Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie) novel Chapter 23

**Chapter 23: An Old Werewolf Proverb**

**Natalie’s POV:**

Landon had always held the belief that I was simple to manage, easily satisfied. What other option did a discarded, mixed-blood Beta werewolf, who foolishly thought of herself as merely human, have but to cling desperately to someone like him, the heir of an Alpha?

So, when I chose to step away during a pivotal moment for the company and ceased returning to our so-called “home,” it was no surprise that he found himself both shocked and displeased. He intended to teach me a lesson, to show me the consequences of my actions. For two long days, he maintained an icy silence, convinced that his Alpha pride would compel me to panic and return, groveling for his attention.

Yet, the Richardson Group was facing significant losses, and Landon’s heart for this petty game had all but vanished. It was clear he would have to be the first to lower his guard.

“As for what transpired between my mother and Anna, I didn’t take your feelings into account. That was my mistake,” he said, his voice coming through the phone tinged with a forced regret that felt almost insincere. “They won’t bother you again. My father has dealt with both Anna and my mother. They’ve already apologized to you over the phone.”

“They didn’t apologize to my face, did they?” I interrupted, cutting through his stream of excuses. In our world, werewolves placed immense value on ritual and confronting conflict head-on. A phone apology was as flimsy as a paper boat in a storm.

Landon seemed taken aback by my insistence. His voice grew tense. “You know how my mother and Anna can be. If you need a face-to-face apology to feel better, I can try to arrange that…”

“No need,” I replied, my tone flat and unyielding. The thought of Grace and Anna’s pure-blood superiority complex made my stomach turn. “I don’t force apologies.” It was simply the truth; in our society, false submission meant nothing at all.

“What do you want, then?” His patience was wearing thin, and I could sense the typical Alpha impatience creeping into his voice. I could almost envision the glint of gold flickering in his eyes, a telltale sign of his rising frustration.

I smiled, infusing my voice with a hint of the playful charm he once adored. “If you can’t make amends emotionally, perhaps you could do so materially. I want half the shares in the Richardson Group.”

“What?” His voice rose sharply, disbelief evident in every syllable. I could almost feel the tension radiating from him, his Alpha energy leaking out uncontrollably.

“Landon, I’m serious.” I slowed my pace, ensuring my voice conveyed sincerity and reason. “I’ve given this considerable thought. The reason Grace and Anna look down on me so much is that I hold no real significance within the Richardson Group. If I become the largest shareholder, they’ll have no choice but to reconsider my position.”

“Moreover,” I continued, laying out my argument with clarity and logic, “the investors I’m currently dealing with are extremely cautious. The words of a minor manager don’t carry much weight. But if I hold the status of a shareholder, everything changes.”

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