Chapter 25 Expose him

Chapter 25 Expose him
LIAM POV

“Is something wrong?” I asked, frowning slightly as I turned to Enzo and Talia, she kept looking at me, her face a mixture of worry, anger and confusion.

“Yes, Alpha,” Enzo responded, his voice calm.

I turned to Talia and forced a smile, my lips stretching slightly even though my jaw felt tight. She didn’t react. I turned to Enzo as we both left the room. I expected her to stop me, to ask me for an answer, but she didn’t say anything, she just stood there, looking at me as I left the room.

I didn’t want to see her like this, but what can I do? I had to pretend to hate her and maintain Zane’s image in front of her, but it’s not working, she’s not getting it. Instead, she keeps going back to Zane.

Is it because she didn’t receive any form of love from her family and Zane pretended to give her that love, is that why she keeps going back to him? These thoughts rushed through my mind, my brows pulling together as my steps slowed. I didn’t realize when I passed my office while Enzo stood in front of the door, looking at me, his brows furrowed.

“Alpha, what’s on your mind?” he asked, his voice making me stop.

I realized I passed him and was halfway through the hallway. I turned back and faced him, my lips pressing down as I realized what just happened.

“I have a lot on my mind, Enzo,” I admitted, walking towards him.

Enzo opened the door and gave a little bow. I walked into my office, my steps echoing in the room as my shoes pressed against the clean marble floor.

“There’s about to be more,” Enzo added as he closed the door and walked inside my office.

My eyes furrowed as I turned my steps to him. “Is there anything that can make me worry more?” I asked, my voice carrying authority.

“It’s about Alpha Zane,” Enzo revealed, his hands crossing at his back.

“This is going to be interesting,” I muttered, my voice sounding amused as I moved towards the chair and stepped inside.

“He’s gaining more grounds, Alpha. Ever since he got married to Talia and signed a treaty with Alpha Derek, his men have expanded,” Enzo explained.

“What do you mean by his men have expanded?” I asked, my brows knitting together as I tried to get a clear answer from him. My fingers tapped lightly against the arm of the chair, impatience creeping in.

“There have been… a lot of things happening in the past few days,” Enzo explained, his tone careful, almost hesitant, like he was choosing his words too slowly.

My jaw tightened.

“You know I don’t like it when you speak in riddles, Enzo,” I cut in sharply, my voice dropping with warning. I leaned forward slightly, my gaze hardening. “Do you want to get punished?”

His shoulders stiffened immediately.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” he apologized quickly, bowing his head.

I exhaled through my nose, forcing down my irritation.

“So tell me, what’s going on?” I pressed, my voice firmer now, more controlled. I placed both hands on the armrest, gripping it slightly as I waited.

Enzo hesitated for a brief second before speaking.

“Alpha Derek gave Alpha Zane half of his pack property,” he revealed, his voice low.

For a moment, I didn’t move.

Then my eyes widened slightly.

“What?” I demanded, my head snapping up. “What did you just say?”

“Alpha Derek gave half of his pack property to Alpha Zane,” Enzo repeated slowly, making sure I heard him clearly this time.

A sharp breath left me.

My fingers tightened against the chair, the leather creaking faintly under my grip.

“Why would he do that?” I asked, my voice dropping into something colder, more dangerous. My mind immediately began racing, running through every possible reason.

“Alpha Derek believes Zane can manage his pack more efficiently,” Enzo explained. “And since Zane is married to his daughter, he believes he can trust him. He has decided to share his property between Ryan and Zane.”

I leaned back slowly, my eyes narrowing.

A humorless scoff escaped me.

“Ryan doesn’t hold real power,” I muttered, shaking my head slightly. “Zane would wipe him out of the picture before Alpha Derek even realizes what’s happening.”

Frustration surged through me.

I slammed my fist against the arm of the chair.

The impact echoed faintly in the room.

“This is reckless,” I added, my jaw tightening as anger flickered through my chest.

“Yes, Alpha,” Enzo agreed carefully, watching my reaction. “You need to do something about it. If Alpha Zane gains power from Alpha Derek’s pack, you won’t be anywhere near his level.”

Silence filled the room for a brief moment.

My expression hardened.

“We need to find something to do about this,” I stated firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.

Enzo nodded slightly.

“But what do we do, Alpha?” he asked, lifting his head to look at me.

I went quiet.

My gaze drifted for a second, my mind working fast, calculating, connecting every piece.

Then a thought clicked.

My eyes darkened slightly.

“Talia…” I murmured under my breath, my fingers tapping slowly against the chair again.

Enzo frowned slightly, confused.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, my lips curling into a faint, calculated smirk.

“She’s the solution to our problem,” I said, my voice quieter now but sharper, more deliberate.

Enzo’s brows furrowed.

“How, Alpha?” he asked cautiously.

I let out a slow breath, my eyes narrowing as I thought it through.

“Zane is distracted,” I began, my tone steady. “And Talia… she’s his weakness whether he realizes it or not.”

My smirk deepened slightly.

“If I break that connection, if I make her turn against him…” I paused, tilting my head slightly.

Everything started aligning.

“I’ll destabilize him,” I finished.

Enzo watched me carefully, understanding dawning in his eyes.

“And how do you plan to do that?” he asked.

I leaned back into the chair, my posture relaxing slightly, but my gaze remained sharp.

“I’m going to make her hate him,” I said plainly.

The words settled heavily in the room.

My brows drew together slightly as I thought about it deeper, my fingers tapping again, slower this time.

“If she turns against him, his control weakens. His decisions become unstable,” I added.

Enzo nodded slowly.

“That could work,” he admitted.

A faint smile appeared on my lips, colder now.

“It will work,” I corrected.

My jaw tightened again as determination settled in my chest.

Zane might be gaining power.

But I wasn’t going to sit back and watch him win.

Not this time.