29. Chapter 29
Ivy
I hated strategy meetings, which was ironic considering strategy meetings were usually where I should have felt most comfortable.
The discussions themselves fascinated me.
Market projections, product launches, customer behavior reports, future development plans - these were things I genuinely enjoyed.
As a matter of fact, most of the products sitting on the conference table had started as ideas in my notebooks.
The reports being discussed were built around formulas I had spent months developing.
The launch schedules everyone was reviewing had once existed as carefully organized spreadsheets on my laptop.
And yet I sat silently at the very end of the table while everyone else discussed my work like I wasn't there.
It had been several weeks since I was let out of my room, and as long as I could keep it together in public and keep the product development on schedule, my family would allow me to work and go to the occasional public event.
Although after the last dinner where Arabella had rubbed my face in her victory, I wasn’t so sure I could bear to attend anything again.
The only thing that kept me going was knowing that somehow, I had to get through to Pack Vale.
I couldn’t give up - not after I’d given up practically everything else to Arabella.
I had to stand up for myself, and for their pack.
As luck would have it, today was a rare day when the Vale pack was over at our house, their collaboration with Arabella turning out to be a success so far.
The number of subscribers to the matchmaking database had exploded, especially after word that Arabella had found Pack Vale that way hit the news.
It was the best PR story of the year. Too bad it was based on a lie.
My father, Phillip, stood near the presentation screen reviewing campaign numbers with his usual authority, while Ronan occupied a chair near the wall like a massive silent mountain, his tattoos peeking out from his sleeves while he watched everything with an unreadable expression.
Hunter was flipping through samples of the latest campaign materials, occasionally offering suggestions that the marketing team eagerly scribbled down.
Across from them sat Arabella, looking smug and beautiful in a dress that probably cost more than my monthly salary, accepting praise with fake humility every time someone complimented the success of the latest launch.
"The newest consumer data on the balancing spray test samples have exceeded our projections," Clara said, glancing down at the report in her hands. "If it’s as good as customers are saying, then sales will skyrocket once it’s out on the market fully."
A small smile appeared on Arabella's face.
"We're incredibly proud of our upcoming product," she said, placing a hand on Arabella’s shoulder. We. The single word lodged itself in my head. Arabella had not made that product - she’d only marketed it.
Nobody noticed my fingers tightening around the pen in my hand.
Across the table, however, Elias's eyes lifted from his notes.
The only reason I was there was for a few minutes when we had to call an investor. The representative had some questions about the proprietary formulation, and then everyone turned to me to explain. I guess I was useful when it came to making money for the company.
The meeting continued for another twenty minutes before George finally called for a short break, and relief immediately coursed through me.
It was difficult being in these meetings - my body keened to be closer to the pack, and yet I had to watch Arabella sit with them, her hands on each of them at one point to demonstrate her claim.
And of course, I was kept on the opposite end of the room - as a ‘safety precaution.’ It was the first time I’d seen the pack since that horrible dinner where Hunter forced me to apologize to Arabella.
I wasn’t able to look at them too long, partially out of embarrassment and partially because it hurt to see them next to her.
“Ivy, you can leave. We have no need for you once the meeting continues.” Clara said, dismissing me.
Of course they would keep me out of the higher-level discussions.
God forbid anyone acknowledge that I had anything to offer.
I sighed and picked up my notebook, heading out of the conference room to go back to the lab.
I was halfway there when a familiar voice called my name.
"Ivy." My pulse raced at the voice. Looking back, I saw Elias.
He looked so handsome. His brown hair was slightly tousled, and the sleeves of his button-down shirt were rolled to his forearms. Those grey eyes of his found mine, and I felt my body respond before I could help it, drawn toward him like I was under a spell.
"Would you walk with me for a moment?" he asked.
I nodded without thinking. He could ask me anything, and I would comply.
There was something unfair about how easy he was to be around.
Alphas seemed to be able to fill every room they entered through sheer presence alone.
But Elias also grabbed attention without even demanding it.
He was so charismatic and engaging, that he just lit up any room.
And when he extended his attention onto me, the whole world disappeared. I missed that.
But today, he had my complete and utter attention just from his scent alone.
He probably forgot to use descenter because he was around Arabella so much.
He’d scent-marked my scarf before, but until this moment I hadn’t smelled the full force of his scent up close.
I walked next to him, my lungs filling with the steady, masculine scent lightly coming from him.
The black tea and cotton scent took my breath away.
It was addictive and perfect, yet it made something inside me settle.
I couldn't even think or speak for the next few moments, walking next to him, stunned as I breathed in the pure scent from him. It was perfect. I wanted to make a replica just to be able to smell it when he wasn’t around.
I tried not to swoon too much at his scent. The hallway outside the conference room was quiet, and for a few moments neither of us spoke. Finally, Elias broke the silence.
"How are you holding up?" He asked, looking at me closely. I looked away instinctively.
"I'm fine," I said, although my smile was more of a grimace. From his expression, it was clear he didn’t believe me.
"I know you're not." He said, his gaze on me the entire time. I frowned.
