While He Played Love, I Played War Chapter 07
I laughed.Â
People’s hearts were always thin. The momentÂ
things turned bad, they switched sides withoutÂ
hesitation.Â
I didn’t reply.Â
The next day, Derek’s pack company exploded.Â
The video from the birthday dinner party was uploaded to the pack forum and quickly spread toÂ
allied territories.Â
Derek had always loved presenting himself as a successful Alpha. Now that image shattered completely. He lost all face.Â
Allied packs called him to question whether theÂ
finances were stable. Shareholders demanded toÂ
know whether the embezzlement was real.Â
Pack members whispered about Morgan in theÂ
break room. By that afternoon, Morgan hadÂ
already left the pack.Â
In the afternoon, Derek returned to the pack.Â
house. His eyes were bloodshot as he slammedÂ
the bond–breaking deal onto the table.Â
“How far are you trying to push me?” he asked.Â
“Sign it,” I said.Â
“You can take the pack house, but you’re notÂ
touching the company dividends.”Â
“Then go explain that to the shareholders.”Â
He stared at me for a long time, then suddenlyÂ
laughed.Â
“Madison… you planned all of this from theÂ
beginning, didn’t you?”Â
I met his gaze. “Not from the beginning. You’re theÂ
one who made me prepare.”Â
Derek started dragging things out.Â
First, he sent Luna Sienna to make a scene. SheÂ
sat in my living room, crying and slapping herÂ
thigh.Â
“My son is ruined because of you! You jinx! YouÂ
curse!”Â
I had a maid bring her tea. She threw the cup ontoÂ
the floor.Â
“I’m telling you now–don’t even think about takingÂ
my son’s money. Over my dead body!”Â
I placed the medical report in front of her.Â
“Say one more word, and I’ll print a hundred copies of this report and post them all over the pack.”Â
Her crying stopped instantly.Â
She cared about her reputation more than her life.Â
She pointed at me, hands trembling. “You’re cruel.”Â
I smiled. “You taught me well.”Â
After she left, Derek tried a different approach-Â
mutual friends.Â
One of them invited me to dinner, trying toÂ
persuade me between the lines.Â
“Men make mistakes sometimes,” he said.Â
I set down my fork and wiped my mouth with aÂ
napkin.Â
“So he makes a mistake, and I pay for it?”Â
The friend looked awkward. “You two have beenÂ
together for so many years…”Â
“And after so many years, he still did this,” I saidÂ
calmly. “That just means he got better at makingÂ
mistakes.”Â
The meal ended early. I paid the bill and left,Â
deciding I wouldn’t meet him again.Â
Later, Cassie and Logan came to see me. TheyÂ
said they were preparing to return to Cassie’s oldÂ
pack.Â
Cassie handed me an old phone.Â
“Luna, there’s still something in here. Logan.Â
secretly recorded a few things back then… just inÂ
case.”Â
I took it.Â
She lowered her voice. “There’s one recording…Â
Alpha talking to Morgan about the child in the car.”Â
I pressed play.Â
Derek’s voice came through.Â
“You don’t need to be afraid. Who the childÂ
belongs to doesn’t matter.”Â
Morgan asked, “What about your mate? Will sheÂ
believe it?”Â
Derek gave a soft laugh.Â
“Whether she believes it or not doesn’t matter. My mother will force her. As long as she signs, the pack house and dividends will be transferred to the child’s name. You’ll be secure.”Â
Morgan said, “Then… will you mark me in the future and make me your Luna?”Â
“We’ll see.”Â
Morgan wasn’t satisfied. “You said you would make me your Luna.”Â
Derek sounded impatient. “Don’t cause trouble.Â
You get the money, I get my freedom. Win win.”Â
The recording ended there.Â
When it finished, my palms felt cold.Â
Not sadness.Â
Disgust.Â
Cassie watched me carefully. “Luna… are youÂ
okay?”Â
“I’m fine,” I said.Â
She pushed the bank card back toward me. “WeÂ
can’t take this money.”Â
I didn’t take it. “Keep it. Open a small shop whenÂ
you go back.”Â
Cassie’s eyes turned red, “Luna… Logan said he’s sorry. He should have told you earlier.”Â
“He did tell me,” I said, “But it was too late.”Â
“It’s not too late,” I said, looking at the old phone.Â
“It’s just right.”Â
I sent the recording to Derek.Â
Within five minutes, he called.Â
I answered.Â
The first thing he said was, “How much do youÂ
want?”Â
“It’s all written in the bond–breaking deal.”Â
“You’re really trying to kill me, aren’t you?”Â
“You’re still far from death.”Â
He was breathing heavily. “Madison… leave someÂ
room for people to breathe.”Â
I smiled. “Did you leave any for me?”Â
Silence stretched for a long time.Â
Then his voice lowered.Â
“Madison… I was wrong.”Â
It was the first time he admitted it. I listenedÂ
without any reaction.Â
“I was really wrong. About Morgan… I wasÂ
reckless. Can we not break the mate bond? I canÂ
send her away.”Â
“And the child?”Â
“It has nothing to do with me.”Â
“Your mother?”Â
“I’ll make her apologize to you.”Â
“The pack and the company?”Â
“You can participate in management. You handle the finances. You’ll always be the Luna of theÂ
pack.”Â
If this had been six years ago, I might haveÂ
softened.Â
Three years ago, I might have hesitated.Â
Now, I didn’t.Â
A heart that’s already been trampled doesn’t kneelÂ
again.Â
I said, “Tomorrow at 10 a.m. See you in front of theÂ
werewolf court.”Â
He panicked. “Do you really have to be thisÂ
ruthless?”Â
“Derek,” I said calmly, “I’m only taking back whatÂ
was mine.”

