Moonveil’s New Queen Chapter 07
The door clicked shut behind me. Nathan was waiting inside. He grabbed my arm.
“Zoe. What do you want me to say so you’ll believe me?”
“If there was really something going on between us, why
would I have her here on your first day as CEO?”
I didn’t answer. I sat on the couch and picked up my phone.
He paused, probably thinking I was cooling off.
He sat down next to me, voice softening. “Honey, you
looked at Stella’s file, didn’t you?”
“I can explain. She’s a low–ranking Omega orphan. I felt
bad for her–young, stuck in custodial work. I wanted to give her a chance.”
“Then she did well at reception, so I-
I didn’t let him finish. I’d already dialed Mrs. Vale.
She picked up. Familiar voice. “Zoe, dear. What is it?”
I smiled. “Mom. That white watch I sent with Nathan for
your birthday the other day–are you liking it?
Comfortable to wear?”
Silence on the line.
“What watch?”
“Zoe, are you sure? I don’t remember any watch.”
Nathan realized what I was doing.
His face went white. He lunged for the phone.
“Mom, c’mon, you remember? The watch I said Zoe
bought for you? Think harder.”
Another pause. “Oh… well…”
I smiled, took the phone back, and hung up.
“Nathan. Let’s go to the Pack Council Registry Office and
file for bond termination.”
He swallowed hard. Stared at me.
“Zoe. You want to end our mate bond over a watch?”
“We’ve had ten years.”
His voice rose, urgent. “I lied about giving it to my mom
because I knew you’d overreact like this!”
“It was just a gift to motivate an employee!”
“Motivate?” I looked at him. I didn’t feel much of anything just eerily calm,
“Nathan. Tell yourself whatever you need to. But don’t
assume I’m stupid enough to buy it.”
I paused. “For the record, your termination notice goes
out from HR this afternoon.”
“Finish out the day. Then you’re gone.”
He hadn’t expected me to actually fire him. His face went from green to white to red.
Finally, anger won out.
“Zoe. I was voted Head of HQ unanimously by the Board.”
“I’ve been running this place longer than you have.”
“You think you can waltz in on day one and strip me of my position?!”
I laughed.
He flinched. “What’s so funny?!”
I didn’t answer. I pulled up something on my phone and
held it out.
“Nathan. Six years ago, when you got this job? The Board
only did it to keep me.”
“They wanted me to run HQ as CEO once I finished the
European Division project.”
“In other words, they appointed you because they were
afraid I’d leave,”
“I agreed back then because I thought you could handle it.”
“I was wrong”
On the screen: encrypted messages from the Board Chair
[Zoe, I knew you’d come back to run Moonveil Pack
Holdings HQ for Nathan. I told you six years ago–if you
take the CEO seat, Nathan keeps his Head of HQ position.]
[Your talent is extraordinary. I know Moonveil Pack Holdings will reach new heights under your leadership.]
Nathan read through it in silence. Took a breath. Pushed the phone back.
“You’re lying!”
“I earned this job. I’m good at what I do.”
“I got here on my own merits. Not because of you.”
I nodded. “I don’t deny you have ability.”
“Otherwise, what’s the difference between us and you
privately promoting Stella?”
“But Nathan? I’m better at this than you are. Understand?”
I looked down at my work files again. “Leave if there’s
nothing else. I have work to do.”
“Bond termination agreement. My lawyer will send it over
later.”
Silence. A few seconds.
I thought he’d leave.
Instead he stumbled back a step, still inside the office.
Voice raised, stubborn and ugly.
“Zoe!”
“The Pack Healer said the same thing to you. Your body
probably can’t carry another pup
“You’re in your forties. No pup. Leave me, and what other Alpha is going to want you?
He was shouting now, face red. “Stella is custodial staff,
bottom of the barrel. She can’t compare to you.”
“She was never a threat to your position. Why can’t you just let this go?!”
He said it like it was obvious. Like it was some unassailable argument.
I laughed. “Nathan. No matter how old I am, I’m not the one in the wrong here.”
“My life doesn’t exist to bear an Alpha’s pup. And mate
bonds aren’t the only thing that matters.”
“Leave now, or I’m calling security.”
The office door burst open.
Stella.
One hand slammed down on my desk. The other held a
2 phone, livestreaming, pointed right at me.
“Zoe! You can’t fire me out of personal spite!”
“I’ve put ten years into this company, and you’re axing me
just because you’re jealous of my connection with the
COO? That’s unlawful retaliation!”
“Let the internet see who’s really in the wrong here!”
My stomach dropped.