Chapter 82
Ethan's POV
The Rogue sat shackled to a chair in the interrogation room, his head bowed and a twisted grin playing on his lips. Despite his battered appearance, there was an unsettling confidence about him that set my teeth on edge.
Marlus stood at my side, his arms crossed, radiating tension.
“I’m not in a forgiving mood, so we can do this the hard way,” I said, my voice low but laced with authority. “You will talk. The only question is how much it’ll hurt before you do.”
The Rogue chuckled, his voice rasping like gravel. “You Alphas and your theatrics. Always thinking you’ve got the upper hand.”
I took a step forward, letting my wolf’s presence and my power bleed into the room. The temperature seemed to drop as my growl rumbled low in my chest. “You think this is a game? Chloe won’t protect you now. Tell me where her forces are, or I’ll make sure you regret crossing my Pack.”
Marlus leaned in, his tone calm but deadly. “You’re outnumbered, outplayed, and sitting here chained like a dog. What’s loyalty to Chloe worth when she’s already thrown you to the Wolves? Pun intended.”
The Rogue’s grin faltered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. He glanced at me, then at Marlus, weighing his options. “You don’t get it,” he said finally, his voice dropping. “This isn’t for loyalty. It’s survival. Chloe’s got plans bigger than any of you and we’ll have a place again.”
“Then tell me about these plans,” I pressed, my patience thinning.
He hesitated, his fingers twitching against the cuffs. “She’s targeting the Council,” he admitted. “Timed with the final vote. She’s bringing us Rogues in to overwhelm you. Her goal is to take Jasper and Thorne Ridge Packs while the Council’s in chaos.”
My wolf roared in my head, demanding action. Marlus stepped closer, his jaw tightening. “How many?” he asked, his voice sharp.
“Enough,” the Rogue sneered. “She’s got allies, lone Alphas who’ve promised to back her once the Council’s in shambles. And Derek? He’s her first target. Without him, the rest of you will fall.”
My fists clenched at my sides as the implications of his words sank in. Chloe wasn’t just playing political games anymore – she was planning a coup.
“And the location of these Rogue forces?” I demanded, my voice cold.
He hesitated, but the fire in my gaze must have broken through his defiance. “There’s a camp,” he said finally. “About twenty miles south of here, in the old quarry. They’re waiting for the order.”
Marlus exchanged a grim look with me. “She’s not just trying to win the vote for Aiden,” he said. “She’s trying to burn it all down.”
I turned back to the Rogue, stepping closer until I loomed over him. “You just gave me a reason to end this before it starts,” I growled. “But if you’re lying –”
“I’m not,” he interrupted, his confidence cracking. “But it won’t matter. Chloe’s already won. You’re too late.”
I leaned in, letting my power bear down on him. “We’ll see about that.”
Turning to Marlus, I motioned for him to follow me out of the room. Once the door closed behind us, I exhaled sharply, my wolf still raging beneath my skin.
“We need to act fast,” I said. “Get Kerrick and the others ready. If Chloe wants a war, we’ll give her one. On our terms.”
Marlus nodded, his expression hard. “And Olivia?”
I paused, my gaze drifting toward the direction of her Pack House. “She needs to know,” I said quietly. “But first, we make sure she’s safe. No matter what happens, Chloe won’t get the chance to touch her. Or anyone else.”
We needed to move quickly to prepare for the storm that was coming.
The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows of the Storm Haven meeting room, casting golden streaks across the wooden floor. I stood near the large table cluttered with maps and dossiers, running a hand through my hair as I tried to focus.
Chloe’s plans, the upcoming Alpha Council vote, and the looming threat of a Rogue attack bore down on me like a lead weight.
“How do you plan to protect Olivia while keeping the Pack safe?” Marlus’s voice cut through the haze of my thoughts.
I looked up to find him leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed, a serious expression etched into his face. His words weren’t accusatory, but they carried an edge of concern that mirrored my own.
Marlus had always been fiercely loyal to me, and now it seemed that loyalty extended to Olivia. To the point he questioned me. I would put him in his place if my wolf didn’t stir with approval.
“I’ll find a way,” I said firmly, though the confidence in my tone felt paper-thin. “She’s stronger than she looks, and she isn’t alone. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Marlus stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “It’s not just about her being strong, Ethan. It’s about balance. Protecting her doesn’t mean sidelining her.”
I sighed, my gaze dropping to the map on the table. “I know that” I muttered. “But every instinct I have is screaming at me to keep her safe. To shield her from all of this.”
“Instinct or your wolf?” Marlus asked, raising an eyebrow.
My wolf stirred at the mention, a growl low in my chest. “Both,” I admitted.
There was a pause, and Marlus’s gaze sharpened as if he’d just noticed something. His eyes dropped to my neck, and a slow smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Well, that explains it,” he said, nodding toward me.
“Explains what?” I asked, frowning.
“The Mark,” he replied, gesturing vaguely. “You’ve fully bonded with Olivia.”
I stiffened, instinctively running a hand over the spot where Olivia’s Mark rested. It was still new, still tender, and a rush of warmth spread through me at the thought of her.
Marlus chuckled softly. “Second-chance Mate, huh? Must be nice.”
His tone was light, but there was something beneath it—something raw and envious.
“You could find yours,” I said carefully, watching him.
Marlus shook his head, the smirk fading. “Not everyone gets a second chance, Ethan. Some of us don’t even get the first one right.”
I wanted to press, to dig into whatever he wasn’t saying, but the tension in his posture warned me off. Whatever ghosts haunted him, he wasn’t ready to share them.
“Marlus,” I said after a moment, my voice steady. “You’ve been more than a Beta to me. If there’s something you need, just say the word.”
He looked at me then, his expression softening slightly. “What I need,” he said, “is for us to win this. For the Pack. For your Luna. For everything we’ve been building.”
His words resonated deeply, stirring a renewed sense of determination in me. “We will,” I said firmly. “And when we do, you’ll be right there with me. Always.”
Marlus nodded, his lips quirking into a small smile. “Better be. Someone’s gotta keep that Alpha ego of yours in check.”
The mood lightened slightly, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. But as Marlus turned back to the maps, my thoughts drifted to Olivia.
She was my Mate, my second chance, and the one thing I couldn’t afford to lose. No matter what it took, I’d protect her – and the Packs – until my last breath.
