Chapter 89 The Soft Persuasion of Wolves


    Leslie POV


    <b>24 </b>


    Finished


    After publicly punishing more than a dozen leading reporters and exposing Leiss’s “nasty pics,” the entire PackNet fell into a strange, chilling silence.


    All the nder, the venom, the rumors–vanished overnight.


    Only a few scattered voices remained.


    I knew I’d achieved my goal.


    I had told the world, loud and clear, in blood and fire: I, Leslie of Rogue Pack, am no one’s punching bag.


    I am a wolf who bites.


    Just as I thought the storm had passed–just as I was ready to wait for the royal centennial and face off with Crimson Moon Pack on my terms—an unexpectedm request came through.


    It was Kirby.


    I hesitated for a moment, then epted the call.


    When his stern face appeared onscreen, I gave a shortugh. “What, here to give me another warning?”


    He blinked. “That’s not what I meant.”


    “Didn’t you Crimson Moon Pack folks scheme all this just to take me down a peg?”


    Of course I knew the answer.


    “Leslie,” Kirby sighed, “what you did today was too extreme. Violence only drives resentment deeper. Just return the item to Marcus, and I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll clean up the mess online.”


    I burst outughing. Bitter. Icy. Full of scorn.


    He said nothing.


    “Kirby,” I said, every word dipped in venom, “the two of you–one ys the viin, the other ys the good guy. You think that’ll make me obedient?”


    I couldn’t hold back anymore. The gloves were off. It was time to be brutally clear.


    Chapter 89 The Soft Persuasion of Wolves


    :


    ? (24)


    Finished


    “You people at Crimson Moon Pack dumped the dirtiest filth in the world on me. You insulted me with the lowest words you could find. You flipped truth and lies upside down–and now you want me to beg for forgiveness? To turn around and thank you for your generosity? Are you not sickened by yourselves?”


    The air went cold.


    Then another voice joined in–Leiss, in the background. “Leslie, this wasn’t Kirby’s doing.”


    “So what?” My tone sharpened, cutting through the silence. “Isn’t he the heir to Crimson Moon Pack? Am I supposed to believe he had no part in every insult I took this week?”


    I clenched my fists, forcing my voice to steady. I knew–deep down–I knew it wasn’t Kirby.


    But what difference did that make?


    It didn’t matter who pushed me into the pit. What mattered was, he stood there waiting for me to beg. Waiting to throw down a bone so I could crawl back, humiliated and grateful.


    He waited to save me after watching me fall.


    Funny how clearly you can see people once you stop loving them.


    All the power ys, the careful calctions, every so–called solution–they were all built on the same assumption: Leslie doesn’t matter.


    Even with Thorbane and Eric in my corner, even as I stood tall as Westview’s Governor, even with every eye on me now… none of that mattered.


    To Crimson Moon Pack, I was still that weak, disposable Omega.


    So they didn’t hesitate. They pushed. They crushed. They thought they’d ruin me forever.


    Kirby POV


    Every word from Leslie stabbed deep into my chest.


    It hurt to breathe.


    Every insult thrown at her had been unjust. I knew that. I knew all of it.


    I’d been trying–these past few days–to find a way to fix this. But Marcus had pulled every string, used every connection, ramped up the attacks until they spread like wildfire. And he’d clipped my wings inside the Pack, blocked my authority, tied my hands.


    At this point, unless Leslie backed down, there was no other way out.


    Chapter 89 The Soft Persuasion of Wolves


    24


    Finished


    If she returned the artifact, Marcus would ease off. The media would move on. And I could retake control, clean up the mess, and restore her name.


    “Leslie,” I said again, fighting to stay calm. “Let’s deal with the immediate crisis first. We’ll talk about everything elseter.”


    Sheughed coldly. “Don’t bother. I’m used to being cursed out. Doesn’t matter what happenster.”


    “Kirby, the biggest regret of my life was ever being fated to you.” Her voice turned sharper than a de. “Three years. Just three. I’ll consider it a nightmare.”


    “Tell your


    father–if he wants his precious heirloom back, he’d better be ready <i>to </i>rise from the grave to im it.”


    She hung up.


    All I heard was the cold, t tone of a dead line.


    Leiss gave an awkward chuckle. “She’s ungrateful, Kirby. Don’t bother. Give it time. These things blow over. I’ve seen it before.”


    “Oh, by the way, I got an invite to the Rogue Pack’s centennial. I hear they’ve invited every pack in Westview. Supposedly they’ll be announcing something huge–maybe it’s a way to clear up Leslie’s reputation. We’ll see what happens.”


    I didn’t respond.


    Still lost in the echo of that call, I muttered to myself, “Stupid woman.”


    What was she thinking?


    The situation was on the brink–and she refused every lifeline. Did she really believe Rogue Pack would risk everything just for her?


    Was Thorbane really nning to make her Luna?


    In a time like this? When anyone who touches her risks being dragged down too?


    Stupid woman.


    Send <b>Gifts </b>


    138