Chapter 32 The Debt


    <b>Mateo’s </b>POV


    When I gave the order, she frowned–but then slipped off her jacket without a word, revealing a <b>snug </b><b>tank </b>top underneath..


    Her lean upper body was clearly defined, and her lower half was dressed in form–fitting athletic <b>leggings— </b>no room to hide anything, not weapons… and definitely not her figure.


    I had to admit–this Omega was wless. That sweat–soaked body, just barely veiled by the damp fabric, could stir the blood of any male werewolf with a working pulse.


    A slow heat rose in my gut, tightening as I watched. My Adam’s apple bobbed as I swallowed, voice low <b>and </b>rough. “Keep going. Don’t stall.”


    Aubrey’s POV


    Keep going?


    Like this wasn’t enough? Anyone could see there was nowhere to hide anything. He was clearly doing this to mess with me.


    So instead, I walked to the bathroom door, grabbed the stainless<b>–</b>steel handle–and with one firm tug. yanked it clean off the hinges.


    Mateo’s smirk vanished. His whole body went tense.


    “Rx,” I said lightly, giving the handle a yful shake before tossing it to the floor with a dull thud.


    “I’m just a slightly stronger–than–average Omega. I took the lock off the bathroom door–does <i>that </i>make you feel safer? It’s frosted ss. You’ll be able to see my shadow while I’m in there. If anything looks off, you can bust in. What more do you want?”


    Of course, what I really meant was, <i>Try </i><i>me </i><i>and </i><i>see </i><i>what </i><i>happens</i>.


    Ignoring the way his expression darkened, I calmly stepped into the bathroom and pulled the door shut behind me.


    First, I tried calling out to E again. Still no response. I pushed the worry aside. I hadn’t had my wolf for years–I could handle this.


    I stripped down and turned on the shower.


    After working out, my body was flushing out a lot of built–up toxins. That was normal. Grandpa always said, the more impurities that left my system, the better my body would be. My wolf and I would sync even more perfectly, allowing me to tap into a stronger, more explosive power inbat.


    In fact, ever since my training, my senses felt sharper. I smiled to myself,pletely ignoring Mateo outside as I washed.


    The Zach family…


    They used to be a shadowy titan lurking beneath the surface of every major werewolf pack. A true underground syndicate, Like ghosts, they’d appear out of nowhere–and if you paid enough, <b>they’d </b>do anything for you, coups, assassinations<b>, </b>stealing ancient relics<b>… </b>


    Chapter 32 The Debt


    If the Alpha King was the visible ruler of the werewolf world, then the Zach family <b>had </b>once been the <b>crownless </b>kings of the underworld.


    But that was a long time ago.


    Eighty years ago, the Zach family assassinated a high–ranking member of the royal family. The royal <b>court </b>struck back with full force–a bloody purge that nearly wiped them out. Those who survived scattered <b>and </b>hid like rats, slowlyundering their operations to stay alive.


    Now, under Mateo, the family was mostly legit. But even so, they still had ess to trained werewolf assassins and a terrifying intelligencework. Nobody dared to underestimate them.


    And in my past life, my downfall had everything to do with Alpha Mateo.


    I tilted my head back under the water, letting it m into my forehead–just enough to cool the boiling hatred in my chest,


    After Bailey rose to fame, she forced me to be her “assistant,” covering up the fact that she didn’t know <i>a </i>damn thing about medicine.


    One time, Mateo came to her because his little brother was injured. Bailey had no clue what to do–so I did it. I saved him. But the credit went to her. She used that “favor” to get Mateo to do all sorts of things for her. She was untouchable after that.


    Eventually, I learned who Bailey really was. I cut ties, ran away, nearly escaped the country.


    But Mateo dragged me back with his own hands. I screamed and told him <i>I </i>was the one who’d saved his brother, not Bailey.


    He didn’t believe me. He looked at me with disgust and said, “Cry out one more time and I’ll cut your tongue out.”


    He took me by surprise. The evidence I had–the data that could clear my name–was stolen. Bailey crushed my right hand so I couldn’t treat anyone again. My family always took her side. I had no <i>way </i>to prove anything.


    I stood there with my eyes closed, letting the water run over me.


    If it hadn’t been for him, I might’ve made it out. I could’ve gotten back on my feet. Exposed Bailey. None of it would’ve happened.


    So now… how should I deal with Mateo?


    Kill him?


    No. That’d be too easy.


    Ruin what he loves most?


    Yes. That’s it. I remember now–he really dotes on his little brother…