My Ex Alpha Tried Abducting Me

The morning after the gala, I sat in my office at the Howell Auction House, reviewing the record-breaking donations from last night's event. The sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden light across my desk. Three years as Lycan Queen had taught me to appreciate these moments of tranquility—they were rare in our world.

My phone buzzed with a text from Leonardo: "Proud of you, my Queen. The charity numbers are impressive."

I smiled, typing back: "Just doing my part for the pack communities."

His response came quickly: "I'll be home in two days. Need to finalize the Tokyo deal first."

I set down my phone, taking a moment to breathe in his lingering cedarwood and mint scent that permeated our shared spaces. Even thousands of miles apart, Leonardo's presence never truly left me.

The intercom buzzed, interrupting my thoughts.

"Ms. Howell, there's a Mr. Nathaniel Ross here to see you. He doesn't have an appointment, but he's quite insistent."

My stomach tightened. "How did he get past security?"

"He's... being rather persuasive with the staff."

Of course he was. Nathaniel had always used his Alpha tone to get what he wanted.

"Tell him I'm unavailable," I replied, my voice steady despite the irritation building inside me.

I should have known better than to think he'd give up easily.

---

Three days later, I was reviewing acquisition reports for a new gallery space when Marcus knocked on my door.

"Elena, you need to see this," he said, his expression troubled as he handed me a folder.

Inside were surveillance photos of me—entering my office, leaving for lunch, attending a board meeting. In each one, Nathaniel was nearby, watching.

"He's been tracking your movements for days," Marcus said, his voice tight with anger. "The security team nearly caught him twice, but he's slippery."

"He's delusional," I muttered, slamming the folder shut. "He actually thinks I'm playing hard to get."

Marcus leaned against my desk. "What does Leonardo say about this?"

"He's aware. His team is handling it." I didn't mention that Leonardo had offered to return immediately and "deal with the problem permanently." I'd convinced him to finish his business in Tokyo first—Nathaniel wasn't worth derailing international deals over.

"He's misinterpreting your rebranding," Marcus continued, pacing the room. "Everyone in the pack community knows the Montgomery Pack is thriving under the Howell name, but Nathaniel's been in London for three years. He thinks you're struggling."

"That's exactly what he said at the gala," I confirmed. "He believes the Howell Pack is bankrupt and that I'm some damsel in distress waiting for him to save me."

Marcus's laugh was bitter. "The irony is almost painful. If he only knew..."

"If he only knew," I echoed, twisting the blue diamond ring on my finger.

---

Across town, in the Ross Pack mansion, Liana paced the nursery while the twins napped. The room was decorated in soft blues and greens, with handcrafted mobiles hanging above each crib.

She heard Nathaniel's voice in the hallway and quickly composed herself, checking her reflection in the mirror before stepping out to meet him.

"You're back," she said, her voice carefully modulated to sound supportive. "How was your meeting with the Alpha Council?"

Nathaniel barely glanced at her. "Productive."

He brushed past her toward his study, but she caught his arm. "The babies are sleeping. You should look at them—they've grown so much."

"I have work to do," he replied, pulling away from her touch.

"Liam had his first shift yesterday," she persisted. "He shifted into a beautiful silver wolf. Don't you want to know about your son?"

Something flickered across Nathaniel's face—not pride or interest, but annoyance. "Later, Liana."

She followed him to his study, desperation growing in her chest. "What's going on with you? You've been gone for days, tracking Elena's movements like some obsessed stalker."

"She's mine," Nathaniel said flatly, spreading maps across his desk—maps of my properties, my businesses, my daily routes. "She always has been. This little game she's playing will end soon enough."

"This isn't a game!" Liana's voice cracked with emotion. "She rejected you publicly! She threw your ring at my feet!"

"She's waiting for me to prove myself worthy," he insisted, his eyes gleaming with conviction. "She's testing me, seeing if I've become the Alpha she deserves."

Liana stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Nathaniel, please. Look at me. Look at our children. We're your family now."

He shrugged off her touch as if it burned him. "You're a distraction, Liana. A mistake I made in London."

The words hit her like physical blows. A mistake. Their children—a mistake.

"You can't mean that," she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.

But the cold determination in his gaze told her otherwise. In that moment, Liana realized that nothing—not their children, not their years together, not even his Alpha position—would ever be enough to make him forget Elena.