Chapter 4

Andrea pov

I can hardly wrap my mind around the audacity of that insufferable woman, picking up the phone to call Andrew and gloat about ruining my plans. No, I refuse to let her continue her reign of chaos in our home! The very thought of her lingering here fills me with a seething rage. I need to devise a plan to rid ourselves of her, and I will bide my time until Lily returns, so we can orchestrate our moves together. She has become a blight on our perfect family, a blemish I can no longer tolerate.

For an agonizing fourteen years, I've allowed her to invade my space—eating my food and occupying my house without remorse. I thought that if I treated her poorly, she'd take the hint and vanish. But no, instead, she dug in her heels and became entrenched in our lives, even training with my daughter and surpassing her in strength. That simply cannot be allowed. What if Andrew, in a fit of misplaced loyalty, decides to elevate her to a leadership position within our hunter association? The very idea sends chills down my spine; I simply can't allow such a travesty to unfold. In my mind, the only solution is severe and final—this woman has to go, and I will see to it that she does.

Fueled by a fury that knows no bounds, I marched toward her room, intent on confronting her. But as I reached for the doorknob, I found the door stubbornly locked. I knocked with impatience, my heart racing with pent-up frustration, but all I received in return was silence. A quiet laugh echoed in my mind as I cursed her under my breath, declaring that she would live to regret the day she was born. After a sustained moment of simmering anger, I retreated downstairs to wait for my husband. I knew I was in hot water, but I had to think quickly—what could I do to smooth over the inevitable storm that was about to hit?

Fifteen minutes later, the door swung open, and both my husband and Lily stepped inside. My husband's face was a thundercloud of rage. "Who told you to send her on a mission? Have you ever sent anyone on a mission without going through me first? And unprepared? When did that start?" He was boiling over with fury, and I knew I had to tread carefully.

"It was just a small pack," I attempted to justify, reaching for his hand, hoping to calm the storm brewing inside him. "I knew she could handle it. She normally refuses to go, but I thought she was just nervous. I just wanted to boost her confidence." I pressed my palm against his, showering him with apologies. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

"You better not," he warned, tension lacing his voice. He stormed off into the room, and I seized the opportunity to grab Lily's hand, practically dragging her into our home office. "What happened? Why did you come back early?" I interrogated her, urgency lacing my voice.

"Well, we wrapped up the job sooner than expected—that's why I called you. I didn't know that witch would actually call Dad!" She replied, red-hot with indignation.

"So what do we do now?" she asked, her eyes darting nervously.

"I plan to speak with Alpha Jackson," I answered, a wicked smile creeping onto my face. "Since she seems so eager to leave this life behind, let's help her on her way—permanently."

"Mom, what's the plan?" she inquired, eyes wide with curiosity.

I outlined my scheme in detail, watching as a grin spread across her face. "Dad won't refuse. We can take care of her in no time! But Mom, if he discovers that we're aligning with a wolf, and especially an Alpha wolf, we're dead meat!"

"Relax," I soothed, my confidence unwavering. "He won't find out. Once everything is in place, we'll clean up our mess swiftly."

"But how did you manage to get that disgusting wolf to cooperate with us?" she asked, her face contorting with disgust.

"He's my mate," I revealed smoothly, pulling her closer.

"What? Mom, what if Dad finds out—"

"He won't," I interrupted firmly. "Trust me. After we take care of our business with Alexa, I will tidy everything up. There's no way he'll suspect a thing."

"But how? Alphas don't like their mates to separate," she pressed, her brow knitting in confusion.

"I convinced him that if we eliminate Alexa, it would make it easier for me to rid myself of your father too," I explained, my voice low and conspiratorial.

"No wonder he agreed to help. So when do we start?" she asked, her eagerness palpable.

"We kick off tonight," I decided, as we emerged from the office. I would contact Jackson to ensure everything was prepared for our quick resolution. After a few moments, Lily headed to her room, while I retreated to the kitchen to whip up something delicious for my family.

Once dinner was ready, we gathered around the table, sharing the evening's meal amidst an undercurrent of tension. I instructed Lily to deliver the leftover food to Alexa while I slipped back into the office to reach out to Jackson.

As the phone rang, anticipation mingled with fear. "You didn't send her over? I was waiting for ages!" Jackson's voice came through the line.

"I'm sorry! My husband found out; we need to change our plan," I confessed, urgency threading through my tone.

"What's the new plan?" he asked.

I laid out the details, my heart pounding at the thought of how everything would unfold. "Are you sure this will work?" he questioned, his voice tinged with concern.

"Yes, if we execute it just as we planned, nothing can go wrong. I assure you, Andrew will accept our story. Soon, we'll be together," I promised him.

His low growl sent shivers up my spine. "Very soon, you will be mine and will call me your husband instead of him. When do I get to see you again? I've missed your touch," he said, his voice evoking a mix of dread and excitement within me.