Chapter 335

His gaze moved to face Vince, but he looked away. Then he gazed at Brandon, who was behind me. I don’t know what he saw there, but I watched the fight drain out of him. “Make your choice.”

Vince stood and walked over to my side. “Does it have to be decided right this second?”

I slowly turned my face to look at Vince. “Yes. I know you have seen her. Her condition is nothing new to you. She is wasting away. You both will come now to release her, or I will kill him. Then I will only need you to come to release her. But either way, it will be done right now.” I let my eyes flash. “Not later. Not tomorrow. We will all be leaving this office to head to my house, or the three of us will leave to head to my house, and the omegas will have a body to clean up.”

I left no room for negotiations, no chance for confusion.

Brandon pressed against my back. “He is my beta.”

I looked at him over my shoulder. “There are other betas in the fucking world.” I snapped back. “You might be friends with him, but everyone is replaceable.” I turned back to Vince. “Something your father knows well.”

“What does that mean?” Brandon furrowed his brow.

“Exactly what I said. Morgan wasn’t always the beta here. People died. People transfer out.” I deflected. There was no reason to go any deeper. I didn’t want to push Vince any further than I already had, and exposing him to his son about his old beta was too far.

I turned back to Derek. “Make your choice. Now.”

Derek stared at me. His eyes were filled with an emotion I couldn’t place. His eyes danced across my face, and then behind me, I assume, looking to Brandon for some support. He sighed. “Look, man. You are my best friend and beta. But if Amy says this Lynn woman is in terrible shape, you should let her go.”

Derek snarled. “You don’t understand.”

Brandon sighed. “I do. I was rejected my first year at school.”

Derek deflated again. “You are just lying.”

But Brandon came closer. I could feel the heat of his skin through my clothes. “I’m not. I remember the day because I had come with my father to deal with some girls who were bigging Amy here. I stood in front of the cafeteria, and I felt the bond snap.”

“Why did you accept it?” He lifted his lip.

“Why would I hold on to a woman who wouldn’t even give me a chance to explain myself?”

“Why wouldn’t you do what I did?” Derek furrowed his brow like he was genuinely confused.

“I didn’t know who my mate even was.” He shrugged. “And honestly, what would be the point? Watching a random woman rot away because I was twisting the knife doesn’t seem like a fun way to spend time to me.”

“It’s not, but it proves a point.” Derek looked at the wall.

“And what point is that?” I leaned in. “That you could?”

“No.” Derek snarled. “That she should have given me a fucking chance. That she could have had it all, but now she has nothing. Not even peace.”

“Well, now you have a chance. A chance to have a life, or not.” I leveled him with a look. “I’m done speaking about this. Make your choice.” I dropped him onto the ground and walked to the office door. “I will leave here in two minutes.” I leaned against the door and looked at my watch. “You have until then to make your decision.” I pulled my phone out and scrolled to Toya. I shot her a message to have Lynn ready for one of two outcomes.

Either I was going to kill her mate, and then I would bring Alpha Vince there to release her from his command. Or I would bring Derek with me to accept her rejection, and Vince would then release her. But either way today she would be free and heading home with her. Toya sent a thumbs up, knowing our phones were monitored.

Vince, Brandon, and Derek, we mind-linked each other. And even though I couldn’t hear them, their body language was telling. Derek was fighting to keep Lynn. Brandon was worried about losing my ‘affection,’ and Vince didn’t like being pushed around by me.

I knew this was going to throw a wrench into winning Vince over, but Lynn was more important than winning Vince over. Would it make my job easier? Yes. Would I still be able to do what I need to? Probably.

Toya sent me another text. I told her, that was it. Obviously she couldn’t say anything, but I hoped she perked up.

I checked the time on my phone before I slid it back into my pocket. “Time’s up.” I leveled a stare at Derek. “Life or death, boy?”