Page 11 of The Drama King

Oakley frowned. "Problem. Rich Betas don't intimidate easily."

"Worse," Corvus continued. "Robert Gao, male Omega she's befriended. The family owns Gao Pharmaceutical. Patents on half the suppressants and fertility medications on the market. Net worth in the hundreds of millions."

I inhaled slowly, scenting the complication. Our usual tactics—financial pressure, social isolation, institutional manipulation—worked because scholarship students typically had no resources to resist. But if Vespera had allies with serious money and family connections...

"She's protected," I concluded, the challenge only heightening my interest.

"Partially," Corvus agreed. "Vulnerabilities remain. Scholarship requires a 3.8 GPA minimum. Any grade below B+ in major courses triggers review. Work-study creates scheduling pressures we can exploit."

I nodded, calculating possibilities while my body hummed with anticipation. "Academic sabotage, then. Make her doubt her abilities. But subtler than usual."

"I've accessed her schedules," Corvus continued. "Cruz for Voice and Movement, De Scarzis for Acting Technique, Williamson for Theater History, Bray for Physical Theater. All rely heavily on partner work and peer evaluations."

"Perfect." Oakley's smile turned thoughtful. "I can make sure the other students understand she's a pack interest. They'll naturally keep their distance."

"Carefully," I warned, feeling another possessive surge. "Her wealthy friends complicate direct approaches. We need to isolate her from protection without making it obvious."

I moved to the windows overlooking the estate grounds. Crisp September air carried the scent of changing leaves and woodsmoke. Soon the semester would intensify with midterms, major projects, the social pressures that separated the committed from those who'd overestimated themselves.

"Timeline?" I asked, still watching the grounds, imagining her walking there. Under my control. My protection. My dominance.

"Six weeks," Corvus replied without hesitation. "Most scholarship Omegas break by October midterms. The combination of academic pressure, social isolation, and designation stress typically produces desired results."

"And if she doesn't break?" Oakley asked.

I turned back, a cold smile forming. "Then we escalate. But I don't think it will come to that. She's strong, but completely alone in ways that matter. Her friends can provide emotional support, even financial assistance, but they can't protect her from institutional pressure or biological responses."

I refilled my glass, savoring the burn while calculating scenarios. "Her schedule. Daily patterns, vulnerabilities, opportunities for contact."

Corvus consulted his notes. "Breakfast at 7 AM, usually alone while the roommate sleeps in. Classes 9 to 3 most days, breaks spent in library or practice rooms. Work-study shifts Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 5 to 8 PM. Weekends reserved for homework and practice."

"Disciplined," I observed, the thought sending unexpected heat through my core. "But predictable. Multiple opportunities for targeted encounters."

"What about the physical approach?" Oakley asked. "She responded to your scent in Cruz's class."

A surge of possessiveness hit me hard. The thought of Oakley's hands on her, his scent mixing with hers—my body rejected it instantly. My cock ached with the need to claim, to mark territory, to ensure she knew exactly who held the right to her submission.

"I'll handle that aspect personally," I said, voice carrying enough command to make both packmates look sharply at me. "Designation pressure requires finesse."

Corvus made another note, expression thoughtful. "Unusual level of personal investment. May I ask why?"

The question irritated me because I wasn't entirely sure of the answer myself.

Yes, Vespera had surprised me with talent and resistance.

Yes, her scent called to me in ways more intense than typical Alpha-Omega attraction.

"She believes she can withstand us," I replied, settling on the explanation I'd given myself. "The others feared us from the beginning, expecting to be driven out. She thinks she can endure whatever we do and still succeed."

I leaned against the desk, arms crossed. "I want her to understand how wrong she is. But more than that—I want her to submit. Not just leave, but acknowledge her place. Beg for acceptance."

The vision burned in my mind: Vespera submitting, acknowledging her place beneath us in the hierarchy. The thought sent a rush of satisfaction through me, my cock hardening at the image of her finally yielding to what we both knew was inevitable.

"Interesting approach," Corvus said carefully. "More complex than our usual methods."

"The approach must fit the individual," I replied. "Vespera requires a different kind of breaking. One that leaves her intact enough to be useful afterward."

Oakley's eyebrows rose. "You want to keep her?"