Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 439: The Cornered Animal

The restaurant was all polished woods, velvet chairs, and had the kind of silence that said important people ate here. In one word, it had all the warmth of a graveyard. And seated at the head of the table like a king in his den was President Roy.

Except there was one person Jameson hadn’t mentioned would be present.

Natalie froze, the breath knocked from her lungs like a sucker punch at the sight of her.

Kate.

Her stepmother.

Kate was seated beside her father and looked up the second she sensed her arrival.

"Oh, look who finally showed up," Kate said, smiling far too brightly as she peered over the rim of her glass.

But Natalie didn’t move, she stood there like a deer caught in headlights.

"What are you standing there for? That’s President Roy. Greet him," Jameson nudged her with an elbow, snapping her out of it.

President Roy didn’t look like a president, at least not in the stiff, boring way most imagined. He was in his early fifties, but age sat lightly on him.

His red hair, brushed back with a touch of silver at the temples, gave him a graceful, striking edge. Dressed in a crisp navy shirt with rolled sleeves and dark trousers, President Roy looked relaxed, in control, and deceptively approachable. Fit, tall, and confident, he wore power without needing to flaunt it.

"Hello, Mr. President," Natalie greeted, her voice breathy like someone who’d just sprinted a mile.

"Hello, Natalie. How long has it been? Last year?" He asked, his green eyed studying her.

"Two years ago, sir," she replied politely.

taken aback. "How quickly time

father, gesturing to the chair. "The kids grow up so fast these days. What are the both of you waiting

wife, Kate. At once, uniformed waiters approached them and began to serve the

through the silence like one of the steak knives on the table.

napkin. She didn’t look at her

There was no warmth, nor any

more than you’ve said to your

Roy, already lifting his glass, paused mid-air. "Two years?" he asked, clearly

When school closes, she sails off to wherever she pleases, anywhere

glass and took a slow sip. This? All of this? It

of my life," she said casually, setting the glass down. "I’d like to explore the rest of the world

a genuine chuckle from

I won’t fault her for that one. I was just like you when I was younger, always on the move. Well, until I met

laughter at the

except Natalie. She just folded her hands in her lap, expression unreadable, and waited for

the bull by the horn since everyone was dancing

for the new position."

his mouth with his napkin and dropped it on

new role," he began, his tone almost grandfatherly. "You’re not just a House Leader. You’re the eyes and ears

her brow. "So I’m

want you to observe. To ensure that school doesn’t become a breeding ground for werewolf supremacy. We’re

with more aggression than necessary. "We’re the ones who pushed ourselves into their centuries-old academy. That school

David cautioned her, but President Roy lifted a

smile

on balance. And right now, the board needs a human voice it can

for this and shoved her in front of a firing squad," Natalie said flatly. "And I’m supposed to play nice while the wolves stare at me like