Chapter 464
He watched me for a few minutes. โI thought you were in the hospital.โ
I nodded. โI was, but then someone was trying to hack into our mainframe, and I needed to wrap up the tasks assigned to me.โ
Vinceโs eyes tightened. โWhy? You should be home, healing.โ
I glanced up from my computer, my eyes grazing past the laptop screen. Seventy percent. โI think we both know why I want to tie up my loose ends.โ I stared at him for a minute before returning to the computer.
He coughed. โI donโt think I do.โ
I snorted. A fresh attack started, but I kept my eye on Vince as he settled across from me. โYou can pretend to be dumb with anyone else, Vince, but I know the truth. The king sent you my transfer request. We both know that he did.โ
He stared at me for a few minutes. โI donโt know that.โ He stared at me. โBut letโs say that he did.โ He raised his hand as I opened my mouth. โI said letโs pretend. What if I got rid of the request? What then?โ
I sighed. โHonestly?โ He nodded. โYou want me to pretend that nothing happened?โ He shrugged.
โI didnโt say that.โ He sighed. โLook, obviously Shannon isnโt an option as my mate. You are the girl I want for Brandon. He loves you. He is just confused.โ
I stopped and turned to face him. โHeโs confused?โ Vince nodded. โVince, he made a fool out of me. Iโm an alpha, and in front of our entire pack, he chose her.โ He opened his mouth, but I raised one hand, stopping him. โYou can pretend he didnโt, but he did. The rumors are already flying.โ He deflated.
Vince stared at me. โItโs not that bad, Amy.โ
I laughed. โHave you heard what the pack is saying? As an alphaโฆ could you deal with the disrespect you are asking me to deal with?โ He stood up and started to pace. I glanced back at the computer screen and caught it stalled at seventy-three percent. Shit.
โIf I loved my mate enough, I would be fine.โ He tried to placate me, but his words just made me laugh.
โBullshit. Donโt lie to me. If your mate picked another male in front of the entire packโโ
โHe didnโt do that.โ He interrupted.
I sighed. โFine, if you asked your mate to decide between you and an unranked male who was obviously trying to take your place, and she refused to decide so she didnโt hurt the unranked male, what would you do? Be honest.โ
He stared at me for a second before he slunk back to the chair. โI wouldnโt be able to do it.โ
โExactly.โ I sat back and sighed when I realized the [redacted] finally moved. Eighty-two percent. It went back to the desktop when another alert lit the screen.
There was another attack. โFuck.โ
โWhat?โ Vince perked up.
โNothing. Another attack.โ I started typing, keeping one eye on the laptop and Vince. I started to push back the attack while not interfering with the [redacted]. It was a hard balance.
โAnother attack?โ He shifted in his seat.
I nodded. โI came here to finish up my work and to push back an attack that was underway when I got here.โ
โWhere is Rick?โ
โHe helped me to the hospital, but then went home to check on Abby before coming back here. She isnโt doing well.โ
I saw anticipation light his eyes, but then it was gone. โOh, thatโs unfortunate.โ
I nodded, then tensed when he stood up. โIs there anything I can do?โ
I shook my head. I turned to face him. โNo. Thankfully, itโs not hard to push them back.โ He started to walk around the desk. I looked at him and raised my eyebrow, which had him stopping with a grin on his face. My eyes landed on the laptop screen for a second. Ninety-three percent. Come on! โDo you know anything about coding or hackers?โ
Ninety-five.
Vince knocked on my desk, bouncing from foot to foot at the corner as he thought about his answer. โIโm not great, but I know enough.โ He laughed a little as he stared at me. I blocked another attack and glanced at Vince. He looked like he was trying to decide if he should come closer. โAmyโฆ is there anything I could do or say that would get you to change your mind?โ He started around the side of the desk.
Ninety-nine percent.
I growled, making him pause. โYou are asking me to convince my wolves to settle for a male who doesnโt want me.โ But he sighed and walked around the desk. He glanced at my laptop, but the screen was just the desktop. โI am just trying to find a solution that doesnโt have you leaving.โ