Chapter 8 8: Help Without Asking

CAMILE

The noise outside my quarters dragged me out of sleep. At first, I thought it was the usual morning chaos from the pack house, but it sounded too sharp.

Too many raised voices.

I groaned, slipped into something simple, and stepped out.

Zane was standing in front of my door with his arms crossed, jaw tight. Across from him stood a well-dressed woman with a clipboard and four people behind her carrying crates, tool bags, and fabric samples.

"I already said you have no authority to be here," Zane snapped.

The woman didn't flinch. "And I already said we have every authority. We were dispatched by the Fangshire royal court."

I blinked. Fangshire? Royal court? How? Why?

"What's going on?" I asked.

The woman turned to me instantly.

"You must be Ms. Camile Whitebrock," she smiled, stretching her hand out for me to shake, and I did cautiously. "I'm Adriana Vane, head designer. My team and I are here to refurbish your apartment."

Refurbish my apartment?

I stared at her dumbly as she held up a sleek folder.

"This is our authorization from the Fangshire court. All expenses covered."

My blood went cold for half a second.

Kael.

Of course, it was Kael. Or Arlo. Or both. Definitely the both of them. They always do things together afterall.

My privacy. My space. My tiny, quiet corner of this hellhole. They were barging into it without even asking.

I kept all of that locked behind my teeth because Zane was watching me like a starving dog waiting for scraps of drama.

He snatched the folder from Adriana's hand, skimmed it, and went pale.

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered.

Then he rounded on me.

"Who are you fucking now? Which powerful man are you hooking up with just weeks after our divorce?" He attacked, eyes sadistic. "First, you disappear at night like some heat-drunk mutt, now this? Do you even know how pathetic you look? Letting anyone with a title use you?"

I met his glare without flinching.

"First of all, my business stopped being your business the moment you divorced me. Second, I don't owe you explanations."

"You're still a Whitebrock wolf," he shot back. "Everything you do affects this pack. A pack you bring shame to every time you open your legs."

I stepped closer, smile sharp. "You need to focus on your new bride. I'm sure she has enough shame for both of you."

His face reddened. "Watch your mouth."

"Or what?" I asked. "Are you going to throw another tantrum like a baby?"

Zane stiffened, just enough for me to know I'd hit a nerve.

Very good.

But my irritation wasn't reserved for him alone.

I was furious with Kael and Arlo for pulling a stunt like this without asking me. Furious that they thought they could decide where I lived, what I needed, what would make my life "better."

I hated it.

The head of the team cleared her throat and faced me. "You won't be able to sleep in the apartment until tomorrow. We need full access."

Oh wow. All these without my permission? Without even informing me.

Before I could answer, her phone rang. She listened for all of one second, murmured a single word.

"Of course, Sire,"

Then slid it back into her pocket before looking at me.

"Your car is here." She informed me.

As if summoned by her voice, a sleek black car rolled through the gate. New. Expensive. Viciously beautiful. Better than anything Zane ever even dreamed of driving.

Zane nearly exploded. "You're not going anywhere! Do you hear me?"

I met his eyes. "Watch me."

I walked past him, went into my quarters, grabbed a small bag, and returned to the yard. He was still shouting, accusing me of everything he could scrape together.

"So this is it?" He snapped. "You were already cheating before the divorce, weren't you? I knew it! Just say it! Fucking admit that you were cheating- hey, I'm talking to you!"

I walked right by him.

Behind me, he pivoted to the designers as they started toward the door.

"Don't touch anything! Do you hear me? Get out! You're not allowed-"

"Sir, please step aside," Adriana smoothly replied, and her team moved past him like he was a piece of angry furniture.

I ignored all of it: all the chaos, the yelling, and the threats behind me. My anger at Kael and Arlo didn't come close to the satisfaction of watching Zane pop a vein and lose his mind over something he couldn't control.

Still, as soon as I get to see them, they are going to hear from me.

I was absolutely giving Kael and Arlo a piece of my mind.