Chapter 46: The Plan Reveal

Harper’s POV



After the couple snuck me into the compound to a secret meeting place they have, I was able to meet with the group who are aligned with me. There is about twenty to thirty odd people out of the almost ninety people who live here who are on my side and hate Artemis being in power.

I got to spend the rest of the day getting to know these people and learning about what’s been happening since my Father passed away. I learnt that Artemis was quick to step into the role and didn’t seem to mourn the loss of his parent.

Artemis has been enforcing new rules such as a curfew after ten p.m. and everyone must be in the dining room at seven p.m. on the dot so dinner can be served. If anyone is late or breaks these rules, they get publicly humiliated with beatings or verbal abuse.

How does my Mother think this is okay? My Father never treated anyone unkindly or resorted to violence. Hearing how Artemis has been treating everyone makes my blood boil. We don’t use violence on each other here and we never have.

The group and I decided I will visit Artemis after dinner to confront him. I’m nervous about heading in there on my own but this needs to be done, otherwise the violence will never end, and members will end up seriously injured.

A lovely woman in the group offered up her bedroom for me to sleep in tonight because as soon as Artemis became Alpha, he ordered his friends to smash everything in my room to pieces. I’m sure he did that in hopes I would be too afraid to show my face here after leaving.

As the evening draws on, everyone in the group leaves to go to dinner so no one gets in trouble. I remain pacing the room until they all return a short while later. They inform me that Artemis appears to have no idea that I’m here, which is good news.

I was certain Mother had told him, but I guess she doesn’t want to get involved or rat me out. The group told me Artemis plays a game of pool with his friends in the games room before he returns to his room for the night.

I’m given a black wig and sunglasses to get me to Artemis’s room without being recognized. As I walk through the hallways, I feel nervous and anxious about what’s going to go down soon. Artemis is going to be so pissed when he sees me. I pass many people who I recognize but no one gives me a second glance.

I reach the door to his room and look around to make sure no one sees me before entering. When I enter, I leave the lights off and sit at the foot of the bed, waiting. I fiddle with my hands, rehearsing what I’m going to say to him when he walks in.

I’m sitting in silence for a good thirty minutes when I hear the door handle jiggle. I stay silent and wait for him to enter and notice me. He walks in laughing at someone passing by, then shuts the door behind him. He flicks the lights on and gasps when he sees me staring at him.

“Jesus Christ!” He shouts, clutching at his chest, “Who are you?”

I pull the wig off and remove my sunglasses, smirking at him in the process, “Where’s my welcoming party, little brother?”

Artemis looks at me shocked, but that shock quickly turns into anger.

“What the f*ck are you doing here?” He demands, “I thought I told you to stay away.”

“You know I can’t do that,” I say, titling my head, “The Alpha title is rightfully mine and you know that.”

Artemis laughs, “Over my dead body, Harper. I would like to see you try and take this way from me.”

I shake my head, “You’re pathetic, you know, that right? You’re not fit enough to be leading the pack because you’re immature and clueless. Leave the adult stuff to me.”

He scoffs, “Get off your high horse. You think you can be a leader but you’re nothing more than a Luna,” He looks around the room, “Where’s your big bad husband to protect you now?”

“I don’t need him to help me. This is between you and me.”

Artemis begins to pace the room, “This is cute, it really is. But you came here with no one to help you. How do you expect to fight me for the title when you’re one person against a whole army.”

I stand from the bed, starting to get annoyed with his arrogance, “It’s cute that you think I’m alone.”

“What’s your plan, huh?”

“Well,” I begin, “You’ll have to find out tomorrow when we meet face to face with your lackeys.”

Artemis stares me down, watching me cautiously, “You’re not going to win this.”

I smile, “I think I have a pretty good chance of taking back what’s mine. All you think about is the end goal, not the pathway that gets you there.”

“The end goal is what’s important,” He says, “But, if you lose you can never show you face here again, I mean it.”

I laugh, “Trust me, I will never come back here if I lose. You’ve completely destroyed our childhood home with your selfishness.”

Artemis steps towards me, our noses almost touching, “Watch what you say to me, I’m still the Alpha.”

I smirk, “Maybe you should start acting like one.” I push at his chest to move past him, “Bring it on tomorrow, because I’m not leaving without a fight.”

As I reach the door, I hear Artemis speak again.

“I was the one who put poison in Asher’s whiskey.”

I stop mid movement with my hand on the doorknob, “Why am I not surprised?”

He must’ve been in on it with Julius, because the poison that was used could only be found in the woods around Asher’s compound. Julius and Artemis are just as evil as the other.

“I was hoping Asher would drink it and die, allowing you to become Alpha of his pack instead,” I can hear how smug he sounds, and I can’t wait to punch it off his face tomorrow.

I turn to face him, “I drank it instead. But I think you underestimated my strength and willpower. Maybe next time you should’ve tried something stronger.”

“You won’t win this!” Artemis calls out to me as I’m leaving the room.

“Enjoy being Alpha as long as you can,” I call back, “Because you won’t be for much longer.”