Chapter 71

Third Person POV

Eillen knew in her bones that David was cheating on her.

What other reason would explain his erratic behavior? The way he refused to call on her after a stressful day was her first sign. Eillen knew David like the back of her hand.

His muscles from years of sports…the golden sheen when the sun hit his hair…the charisma that oozed from him whenever he walked into a room…and that dazzling white smile. Yes, Eillen knew she had to have him. It was inevitable.

At the time there had been one huge obstacle in her way.

Her friend, Nan. Eillen met Nan when she transferred schools at 14. Nan had been going through a…troubling time.

Always alone. Never standing up for herself when getting picked on. It did not matter to the other teenagers at school that the girl had become an orphan.

She had not noticed Nan at first. Her cheap clothes and anti-social attitude made Eillen’s eyes skip past her for the first few months. Practically invisible in her eyes.

She noticed her over time. Eillen even felt pity for the girl. So she decided to befriend her.

And if that made her reputation go up in the eyes of their classmates as a charitable person…well, what was wrong with that?

She was Nan’s best friend by the time they were 16. Her only friend, really. But Eillen was growing bored of their friendship by that time.

Nan was always such a downer. ‘Nobody likes me…I feel so alone…my parents are dead…’ Blah, blah, blah.

Eillen was ready to move on.

And then David came into their lives like a golden light. Eillen knew Nan would never be enough for her handsome prince. So she waited…and then she striked at just the right moment.

Everything had been perfect. Maybe David was resistant to her plans for their future…but that was no issue. She knew she would wear him down eventually and get her way.

But then Eillen came across her.

Things devolved quickly from there. Eillen suffered demotion and humiliation because of her! David also began to resist her little manipulations.

David thought he was so smart…but Eillen had caught the interest in his eyes the first time she mentioned Nan. And when his behavior changed…Eillen knew that David must be cheating on her with that worthless Nan.

So she set a trap.

She drove to the cabin that she and David used to make some deals in private. Deals that were sketchy and therefore off the books. It was obvious to Eillen that David would most likely come here to have an affair too.

Instead she got something so much better.

It did not matter to Eillen that Nan turned down his advances. That worthless bitch was still meeting privately with her man and humiliated her. Eillen was furious with David too for trying to cheat on her.

So David thought he could cheat on her and keep a fortune from her?

‘I’ll show him,’ Eillen vowed. ‘I’ll make both of them pay for this.’

Eillen had a feeling Alpha Lionel would find this information…useful. Nan and David would not know what was about to hit them. It was now only a matter of how to contact him.

Luckily for her, she knew exactly who to contact about this. One of her old acquaintances would definitely have his number. One of the elite that her mother used to work for.

To: Malina

Hello Malina. It’s Eillen. Rayna’s daughter.

Do you want revenge for Cora? I have some juicy news for Alpha Lionel. Send me his number and I’ll get the job done.

From Malina:

…Delete the number when you’re done.

Eillen did not reply. There was no need to. Within minutes the link to the recorded live stream was sent.

The deed was done. Soon Nan and David would suffer for this…and Eillen would be rich off their misfortune.

Lionel’s POV

Something was up.

It was not like Nan to just leave in the middle of the night. To leave the girls. My gut warned me something was wrong.

Some part of me can’t let go of what I saw the other day.

What if Nan was lying? What if she was seeing another man…the thought makes a green haze fill my vision.

I will not have it.

I need Nan to stay. She has become a crucial part of my day. Seeing her with our daughters gives me joy and contentment I thought I would never achieve.

I just need Nan.

The contract would be ending in two weeks. The deadline feel more like a ticking bomb to me. The thought of never seeing Nan again is unacceptable.

Ideas swirl in my head. I need more time for the mate bond expert to get back to me. Then the answer hit me.

I could take her out on a special holiday to extend the contract. Give her a glimpse of her future if she were my mate. I am beginning to plan our trip when I get an incoming text.

From: Unknown

You don’t know me. But you should click on this link. The safety of your family is at risk. You’ve been betrayed. Besides, what’s the harm if I’m wrong?

I growl at the audacity of this mystery person. But I click anyway. It’s simply an audio file.

A man’s voice is speaking…and then I hear Nan’s voice. I feel hurt and jealous. My jealous green haze grows.

Was she actually seeing someone else?

But then I hear the true contents of the conversation. I hear Nan plotting with her ex-boyfriend to kidnap my children. My jealous green haze turns pitch black with rage.

I would deal with Nan when I saw her. She would deeply regret ever betraying my daughters. Betraying me.

But first…

I recall all of my best trackers. Thankfully, no current assignments have any out of town. I imply through my email I will be holding a competition amongst them for whoever finds the object I would be informing them of.

My tactic works. Soon all of trackers are lined up within my basement. I observe them with icy eyes.

Unease ripples through the line. Though they are much too professional to show this weakness with anything other than their scents. The basements of every Wolfsbane holding had its own…infamous reputation.

Not many who visited our makeshift cells left. Tonight would be no different. Someone had betrayed me amongst this group…and I had a good guess as to the culprits.

I said nothing. I simply replayed the audio. My entire being focused on the slightest changes in their bodies and scents.

Low and behold….one…two…three of them reacted. Fear soured their scents. Their heartbeats picked up.

I stalked forward. “Security, detain those three. If they move, shoot. But don’t kill…not yet.”

One tried to dart away. But my rage propelled me forward. I sank my fangs into his shoulder in a brutally punishing bite.

He screamed and tried to attack. But it only took one hard hit to his temple to subdue him. “Throw him in the cells.”

I snarled at the remaining observers. “Just try me.” I roared.

Nobody else tried to resist. The other two were escorted away. “You will all stay and watch what happens to those who betray me.”

Interrogate is too…kind of a description for what I did to the spies. Their screams and pleas fell on deaf ears. I did not want or care about their excuses.

One by one the plot was revealed. More spies were revealed…most amongst my staff. My rage grew.

Once I was sure that I had ringed out every piece of information…I do not think remaining trackers will ever be stupid enough to betray me. The slaughter within that basement ensured that…I could see that much from the horror and fear reflected in their eyes.

“You will all look for the person who sent me that video. Go.” I ordered.

I did not turn to make sure they followed my order. The sound of their hurried steps told me they did. I went back up to my study.

I knew I must look terrifying. I could feel the sticky blood of the traitors on my hands and clothes. I could not bring myself to care.

All of that retribution had still not sedated my wolf’s burning rage.

And then she burst into the room.

I glared at Nan…my core of hateful fire threatening to consume me.