Let Them Kneel (kaelani and Julian) novel Chapter 9

The boardroom at Blackthorn was all polished wood and steel, its walls lined with windows that framed the dense forest beyond. Julian sat at the head of the long table, shoulders squared, every line of him composed.

The screen at the far end flickered with faces—Alphas and Betas from the summit, patched in for follow-up. Jace sat to his right, silent, a steady presence as always.

“Alpha Julian,” one Alpha drawled, leaning back in his chair on the feed, a crooked grin tugging at his mouth. “Good to see you again. Your Beta said you had to rush off for an emergency.”

Another chuckled, shaking his head. “You didn’t have to play ill, if you had to leave, you had to leave. Happens to the best of us.”

Laughter rippled through the call, easy and unguarded.

Julian didn’t smile. He leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table, his gaze cutting through the screen with cool precision. “Blackthorn doesn’t play ill,” he said flatly. “We take care of business. Which is why I’m here.”

The laughter died, replaced by a hush of respect.

He launched straight into land negotiations, his tone terse and authoritative, steering the conversation like nothing at all had happened.

The call dragged on, all numbers and projections—parcels of land, tax advantages, the highway development that had half the Alphas salivating. Julian gave clipped, precise answers, his disposition never wavering.

Then one of the older Betas spoke, tone smug. “The humans want charm. Sweetness. A good face for negotiations. Sometimes a softer touch works better than power.”

Sweetness. A softer touch.

The words lodged like a blade. Against his will, Julian’s mind slipped. Her legs locked around his waist, her nails raking his back as she cried out beneath him. The wet heat of her tight pussy milking his knot, the tremor that tore through her as he nibbled on her nipples. The way she whispered “no” even as her hips lifted, begging for more.

A throat cleared sharply beside him. Jace.

Julian blinked, eyes snapping back to the screen. Half a dozen faces stared back expectantly at a question he hadn’t answered.

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