Chapter 53 The Purge
Kane checked his phone. 12:00 PM exactly. The three council members who had shown up sat around the conference table, looking confused. Thomas, his senior strategist. Patricia, head of pack relations. And Robert, his financial advisor and friend.
"Where are Sarah and James?" Patricia asked, glancing at the empty chairs.
"They won't be joining us," Kane said, taking his seat at the head of the table. Marcus stood behind him, arms crossed.
The three exchanged worried looks.
"Last night," Kane began, "Marcus gave each of you a different piece of information. False information."
Robert leaned back in his chair, understanding dawning on his face. "You were hunting for moles?"
"And I found them." Kane's voice was ice. "Sarah received intel about a weapon hidden in Northern Ridge. At 3 AM this morning, Alexander's teams swept that exact location. James was told about a planned dawn raid on Alexander's compound. At 4 AM, Alexander's security forces went on high alert."
"James and Sarah," Thomas breathed. "How long?"
"Sarah, for six months. Alexander has her son. The boy lives in one of Alexander's territories, and she hasn't seen him in two years. He uses the child as leverage." Kane's jaw tightened. "James was simpler. Alexander offered him triple his current salary plus an Alpha position in one of the conquered territories."
"Greed and desperation," Patricia said quietly. "The oldest weapons."
"Where are they now?" Robert asked.
"Sarah is under protective custody. Despite her betrayal, she's a victim too. We're working on a plan to extract her son." Kane's expression hardened. "James tried to run. He didn't make it far."
The implication hung heavy in the air.
Kane used the next half hour to narrate the events that occurred over the past few months. Explaining Alexander’s threats, the moon fever and the threats of war. The conference room went quiet after he was done.
Thomas broke the silence. "So the core council is compromised, and we have five days until the wedding. What's our strategy? We can't wage and win a war in five days."
"We're not going to," Kane said, pulling out a tablet. "We're going to expose him."
The three leaned forward.
"Think about it," Kane continued. "Alexander controls seven territories through fear. The Alphas, the fighters, even the civilians—they all believe he's too strong to stand against. They wouldn’t dare try to retaliate against someone so strong."
"But if they knew he created it..." Patricia's eyes widened.
"Exactly. We don't need to fight seven territories. We need to turn them against Alexander." Kane displayed a list on his tablet. "The wedding guest list. Every Alpha from his territories will be there, plus influential wolves from neutral packs. Over three hundred powerful wolves in one room."
"All watching," Robert said. "That could work."
"But how do we prove it?" Thomas asked. "We can't just make accusations."
Kane smiled grimly. "Marcus intercepted shipping manifests from Alexander's medical facilities. Documentation showing the development of moon fever, signed by Alexander himself. Distribution lists targeting specific packs. Even correspondence discussing 'population control through medical dependency.'"
"My God," Patricia breathed. "He documented his own crimes?"
"Arrogance," Marcus spoke for the first time. "He never thought anyone would challenge him."
"I can help with authentication," Robert offered. "I still have contacts in international pack commerce. They can verify if the shipping manifests are real."
"Good. Patricia?"
She straightened. "I have relationships with three neutral pack ambassadors who'll be at the wedding. If I can show them proof beforehand, they'll be ready to support us when we make the revelation. They already distrust Alexander. This would confirm their suspicions."
"Thomas?"
The strategist was already writing. "We need multiple copies of evidence distributed before the ceremony. If Alexander tries to suppress it at the wedding, it'll already be too late. I can coordinate secure drops to key people."
"There's more," Kane said, pulling up another document. "Project Moonrise. Alexander has been collecting blood samples from children across his territories. My guess is that he was hoping to find someone else Incase it all didn’t pan out.”
"Why?" Patricia asked.
"He's searching for specific bloodlines. The old ones." Kane met their eyes. "He's looking for Moon Healers."
"They're extinct," Thomas said automatically.
"Are they? Or have survivors been hiding?" Kane challenged. "Moon Healer blood can cure moon fever permanently. If Alexander finds one..."
"He'll have a cure only he controls," Robert finished. "Ultimate leverage."
"We expose this too," Kane decided. "Parents across all territories will riot when they learn he's been experimenting on their children."
Patricia pulled out her phone, typing rapidly. "I can leak this to the underground information networks. By tomorrow, rumors will be spreading. By the wedding, people will be demanding answers."
"What about physical evidence?" Thomas asked. "Documents can be denied."
Kane nodded to Marcus, who produced a vial from his jacket. "Moon fever serum. Stolen directly from Alexander's facility. Any decent chemist can analyze it and confirm it's designed to create dependency, not cure disease."
"I know someone," Robert said immediately. "Dr. Chen from the Berkeley pack. She's neutral, respected, and most importantly, she'll be at the wedding as the Berkeley Alpha's plus-one."
"Get it to her," Kane ordered, sliding the vial across the table.
"There's still the matter of the ceremony itself," Thomas pointed out. "Alexander won't just stand there while we expose him."
"Which is why we need contingencies." Kane pulled up the cathedral blueprint. "Security will be tight, but they'll be focused on external threats. Patricia, I need you to ensure our evidence carriers are seated strategically throughout the cathedral. If Alexander tries to suppress one, others can continue."
"Like a hydra," she said approvingly. "Cut off one head, two more appear."
"What about Victoria?" Robert asked. "She's not just a pawn in this."
"No, she's not," Kane agreed. "But she's also Alexander's weakness. He's using this wedding to legitimize his power. If his own daughter's wedding becomes the stage for his downfall, the irony will destroy his reputation even more."
"Speaking of the wedding," Marcus checked his watch. "Don't you have a suit fitting?"
Kane glanced at his phone and cursed. "3:20PM. I'm late."
"Skip it," Marcus suggested. "We have more important…”
No. Victoria scheduled it. If I don't show, Alexander will know something's wrong." Kane stood, grabbing his jacket. "Besides, I need to gauge their security preparations. See how nervous they are."
"Want backup?" Marcus offered.
"No. Stay here and refine the extraction plan for Sarah's son. We get one shot at this." He turned to the others. "Thomas, create dead-drops for the evidence. Patricia, start working your contacts—carefully. Robert, get that vial analyzed and documented."
"Kane," Patricia called as he reached the door. "What if Alexander has contingencies too? What if he knows we're planning something?"
Kane paused. "Then we better hope our truth is stronger than his lies. Because in five days, one way or another, everything changes."