Chapter 86

Chapter 86
Claude

I stared at Dorne, and honestly. He was a dishonorable man. He had just admitted, with a straight face, no less, that he murdered his own friends, people he worked with every day, just for a paycheck from Maddox.

If he could do that to his own kind, why would I ever trust him?

But something wasn't adding up. My brain was working fast now, trying to piece the timeline together. 

If this guy had successfully sold Jesse to the Variants, what was he doing sitting in my basement? Why was he spilling all these secrets to me? 

People like him didn't talk for free, and they definitely don't hang around enemy territory unless they have to.

"I have a question for you, Dorne," I said, crossing my arms. I kept my voice low, trying to hide the pure and utter disgust I felt. 

"If you delivered Jesse to Maddox like you were supposed to, why are you here? Why are you telling me all this? Did you suddenly grow a conscience?"

"Conscience? Don't be stupid. That doesn't pay for wine."

He continued. "The truth is, things didn't go exactly as planned. Technically, I didn't hand Jesse over directly to Maddox’s front door. That damned rogue is slippery. He managed to break loose and bolt into Rogue Land before the final hand-off."

I felt a tiny spark of pride for Jesse. Of course he fought back. Even against a  hunters, he wasn't just going to sit there and wait for the end.

"Maddox had to go in there himself to get him. The Alpha went into Rogue Land with his own team to drag Jesse back. But as far as I’m concerned, I did my job. I lured Jesse out of Grayridge. I brought him to the designated spot. I did the heavy lifting."

"And let me guess," I said, a dry smile touching my lips. "Maddox didn't see it that way?"

Dorne’s face twisted into a scowl, making that long scar on his face look even uglier. 

"That psycho turned on me. He said because I let him slip and that the deal was off. He refused to pay me a single cent of the remaining balance. And then, just to show me how much he didn't care, his wolves beat the hell out of me. They chained me up in one of their outposts, probably planning to finish me off later."

"But you escaped," I noted.

"I’m a REIN agent," he muttered. "I know how to get out of a pair of rusty cuffs. I’ve been running since then, and that’s why I ended up here."

"So, let me get this straight. This is about revenge? You're giving me Jesse's location because you want to revenge for not paying you?"

"Partly. I’d love to see that arrogant wolf lose what he had workedso hard to secure. But mostly? I’m here for my compensation. I lost my team and my reputation for this job. I’ve given you the location of your friend. Now, Revelle Pack is going to pay me what I’m owed."

I froze. I actually stopped breathing for a second because I couldn't believe what I was hearing. 

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me," Dorne said. He actually had the nerve to look hopeful. 

"I did the work. You want the boy? I know the patrol schedules of Variant pack. For the right price, I’ll hand it all over. I expect to be paid in full, Alpha. Gold, cash, I don't care. Just make it worth my while."

I wanted to laugh. I really did. I looked at Eric, who was staring at Dorne like he was a bug under a microscope. I couldn't comprehend how idiotic this man was. 

Did he really think he could come into my house, admit to kidnapping my mate and murdering people, and then ask for a reward? 

Did he think I was going to open the pack treasury and hand him a bag of coins?

"You want... a paycheck?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and sheer disbelief. 

"You think I’m going to pay you for the 'service' of stealing Jesse and selling him to a crazed Alpha?"

"I'm giving you the info you need to save him!" Dorne shouted. "That's worth something, isn't it?"

"You aren't getting a penny from me, Dorne. Not one. In fact, the only reason you’re still breathing is because I needed you. Now...not so much.

How could anyone be this stupid? Did he really think an Alpha would reward a hunter?

"Wait, no. I gave you everything! I told you where he is! You can't just—"

"Eric," I interrupted, not even looking at the hunter anymore. "Lock him up. Make sure he's secure. I don't want him seeing the sun until I say so."

"You're going to kill me?" Dorne stammered, his bravado finally breaking. "Is that it? You're just going to finish me off now that you have what you want?"

I looked back at him one last time. He was stupid to think I would give him death. It was far too merciful. 

"No. I’m not going to kill you. Why would I? As far as I’m concerned, you haven't committed a crime against the Revelle pack. You didn't steal from me, and you didn't kill my wolves."

Dorne let out a breath of relief, but I wasn't finished.

"But your organization? REIN? I'm sure they have plenty of questions about those dead hunters you left in the dirt. So that was you... I ran into one of your hunters. He was still alive,  but he was suffering" I said. I saw him go pale. 

"I’ll be handing you over to REIN. You can answer to your own people for what you did. I’m sure they’ll be much less patient than I am."

"No! Wait! You can't do that!" he screamed as Eric grabbed his arm and started dragging him toward the cell through a back door. 

"They’ll kill me! Claude! Let’s talk about this!"

I ignored his shouting until the heavy iron door slammed shut, cutting off his voice. Eric came back a minute later, wiping his hands on his pants. He looked at me with his face serious.

"Okay, Alpha," Eric said. "We have the location. We know it’s the Variants. What now? What’s the plan?"

"The plan is simple," I said, and for the first time in a long time, I felt a spark of purpose. 

"We prepare. We’re going to get Jesse back. I am going to confront Maddox and I’m going to end this."

Eric looked worried. He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing toward the stairs leading back up to the main hall. 

"Alpha... you know the elders and the council aren't going to like this. They already hate the alliance. If you tell them you want to start a war with the Variants over a rogue? They’re going to fight you every step of the way."

"Let them!" I snapped. "I don't care what they want anymore. I’m done listening to them."

I didn't waste any time. I called for a meeting in the Great Hall. I wanted everyone there, my council, the elders, and the leaders of the Stalemoon pack. If we were going to do this, it had to be out in the open.

The meeting started exactly how I expected it to. I told them that we had confirmed Jesse was being held by Maddox. The moment I finished speaking, Elder Thane jumped to his feet.

"Absolutely not!" Thane shouted as his face turned into a deep shade of purple. 

"You want to risk the lives of our warriors for a rogue? A man who isn't even part of this pack anymore? It’s madness, Claude! We have no reason to provoke Maddox."

"He’s my friend..." I said, my voice low and dangerous.

"He’s a ghost!" Elder Ian chimed in, shaking his head. 

"He abandoned this pack years ago. It’s over. We aren't going to spill Revelle blood for your old mistakes. It’s not worth it."

I looked around the room. Most of my council members were looking at the floor, too afraid to speak up against the elders. I felt that familiar weight of frustration. 

Why was everything a battle with these people? Was I the Alpha or was I just a puppet for a bunch of old men?

But then, someone else spoke up.

Alpha Dane from the Stalemoon pack stood up. He had been sitting quietly with Rhode, watching the elders yell. 

He looked at me, then turned his gaze toward Thane and Ian.

"I’ll offer my support," Dane said. His voice was calm.

The elders stopped talking and stared at him. 

"This isn't your business, Stalemoon," Thane muttered.

"Actually, it is," Dane countered. "We are in an alliance, aren't we? If a wolf of Revelle is being held hostage by a pack as dangerous as the Variants, then we have a problem. A threat to one of us is a threat to both. My warriors will stand with Claude. If there’s a rescue to be made, we’re in."

Rhode nodded beside him.

"We don't leave people behind."

I felt a rush of gratitude. I looked at the elders, who now looked completely stunned. 

They couldn't argue with an allied Alpha without looking like cowards.

"The decision is made," I said, slamming my hand down on the table. 

"We’re going to get Jesse. Start the preparations..."