*****Erika''s POV*****


    I was still ruminating over the events of the meeting and could not help but get angry whenever I remembered Elder Grigshade and his very obnoxious self. Challenging me every step of the way. Who did he think he was? Some sort of a viin that would wipe me away from my own story.


    He had a long thinging for him. I was not that easy to push out of the way. No one would ever force me to leave what was my birthright. The rulership of this pack was mine and Elder Grigshade or any other like him could not stop me from ascending the throne.


    "Are you okay?" Jace asked from beside me.


    "I''m fine." I replied not looking at his face. I suddenly remembered Jace''s statement at the meeting. "Have you ever visited Elder Grigshade in his house?"


    "Yes, why do you ask?"


    "What for?" I turned to fully give him my attention. Jace had never told me this. What had he gone there for? That was what I wanted to find out.


    "For a business deal." He replied as though it was not a big deal.


    But for me it was. It was a big deal. A very big deal. This was a man that did not like me. In fact, he hated me. He was trying to stop me from taking my birthright, so if my brother was having anything with such a man, I needed to understand what I was doing.


    "What kind of business deal?" I probed further.


    He looked at me. "I would show you the documents when we get home." His tone was low but cold.


    "No. Tell me now." I insisted.


    "What is the meaning of this, Erika?" He sounded insulted.


    "The meaning of what, Jace? That I want to know what business you have with Elder Grigshade?"


    "Are you suspecting me? Do you think I want your throne? I do not care about your throne, Erika!" He spat angrily.


    "Then why are you not giving me a detailed response, Jace? What did you go to Elder Grigshade''s house to do?!" I yelled back at him.


    I needed to know my enemies. I could not believe I would ever think of this with


    Jace but these are very difficult moments, I had to know who was for and against


    me.


    "And I said I will show you the evidence of what we discussed when we get home."


    "Are you my enemy, Jace?"


    "What?!" The disbelief and shock on his face could not be more obvious. I thought I saw his eyes water, but he blinked and pressed his lips together in an angry line.


    "Answer me!! Are you my enemy?!" I had to ask this question. My heart was tearing in pieces, how did my brother and I be these people walking on eggshells around each other? What happened to loving and supporting each other


    Jace was doing business with my enemy, that was hurtful. How could he have anything to do with Elder Grigshade and not tell me? When did he begin to keep secrets? When hispany started up with dad''s own, he told me all about it. Whenever he went to meetings and other important business outings, he told me. I was his best friend but how could I not know this?


    He never told me, so how do I trust him? How? If that had been up for debate,


    how would I have responded?


    "I am not your enemy, Erika." He finally replied.


    "Why did you not tell me about the business deal between you and Elder


    Grigshade?" I asked, wiping tears and swallowing more that were threatening to


    fall.


    "Is that necessary?" He refused to look at me.


    "Yes." I was angry too. And super scared. I try to put a brave front because I did not want to disappoint dad. Because this was my birthright. I wasn''t stealing it from anyone, I was not trying to con anyone out of this position and the only thing I


    wanted was for my brother to stand wholeheartedly by me but how could he when he was dining with the very person that had chosen to be my sworn enemy.


    "It''s not." His eyes were filled with anger and disbelief.


    "Yes, it is. Now answer me."


    He turned to me. "Or what, Erika? Or what?"


    "As your Alpha, Im..."


    "Don''t do it with me, Erika!" He boomed with fury "The Moon Goddess knows I want nothing to do with your position or your title. If you also decide to give me nothing out of dad''s wealth, fine. I do not care, but do not try that with me! I thought I had a sister." His eyes went sad for a moment but he toughened his expression, it became rigid.


    "I thought I had a brother too. But I never knew he would turn out to dine with my enemy." Why was I having this fight with my brother? Why? If only he would understand this from my point of view, we would not be here.


    "I told you, didn''t I?!" He hollered. "Did


    I not tell you to let me go out of the picture?! You disagreed and now you''re pointing fingers at me. Me! Erika,me. If I had anything to hide, why would I make that statement or stand up to me as I had? Huh? It is your turn, answer me!" He looked as though he was about to spill tears


    but was holding them back with


    every will in him.


    I swallowed back tears too. The car had stopped, we were in front of the mansion.


    He opened the car door and stepped out.


    I followed him. "Then why didn''t you tell me?" The guards were looking at us.


    "Tell you what?! That I was plotting against you with Elder Grigshade?!"


    "I did not say that."


    Our voices had brought Pa and Kat out. Kat was on wheelchair.


    "But you implied that. You implied that." He looked at me. "And that hurt more than anything, Erika."


    He left me, ignored Pa and Kat, and walked inside.