<h4>Chapter 421: Chapter 421 Hidden Agendas</h4>


    Author’s pov


    "Besides working with you, I have no other options," he said, his gaze moving between Alpha Sebastian and Cassian.


    The desperation in his plea for alliance was unmistakable.


    Alpha Sebastian’s smile was warm and weing. "Alpha?Gavin is a smart man. I’ve always thought highly of him."


    Surprisingly, Cassian, who was usually more friendly, did not smile this time.


    His face showed a little anger. "Let’s just hope he’s not too clever and tries to trick us."


    "I trust Alpha?Gavin," Alpha Sebastian said clearly.


    "I don’t," Cassian replied simply.


    Their different attitudes were very clear.


    Alpha Sebastian and Cassian were very close, so it was clear they were working together.


    They were ying good cop, bad cop.


    Alpha?Gavin understood the game at once. "Thank you for your trust, Alpha?Sebastian. And Mr.?Locke’s worries are fair. I just want to know what I can do to earn your trust."


    "Trust is not a simple recipe," Cassian said slowly. "Building trust between us would be as hard as sharing a sleeping bag naked. Do you think that’s likely?"


    "Well, that would be very hard," Alpha?Gavin said between coughs, trying to hide how embarrassed he was.


    "Not hard. Impossible!" Cassian said.


    Though momentarily lost for words, Alpha?Gavin steeled himself and pressed on. "So what you’re saying is that no matter what, you’ll never trust me?"


    "Exactly." Cassian nodded with arrogant confidence, then abruptly changed his tone. "However, since Alpha Sebastian wants to give you a chance, I’ll agree to cooperate for his sake.


    But cooperation isn’t the same as trust.


    I’ll hold back information, keep you under surveince, and if you don’t follow instructions precisely, I’ll terminate our arrangement immediately..."


    "With these... terms," Cassian’s voice dripped with supreme arrogance, "do you still want to work with us?"


    "I look forward to our partnership," Alpha?Gavin replied without hesitation


    Cassian’s deliberately contemptuous expression softened slightly.


    "To our partnership," he responded. "Alpha?Gavin, please excuse my earlier remarks."


    "No offense taken, Mr.?Locke. I can’t aplish this without you, while you could manage without me. Since I’m riding your tailwind, I’ll naturally follow your lead." Alpha?Gavin lowered his stance even further.


    "I’m finding that Alpha?Gavin really knows how to talk.


    No wonder Alpha Sebastian likes you. Much more likable than Alpha?Xavier." Cassian’s face broke into a broad, amused smile.


    Alpha?Xavier shot Cassian an expressionless nce.


    "Let’s focus on business," Alpha Sebastian interjected, turning his attention to Harper. "What did you discover while trackingst night?"


    Harper calmed herself before answering. "I saw Luna?Dora acting strangely, so I followed her.


    I thought she might be meeting Maggie. She went into a small house. When she came out, she looked very happy.


    I heard her say Cici’s name, but I was too far away to hear everything clearly.


    From her happy look, I think Cici might be in Colorado?Springs. Otherwise, Luna?Dora would not have looked so pleased."


    "Alpha?Gavin, what information do you have?" Alpha Sebastian looked at him.


    Alpha?Gavin sat up straight. "First, Cici is not in Colorado?Springs. I have been watching her too.


    I can tell you two things for sure.


    One, Maggie is holding her. Maggie has been talking to my family.


    Two, Cici has already joined the Moonveil?Ascendancy.


    My parents, even though I did not want them to, have secretly gone to Moonveil meetings in Denver."


    Alpha Sebastian nodded. "So you’re the missing piece. You’re the one they truly want to recruit."


    "I have no intention of joining," Alpha?Gavin said firmly.


    "No, I think you should join them and try to infiltrate them," Alpha Sebastian replied.


    A subtle, dangerous smile yed at the corners of his mouth.


    "...What?" Alpha?Gavin looked genuinely baffled.


    He shook his head. "That seems almost impossible. She has been deeply involved there for years.


    How long would it take me to be more powerful than her? Even if I did, I don’t think I could ever truly leave that bad group."


    Cassian leaned forward. He was clearly losing patience. "Alpha?Gavin, you haven’t even started, and you are already thinking about the end?"


    Alpha Xavier, looking cold and distant, finally spoke.


    "I actually think this idea could work. If we don’t remove the base of her power, our problems will never end. Let’s get rid of her first and worry about what happens nextter. It’s just a secret group. Will they kill me for leaving?"


    "They actually might," Alpha Sebastian replied, a flicker of grim amusement in his eyes.


    Alpha Xavier frowned, but before he could speak, Alpha Sebastian continued, "I know, because I’ve already made contact. I have one foot in the door. I can tell you with absolute certainty that the Moonveil?Ascendancy is far more terrifying than anything you’ve heard or understand."


    Alpha Xavier and Alpha?Gavin exchanged shocked nces, their faces paling.


    Alpha Sebastian nodded to Sawyer, who briefly outlined their experience in London, where they’d taken two days during their business trip to attend a Moonveil?Ascendancy castle banquet.


    "Maggie is merely a minor figure in the Moonveil?Ascendancy," Alpha Sebastian exined. "Particrly in recent years, as she’s failed to procure suitable ‘blood vessels’ for them. Her position is precarious, which is why she’s desperate to secure your allegiance."


    His eyes glinted with calcted intent. "Why not meet her halfway? Be her people, as she expects. Join the party."


    Alpha Sebastian looked between them, his smile carrying an unsettling sense of... deception.


    Both men nodded in agreement. The alliance was established.


    "Tomorrow morning, we’ll be joining Martha for breakfast at the Locke residence," Alpha Sebastian informed them. "I suspect Maggie will invite you both as well."


    "If she does, I’ll be there," Alpha?Gavin confirmed.


    Xavier’s expression darkened noticeably.


    "Is there a problem, Alpha?Xavier?" Alpha?Sebastian asked, his voice full of mock encouragement. "Using your special talents to charm young women seems like something you are good at."


    Alpha?Xavier muttered an obscenity under his breath. His jaw tightened, a vein throbbing at his temple.


    He forced himself to take a slow, deep breath, but his anger didn’t fade.


    Instead, it sharpened, turning his gaze cold and calcting.


    A heavy, awkward silence fell over the table.


    "Now that we’ve concluded our business," Xavier said tly, his gazending on Cecilia. "Can we speak privately? You owe me a conversation fromst night."


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