Chapter 78
Maya confronted her father the moment she stepped into his study. The door closed behind her. Gerald was seated behind his desk, a half–filled glass of wine at his side, going through a
set of papers.
“Was it you?” she asked sharply, arms folded against her chest.
Gerald didn’t bother to look up. “Was what me?” His tone was smooth, almost bored, as if he already knew where this conversation was headed. Of course he did.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Maya snapped. “The rumors. Everyone in the pack is suddenly whispering the same things I confided in you. The incident at the northern border, the missing guards–things I only shared with you. And now it’s all over the place.”
Finally, Gerald raised his head. His eyes met hers directly, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “And if it was me, Maya?”
Her heart lurched. She hadn’t expected him to admit it so easily. “You… so you were the one?”
“I never denied it,” he said calmly, taking a sip of the wine in his glass. “Why should I? It was necessary…why else did I ask for information if I wasn’t going to make use of it?”
“Necessary?” Maya’s voice rose, trembling between anger and disbelief. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Alexander will be furious. He’s already trying to find out who’s spreading this, and if he finds out it was you- ”
Gerald cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. “You’re worried about Alexander again. The people need to be in on what is going on. They need to feel the weight of this so–called security threat. Otherwise, when the time comes, they won’t understand why change is
necessary.”
“Change?” she repeated, narrowing her eyes. “What are you even talking about? What does leaking this kind of information have to do with anything?”
Gerald leaned back in his chair, studying her. “It’s part of the process. The bigger plan. The one that involves getting Faye out of the way,” he said. “She’s the major target here, remember. But don’t expect me to lay it all out for you. Not yet.”
Maya’s frustration boiled over. “You can’t just say things like that and then keep me in the dark! If you’ve been using my words, my discoveries, to fuel your schemes, I deserve to know what exactly you use them for.”
Gerald’s gaze hardened. “You deserve nothing you’re not ready for. You are too weak, Maya.
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Chapter 78
425 Forms
Too soft. If I told you everything now, you would only run off to Alexander, spilling it all the moment your conscience pricked you. That is why I give you only what you can handle.”
Her chest tightened with both shame and anger. “Weak? You think I’m weak because I don’t want to betray my Alpha and Luna?Because I actually care about the pack?”
“Because you don’t see the bigger picture,” Gerald snapped, his patience thinning. “Do you think I enjoy watching you stumble around in confusion? Do you think I don’t know the risk of letting whispers spread? Every move I make is calculated, Maya. Calculated for an outcome you can’t yet grasp.”
“But if Alexander catches you-”
“He won’t.”
“You don’t know that,” Maya shot back. “He’s already investigating. He’s furious, and he’s smart. He’ll connect the dots sooner or later. Then what? What happens to you? To me? Do you want us both exiled–or worse?”
Gerald stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. His imposing figure towered over her, his voice was sharp. “You think I haven’t considered consequences? Do you think I would endanger myself, or you, without a safety net?”
“Then explain it to me!” Maya pleaded. “Tell me what the plan is, so I don’t have to keep guessing, so I don’t have to live in fear of being caught for something I didn’t even do! I know you said you wanted Faye out, but how exactly is that linked to you spreading fear throughout the pack.”
But Gerald only shook his head slowly. “You’re not ready. Not yet.”
Maya clenched her fists. “You keep saying that. Not ready, not strong enough, too weak. Maybe the truth is you don’t trust me at all.”
“Trust?” Gerald gave a dry laugh. “Trust has nothing to do with it. This is survival, Maya. If you knew everything now, you would ruin it before it even began.”
His words stung, but she refused to back down. “So I’m just supposed to sit quietly while you manipulate the entire pack? While you put me at risk without my consent?”
“You are my daughter,” Gerald said, his tone softening slightly. “And because of that, you are already part of this whether you like it or not. You don’t need consent for what runs in your blood.”
Maya shook her head, tears threatening to rise. “That’s not fair, you’ve turned me into your pawn. And when this blows up, you’ll let me take the blame while you stay hidden.”
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Gerald’s jaw tightened. “Do not mistake me for a coward, Maya. Everything I’ve done, I’ve
done with intention. But you–if you keep clinging to your loyalty to Faye and Alexander like a frightened pup, you will only betray yourself.”
Maya stepped back, her chest heaving. “Maybe I should tell him,” she said suddenly, the thought spilling from her lips before she could stop it.
The silence that followed was thick. Gerald’s eyes narrowed, dangerous now. “Say that again.
She swallowed hard, but held her ground. “Maybe I should tell Alpha Alexander the truth. About everything, about how I’ve been spying on him and the Luna
Gerald moved so fast she barely saw it. In an instant, he was right in front of her, his hand gripping her chin, forcing her to look at him. His voice was a low growl. “If you dare breathe a word of this to him, you will regret it. Do you understand me?”
Maya’s breath hitched, fear flooding her veins. She tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened.
“You think Alexander can protect you from me?” Gerald sneered. “He can’t…he won’t. If you betray me, I’ll end you myself.”
After a minute, Gerald released her suddenly, stepping back as though he’d regained his composure. “You’ll see. One step at a time, as I said. But for now, keep your mouth shut. Let the whispers do their work.”
Maya’s hands trembled at her sides as she walked out of the study.
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