Chapter 264 I’ll be launching my own company in New York

Chapter 264: Chapter 264 I’ll be launching my own company in New York

Author’s POV

Sophia had tried calling Ethan earlier to bring him along, but he hadn’t picked up. Figuring he needed rest after last night, she’d let it go.

She’d told Rose and Margaret that Ethan was busy with pack business and wouldn’t be attending today.

Rose had assumed that meant Ethan was finalizing the divorce with Clara.

"He... he went out drinking days ago," Sophia finally admitted, unable to keep it hidden any longer. "Someone beat him up."

Both Rose and Margaret’s faces drained of color. Margaret immediately grabbed Sophia’s arm, firing off question after question, her voice rising in panic.

Derek, who’d been standing off to the side, finally lost his patience with all the fussing. He cut straight to the point. "Luna Clara, are you here representing Alpha Ethan?"

The title made Clara’s lips twitch slightly. At least someone still had the sense to show her basic respect.

Her gaze swept coolly over the Holt family members, and a cold smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

She hadn’t planned on revealing her new position to the Holts this early. But when fortune smiled on you, it was hard to stay hidden.

"This has nothing to do with Ethan," Clara said flatly. "I’m here representing myself. I’ll be launching my own company in New York very soon."

The arrogance in Clara’s tone made Margaret’s wolf bristle uncomfortably, though Margaret herself simply laughed out loud.

"You? You’re joking, right?" Margaret’s voice dripped with mockery. "Where would Ethan even get the money to help you start a company? The pack’s barely holding together as it is."

"I thought Clara was the biggest liar I’d ever met," Sophia sneered, though her wolf whimpered softly in the back of her mind. "Turns out you two are a perfect match."

Clara didn’t flinch. She was immune to their insults by now.

Before either of them could say another word, Clara calmly held up the invitation in her hand, letting the name of the company emblazoned across it speak for itself.

*Sentinel Energy.*

Derek’s eyes widened. The name carried weight—even in werewolf circles. Sentinel was a major international conglomerate with deep ties to several powerful packs across North America.

"Luna... you’re working with Sentinel now?" Derek asked, his tone shifting immediately to something more respectful.

"Sentinel is opening a regional headquarters in New York," Clara said coolly, her gaze sliding deliberately toward Rose.

"And I’ve been appointed as the project lead and CEO of the new branch."

Margaret snatched the invitation out of Clara’s hand and stared at it for a long moment, her expression flickering between disbelief and unease. She glanced at Rose, whose face had gone stiff.

So Clara had found herself a powerful backer after all. And not just any backer—Sentinel had connections that reached all the way to the Council and Alpha Kings’ courts.

If what Clara said was true, then the Holts would be fools not to try and leverage this opportunity. With Sentinel’s backing, Silver Creek could recover from its recent collapse in record time.

Even Sophia, who didn’t fully understand the significance of Sentinel’s name, seemed to realize that Clara wasn’t bluffing. For once, she kept her mouth shut.

"Well then, Clara," Margaret said stiffly, her tone suddenly shifting to something almost conciliatory. "Since you’re clearly on the guest list, you should bring us inside. Derek’s supervisor is waiting for him in there."

Clara pressed her lips together but didn’t respond.

After a moment, she glanced at her watch. "I need to go. My associate is waiting for me inside. Your arrival wasn’t part of the plan, so I can’t bring you in."

She turned to leave.

Derek’s eyes widened in alarm. He could tell Clara was deliberately snubbing Rose and Margaret, and he didn’t blame her.

"Clara, wait—" Sophia called out sharply. "You’re seriously going to turn your back on us now? After everything?"

"Turning your back on family?" Clara stopped and glanced back over her shoulder, her gaze landing squarely on Rose. "Isn’t that the Holt family specialty?"

Her voice was icy. "If you want a favor, Grandmother, you should at least *ask* like you mean it."

Margaret’s face twitched. She shot a furtive glance at Rose.

Of course Margaret knew that Clara had left the pack house and taken Marcus with her. She’d been too busy nursing Gerald back to health to deal with it at the time, but she’d heard from the staff that Ethan had brought up divorce.

Margaret had been thrilled. If Clara stayed on as Luna, it would shave thirty years off Margaret’s life from stress alone.

But now it seemed the divorce hadn’t been Ethan’s idea at all. Rose had been the one to pressure Clara into it.

After everything Clara had put the family through, Margaret wasn’t about to go head-to-head with another vengeful woman. Who knew if Clara would turn out to be just as dangerous?

The Holts couldn’t afford another implosion.

Rose’s expression cycled through several shades of anger and humiliation. Her wrinkled face tightened, the loose skin trembling slightly.

Finally, she let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

"Clara," Rose said slowly, her voice strained. "I ask that you not hold a grudge against an old woman. The pack is in a difficult position right now, as you well know. We need new investment. Badly."

"I’m aware," Clara replied, her smile sharp and humorless. "But why would I go out of my way to pave the road for my *ex-husband’s* family?"

Sophia opened her mouth to snap back, but Derek pinched her arm hard enough to make her yelp and shut up.

Clara made to leave again, but this time Rose’s voice rang out, tight and strained.

"If you help the pack recover, I’ll stop pushing for the divorce."

Clara turned slowly, her eyes narrowing. "And how exactly do you plan to guarantee that?"

"However you want," Rose bit out, her whole body trembling with the effort it took to say the words. "I’ll put it in writing. I’ll swear it on the pack bond. Whatever you need. Just help us."