly, a little scared. But fear wasn't a luxury we could afford anymore.
I dropped my trench coat to the floor, revealing the see-through net lingerie I'd strategically worn. A cruel little smirk tugged at my lips when his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, Vic," he muttered, trying to look away and failing miserably.
"Yeah, keep pretending you don't want it," I purred, sauntering over and straddling him on the couch. I could already feel him getting hard beneath me.
"Tell me, baby," I murmured, grinding down slowly. "You don't look too good. What's eating you up?"
He groaned. "It's nothing. Just… last night. I couldn't sleep. Kept dreaming about Rain."
I stilled.
And there it was.
I forced a soft smile. "Is that why you're down? Wait… do you still love her?"
Dan stiffened. "Of course not. You're the one I love, you know that."
"Good," I whispered, cupping his face and pressing a soft kiss against his lips. "Because I don't share."
"I know," he breathed.
I leaned in, our lips barely touching. "Don't worry, babe. Soon, everything will be ours. You'll be Alpha, I'll be your Luna, and we'll rule this godforsaken pack. Together."
I moved against him again, and his hands gripped my waist. He was falling, and I was pulling the strings.
But then I pulled back, locking eyes with him. "Dan, promise me. You'll kill Batista yourself."
His hands dropped from my hips like I'd burned him. "Vic… I don't know if I can do that."
I stared at him, my rage simmering just below the surface. "You what?"
"He's my friend," Dan said quietly, looking away. "We've known each other since we were kids. I… when the time comes, I'll send one of my men."
I climbed off his lap, my expression cold as stone. "That's exactly what you said before, and look how well that turned out. We failed."
Dan didn't answer, and I knew then that I hadn't won.
"You need to be the one to kill him," I said, my voice low and deadly. "If not, the pack won't recognize you as their Alpha. You think those bloodthirsty wolves are gonna follow a man too weak to take out his own rival? You need to kill whatever feelings you have left for him. That's the only way this works."
He ran a hand through his hair, clearly torn. "Alright," he muttered. "Enough about Batista. Can we not talk about murder for five minutes?"
I laughed softly and gave him a peck on the forehead. "Maybe."
I grabbed my trench coat from the floor and slipped it back on. "I need to go home. My father's probably already looking for me."
Dan's face twisted in frustration. "I thought we were—"
"Shh," I cut him off, placing a finger on his lips. "Maybe next time. And maybe, if you don't give me another bullshit excuse when I ask you to do something, you'll get lucky."
I winked and headed for the door. "See you tomorrow, Dan."
He didn't say anything, just watched me leave, frustration written all over his face.
The door clicked shut behind me, and I could practically feel the storm brewing in that room.
A loud crash sounded as something shattered against the wall. I smirked to myself.
Good. Let him stew in it.
I didn't need weak men by my side. I needed wolves willing to rip out throats and bathe in blood. And Dan… he better figure out which one he wanted to be before it was too late.
Because either way, Batista was going to die. And soon.