<b>Chapter </b><b>150 </b>
Dominic’s POV
200
I stared at theputer screen, unable to focus on the quarterly reports that should havemanded my attention. Something was off–1 could feel it in my bones, in the restless pacing of my wolf. The mate hond thrummed with unease, <b>a </b>constant reminder that Reba was hiding something from me.
After a moment’s hesitation, I reached for my phone and dialed Raymond’s number.
“Sir,” he answered on the first ring.
“I need you to look into that private hospital Reba visited today,” I said without preamble, “Get me her exact diagnosis.
There was a brief pause before Raymond responded, “You suspect she wasn’t truthful about the results?”
My fingers instinctively found the mark on my neck–the one she’d left during our passionate encounter. The bond between us had strengthened since then, allowing me to <b>sense </b>her emotional state more clearly. Anxiety. Fear. Uncertainty. All these feelings had been radiating from her since she returned from the hospital.
“The mark tells me she’s hiding something, I admitted. “I can feel her distress…”
“I’ll handle it personally,” Raymond assured me.
An hourter, my phone buzzed. Raymond’s report was disappointing but not surprising.
“The hospital is refusing to release any information,” he said, “It turns out it’s owned by the Lane family–part of Adrian Lane’s family medical enterprise. They’re citing patient confidentiality regtions and made it clear that their allegiance is to the Lane family first. They wouldn’t budge even when I mentioned your name.”
I leaned back in my chair, <b>a </b>new level of suspicion forming. “So Adrian takes her to his family’s clinic, <b>where </b>they conveniently refuse to share information with anyone else.” I paused, considering the implications. “Keep digging. And have someone <b>watch </b>Adrian Lane. I don’t like how close he’s getting to Reba.”
my concentration was shattered when Marcus’s <b>voice </b>
After ending the call, I tried to return to my work, but my suddenly filled my mind through our mind link.
“Alpha, we have intruders at the edge of <b>Silver </b>Moon Estates.”
I was immediately alert. “How many?”
“Two. They’re setting something up. Looks like a trap.”
“I’ming. Don’t engage until I <b>arrive</b>.” I stood up, already striding toward the door. “Raymond,” I called out, knowing he’d hear me through the link. “Nowe back and stay with Reba, I need to handle something.”
9:10 Fri, Sep 26 B
Without waiting for his acknowledgment, I left the vi, my body already humming with the anticipation of confrontation. My wolf was close to the surface, eager for action after days of restraint.
Ten minutester, I arrived at the forest <b>edge</b>, my senses immediately picking up the acrid smell of burned earth and blood. Marcus stood at attention, his eyes glowing amber in the gathering dusk,
“One’s dead,” he reported tersely, “Self–immtion when we approached. The other tried the same but we managed <b>to </b>stop him.”
I followed Marcus deeper into the trees until we reached a small clearing. What I saw made my blood run cold. The ground had been scorched in a perfect circle, with symbols etched into the earth. At the centery the charred remains of a wolf, while another man–now forced back into human form–knelt bleeding on the ground, restrained by two of my Betas.
“What is this?” I demanded, my voice dropping to the dangerous register that made lesser wolves cower.
1
The man–Lucas, I recognized him now–trembled visibly but remained silent. I stepped closer, letting my Alpha presence wash over him in waves of intimidation.
“You <b>have </b>exactly five seconds to start talking before <b>I </b>let my Betas finish what you started.”
“It <b>was </b>Dn Hurst, Lucas finally gasped, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “He paid us to set a trap for Reba.
“Exin, I growled, feeling my wolf surge forward with rage.
Lucas swallowed hard. “The n <b>was </b>for Dn to kidnap the girl–Sofia–tomorrow when she leaves <b>work</b>. Once Reba hears her friend is missing, she’de looking. That’s when we’d spring the trap near the entrance of the estate and capture her.”
My vision shed blue as my wolf surged forward, demanding retribution. With tremendous effort, I forced it back down, knowing I needed information more than vengeance at this moment.
“And then?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm<b>. </b>
“Dn has… ns for both of them.” Lucas’s voice shook with <b>fear</b>. “Revenge for what they did to him. He said once he had Reba, you would pay attention.”
I crouched down to Lucas’s level, my face inches from his. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to contact Dn and tell him the trap is <b>set</b>. That everything is going ording to n. You understand?”
Lucas nodded frantically.
“Good,” I straightened, ncing at Marcus. “Get what you need from <b>him</b>, then let him go. Make <b>sure </b>he reports back exactly as instructed.”
As I walked away from the clearing, my mind was already racing with <b>ns </b>and countermoves. Dn Hurst had
<b>2/3 </b>
9:10 Fri, Sep 26 B
made a critical mistake targeting what was <b>mine</b>. This time, I’d make <b>sure </b>he didn’t walk away,
20
Back at the vi, I <b>convened </b>an emergency meeting with my inner circle. <b>Marcus</b>, Beta Johnson and Beta Riveral stood in my study as we <b>reviewed </b>what we knew about Dn Hurst.
“His father is Leonard Hurst, the real estate developer,” Marcus reported. “Extremely wealthy, politically connected. Dn is his only son–<b>his </b>mother died when he was young, and the father has apparentlypensated by giving the son everything he ever wanted.”
“Including getting him out of trouble when he ckmails women,” Beta Johnson added with disgust..
I studied the profile on my tablet. Dn had a history of manipting and threatening women, but had always escaped serious consequences thanks to his father’s influence. Until Sofia exposed <b>him</b>, with Reba’s help.
“He’s escted from ckmail to kidnapping and potentially worse, I observed coldly. “This ends now.”
“<b>Your </b>orders, sir? Beta Rivera asked.
“Marcus, I want you to coordinate security for my parents. Dn may be stupid enough to try to strike at me through them.” I turned my attention to the screen. “Johnson, you’ll oversee pack security. Make sure every entrance to our territory is watched.”
“And <b>the </b>humans<b>, </b>sir?”
I tapped my fingers on the desk, considering. “Rivera and I will escort them to a secure location. This isn’t just about protecting Reba anymore–it’s an opportunity to eliminate Dn as a threat once and for all.”
I instructed them on securemunications protocols. Allmunications go through encrypted channels only. No mentions of this on any devices that could bepromised, and absolutely nothing on social media,”
After ending the call, I walked to the window and looked out at the night sky. The mark on my neck pulsed with Reba’s anxiety, even though she was just down the hall, unaware of the danger circling around her.
“No one threatens what’s mine,” I whispered to the darkness. “<b>No </b>one.”
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