I wanted to ignore it. Stay home with Adele, keep her close, keep her safe.
But another part of me—the part that remembered Crane’s advice about watching the snake up close—knew I couldn’t. I needed to be there.
I forwarded the email to the security company Dimitri had contracted, requesting additional protection for Adele. Within minutes, I got confirmation: two guards outside the building, two in the lobby, and Sarah inside the apartment with Adele. No one—absolutely no one—was allowed near my daughter without my explicit permission.
It would have to be enough.
I got dressed, kissed Adele goodbye, and headed out.
The conference roomwas already half full when I arrived. Board members clustered in small groups, whispering in low tones that stopped the moment I entered. Eyes followed me—curious, hostile, assessing.
I kept my expression neutral and took my seat—the same one I’d occupied two weeks ago, when Dimitri had announced Adele’s inheritance.
Dimitri sat at the head of the table, expression unreadable. Our eyes met briefly, and something flickered in his gaze. My traitorous body responded instantly. My wolf whined inside me, but I forced her to focus. This wasn’t the time to think about how good his mouth had felt against my skin, how he swallowed my moan with his kisses when he thrust his fingers inside of me, how perfect he’d felt inside me—
Fuck. I was doing it again.
I tore my gaze away, landing on Selene. Her glare was sharp enough to cut steel. I met it head-on, letting her know I was onto her, whatever game she was playing.
Edmund sat to Dimitri’s left, his weathered face grave. When he caught my eye, he gave a small nod, a gesture of quiet support that meant more than he knew.
The last few board members trickled in, and finally, the man Edmund had introduced as Ethan Thorpe, the man who had been staring viciously at me at the last board meeting, stood. “My name is Ethan Thorpe,” he began. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I apologize for the inconvenience, but the matter we need to discuss couldn’t wait.”
He pressed a button on the remote, and the screen behind him flickered to life.
Motion for Impeachment of CEO.
Myblood ran cold.
“As many of you are aware,” Ethan continued, “Ravencrest Global has experienced instability in recent weeks, leadership decisions that have raised questions about judgment and priorities. Actions that have put this company’s reputation at risk.”
Several members shifted in their seats. A few nodded.
“It is with great reluctance,” Ethan said smoothly, “that I move for the impeachment of Dimitri Ravencrest as CEO of Ravencrest Global, effective immediately.”
The room went dead silent.
“On what grounds?” It was Edmund who asked.
“The grounds are clear,” he continued. “Mr. Ravencrest has allowed personal entanglements to compromise his ability to lead effectively. He’s made unilateral decisions without prior board approval. He’s—”
“I had board approval for every major decision,” Dimitri cut in, voice low and dangerous. “Including Adele’s inheritance and Isabella’s appointment.”
“After the fact,” Ethan shot back. “You announced it without prior discussion or vote. That’s not leadership. That’s dictatorship.”
“It was within my rights as majority shareholder.”
“Rights you’re now sharing with a child. And her mother.” Ethan’s gaze flicked to me—cold, cutting. “A woman who abandoned this pack five years ago. Who has no loyalty to Ravencrest or its interests. Furthermore,” Ethan continued, switching slides, “there’s the matter of the recent attack. Broad daylight. Targeting Mr. Ravencrest and his…companion. This is the kind of attention this company can’t afford.”
“The attack had nothing to do with company business,” Dimitri said.
“Didn’t it?” Ethan arched a brow. “Your distraction, your divided attention, your personal drama—it all creates vulnerability. For you. For this company. For the pack.”
That’s when Selene stood. Of course she did.
“I didn’t want to speak,” she began, her voice soft and sorrowful. I rolled my eyes internally at her theatrics. “This is difficult for me, butI can’t stay silent when the future of our company—of our pack—is at stake.”
Her gaze found me, full of false pity.