Chapter 70

The ride back to the house was, indeed, awkward. But that was mainly because I felt like I was missing a large chunk of the information that was being exchanged between Lorenzo and the Lycan Luna.

After our strenuous interaction with the prince, whom I was thoroughly convinced was going to ultimately pass out if I were to continue questioning him any further, I practically stormed out of the palace with Lorenzo in tow. To say I was upset, was a goddamned understatement.

It was bad enough that the Lycan Luna appeared rather passive and somewhat accusing of the progressing murders, but when I saw the prince stroll by as though nothing was going on...Something in me started to snap.

There was no mistaking the fact that it was his signet ring that fit the shape of the brand mark on Lucy Grant’s body.

‘How convenient that he wasn’t wearing it today,’ my wolf snarled with disdain.

Convenient or not, the look on his face was enough to give him away. The guy looked as guilty as sin and I wanted him to know that we were on to him and his sick involvement in this case.

At some point during the ride back, Lorenzo had reached his hand over to rest it over the top of my thigh.

“Are you alright?” he asked softly.

My voice deepened; I could feel my eyes glowing from the intense rage that simmered just beneath my skin.

“No, I’m not,” I growled. “I wanted to attack him, Lorenzo. Hell, I almost did.”

“I know,” he said. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m rather glad that you didn’t.”

I growled when I thought I sensed a hint of amusement in his voice. If this conversation was heading in the direction where Lorenzo was planning on potentially telling me to calm down, or that I was overreacting—I was undoubtedly going to lose my shit!

But, thankfully, that didn’t seem like the case.

“Had you decided to lose your shit, then I’m afraid there could have been a very likely chance that the Lycan Luna would have shut down the case and initiated some sort of PR cover-up on the murders just to have the whole matter be silenced.”

I knew it. And that was the last thing I wanted to happen.

I bit the inside of my cheek, struggling to keep my temper from flaring any higher.

“Speaking of the Lycan Luna...Would you care to fill me in on what you were telling the Lycan Luna about?” I questioned sternly. “You know, about that so-called new evidence?”

Lorenzo tilted his head down as he spoke. “Yes. I...I agreed to take the deal with Cruz.”

I immediately turned to glare at him with an expression filled with utter shock. Why hadn’t he told me before? Had he actually gone and met with Cruz?

My brows furrowed while my eyes narrowed in heavy skepticism. “Alright,” I said through gritted teeth. I wasn’t going to hide the fact that I was a bit peeved that he’d chosen not to tell me about something major like this.

I knew I was essentially the one who kept pressing for Lorenzo to possibly take Cruz up on his offer. Of course, that was before we became drowning in potential evidence along with a growing number of suspects.

But the more I gave the matter some real thought, the more I really began to question Cruz’s motives for wanting to help us anyway.

“What possible reason could Cruz have to turn on his own pack?” I asked.

Lorenzo shook his head. “Not the pack, more specifically who’s running it. He believes that his brother is not worthy of holding the alpha title.”

That afternoon at the cafe when Cruz had made the underhanded comment about his brother finally seemed to fit into the equation. I vividly recalled how his entire demeanor shifted when the topic of his brother came up. His eyes darkened and his jaw clenched with silent hatred.

I raised a brow. “Well, that one cutting remark he made about his brother, certainly makes sense now...So, you really agreed to work with Cruz?”

He chuckled and gave me a slight squeeze. “Don’t worry, I know not to trust him. But we have to approach this matter very carefully and strategically.”

I gave him a look that prompted him to further explain.

“Sweetheart, you and I both know that this case is more involved than anyone else truly realizes.”

He certainly had a point there. Just when we’d get through one ongoing theory, a new piece of evidence would pop up and throw everything off its axis. I nodded my head.

However, in this instance, I wasn’t sure how Cruz wanting his brother’s title as Alpha was supposed to fit into all of this.

“How do you mean?”

“To get rid of one alpha doesn't mean the overall problem of what has been happening will suddenly disappear or stop. I’ve known Cruz for a long time. He’s proven himself to be many things—but stupid has never been one of them.”

“You know that if he ends up taking his brother’s place, he’s going to be a lot harder to take down,” I told him incredulously.

Oh, God. The very thought sent an unsettling chill down my spine.

His tone grew low in his chest. “I know. But what I also know is that he’s the sole catalyst for the dark business that’s been taking place in Blue Moon. At least for the last two decades.”

So, in order to get to the real root of the problem, we would need to eliminate Cruz’s brother first. I hadn’t the slightest idea as to how something so extreme was possible.

“Okay, so what’s the plan?” I asked.

There was a mischievous glimmer in his eyes and a smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth. Oh, boy. Was I going to regret having asked that question?

Suddenly, I watched him reach into the pocket of his suit and pull out a specially engraved invitation for an elite auction event.

“The plan is actually rather simple for once,” he began. “You and I are going to have a romantic night out.”