Nicolas POV
“From where did you obtain the information?” I asked Ronan as I turned the final page of the file. Though I never imagined it went that deep, the contents shocked me and made perfect sense for the Nightingale Pack to be supporting the Red Claw Pack.
“I have my resources,” Ronan said, grinning and interlacing his fingers.
He patiently waited for me to complete the file review and offer my opinion.
“Hopefully, this information was not obtained unlawfully,” I responded, closing the document. It could put a target on our backs, and I didn’t want that. My pack’s safety was more important to me.
“I did not need to; it was all done in favor,” he said, grinning smugly.
I turned my head to the side and furrowed my brows. My spine tingled with an unholy sensation.
What was Ronan getting up to?
Who and why did they provide him with this information?
Was there someone he was blackmailing?
“I do not think so,” Ray said, listening in on my thoughts. He was interested to see what Ronan had discovered. “He probably exploited his charm.”
“Or persuasion,” I raised an eyebrow.
“Perhaps,” Ray replied. “However, I would prefer to avoid drawing hasty judgments if I were you. Ronan is someone you know well. He is completely unlike other wolves.”
Ray was not wholly incorrect when he made his statement. He did not know half of how special Ronan really was. Though Ronan was never overtly ostentatious, he had a dark side, so dark that it did not allow for any light to shine through.
I only once had the privilege of witnessing that side of him, and it was not a pretty sight. Ronan assured me he would never go down that road again, and I took his word for it.
Could he have been lying to me?
Was he keeping it a secret?
Ronan shifted in his seat, and something unholy flashed through his eyes. I felt a cold feeling run all the way down my spine, making me shudder in my seat.
Oh goddess, what had he done!?
Did he lose control?
Did he cross over to his dark side? Did he allow it back?
Is that how he obtained the information?
“Done in favor-what does that mean?” I whispered my question while lying forward and resting my hands on the desk. As far as I am aware, Ronan has never engaged in any illegal activities. Now, though, I was hoping he was staying true to his word.
“In what way did that favor help retrieve the information?” I asked.
Ronan laughed heartily, thinking my behavior was amusing.
“Seriously?” Ronan asked, his eyes darkening.
I found Ronan’s behavior a little too suspicious at that point.
Did he buy someone off?
Or did he employ violent force instead?
“You worry too much, Nicholas,” he said, brushing it off as insignificant. “The individual who gave me the file took care to obtain it lawfully. He did it as a favor to me, hoping to stop a war from starting.”
Did he really believe that? Whoever this individual was appeared to have wanted to start a war.
“Is there any chance this person will face consequences for giving you this information?” I asked, seriously.
“I do not think so,” he said, moving around in his seat. Was he worried?
“But is there a chance?” I asked, lying back in my seat.
“The information is not all that bad,” Ronan tried to change the subject. “Who would have imagined that Alpha Noah’s biological mother was Luna Mary?”
It surprised me to learn that piece of information.
I opened the file and removed the two photos. One photo belonged to Luna Mary, while the other one belonged to Alpha Noah.
“There is a reason why this information has not come to light yet,” I said, placing the photos on my desk.
“However, there is no denying the evidence,” Ronan stated. “You can see the distinctive features between mother and son.”
“I am not going to dispute that,” I said. It was true. Their noses were almost an exact match, with the same blond hair and nearly the same color eyes. He must have inherited his sandy complexion from his father. “Who fathered Alpha Noah?”
“I am still working on that,” Ronan said. “However, I believe she must have gotten pregnant from a previous relationship or fling. I am not certain. However, Luna Mary’s father and Alpha Noah’s grandfather succeeded him as Alpha.”
“They skipped a generation?” I was not expecting that.
Packs would only skip a generation in cases where there was no male heir.
This made me wonder if Luna Mary had a brother who was not fit to be the Alpha and if she was the real heir and eldest.
“Maybe she was not able to take over because she is a woman,” Ray speculated. “You are aware of the law.”
“Perhaps it is,” I answered Ray. “It might also go deeper.”
“What are your thoughts on that?” he inquired.
“I do not know,” I answered. “It just seems suspicious to me.”
“Looks like it,” Ronan said in response to my query, and I turned back my attention to him. “It is documented that she did not mate with Alpha Jack until after Alpha Noah was born. Perhaps he is her second chance mate.”
“Or he could be her chosen mate,” I stated.
“Maybe I am not quite sure about their relationship yet,” Ronan explained. “I have requested more information on the subject.”
“Perhaps Alpha Jack was unwilling to raise Alpha Noah,” I proposed.
“Or Luna Mary’s father proposed that Alpha Noah become the Red Claw Pack’s Alpha and live with him.”
I gave a nod of agreement.
“Even so, I am curious as to why they kept everything a secret,” I commented, rubbing my chin. “They could have easily merged the two packs.”
“Then again,” Ronan added, “Alpha Noah would never have been able to become Alpha of the Red Claw Pack.”
“It would also prevent Luke from becoming the Alpha of the Nightingale Pack,” I added.
That might have been the primary reason. I could see Alpha Jack wanting to delegate leadership of his pack to his oldest son. He was, after all, his blood.
Ronan stood up and said, “Yet, something still feels off about this entire thing.”
“What makes you say that?” I leaned back in my chair and asked.
“Why don’t they communicate if Alpha Jack is Alpha Noah’s stepfather?”
“You make a valid point,” I answered. “Perhaps they would prefer that no one learns that they are related.”
“Perhaps,” Ronan concurred. “Let me see what I can find out. In the meantime…”
Before Ronan could finish talking, there was a loud knock on the office door.
Ronan sat frozen in his chair, and I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.
“Did you call for someone?” I asked.
“No,” he said with a start of anxiety.
What the devil is wrong with him now?
“He looks guilty!” stated Ray. “He knows something.”
“Do you think he is hiding something?” I asked.
“No,” Ray raised his nose and replied. “I believe your father has given him the order to remain silent.”
I sighed.
I was not one for surprises, and Ronan knew it. So did my father.
When my eyes met Ronan’s, he looked scared, maybe even terrified. He quickly lowered his head to glance at his hands. He is terrified of the consequences.
“Do you know who is at the door?” I asked while getting up.
Ronan nodded, swallowing hard.
However, I never imagined that trouble would come knocking on my door.
****