"What? Of course I am." I said, a little worried. I wasn’t supposed to show any signs of unhappiness. My family hated it, and if I didn’t act perfectly, they’d hide me away again.
I didn’t know how to get through to the pack, but if I was kept away too long, they’d end up with Arabella permanently.
Elias looked at me again, this time with more compassion than anyone ever had.
“I know it hasn’t been easy lately.” He said, his voice calm and understanding. But I felt the familiar defenses rising up in me at his comment.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Everything’s fine. I want to move on.” I said, setting my jaw.
If we talked too much about the incident, my throat would close up from my father’s alpha command.
Elias took a step toward me. We weren't close enough that anyone seeing us would think it was inappropriate, but he was getting as close as he could.
“It’s not fine though, is it?” He asked, his grey eyes pinning me to where I stood. “I know you were the one behind the new spray product. It was one of the first things we talked about.” He said, and I froze, stunned that he remembered.
“I…” I was at a loss for words. He was the only person so far who realized Arabella was claiming my product, yet again.
“You were working on it from the very beginning stages. I was there,” Elias said, his volume lowering.
“And it's not okay for anyone to pretend your role in that was insignificant. Which, according to that meeting we just had, your entire family just did.” His words were so simple, but so blatantly truthful, that my mouth dropped open. No one had ever called it out before.
“We all make mistakes. I know it must be hard to deal with another person claiming what’s yours.
” He said, and for a moment I hoped beyond hope he could think beyond my product, to what she had really claimed.
“I know you acted out. But that doesn't mean you have to be punished forever.” He said, stepping inches closer.
“You should be able to claim your successes as much as you admit your failures.”
My breath caught, and I felt like he could see straight through to my soul. I swallowed, and all I could do was nod.
“Thank you, Elias,” I said in a breathy voice, once again feeling my body attempt to perfume despite the suppressants. Elias continued.
“I know it changed things when we started courting your sister.” He said.
Step-sister, I thought. I would not claim Arabella to be any closer to me than she was.
“But I’d like for us to still be cordial.
I enjoyed working with you, and I think you have so much to offer.
You just need to let everyone else see it.
” He had no idea how much things had changed.
But my father’s command still wrapped around me.
Then I had an idea.
“I'll try,” I said, truly grateful that he acknowledged that I had, in fact, come up with the newest product idea. “I have a question for you,” I started, testing out the limits of the command. He looked surprised.
“Sure,” He said, watching me closely.
“You know more about biology than most people. How long would you say an alpha bark normally lasts?” I asked, and his brows raised.
“Normally, not more than a day. Why?” He asked, and I shook my head.
“I’m curious. I have to do some research into how it all works, and maybe how the biology behind it interacts with any products.” I lied, and he looked skeptical. “Anyway, what about the strength of an alpha bark from a direct family member?” I prodded.
Elias looked shocked. “Well, those can last longer. Months, for children. But that usually wears off by the time a designation or puberty arrives. At that point, a child would not need the protection from their parent anymore.” He explained. Now I was the one confused.
“What about adults? What would be a reason that an alpha bark might last longer from a relative?” My question was getting too close to outing myself and my father’s command. I felt my throat tense, but Elias didn’t see that.
“Well, the only cases in which that would occur are if an omega is so reliant on their parent that they never formed their own independence. In that case, someone who is so extremely reliant on their parents might be easily controlled, and a command would last indefinitely. But that’s rare, and anyway, most parents would never order their children past a certain age.
It’s unethical.” He said. Unethical. I hadn’t thought about my father in that way, or maybe I just never wanted to.
“Why are you curious? Are you planning on making a product or a medication for these instances?” He asked with a smile.
I was still floored by his answer. Was I that reliant on my family?
Had I been that handicapped by their control over my bank account, my work, and my life that I was still affected by my father’s bark?
Elias had pretty much told me the answer, but I could barely stomach the thought.
I was too immature and reliant to stand up to my own father.
“Uh, yeah, something like that,” I stammered, and he nodded.
“Good! Though I think the answer to that would be more psychological than physiological,” Elias mused, and I knew I needed to get back to my room. If there was a way to break this command, then there was hope yet.
“Sorry, Elias, I need to go back to work, and I think you need to go back to the meeting,” I said, backing away.
Before I could turn, his hand grabbed mine.
I felt the energy of his warm skin on mine, and for a moment I froze.
Just his touch made everything in me feel looser, calmer.
I wanted to move closer to him and jump into his arms, muzzle myself directly into his neck, and have him carry me far away from here. He was mine. And he didn’t even know.
“I noticed you apologize a lot for things that aren’t your fault.
You don’t have to do that. Especially with me.
” He said, and I nodded. Then he let me go, turning to go back to the conference room.
I felt the absence of his touch and backed up to the wall, my body reeling from just the tiniest moment of connection with him.
And I felt a strange feeling that I hadn’t felt in a while - hope. More than anything, I wanted to blurt out the truth to him, even though my mouth made no sound when I opened it. But for the first time in a long time, I believed I had a chance.