Chapter 74 Leverage

Using the divorce as leverage?

Eira almost laughed.

"You want this divorce more than I do," she said. "If you want to keep me married to Sebastian, be my guest."

Luna Margaret’s face tightened.

"But while I’m still his wife, I’ll start acting like one. Isabella can pay her own study-abroad bills. Sebastian isn’t required to bankroll his adult sister."

"You wouldn’t dare."

"Try me. Your house and health insurance are already covered. As for spending money, I’ll cancel the extra card and send you three thousand a month. That should sound familiar."

It was the same amount Alpha Sebastian had given Eira to run their household.

Luna Margaret went red.

Eira continued before she could interrupt.

"Then there’s all the money Sebastian spent on Serena. The jewelry, handbags, and whatever else he bought her came out of marital assets. I can demand a full accounting and sue to recover every dollar."

Luna Margaret’s expression changed.

"That would put Serena in an awkward spot, wouldn’t it?" Eira asked. "She’s an elite wolf from a top-tier pack. Do you really think she’ll settle for being a married man’s mistress forever? Even if she would, her family wouldn’t."

Serena wanted Alpha Sebastian, but only after Eira was out of the picture. A public fight over marital assets could destroy the polished image she had worked so hard to build.

"And one more thing," Eira added. "As long as I’m Luna Hale, I’ll attend every company dinner, charity gala, and pack event with my husband. I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly who Sebastian’s wife is."

That struck a nerve.

The Hales had always been ashamed of Eira’s childhood, her lack of family status, and the ordinary job they believed she had. The thought of presenting her to high society as Alpha Sebastian’s wife made Luna Margaret furious.

She pointed a shaking finger at Eira.

"You’re cold-blooded."

"Of course," Eira said. "Serena is the sweet one."

Luna Margaret’s chest rose and fell.

"So, are you still planning to hold up the divorce?"

Of course she was not.

Luna Margaret wanted Eira out of the family as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the legal waiting period was not over, and the judge could not issue the final order for another two weeks.

"What will it take for you to back off Isabella?" Luna Margaret demanded. "The police don’t have enough to convict her. Sebastian will get her out, so what are you trying to prove?"

"If she has nothing to worry about, why are you here?"

Luna Margaret fell silent.

Eira knew the Hales would pull every string they could to protect Isabella. That was not the point.

Luna Margaret wanted her daughter out of the holding cell before breakfast. She wanted no criminal record, no scandal, and no consequences.

Eira wanted Isabella to face every one of them.

Luna Margaret took a breath and changed tactics.

"Name your price. Money, a house, whatever you want. Tell the police it was a misunderstanding."

"There is no misunderstanding."

"Then tell me what you want."

Eira met her eyes.

"Nothing you can give me."

---

Meanwhile, Alpha Sebastian had been waiting in the lobby of Sterling Tower since early that morning.

By noon, Alpha Killian still had not agreed to see him.

The message was loud and clear. Sterling House intended to hold Isabella responsible for the damage she had caused, including the flooded room, the police investigation, and the possible harm to a hotel guest.

Alpha Sebastian was willing to write a check. Money was not the problem.

He needed the Sterlings to back off before the case became public. If Isabella was charged, the scandal would not stop with her. It would damage the Hale name and give his business rivals plenty of ammunition.

In his world, reputation was currency.

Upstairs, Miles entered Alpha Killian’s office.

"Alpha, Sebastian Hale is still downstairs."

Alpha Killian did not look up from the document in front of him.

"Let him wait."

Miles hid a smile. "Understood."

Alpha Killian had returned from a brutal business trip the night before, only to spend the rest of the night dealing with Eira’s emergency.

He had not slept at all.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her again.

Eira fighting the drug with everything she had. Eira nearly drowning in the hotel bathtub. Eira clinging to him as he carried her out.

Then came the memories he had tried much harder to forget.

Her wrists loosely bound with his red tie so she would not hurt herself. Her warm breath against his neck in the car. Her fingers gripping his shirt as she begged him not to leave.

At the clinic, she had endured the treatment without crying out. Even weak and pale afterward, she had looked at Alpha Sebastian with a quiet strength that refused to break.

Alpha Killian had taken more than one cold shower when he got home.

It had not helped.

His wolf had remained restless, furious at the people who had hurt her and far too aware of how she had felt in his arms.

Now Alpha Sebastian Hale had shown up to clean up his sister’s mess.

Alpha Killian picked up another file.

He could sit downstairs all day.

Miles left Alpha Killian’s office and found Natalie filling Kate in on the night before.

She had just reached the part where Alpha Killian kicked down the bathroom door.

"He took it out with one kick," Natalie said. "The whole frame cracked."

Kate stared at her, a bag of Eira’s chili-lime chips in her hand.

"You’re kidding."

"I was standing right there."

Natalie stole a chip. Kate pulled the bag away.

"Hey. Eira gave these to me."

"And she gave me some too. Mine are at the hotel."

Miles walked over, and Kate offered him the bag.

"Want one? Just don’t clean me out."

He took a chip.

"When is Eira coming back?" Kate asked.

"This afternoon."

"That’s it? She should take a few days off."

"She only has two weeks left before she resigns," Natalie said. "Good luck convincing her to stay home."

Kate lowered her voice.

"What’s Alpha Killian going to do when she leaves?"

Natalie and Miles exchanged a look.

"Pretend he doesn’t care," Miles said.

From inside the office, Alpha Killian’s cold voice carried into the hall.

"Lunch."

Miles immediately straightened.

"Coming, Alpha."

Halfway through lunch, Alpha Killian finally spoke.

"What time is Eira coming in?"

Miles kept his face blank.

"She’s due back at two thirty."

Alpha Killian gave a short nod and continued eating as if the question meant nothing.

When they returned to the office, Miles received an update from the lobby.

"Alpha Sebastian finally left."

"Good."

Alpha Killian had refused to meet with him. Sterling House would not bury the incident just because Alpha Sebastian offered to cover the damage.

At two o’clock, another message arrived.

Miles read it twice before stepping into Alpha Killian’s office.

"Alpha, Isabella Hale was released on bail."

Alpha Killian’s expression hardened.

"Did Eira back down?"

"No. Her police report is still active."

"Then how did Isabella get out?"

Miles hesitated.

"Sterling House withdrew its separate complaint and agreed not to oppose bail."

Alpha Killian slowly raised his eyes.

"Who authorized that?"

"Your father."

The pen in Alpha Killian’s hand hit the desk with a sharp crack.

Miles remained still.

Alpha Killian picked up his phone and called his mother.

Luna Seraphina answered on the second ring.

"If you’re looking for your father, don’t bother. He knew you’d be mad, so he’s avoiding you."

"He went over my head."

"He did."

"You both promised to stay out of company business unless it was an emergency."