Chapter twenty


    "Come in," Laura whispered to Stephen, who quickly looked around before entering.


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    "You called. What''s the matter?" Stephen asked, studying her facial expression and the body


    language her body emitted.


    "It''s about that Vivian girl," Laura whispered as she chewed on her fingernails.


    He sighed and gently removed her hand from her mouth. "What''s going on? Stop being nervous


    and talk to me. I''m here now, so you can rx." His voice was calm and soothing.


    Laura took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She seemed to be more at ease now that Stephen


    was there and had spoken to her. "I don''t want to talk about it anymore. I don''t want to remember


    the past." She told him, and his eyebrows went up.


    "Is your past connected to that girl, Vivian?" he asked. Laura swallowed hard.


    "Yes," she answered. "But I don''t want to talk about it. I told you, I''m trying to forget about it."


    Stephen cleared his throat. "So it sounds like you called me here for nothing. I guess I should be


    going now." He started to turn away.


    "Wait!" Laura called out, tapping Stephen''s slightly hunched back.


    The hunch was subtle enough that most people wouldn''t notice it, but she''d noticed it the moment


    he''d entered the room.


    He turned back to her. "What''s up?"


    "You know, your back..." Laura hesitated. "Have you thought about surgery to correct it? I''m sure


    you could get it removed, if you wanted." She forced a smile.


    "What''s up? You called me here for a reason," Stephen said with a stern voice, brushing aside the


    question about his back.


    "Oh, right. I need your help with something," she said. "That''s the main reason I called you here."


    "Help you? With what? Is this another one of our secret ns?" he asked.


    "Shhh! What if my son hears you?" she said, ncing toward the door.


    "I don''t think he''ll being in for a while. I saw him fast asleep in his office," he replied.


    "Even so, we should still be careful. You never know who might be watching," she whispered.


    "You''re taking too long. I''m starting to lose patience," he said, steering the conversation in a different


    direction.


    "Oh yes," Laura said and cleared her throat, "I want you to finish her."


    "Finish her? Who do you mean and what do you mean?" Stephen asked.


    "I want you to send Vivian out of this pack. If you think you can end her life, so be it," she said.


    Stephen''s smirk was cold and calcting. He gazed at his fingernails as if searching for something.


    He blew out a breath, and his gaze fell on Laura.


    "I''ve changed since then. I don''t do the sort of things I used to."


    Laura stared at him for a moment, then burst into a loud, suddenugh.


    "Oh my gosh!" she said, pping her hands. "That''s hrious!"


    "Excuse me?" he asked, sounding almost amused.


    "You know exactly what I mean," she said, moving closer to him. "You''ve done some pretty terrible


    things in the past. I don''t think you can change - it''s just not possible." She patted his shoulder


    yfully.


    "No, no - I''m serious here," he said. "I think you should get someone else for the job, or I could help


    you find someone. But be warned - it''ll cost you a pretty penny." He smirked.


    "Stephen!" she said, anger rising in her voice. "What''s gotten into you? You''re not yourself anymore.


    This is so unlike you. It doesn''t even suit you!"


    "Well, maybe it''s because someone changed me," he said with a shrug.


    "And who could that be?" she asked, her voice trembling with anger. "Whoever it was did a terrible


    job. They must be aplete idiot!"


    "It was actually your son, Oregon," he said with a shrug.


    "What?" she whispered, her face going pale. "Oregon?"


    "I really should go now. The Alpha just woke up, and he seems to be calling for me. He just won''t


    stop mind-linking with me."


    Laura forced herself to swallow as she watched him walk toward the door. He paused as his hand


    touched the doorknob and turned to face her.


    "I was just joking," he said with a sly smile. "I''m not changing, and I never will. Why would I want to


    change something so fundamental about myself? Let''s talk about thister, somewhere more


    private." He turned the doorknob and let himself out, a wicked grin still on his face.


    Laura exhaled heavily and shook her head. "I knew it," she muttered to herself. "I knew he''d never


    change. And he better stop dragging my son into this mess! I wish my son could see who he really


    is." She wondered what Oregon would do if he knew the truth about the man he''d chosen as his


    Beta.


    —


    Stephen walked to the Alpha''s office door and pushed it open. It creaked slightly, and he bit back a


    snarl of annoyance.


    Through the crack in the door, he saw Oregon fast asleep on his desk.


    "Hmm... Such a hard worker," he mused, a mocking smile spreading across his face. He closed the


    door and retreated down the hall, heading to his own room.


    Stephen''s stride suddenly faltered as he realized there was someone standing in front of him. It was


    Vivian.


    "Vivian?" he said in surprise, a smile spreading across his face. "What are you doing here? How did


    you..." His voice trailed off.


    Vivian ran up to him and grabbed his cold hands. "It has to be you," she said. "It has to be you, or


    no one at all."


    How''s that?


    "What do you mean?" he asked, a look of confusion crossing his face.


    "You''re the only one who can help me," Vivian said. "By the way, I know your name now. It''s


    Stephen, isn''t it?"


    He chuckled. "Yes, that''s right. What is it that you need help with, Vivian?"


    She squeezed his hand. "Please," she pleaded tearfully, "let me meet with the Lycan King. I need to


    speak with him. It''s very important."