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I stare down at the proposal in my hand, the paper now damp with my previous drink. The alcohol hasn’t clouded my mind enough to miss the significance of what’s written in front of me. I can’t believe it. This proposal–this plan–is impressive.
I’ve spent years writing her off. Siena. The girl who would never amount to anything, always angry and petty, the one whose every move seemed calculated to bring her closer to Raiden. But this? This couldn’t have come from her. The same woman who just a few days ago threw a drink in my face and walked out of my bar like nothing had happened? The woman I had ridiculed for years, saying she was nothing but a political pawn in a marriage of convenience?
I squint, holding the paper closer to my face as though my eyes might deceive me. The more I read, the more impressed I become. It’s a strategic plan that combines everything I’d expect from a seasoned alpha, not someone who has been so… underestimated. The vision, the clarity, the drive behind it–it’s all there.
And yet, there’s a sinking feeling in my stomach. How did I not see it before? How had I been so blind? For so long, I thought Siena was just some spoiled princess in over her head. But now… now I’m not so sure.
The odd thing is that I can’t help but admire her. The same woman I’d dismissed so easily, the one I’d called every ugly name under the sun. She’s here, standing in front of me, no longer the naive girl I once thought she was. She’s sharp. confident, and capable, and I can’t even begin to fathom why I was so quick to dismiss her.
I lean back, running a hand through my hair as I think about the implications of this. Her plan might not be perfect, but it’s not something I’d ever expect from someone who was once regarded as weak, as someone who couldn’t handle anything of real importance. Her approach to the competition, to the pack’s future, even her understanding of the politics surrounding the Silverfang alliance–it all makes sense.
Did I truly not see this? Was I too blinded by my own prejudices, by the picture I’d painted of her in my mind?
I can’t help but think about how I’ve treated her. Was I too harsh? Was I wrong? My gut tells me something is off, something I’ve missed, but I can’t put my finger on it. No, I refuse to let myself be fooled again. She may have talent, but she’s still a bad woman. She may have her strengths, but they’re tainted by everything she’s done in the past. It doesn’t matter how good this proposal is. It doesn’t change who she is.
Still, there’s a small part of me that wonders… What if I had underestimated her all this time? What if she’s truly someone capable of being more than just Raiden’s bride, more than just a tool for political alliances?
My head throbs as I shake the thoughts away. I’ve made up my mind. She’s still Siena. The one who hurt Lila. The one who used to manipulate every situation for her own gain. A woman who cared more about appearances than anything else.
No, it’s better this way. She’ll always be the same to me.
But when I tell Raiden about it, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s about to change. I try to brush it off, but the unease gnaws at me, deeper than I’d like to admit.
Siena’s POV
The sound of my pen scratching against the paper fills the quiet room. I’m pacing as I work, going over my notes, my thoughts, trying to make sense of everything. After what happened at the bar, after everything I’d experienced in the past few days, I knew I had to do better. I had to be better.
