Beneath the Alpha's Moon
Chapter 143: Press Release

Chapter 143: Press Release

TERESA’S P.O.V.

The office felt like a pressure cooker, and Lucian was the heat source threatening to blow the lid off. Thirty minutes had passed since the incident, but he was still simmering with anger.

Lucian had been fine earlier, we even made some light jokes about Monica but then Kenneth came into the office and whispered something to him and that was when he went nuts. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders taut, and the air around him practically crackled with his frustration.

"Lucian," I called gently, placing my hand on his arm. "What’s the matter? You need to calm down."

"I am calm," he snapped, though his tone and the tick in his jaw said otherwise. His sightless eyes seemed to pierce the room, as if daring anyone to cross him. Lucian wasn’t just mad—he was livid.

"Lucian, you’ve paced a groove into the floor," I said, trying for levity. "At this rate, we’ll need to renovate."

He paused mid-step, his lips twitching. "You think this is funny?"

"No," I said honestly, though I couldn’t help the smirk tugging at my lips. "But I do think you’re about two seconds away from challenging the office furniture to a duel."

He huffed, and for a brief moment, I thought I’d succeeded in breaking through his anger. But then his hand shot up, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"This isn’t just about Monica," he said tightly. "It’s about everyone who thinks they can walk over you like you’re nothing. Like we’re nothing."

His words though a bit confusing, warmed something deep inside me, but I forced myself to focus. "I appreciate that, Lucian, but firing Monica was enough. You don’t need to scorch the earth over this."

"Yes, I do," he said, his voice firm. "Kenneth!"

Kenneth, Lucian’s perpetually frazzled assistant, peeked his head into the room. "Yes, Alpha?"

"Arrange a press release," Lucian commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "Immediately."

Kenneth blinked, his pen hovering over his clipboard. "A press release, sir?"

"You heard me," Lucian said. "Call the board members and every reporter who’s breathing. I want them here in thirty minutes."

"Thirty minutes?!" Kenneth’s voice cracked, and I couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. "Alpha, that’s—"

"Do it," Lucian interrupted, his tone leaving no room for debate. Kenneth scrambled out of the room, muttering something about coffee and miracles.

I folded my arms and raised an eyebrow at Lucian. "And what, pray tell, are you planning to say in this press release?"

Lucian smirked, his confidence rolling off him in waves. "Oh, you’ll see."

Thirty minutes later, I found myself standing beside Lucian in the gleaming conference room, facing a crowd of curious reporters and stone-faced board members. Lucian stood tall, his hand resting lightly on my arm as if tethering himself to me. Despite everything he had been through, he exuded a commanding presence that made everyone else feel like they were merely supporting actors in his drama.

He began to speak, his deep voice filling the room with authority. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice. I won’t waste your time with pleasantries. There’s something important I need to address."

The room fell silent, all eyes on him.

"As many of you know, I value loyalty, competence, and respect above all else," he continued. "Earlier today, an incident occurred that has made it necessary for me to clarify something about my personal life."

He turned his head slightly in my direction, his lips curving into a faint smile. "This is Teresa. She is my girlfriend, my future wife, and the mother of my children."

The room erupted into a flurry of whispers and murmurs. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked up at him, stunned by the way he’d said it so casually yet so definitively.

Lucian raised a hand, silencing the crowd. "From this day forward, Teresa is more than just my partner. She is an extension of me. If you need something, you will go through her before you come to me. Any disrespect toward her is disrespect toward me, and I will not tolerate it."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "For too long, people have assumed that they could treat Teresa with disregard simply because she wasn’t formally announced as part of my life. Let me assure you, those days are over."

The reporters scribbled furiously in their notebooks, their cameras flashing. The board members exchanged nervous glances, clearly understanding the weight of his words.

Lucian turned to me then, his voice softening just enough for me to hear the tenderness beneath the steel. "You are everything to me, Teresa. And I won’t let anyone make you feel otherwise."

I swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the intensity of his declaration. My cheeks burned as I gave him a small nod, unable to form words.

When the press conference finally ended, the reporters shuffled out, their questions falling on deaf ears as Kenneth ushered them away. The board members lingered for a moment, bowing their heads slightly in acknowledgment before leaving us alone.

As the doors closed, I exhaled, the tension in my shoulders finally easing. "Well," I said, turning to Lucian. "That was... a lot."

He tilted his head, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "You’re welcome."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You’re impossible. You almost made me pass-out in front of all those eyes. Warn a girl next time!"

"And you love me for it," he said, his voice low and confident. My heart skipped a beat, but before I could respond, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. The name flashing across it made my breath catch in my throat.

Dad.

My entire body stiffened, my heart pounding in my chest. What did he want? He never called me himself, he always had my stepmother do that job for him.

No matter how much I thought I had grown, I still couldn’t stop myself from quivering at the mere mention of my father. Lucian’s hand tightened on my arm, his sharp instincts picking up on my change in demeanor.

"Teresa?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "What’s wrong?"

I couldn’t speak. My eyes were glued to the screen, my fingers trembling as the phone continued to ring. Memories flooded my mind—memories of harsh words, disappointment, and a father who had never truly seen me for who I was.

"Teresa," Lucian said again, his tone firmer now. "Talk to me."

"It’s my father," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Lucian’s jaw tightened, and a growl escaped his throat . "Do you want to answer it?"

I shook my head, my teeth clenching. "I don’t know."

He reached up, cupping my face gently. "You don’t have to do anything you’re not ready for. But whatever you decide, I’m here."

Tears pricked at my eyes as I looked up at him. Despite his eyes, it felt like he could see right through me, into the depths of my soul.

The phone stopped ringing, and a moment of silence stretched between us. But then it buzzed again, the screen lighting up with the same name.

"Teresa," Lucian said softly. "You’re stronger than whatever he’s trying to throw at you."

I took a deep, shuddering breath, my fingers hovering over the answer button. Finally, I pressed it, lifting the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" My voice wavered, but I forced myself to stay steady.

There was a pause on the other end before my father’s voice came through, rough and familiar. "Teresa. It’s been a while."

I clenched my fist, my nails digging into my palm. "Yes, it has."

Lucian’s hand found mine, his touch grounding me as I faced the storm that was brewing on the other end of the line. And as my father began to speak, I knew this was only the beginning of another Chapter in our complicated story.