*Selena*
I met his gaze, my own eyes steady with resolve.
“I genuinely don’t know who’s the mastermind,” I replied as my eyebrows wrinkled with stress.
“Don’t try to deceive me, Selena. If you don’t provide me with the truth, I won’t hesitate to take more drastic measures. I won’t be gentle anymore. So don’t try my patience,” he threatened, his tone carrying a dangerous edge. “I’m asking you very politely now. Who else is involved?”
“I’m being honest, Zander. And I’m not so self-centered that I’d endanger my entire community out of spite… even if I… I do hate you,” I confessed, my breath escaping in a frustrated exhale.
“Really?!” His response was a skeptical snort. “So, what’s your purpose in stealing this information?” He challenged, his voice harsh and confrontational, causing me to look away.
“Enough with your convoluted explanations. Tell me the real truth, dammit. Who are you working for?” His tone shifted, his demand growing more serious.
“I’ve already told you the truth, Zander. I genuinely don’t know,” I replied, my desperation seeping into my words as I locked eyes with him.
He persisted, his tone softening slightly this time. “Then tell me what you do know.”
“I’ve shared all I know with you. I don’t have more information than that,” I reiterated, my voice holding steadfast honesty.
He raked his hand in his dark hair, exhaling sharply as if fighting control.
His next words came with an air of authority, his Alpha aura making my spine tingle with a mix of trepidation and respect. His aura suddenly became more dominating, and I found myself swallowing hard.
“I want the complete truth from you, Selena. Every fucking detail. Why are you here? What’s your purpose?” His command hung in the air, a weighty expectation that sent shivers down my spine.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Alright! Fine. I’ll tell you,” I conceded.
“Someone approached me on the dark web to hack into the security system of the Moonglow pack. When I received this offer with an unbelievably large sum, my initial instinct was to decline. I couldn’t bear to be the cause of the downfall of the entire werewolf community. But then I realized that if I refused, someone else would take on the task. So, I accepted the project with a plan in mind. I came here to uncover the identity of the mastermind behind all of this. During my investigation, I discovered that some members of your pack are also involved,” I explained in a rush, the weight of my confession hanging in the air.
“Who?” Zander asked in his alpha tone, his brow furrowing in a mix of surprise and concern.
“Emile,” I stated firmly, the name heavy on my tongue.
“What?!” His shock reverberated in his voice, his disbelief evident.
“Yes, it’s true,” I nodded, my own determination mirrored in my gaze. “I’m telling you the truth.”
He processed this revelation, his expression growing more serious.
“So… she was the one who helped you escape the data room when you were locked inside?” he questioned, a frown creasing his forehead.
So He even knew about that. He would have been the one who had locked me inside. He could do it with a laptop in his hand.
“Yes,” I murmured, acknowledging his deduction.
“However, don’t confront her just yet. If we expose our knowledge prematurely, the real mastermind might become cautious, and it could become almost impossible to catch them,” I urged urgently, hoping to secure a strategic advantage.
He nodded in agreement, his anger simmering beneath the surface.
“Rest assured, whoever is behind all of this won’t escape my grasp for long,” he declared, determination lacing his words.
“But why didn’t you come to me and share all of this earlier?” His gaze held suspicion, scrutinizing me for answers.
“And you would have believed me without a doubt?” I retorted with a touch of skepticism.
“How can you say that without even giving me a chance?” he challenged, his tone firm as he confronted my assumption.
“I know you would never have believed me, especially given your deep-seated hatred for me, just as you hated my family. You hated them so much that you killed them without a second thought,” I hissed, my words dripping with the venom of resentment.
“I didn’t kill your family,” he retorted firmly, his tone devoid of emotion. “They met their end not because of my hatred but because their crimes were unforgivable,” he declared, his voice chillingly composed.
Confusion clouded my eyes, and I raised them to his, seeking clarity.
“What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief.
He stared back at me, his gaze unwavering.
“Your brother had abducted several she-wolves, intending to sell them into the slave market. When I confronted him with the evidence and demanded his surrender, your father’s entire pack retaliated. It escalated into a violent conflict, a clash that ended in tragic consequences. Your father’s pack was no match for ours, and in the midst of that chaos, lives were lost,” he revealed, his words heavy with the weight of a bitter history.
“No, that’s… that’s not true,” I gasped, my mind struggling to process the shocking revelation.
“I had been supporting my family financially, ensuring they had no need to resort to such immoral acts,” I cried out in defense, my voice carrying a mix of desperation and regret. “Why would they commit such a heinous act?”
“You were secretly giving them money behind my back,” a low growl rumbled in Zander’s throat as he accused, his eyes narrowing with a hint of anger.
“Yes, I did provide them with money, but it came from my personal funds, the Luna fund. It was an attempt to ensure they could lead honorable lives,” I muttered, my voice wavering with a mix of guilt and sorrow. “Goddess, why did they choose that path?” I cried out, the weight of their misguided choices crashing down on me.
But my lamentations couldn’t undo their actions, nor could they bring back the lives that had been lost. It was as if their deeds had caught up with them, a cruel manifestation of karma’s reckoning.
“So, what was your plan once you identified the mastermind?” he inquired, curiosity etched in his gaze. I paused, contemplating my response before deciding to lay out my entire strategy before him.
“I intended to compile all the evidence and present it to the council. This way, whoever is behind all of this would be exposed to the entire paranormal community. The council would likely banish their community and administer the necessary punishment,” I explained in a hushed tone, revealing the intricate steps I had envisioned.
He nodded, a hint of satisfaction touching his features.
“Rest assured, he won’t escape from my grasp. I will catch him red-handed and ensure justice is served,” he declared, his determination unwavering as he turned to make his way toward the bathroom.
“Alpha!” I interjected, causing him to pause and look back at me, his expression questioning.
“I have a plan,” I declared, my tone steady and resolute.