Alpha's Regret: The Hybrid's Royal Contract

Author

Xander didn’t lose sleep over Nancy.

He knew she would not go to Yardley. She could not. Seven years ago, she made a deal with him to get close to Yardley. Whatever happened after that was her own mess. She never told him why she left. He never asked. And honestly? He stopped caring a long time ago.

The jealousy he used to carry around had gone cold.

Xander remembered the first time he met Yardley. Same company. Same week. Same orientation. Same entry level job. They sat next to each other in a conference room filled with thirty other new hires. Xander looked at him and thought, this guy is nobody.

He was wrong.

Yardley moved up fast. Promotions. Recognition. Respect. Everything Xander was told he would have one day. Yardley got there first.

Xander grew up being the best. In his pack, he was the top wolf. The golden child. He never had to share the spotlight. Then Yardley showed up and took it without even trying.

For years, that resentment ate Xander alive. He spent more time watching Yardley than working on himself. He let the jealousy take over.

But now he was tired.

The gap between them had gotten too wide.

Yardley was untouchable. Xander realized he could not compete even if he wanted to.

So Xander stopped. Showing up at Nancy and Yardley’s wedding was his way of waving a white flag. Not forgiveness. Just surrender. A message: I am done fighting.

That was when he figured it out.

At their level, you did not burn bridges. You built them. You made sure people remembered your name for the right reasons.

Xander was still staring at his laptop screen when his secretary knocked on the door.

"Sir? Connor White just called. He wants to take you for drinks tonight."

Xander did not look up. He was reading an email about the theme park project. Something about the zoning board wanting another meeting. "I have a meeting in twenty minutes. Tell him I will let him know."

"He said he would text you the address."

Xander finally looked up. He thought about it for a second. "Fine."

--

At seven that evening, Xander walked into a quiet whiskey bar downtown. Dark wood. Leather booths. Low lighting. The kind of place where people went to talk about things they did not want overheard.

Connor was already there. He stood up when Xander walked in. "Xander. I was starting to think you would stand me up."

Xander shook his hand but did not smile. "Traffic."

They sat down. A waiter came by. Connor ordered a bottle of something expensive. He was smart. He did not bring up business right away. He talked about the weather, the traffic, a new steakhouse that opened on the West Side.

Then he moved in.

"Your daughter. Tiffany, right? She must be turning eighteen soon."

Xander’s eyes flicked up. "Next month."

"Right. I remember meeting her a couple years ago. She was sharp. Asked a lot of questions." Connor smiled. "She is applying to colleges soon, I bet. Have you thought about where she wants to go?"

Xander did not answer right away. He had been thinking about it for months. Applications. Deadlines. Tuition. The whole process was a nightmare, and Tiffany had her sights set on a school that rejected ninety percent of applicants.

"I have looked into a few places," Xander said carefully.

"I know some people on the East Coast." Connor said it like it was nothing. "Admissions officers. Alumni. People who can make sure an application lands on the right desk. If you need help, I can make a few calls."

Xander studied him. "That is generous."

"It is nothing. Really." Connor waved a hand. "You have done plenty for me over the years. Consider it payback."

He did not mention what he actually wanted in return. Not tonight. That was not how this game worked.

Xander picked up his glass. "Send me the details. I will think about it."

Connor smiled. "Of course. Take your time."

They drank. The conversation moved on to other things.

But they both knew where this was going.

Xander just had not admitted it to himself yet.