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


    "Yes, I know Rika. I know how much you have been hurt but he''s here. And I''m sure just as you are that he has been waiting. Even after you left him there, he has been waiting. Have mercy, Rika." She was feeling pity for him? What had happened to Kat? I might had expected this from Pa but Kat? And I could actually see the pity written all over face.


    "He only came because he needs Iron w''s help. He needs my power and my guards." I did not want to allow myself fall trap that he was actually deserving of pity.


    Alex did not deserve my pity, he did not deserve my sympathy. I was not even supposed to allow him entrance talk more of audience. As soon as I had seen him, I should had thrown him out of my pack, but I had not. Still, he would not get help easy from me. Any help I rendered to him woulde at a price.


    "That may be, Rika. But you need to at least, go see him alone. Hear what he has to say." Kat advised.


    "I have no problem listening to what he has to say but you and I will go. That''s the only way, if he really wants my help."


    Kat stared at me for a while.


    Feeling a bit ufortable, I moved away a bit. "What? Why are you looking at me that way?"


    "Do you still like him?" Kat raised a brow at me.


    I stiffened, a scowl appearing on my face. "What do you mean by that?"


    "I mean, why are you scared to be with him in a room? Just the two of you."


    "Who told you I''m scared?" The scowl deepened. I really did not like where Kat was leading this discussion. How did we end up here? Why would she even think that?


    "Then why are you against being with him in a room?" She was looking at me expectantly.


    "I am not.." I paused when I realized I was raising my voice. I narrowed my annoyed gaze at her.


    She merely shrugged, a small smile ying on her lips. "You''re not what?"


    "I''m not against being with him in the room but I do not want to. I told you what he had done." I was beginning to grow upset. What the hell was wrong was Kat? Why was she even bringing up topics like this?


    She was pretending as though she had not been aware when he had done everything he had done to me. The times I''d cried, they knew about it. The pains, the humiliation and every other circumstance I''d gone through in his household, Kat and Pa had been aware of everything.


    Why was she pretending as though she had no knowledge of it? Why was she doing as though I had not called her whenever he would make me cry?


    "I know everything that had happened between you two when you were still with him but you''re bigger than whatever payback you''re going for."


    "What are you saying, Katherina?" I had both my hands fisted by my sides.


    "See, I understand you Rika. I would be lying if I said I didn''t, and as your best friend, I support whatever you n to do to him, frankly, he deserves it, but why don''t you go see him. It''s not like he would try something funny with you in your own mansion. This is your territory, Rika, not his."


    She stepped forward to take my fisted hands, she uncurled them and squeezed encouragingly.


    "You are the Alpha of Iron w not the mate and wife of the Alpha of Moon Forest. You answer to no one except yourself. He does not have any reign or superiority over you anymore. You''re a leader, show him you''re one. Go into that meeting room with him and show him he no longer means anything to you." She advised.


    I sighed. She had a point, I should not let him decide for me. Whatever he might had done to me, it was only honorable of me to go see him, but that did not stop me from getting back at him if I wanted to.


    "Alright, I would go see him." I agreed.


    She pulled me into a hug. "Be careful, Alpha."


    I hit her yfully. "What''s with the formality?"


    She chuckled. "I am a member of this pack, I should not forget who my Alpha is."


    "How would you forget who I am?" I eyed her yfully.


    "I would keep seeing you as a friend, the girl I grew up with, not the leader of my pack."


    "I always want you to see me that way. To you and Pa, I am your best friend. Call me Alpha next time and pay dearly for it, got it?" I wagged a threatening finger at her.


    Sheughed. "Yes ma''am."


    I hit her again. "Hey."


    "Ouch. Stop hitting me." She whined. "Now shoo. Go meet the man of your dreams."


    I gave her a stink eye, sheughed and held both hands in surrender. "Sorry." Then she blew me a kiss and walked out.


    I was left on my own. I took a deep breath and went back to where I had left him standing. Surprisingly, he was still there. Had he been standing there all these while?


    I cleared my throat, he was watching me take bold steps toward him. Yes, my steps were bold, I would not allow him envision me scared or uncertain of myself, and I certainly was not frayed with nerves.


    "This way, Alpha." I led him towards the meeting room where I had hosted him before. A lot of thoughts running through my mind.


    Why did Alex want to see me in


    private? Was he trying to talk to me about our past? I sure was not ready to hear anything about that. The deal was tohelp him win a war which would only happen if he agreed to my terms and conditions.


    We entered the room and this time, I decided to take the throne. I needed the boost of confidence and also to remind him of his position in my pack.


    "Please, have a seat." I offered him a seat. He took one. "Your time starts now, Alpha."


    "I miss you."