Marcus’s POV
From my office window, I watched as Jacob stepped out of his car. His usual confident gait was evident, but there was an urgency in his stride that piqued my curiosity. He wasn’t the type to come unannounced unless there was something pressing.
My fingers drummed against the desk as I waited for him to appear. Moments later, the door swung open, and Jacob strode in, his face tense.
“Where’s Sarah?” he demanded without preamble, his tone sharp.
I raised an eyebrow and leaned back in my chair, feigning indifference. “You don’t have the right to question me about Sarah. And besides,” I added, my voice lowering, “shouldn’t you be more concerned about getting your men ready? You’ve got a bigger problem at hand-your precious daughter, Reyna.”
Jacob’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t back down. “I’ve heard rumors that Reyna has been spending time with Stephanie,” he said, his voice cutting through the tension. “And since Stephanie is Sarah’s sister, I need to know if you’ve been in contact with them.”
I let out a dry laugh. “Your information is always so… predictable. But no, I haven’t seen Sarah. And as for Reyna, I’d suggest you focus on getting her. The rogue alpha isn’t as patient as we assumed.”
That got his attention. Jacob’s brows furrowed as he crossed his arms. “What do you mean?”
I smirked. “Word is, the rogue alpha has started preparing his guards to track her down. He’s growing tired of waiting for his ‘bride.'”
Jacob’s expression darkened. “And how do you think he knows about Reyna’s movements?”
“His sources, clearly,” I said, shrugging. “The rogue alpha has always had his ways, but this this is concerning.”
Jacob didn’t miss a beat. “He found out about the moonlight party, Marcus,” he said, his voice low but brimming with anger.
That stopped me in my tracks. “What?”
“You heard me,” Jacob said, stepping closer to my desk. “The rogue alpha knows there’s a moonlight party happening soon. He’s planning to strike during the event.”
My mind raced. This wasn’t just a coincidence. The rogue alpha had no direct access to my information, which meant…
“There’s a leak,” I muttered, more to myself than to Jacob.
Jacob nodded grimly. “Exactly. Someone within Jake’s clan is feeding him information. And if we don’t figure out who it is, the rogue alpha will have the upper hand.”
I stood and walked to the window, needing a moment to process. “If the rogue alpha has a source in Jake’s clan, we’re dealing with more than just an outside threat. This could tear everything apart from the inside.”
Jacob’s voice was cold. “Which is why I’m here. You’ve dealt with the rogue alpha before. If we’re going to get rid of him, we need to cut off his access to information first.”
I turned to face him, my expression unreadable. “That’s easier said than done. His network is vast, and if he has someone on the inside, they’ll be well-hidden.”
“Then we flush them out,” Jacob said simply.
I laughed bitterly. “And how do you propose we do that without tipping him off? If the rogue alpha gets wind of us investigating, he’ll go underground, and we’ll lose our chance.”
Jacob didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he paced the room, his hand running through his hair. “What about Reyna?” he asked after a moment. “If the rogue alpha is targeting the moonlight party, she’s in danger.”
I waved a hand dismissively. “Reyna is always in danger. That’s the cost of being the daughter of a man like you.”
His glare was sharp, but I ignored it. “The moonlight party is a trap,” I continued. “If the rogue alpha shows up, we can use it to our advantage.”
“And if he doesn’t?” Jacob asked.
“Then we’ll know his source is feeding him false information,” I said. “Either way, we win.”
Jacob didn’t seem convinced, but he nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But if anything happens to Reyna-”
“Save the threats,” I interrupted. “I care as much about her safety as you do.”
He scoffed but said nothing more. As he turned to leave, I called out to him.
“Jacob.”
He stopped but didn’t turn around.
“If you want to take down the rogue alpha, you’ll need more than brute force. You’ll need to think like him.”
With that, he walked out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I returned to my chair and poured myself a drink. The rogue alpha was a problem, yes, but Jacob was right there was something bigger at play here. A traitor within Jake’s clan could tip the balance of power in ways none of us could predict.
For now, I’d play along with Jacob’s plan. But when the time came, I’d make sure the rogue alpha and anyone who dared betray us paid the price.
___
Damon’s POV
The phone buzzed in my hand, and I answered without looking at the number. A deep, unfamiliar voice greeted me.
“We have everything on Reyna,” the voice said, calm and deliberate. “Her location, her routines, even the plans for tonight’s moonlight party. The information has been sent to your men.”
My grip on the phone tightened. “And you’re sure it’s reliable?”
The voice chuckled. “You’ll see for yourself. After the moonlight party, she’ll be yours.”
The line went dead before I could respond. I stood there, staring at the phone for a moment, a rare flicker of satisfaction stirring in me. Reyna. Finally, after all this time, she was within reach.
The knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts. My secretary poked her head in, her face calm but curious. “Alpha Damon, a lady named Diane is here to see you.”
I frowned. Diane? The name didn’t ring any bells, but curiosity got the better of me. “Let her in.”
Moments later, a woman entered. She carried herself with a mix of confidence and grace that suggested she was no stranger to manipulation. I leaned back in my chair, studying her as she approached.
“What do you want?” I asked, my voice low and disinterested.
Diane offered a polite smile but didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “I’m a woman with the power to help you, Alpha,” she said.
My eyebrow arched. “Help me? And what makes you think I need your help?”
“I know you’re searching for Reyna,” she said, her smile widening. “And I know exactly who you are.”
Her words caught me off guard, but I didn’t let it show. Instead, I narrowed my eyes. “How do you know me? And what do you know about Reyna?”
She didn’t flinch under my glare. “I know Marcus,” she said simply. “I’ve heard him talk about her before. He’s been keeping secrets from you, hasn’t he?”
That was a bold assumption, but I didn’t dismiss it outright. “And what do you gain from this, Diane? Why are you here?”
“Because I want to see Marcus suffer,” she said, her tone turning sharp. “And helping you take Reyna will do just that.”
Her honesty or what I assumed was honesty was intriguing. Still, I wasn’t about to trust her so easily. “Why should I believe you?”
“Because I’m giving you a golden opportunity,” she said, stepping closer. “Tonight is the moonlight party, isn’t it? That’s when you need to strike. If you wait any longer, you’ll lose your chance. Reyna will be surrounded by people who’ll protect her. But tonight? She’ll be vulnerable.”
Her words echoed the information from the call I’d just received. It was too convenient to be a coincidence.
“And what do you get out of this?” I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.
“Revenge,” she said simply. “I have my reasons, Alpha. You don’t need to understand them. All you need to know is that I can help you get what you want.”
I studied her for a long moment, weighing my options. Diane was bold, confident, and clearly motivated by her own agenda. But if what she said was true, she could be useful.
“Fine,” I said finally. “But if you’re lying to me, you’ll regret it.”
Diane didn’t flinch. “You won’t regret working with me, Alpha. Just make sure you’re ready for tonight.”
With that, she turned and walked out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
The moonlight party. It was the perfect opportunity. If everything Diane and the caller said was true, tonight would mark the beginning of the end for Reyna, for Marcus, and for anyone who dared stand in my way.
And I wouldn’t stop until I had everything I wanted.