Adrian finally released him and Fernir's body came collapsing onto the floor with a thud to the butt. He hung his head low, regaining his strength. His skin color slowly returned, the pale blue vanishing. "You bastard!" His nails dug against the tiles as he tried to transform to his wolf but nothing happened.
His eyes widened, fury fuming from his head. "What did you do to me?" Fernir rasped, crawling backward like a beast stripped of its fangs. "What happened to my powers?" The others watched with terrors from far distance.
Adrian scoffed, rolling his sleeves up to his elbow. He went over to one of the guards and was handed a bottle of sanitizer. He poured the sanitizer into his palms, rubbing them slowly while erasing Fernir's venomous touch from his skin and when he finished, he demanded a clean wipe.
The guard on his left tore off a sheet of paper towel and held it out. He nodded his head, and wiped his palms clean and with ease, folding the sheet neatly before tossing it into the waste bin still indifferent about the stares they all now were giving him. Only when he was satisfied that no by of Fernir's scent was on him, he returned his empty glare at Fernir struggling to contain his anger within him.
Adrian's lips curled faintly, almost amused at Fernir's restraint and doubts. He crouched himself just enough to bring his face level with Fernir's burning glare. His gaze never wavered, cold and merciless. In this moment, he was the predator while his sweet elder brother was the prey.
How fast does tables turn?
Adrian stretched out his hands and Fernir twitched, bawling up his fist. He loved the reaction of fear he perceived from Fernir. The kind that let his Fae nature grow and blossom. Adrian's fae breathed in the terror scent spilling from Fernir, savoring it like a starving beast finally offered a feast. His chest rose sharply, a deep inhale, and then his head jerked back with a low, guttural sound.
His pupils dilated, expanding until they drowned in black before burning into a furious shade of red. For a fleeting, terrifying second, his gaze was no longer human. Then, as though nothing had changed, the red bled away, shrinking back into his usual warm brown.
But Fernir knew better the dangerous side of Adrian's Fae. If he had been alone with Adrian, he would have died seconds ago. Adrian smirked faintly, tilting his head feigning absolute innocence as if he hadn't wiped off Fernir's years of wolf essence cultivation in one grip. "What's the matter, elder brother? Don't tell me you're trembling."
He leaned closer, his lips brushing dangerously close to Fernir's ear. No words were heard from Adrian's mouth but Fernir knew what he mouthed. "Fear tastes… exquisite on you. Next time, I might not be kind to let you go."
He straightened, the predatory gleam in his eyes softening into something almost too innocent. Turning, Adrian's gaze swept coldly over the remaining brothers, each one shivering as if the air itself had grown chilly. He walked forward, taking his seat beside his father on the head seat at the long conference table.
This time around, no one dared to object him. Adjusting his cufflinks with a subtle smirk, Adrian finally spoke. "This is my first time addressing you all as the new Alpha… and CEO of Vale Conglomerate.You may resent it, some of you may even plot to resist it, but your resentment is nothing but wasted energy. A throne doesn't beg to be accepted. It is taken… and kept."
He leaned back slightly, his fingers steepling one after the other as he pinned each brother in their seat. "For years, you have all played your little games, and I allowed myself to be your mocking stock. I played to your tune, smiled at your insults, endured your petty schemes. But you all forgot something critical." He narrowed his gaze, "Even if I am not your precious true blood, when it comes to cultivation, I surpass you all. I stand at the highest rank while you are still clawing at scraps. Father did not want another mediocre son fattened by entitlement. He wanted a strong wolf, one born to lead."
Adrian's lips curved into a cruel smirk as his gaze landed squarely on Fernir, still pale and struggling for breath on the floor.
"And that is why I was chosen."
He let the silence and bitter truth stretch ensuring it registered in his brain that they were not qualified to tie his sandals. "From this moment forward, I am your Alpha. And I will not tolerate shenanigans, rebellion, or even a whisper of dissent. Any of you who defiles my order will learn what Fernir has learned today."
He straightened his shoulders, brushing an invisible speck of dust from his cuff, his smirk never fading. "Now that I've cleared the air…" Adrian's gaze swept the room once more, daring any of them to meet his eyes. "Let's get down to business."
Once again, Adrian swept the conference room's atmosphere with his sharp gaze and enjoyed he misery and terror his brothers were put through. They all knew one thing, if Adrian was the CEO then one way or the other their dirty secrets would be leaked out in the open.
And Adrian knew what a perfect timing was. He gestured not to his father's men in black but one of his kind, his men. One of his men immediately stepped forward, placing a thick laminated file into his hand. Adrian let out a low, humorless laugh as he tapped the glossy cover.
"Money laundering is a serious crime. Aren't you aware, Dorian?"
Dorian leaned back in his chair, arms crossing lazily as though Adrian's words bored him. His lips curled into a mocking smirk. "Don't slander me just because I've hated you from the start," He scoffed nonchalantly. "Using my own family's wealth is not a crime. And even if it was—" he leaned forward, eyes glinting with insolence, "—you have no evidence."
Adrian's jaw clenched out of sheer disgust for the shamelessness his third brother was born with. He was thick-skinned, yes, but also stupidly overconfident. He let out a quiet, amused chuckle, almost like he'd been waiting for that exact response and slid the file across the table landing directly on Dorian's side of the table.
Adrian didn't wait for Dorain to glance through the file when another landed on the table and was shoved right to him with a thud. Dorian glance down on the second, gulping heavily at the sight of he seal of the Federal Audit Office.
"You mean like the falsified offshore accounts under D&L Enterprises? Or perhaps the shell companies you've been funneling money through in Hong Kong? Don't test me, Dorian." His voice dropped, velvety yet lethal. "I don't throw accusations unless I've already prepared the coffin."
The mocking smirk on Dorian's lips faltered for just a moment, barely perceptible, but Adrian saw it waning meaning he was correct about his findings. He leaned forward, eyes narrowing and maintaining full closure on Dorian.
"You think your hatred for me makes you untouchable? That because you carry our family's name, you can squander the empire Father built and drag it through filth? You're not just shameless. You're a liability. And Vale Conglomerate will not tolerate liabilities like you."
Adrian fell back into his seat, crossing one leg over the other. He watched as Dorian scrolled through the report, his frown deepening with every page. Before Dorian could summon a retort, Adrian's voice cut through the silence, smooth but lethal.
"I am giving you exactly six weeks—one and a half months—to return the half a billion dollars you siphoned from the company's sales. If you fail, I'll have you turned over to the authorities myself. You and I both know the jail term for money laundering. And tell me, Dorian…" He tilted his head, almost curious.
"Do you honestly believe a man like you could survive prison?"
Dorian let out a scoff, tossing the papers back on the desk. His lips curled into a sneer as he leaned back in his chair.
"All these are paperwork, Adrian. I was expecting live human evidence, anyone could forge this. You expect me to tremble over signatures and reports? You've got nothing to pin it on me." Adrian's gaze hardened, resting his elbow on the armrest and his chin lightly against his knuckles.
"How much more shamelessness can you display in one day? Of course, I saved the best part for your doubts. You won't mind if I call Mr. Harrington, the very financial auditor you bribed into approving your 'corporate retreat' to the Bahamas. Oh wait, what was it you listed that as? A strategic expansion review?"
He tilted his head, eyes glinting with cold amusement. "Funny how a five-star resort, private yachts, and half a dozen 'companions' fit into company strategy." Adrian let the silence hang, his stare pinning Dorian in place. "Shall I dial him now?"
Dorian slammed his fist on the table
as he shot to his feet, his face twisted in rage.
"You bastard!"