Chapter Seventy-Two

Alpha Lucius.

"I got your message, Thorold Dawson!" I exclaimed, stepping inside with Stefano.

Thorold Dawson turned around with a bag of dollars in his hand and flung them to the lengthy table in front of us. "I got a new puppet, Maverick Slade," he smirked and turned to his left and our confused gaze followed him. ".... He will be replacing Beckett,"

I gasped, stunned, "Beckett has been so good," I mumbled but Thorold Dawson shook his head before putting out his cigarette. ".... Beckett is strong but from the way things are going, Alpha Valerio might caught him,"

He stepped forward and quietly dipped his cigarette into the ashtray, "He is a great asset but sometimes we don't have to depend on one person. He might disappoint anytime soon,"

" What are you saying, elder Thorold," Stefano asked with a respective bow.

"We will no longer be needing him,"

" Huh!!"

My brow furrowed.

His smirk deepened as he turned around to face us, "Once he gets that girl…. We will end him, his time has expired!!!" Seeing the confusion in our faces, he continued, " If anything should happen to Isabella, Alpha Valerio that I know will do anything to find out what happened. And trust me, he is smart, it will only take him a few minutes to figure Beckett out and do you know what will happen once he gets caught…..?" He raised a questioning brow at us.

"I warned him to keep his tongue tied up," Stefano muttered but elder Thorold laughed and shook his head in disagreement.

I just stood in Thorold's den, looking confusedly at him. He has summoned us here for great news and from what I am seeing…. It seems that this new man was the new information that we came all the way here for.

Maverick Slade_ that's what he called him.

But for me, honestly speaking, I do prefer Beckett. We have worked for years, when I said years… I meant it. He hasn't given us anything to doubt him, he was an expert. But then again, Elder Thorold always has his reasons.

As long as he has made up his mind, that's final.

"A common threat won't flinch him," his words jolted me out of my thoughts. ".... Beckett will expose us, just to save himself and his mate, Brielle,"

"MATES!!!" We both gasped and he nodded, confirming our confusion. " I have a spy in there, that fool has a mate,"

Beckett has a mate?

And he never mentioned it.

Stefano looked at me, having the same expression on his face. I gave him a small nod and he bobbed his head in understanding and moved his gaze away, back to Elder Thorold.

I also did the same.

His gnarled hands grasped a worn cane which he used to propel forward. He is damn getting old real quick and that's why we need to end Valerio real quick. If we are able to eliminate Valerio, I believe Elder Thorold will make me the Alpha's above all other Alphas before he could pass out.

He is among the mouthpiece in the council, the most feared elder there. And this is why I am still here with him.

He's the only one to push me to that up. We have come a very long way.

Sitting down, Elder Thorold's eyes gleamed malevolently as he shuffled through the dollars in his desk. "Maverick was able to abduct and sell out a lot of slaves on his first day of work," grasping the dollars with his wrinkled hands, he showcased them in front of us.

And Maverick beamed proudly, nodding his head.

"Hmm…" I forced out a smile, " Well that's good," I said walking up to the couch.

"Beckett has killed the omega, at least Valerio won't know about the ointment," Stefano blurted and walked up to stand beside me.

"I heard Alpha Reginald's son is dead, does he know?"

We both shook our heads, "No,"

"That's better, he doesn't have to know for now," Elder Thorold hummed and tossed some dollar bags to us. Stefano was fast to caught them, "That's your share,"

"Thank you," I muttered, though not so comfortable about this Maverick guy.

Where exactly did Thorold get him from? For the first time, I didn't like someone working for us, not just me but I could also see the same look on Stefano's face. But not like we could say or do anything…… Our opinion doesn't count. Elder Thorold does his own thing in his own way.

This evil old man cares about nobody, if you want his help then you have to lower and follow his rules.

"Now, you have to go, it's almost getting dark," Elder Thorold suddenly said, drawing back my attention and I quickly nodded with a forced smile. I stood up to leave with Stefano but his next word stopped me in my tracks, "Remember to be careful…. Maverick see them out,"

"Yes, elder Thorold," Maverick hummed and stepped forward to open the door for us.

We nodded to Elder Thorold who seemed so engrossed in the dollars in front of him. Swallowing, I turned and started heading toward the door.

Thorold's den is hidden and secluded deep inside the woods. He was right, the sky is slowly getting darker. We need to get to the pack on time.

The Maverick guy was walking in front of us, nothing was said between any of us…. Not even a word.

Almost closer to our car, he stopped and bowed before walking away, back to Thorold's den.

*** ****

Third person pov:

Back at Thorold's den, Maverick heard the slow rustling of the grasses…. More like someone was watching them.

He paused instantly, his ear peeking up in full alert, Maverick snapped his head around, scanning the whole woods but he saw nothing.

Everywhere seems quiet and filled with trees… it was lonely as if nothing was there. After a few minutes of searching, he gave up and walked away.

Believing that nobody was there, it was just his instinct playing with him.

But as he strode away, a shadow covered in black cloak emerged from behind a tree, and watched him as he walked toward the den.