Chapter 72
Ethan's POV
The phone buzzed on my desk, the screen lighting up with Derek’s name. My wolf growled low, a mix of irritation and apprehension coursing through me. Calls from my father rarely meant good news.
I picked up, bracing myself. “Derek.”
“Ethan,” he began, his tone sharp enough to cut through steel. “Do you have any idea what kind of mess you’ve allowed to fester under your watch?”
My grip on the phone tightened. “If this is about Matthew –”
“This is absolutely about Matthew!” Derek snapped, his voice icy with restrained fury. “He’s been working his way into Rogue circles for months, and you’ve let him get close to Olivia. Do you have any idea the kind of influence he’s building? Or how dangerous that makes him?”
“I’m well aware of what Matthew is capable of,” I said through gritted teeth.
Derek barked a bitter laugh. “You should have crushed this the moment you sniffed out his intentions. Instead, you let him toy with your Luna and give her reason to question you. If Matthew gains more ground, it won’t just be your Pack that suffers, it’ll be the entire Council’s reputation on the line.”
I leaned back in my chair, trying to suppress my wolf’s rising anger. “If you’ve got information, spit it out, Derek. I’m not in the mood for lectures.”
There was a pause, his silence heavy with disapproval. Then, in a calmer tone, he said, “Aiden’s release has been scheduled.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. “What?”
“His crimes have been ruled as internal Pack business. Without his own Pack to lead, he doesn’t fall under the Council’s jurisdiction. He’s a free man.”
I stood abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Free? After everything he’s done. The Rogue attacks, the manipulation –”
“None of it stuck,” Derek interrupted. “The evidence against him wasn’t substantial enough for the Council to hold him any longer. And, frankly, the Council doesn’t want to set a precedent of stepping into inter-Pack disputes. Strong Alphas handle their own problems, Ethan. You know that.”
Strong Alphas handle their problems. The phrase scratched inside my mind, my wolf snarling in agreement.
“What about Matthew?” I demanded. “You can’t tell me the Council is blind to his involvement.”
Derek sighed, a rare sound of weariness creeping into his voice. “Matthew’s another matter. He’s playing a much more delicate game, positioning himself as a necessary ally to Rogues and disillusioned Packs. He’s not stupid enough to leave a trail leading directly back to him.”
“But he’s a threat,” I pressed.
“Yes,” Derek admitted. “And he’s smart. Which is why you need to tread carefully. He’s banking on your temper to make a mistake.”
A sharp knock at the door pulled my attention, but I ignored it, my focus locked on Derek’s words. “So what do you suggest? Sit back and wait for Matthew to make his move?”
“Watch him closely,” Derek said. “And remember, he’s a piece in Chloe’s game. If you want to stop him, you’ll have to sever her influence as well.”
I clenched my jaw, the mention of Chloe sending a fresh wave of anger coursing through me. “She’s your Luna and you’d work against her?” I couldn’t believe Derek would do that.
The huff on breath on the other side of the line told me I didn’t know half the story between Derek and Chloe. “She was convenient and now she’s… not. Your mother was my Mate, Chloe is merely my wife.”
Well, if that didn’t just stop me in my tracks. Convenient. That was uncomfortably close to how I had felt about Olivia in the beginning. I told her as much.
I shook off my discomfort and focused back on the conversation. “And Aiden?”
“Deal with him,” Derek said coldly. “The Council won’t touch him, but if he’s foolish enough to cross you again, you’ll have every right to finish what he started.”
The line went quiet for a moment before Derek added, “Don’t make me regret backing you, Ethan. This Council vote is your chance to solidify your position. Don’t squander it with misplaced priorities.”
“I won’t,” I said tightly.
“See that you don’t.” The call ended with a decisive click, leaving me staring at the phone in my hand.
My wolf growled, pacing restlessly within me. Aiden released, Matthew scheming, Chloe’s shadow looming over everything; it felt like the walls were closing in.
But Derek’s warning wasn’t just criticism, it was a challenge. Strong Alphas handle their own problems.
I intended to do just that.
The sound of boots on the hardwood floor pulled my attention from the stack of requests on my desk. I looked up to see Marlus entering, his expression tighter than usual, a mix of urgency and irritation.
“Grace is back,” he said without preamble, closing the door behind him.
I leaned back in my chair, surprised. “Grace? That was sooner than expected. What’s she doing here?”
“She heard about the Rogue attacks,” Marlus explained, his tone clipped. “Apparently, news travels fast, even to her corner of the world. She thought it might be time to check in.”
A flicker of relief passed through me. Grace was as sharp as they came, and having her back could only be an asset. I just hoped her requested ‘me time’ was enough for her to get over her crush on me. “What does she know?”
Marlus crossed the room, dropping a folder onto my desk. “Enough to make your blood boil.”
I opened the folder, flipping through the documents and photos inside. The images showed Chloe sitting across from men I didn’t recognize, their expressions cold. There were detailed notes on conversations Grace had intercepted.
Chloe’s name came up frequently, as did references to Matthew and his medical skills.
“Chloe’s been meeting with outside Alphas,” Marlus continued. “Quietly building alliances, likely waiting for the right moment to strike. Chloe’s using Matthew as her pet to secure loyalty. She’s framing him as a necessary asset: a skilled doctor who can save lives and sway allegiances.”
I cursed under my breath, the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. “And the Alphas? Do we have names?”
“Not yet,” Marlus admitted. “Grace said she’s working on it. But these aren’t all minor players, Ethan. They’re strong enough to matter and subtle enough to keep this under wraps until now.”
I slammed the folder shut, the sound echoing in the room. “So, Chloe’s not just meddling in Rogue affairs, she’s positioning herself to tear everything apart.”
Marlus nodded grimly. “And she’s using Matthew to gain traction. From what Grace gathered, he’s more than willing to play his role. The question is, how far is he willing to go?”
Far enough to endanger Olivia. That much was clear. My wolf snarled, the thought of Matthew anywhere near her setting every instinct I had on edge.
“And Grace’s take?” I asked, my voice low.
“She thinks you need to prepare for something bigger. This isn’t just about Aiden or the Council anymore. Chloe’s building for a takeover, and if these Alphas back her, she’ll have enough leverage to do it.”
I stood, pacing to the window. Outside, the Pack grounds were calm, but the storm brewing behind the scenes threatened to tear it all apart. “Tell Grace to keep digging. And bring her home. I want to hear everything found out firsthand.”
Marlus hesitated, his gaze steady. “If we’re going to expose Chloe, we’ll need everyone watching. A Pack event might be the perfect stage to reveal what she’s been hiding.”
I turned back to him, my wolf already growling in agreement. “Then we’ll give her the audience she deserves.”
