We arrive in the city and park outside Zenith Creations, enter the facility and find an elevator. The elevator door dings and opens. We step out and spot a large door. We enter; it’s quite a modern, sleek waiting room; it even has a water feature on one of the walls. I approach the large desk to see a blonde receptionist on the phone. Leaning on the desk, I tap my fingers impatiently; she raises a perfectly-shaped brow at me. I take the phone from her and throw it behind her.
‘Excuse me!’ She says. ‘That was a very important client on the phone!’ She yells.
‘I don’t give a shit who was on the phone. Where’s Zenith? I want to speak with him immediately!’ I yell. She picks up a phone and presses a button.
‘There is a very rude man here, with two other men, wanting to speak with you immediately,’ she says. She covers the mic on the phone with her nail-polished hand.
‘What is your name?’ She asks.
‘Alpha Ryker,’ I snap.
‘Alpha Ryker sir. Yes, okay. I will send them in,’ she tells Alpha Zenith. She puts the phone down, and stands. ‘Follow me, please,’ she says.
We’re escorted to the middle door a few metres behind her desk. Alpha Zenith sits in a large chair behind a desk, with two bodyguards.
‘Alpha Ryker! What an unexpected surprise to see you here. Please, sit,’ he says with a smile.
‘No, we will stay standing. Where is she?’ I ask.
‘Where is who?’ Zenith asks. Placing my hand in my pocket, I pull the card out and slam it onto his desk.
‘My mate, Astrid. I know she is here; we can smell her scent!’ Zenith pauses and stares at the business card.
‘I found this card in her room after she ran,’ I say.
‘Yes. She was here, but only for a few days. She asked me for a few days’ work, to skip town. I didn’t question her; I saw a young girl in need of help, so I helped her; I gave her a job, and she left,’ Zenith explains.
‘You’re lying,’ I yell. Zenith puts his hands in the air.
‘Look, believe me or don’t believe me, I really don’t care. I don’t know why you’re bothering to find her; if she doesn’t want to be with you maybe you should let her be,’ he suggests.
‘She only left because some of your old pack members threatened to kill her if she didn’t!’ I growl. Zenith has a poker face, and his two men give eachother a look.
‘And which old members would they be?’ Zenith asks.
‘Alice and Vanessa. But not to worry: they’re currently locked up awaiting punishment.’ I notice the two men give each other another look then glare back at me.
‘And what will their punishment be?’ Zenith asks calmly.
‘I’ll have them killed and their heads ripped off, for threatening my Luna and my mate,’ I say, lying. Zenith glares for a split second.
‘I see,’ he says; his fists clenched.
‘I suppose you haven’t seen my missing beta Seth either?’ I ask, expecting another denial; I can smell Seth’s scent in the room; he has been here as well.
‘No, we haven’t, but I will let you know if Astrid contacts me, if you like?’ He says. I glare at him; he is the worst liar I have ever met.
‘I would appreciate that.’
‘Your beta and gamma?’ I ask, looking at the two men.
‘These are my sons: James, the future Alpha of Shady Crest and John,’ he says. James is glaring at me as though he despises me and wants to rip my head off. John is smirking.
‘I’m sure we will be seeing each other again soon,’ I say, leaving, Kane and Leon following behind. Out of the elevator, we go straight to the car.
‘He is lying,’ I say.
‘We figured as much,’ Kane says.
‘I can smell Seth’s scent; he has been there,’ I point out.
‘What’s our next move?’ Leon asks.
‘Let’s get back home and make a plan. We will need all our warriors,’ I say.
We arrive at Shadow Crest a short while later.
‘Leon, get the maps of Shady Crest from the library. Kane, bring Mia and Hayley here.’ They both nod and leave. Leon returns a short time later with a couple of scrolls he hands to me.
‘Alpha Ryker!’ Mia says, as she enters the room, Kane and Hayley behind her.
‘Please tell me you found them,’ she says, hopeful. I shake my head.
‘No, but I can confirm they were both at Zenith Creations at some point; their scents were faint but were there. Alpha Zenith denied seeing Seth, but did say Astrid worked for him, for a few days, before leaving, with enough money to skip town. He has them; he’s lying.’
We gather around the high table, and roll out the map showing Shady Crest in detail.
‘I think they’re in his house. They’re not exactly going to let us have a look around. The only way in, is if we trespass and declare war. The girls gasp.
‘If we go to war and some of our pack dies—’ Hayley says, grabbing Kane’s arm tightly.
‘No one has to die,’ I reassure her.
‘How so?’ Leon asks, confused.
‘When we were in the office today, I mentioned Vanessa and Alice as the reason Astrid fled. I told him they would be punished by death. Zenith tried to hide it, but it was obvious he and his sons weren’t happy about it. We need to find out why he doesn’t want Alice and Vanessa hurt. Leon, wake a few warriors and bring them here for questioning.’ Leon nods and leaves the room.
Leon returns with warriors who are dragging Alice and Vanessa into the room. They sit them on a chair next to each other. Alice spits at my feet as I approach.
‘That isn’t very nice, Alice,’ I say. She lets out a deranged laugh.
‘Tell me, what are you to Shady Crest? What are your rankings?’ I ask. Alice glares at me, remaining silent. Vanessa stares into my eyes with sadness.
‘Why couldn’t you just love me like I loved you?’ She cries. Kneeling down in front of her, I lean in closer.
‘What are you to Alpha Zenith?’ I ask, glaring at her. Vanessa recoils from me and looks away.
‘You will answer me, or Mia here will convince you to talk.’ I motion for Mia to step forward, and she cracks her knuckles, giving Vanessa a death stare.
‘I’m his daughter,’ she confesses; I could have heard a pin drop.
‘Vanessa!’ Alice growls at her.
‘You’re Alpha Zenith’s daughter? That makes Alice the Luna of Shady Crest! You said you were abused; the pack slaves! Why did you come here, if you’re the Luna, and you’re his daughter?’ I ask, half questioning, half-wondering.
‘Vanessa, keep your mouth shut!’ Alice snaps.
‘Leon, take Alice back to her cell,’ I order. Once Alice is gone, I grab Vanessa by the chin.
‘Tell me everything you know, now!’ I demand.
‘My father, Alpha Zenith sent me here to become Luna and bear your pups. He killed my true mate. Dad said my mate was weak, and his children would only breed with the best. Knowing you were mateless and one of the strongest Alphas around, he told me to seek refuge here, with the intent of us sleeping together. The irony is, the moment I met you, I instantly had a crush on you. It was all too easy to fulfil Dad’s wishes.’
‘Do you know where Astrid is?’ I ask. Vanessa looks away.
‘Please, Vanessa. She’s my mate. I love her. Tell me and your punishment will be lenient,’ I compromise. Vanessa looks at me; my eyes are glassy.
‘I’m only going to tell you Ryker, because I love you, and I want you to be happy,’ she says; tears rolling down her cheeks.
‘She is at Shady Crest,’ she confesses.
‘I knew it! Seth’s there too!’ I growl.
‘Wait! There is something you should know; my brother James plans on marking her, and sleeping with her, tomorrow night, after her shift,’ she says. Angry, I growl loudly at her words.
‘No wonder he wanted to rip my head off when I saw him today,’ I ponder.
‘Leon, Kane: let’s go over the map and work out the best strategy to defeat Zenith and his pack; get the warriors prepared; tomorrow evening we start a war!’ I declare.
