Chapter 12 Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Chapter 12
KADE

Jax led me to my office, where a laptop was set up on my desk. On the screen was a paused video.

"What am I looking at?" I asked.

"Security footage from Silverpine territory. One of our contacts managed to get it for us." Jax hit play.

The video showed Derek in what looked like a warehouse, talking to Damien. The timestamp was from three weeks ago.

I turned up the volume.

"...half now, half when you deliver her," Derek was saying.

"And you're sure she's wolfless?" Damien asked. "I don't want damaged goods."

"Completely wolfless. Weak, helpless, perfect for your needs." Derek handed over a briefcase. "But you need to make it look like a random attack. If anyone connects this back to me, the deal's off."

"Don't worry. I know how to make it look natural." Damien smiled. "Besides, the Death Alpha's too arrogant to suspect another Alpha would betray someone under their protection."

"When this is done, you'll have your plaything, and I'll have my alliance secured. Everyone wins."

"Except the girl."

Derek shrugged. "She was never meant for greatness anyway."

The video ended.

I stood there, my hands gripping the edge of the desk so hard the wood cracked.

"There's more," Jax said quietly. "We found transfer records. Derek paid Damien two hundred thousand dollars. Half up front, half upon delivery."

"He sold her. He actually sold her."

"And then came to your territory acting like he just wanted to complete the rejection ritual. He was scouting for Damien, gathering information about security and where Mira was staying."

The implications made my blood boil. Derek had used the rejection ceremony as cover, getting close enough to see our defenses, to figure out the best way to strike.

"Where is he now?" I asked.

"At his pack house with Amelia and her father. They're preparing for their mating ceremony next week."

"Not anymore, they're not."

Jax looked worried. "Kade, if you go after Derek directly, Alpha Cornelius will get involved. He's powerful and well-connected. It could start a war."

"I don't care."

"The pack cares. We can't afford a war right now, not after the casualties we just took."

He was right, but I didn't want him to be.

"Then what do you suggest?" I asked. "We let Derek get away with this?"

"No. But we need to be smart about it. Use the evidence against him. Bring it to the pack council. Let them handle Derek officially."

"The pack council moves too slowly. By the time they investigate and hold a hearing, Derek will have married Amelia and secured his alliance. He'll be untouchable."

"So we find another way. Something that hurts him without starting a war."

I thought about it. Derek's greatest fear was losing his alliance with the Cornelius pack. His entire plan hinged on marrying Amelia.

"Show this video to Alpha Cornelius," I said. "Let him see exactly what kind of man his daughter's about to mate with."

Jax's eyes lit up. "That's brilliant. Cornelius will call off the alliance himself."

"And Derek will be back where he started. Broke, desperate, and alone."

"What if Cornelius doesn't believe the video?"

"Then we'll make him believe it. Send him the bank records, the transfer receipts, everything. Even if he has doubts, he'll at least investigate. And once he starts digging, he'll find the truth."

Jax nodded. "I'll reach out to our contact in the Cornelius pack. Get this information to the Alpha directly."

"Do it quietly. I don't want Derek knowing we're coming for him until it's too late."

After Jax left, I sat alone in my office, staring at the frozen image of Derek on the screen.

He'd tried to have Mira kidnapped and sold to a rogue Alpha who collected women like trophies. Who tortured them for entertainment.

The thought of what could have happened to her made my wolf snarl with rage.

I wanted to go to Silverpine territory right now. Wanted to rip Derek apart with my bare hands. But Jax was right—we had to be smart about this.

Destroying Derek's alliance was good. But it wasn't enough.

I needed something more permanent. Something that would ensure he could never threaten Mira again.

An idea started forming. Dangerous, possibly illegal, but effective.

I pulled out my phone and made a call.

"Alpha Kade," a smooth voice answered. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Marcus Stone. I need your services."

Marcus Stone was a fixer. He operated in the gray areas of pack law, handling problems that couldn't be solved through official channels. He was expensive and completely amoral, but he got results.

"I'm listening," Marcus said.

"I need someone discredited. Completely. I want his reputation destroyed, his allies turned against him, and his pack questioning his leadership."

"And who is this someone?"

"Derek Silverpine."

Marcus whistled. "That's a big target. What's he done to earn your wrath?"

"That's not your concern. Can you do it or not?"

"Oh, I can do it. But it'll cost you. A target that high-profile requires careful planning and execution."

"Name your price."

"Half a million. Plus expenses."

It was outrageous. It was also worth it.

"Done. How long will it take?"

"Two weeks, maybe three. I'll need to plant evidence, create believable witnesses, build a case that can't be disputed. Rush jobs are sloppy, and sloppy gets people caught."

"Fine. But I want regular updates."

"Of course. Pleasure doing business with you, Alpha."

He hung up.

I sat back in my chair, feeling slightly better. Derek would pay for what he'd done. Maybe not today, maybe not next week, but soon.

And when his world came crashing down, he'd know exactly who was responsible.

A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in."

Nina entered, her arm in a sling but otherwise looking healthy. "The doctor cleared me for light duty. Thought you might want an update on Mira."

"Is she okay?"

"Sleeping. Dr. Hayes gave her something to help her rest." Nina sat down across from me. "Alpha, can I speak freely?"

"Always."

"What you're doing for Mira—the protection, the announcement, fighting an army to keep her safe—the pack's noticed. They're talking."

"Let them talk."

"Some of them think you're going to make her your mate."

"And what do you think?"

Nina smiled. "I think you already have, even if you haven't made it official yet. I've never seen you look at anyone the way you look at her."

"It's complicated."

"Love usually is."

"I didn't say anything about love."

"You didn't have to." She stood up. "For what it's worth, I think she's good for you. You seem... happier. More human."

"I'm not sure that's a compliment."

"It is. Trust me." She headed for the door, then paused. "Oh, and Alpha? When you do officially mate with her, can I be the one to tell Jade? I've been waiting years to see her face when she realizes she never had a chance."

I actually smiled. "Deal."

After Nina left, I checked on the pack's status. The casualty report wasn't as bad as I'd feared. Five dead, twelve seriously injured, but everyone else would recover. The rogues had taken heavier losses—nearly fifteen dead, including Damien.

The pack house would need repairs, but nothing structural. We'd been lucky.

Or rather, we'd been prepared. Years of training and discipline had paid off.

I spent the next few hours coordinating cleanup efforts and talking to injured warriors. They deserved to hear from their Alpha, to know their sacrifices hadn't been in vain.

By the time I finished, it was almost midnight.

I headed to Mira's room, intending just to check on her. But when I opened the door, I found her sitting up in bed, looking out the window.

"You're supposed to be sleeping," I said.

She turned to me. "Couldn't. Too much on my mind."

I sat in the chair beside her bed. "Want to talk about it?"

"I keep thinking about Derek. About how he tried to sell me. Like I was nothing." Her voice was quiet. "Why would he do that? I know he didn't want me as a mate, but to actually sell me to someone like Damien..."

"Because Derek Silverpine is a coward who only thinks about himself."

"But we were supposed to be mates. The moon goddess chose us for each other. Doesn't that mean anything?"

"The moon goddess makes mistakes sometimes. Bonds aren't always perfect."

"Do you really believe that?"

I thought about my own lack of a destined mate. About how intimacy had always disgusted me, until her. "Yeah, I do."

She was quiet for a moment. "What's going to happen to Derek?"

"Justice. One way or another."

"I don't want you to start a war over me."

"Then you'll be happy to know I'm handling it through official channels. Mostly."

"Mostly?"

"The less you know, the better. Plausible deniability and all that."

She almost smiled. "You're a little bit terrifying, you know that?"

"I've been told. Is it working?"

"Maybe. In a weird way." She looked at me. "Thank you. For everything. For protecting me, for taking care of Nina, for... for wanting me to stay."

"You don't have to thank me for that."

"Yes, I do. Because not many people have ever wanted me around. My whole life, I've been the girl nobody wanted. The wolfless orphan. The rejected mate. But you..." She trailed off. "You make me feel like maybe I'm worth something after all."

I reached out and took her hand. "You're worth everything."

We sat there in comfortable silence, her hand in mine, until she started to drift off.

I should have left. Should have let her sleep. But I couldn't bring myself to move.

So I stayed, watching her breathe, making sure she was safe.

And I realized Nina was right. I was already completely gone for this woman.

The only question was whether she'd ever feel the same way about me.