Page 10

“Just remember,” he growls, his voice laced with a mix of resignation and defiance, “you may have power now, but that doesn’t mean you know how to use it.”

“Yet, Kyson. Not yet,” I reply firmly, my voice filled with determination. “But I think you and I both know you’re dreading the day when I do.” His growl echoes through the courtyard as he turns away from me, storming off in frustration.

I release Peter from my grip, turning to face Ester once more. Her body hangs limply from the chains, her breathing shallow and weak.

“Release her! “ He snaps before turning his gaze back to me. “Cover up!” he snaps, turning on his heel and storming off.

Chapter

Six

KYSON

Fury simmers within me, threatening to spill over. Azalea’s audacity to assert her authority, even if technically she has none over me, sends a surge of anger coursing through my veins. The implications of her actions weigh heavily on my mind as I storm towards my office, frustration gnawing at me. How can I always come second to her? I’ve dedicated weeks to caring for her, and yet she defends the very person responsible for putting her in such a state. For killingourchild.

Damian is waiting in my office for me when I open the door, engrossed in the paperwork strewn across my desk. He glances up as I enter, his disapproving gaze as I move toward my bar and pour myself a drink.

“What’s that look for?” I demand, my voice tinged with irritation.

“Do I really have to spell it out?” he retorts, leaning back in his chair. I hand him his drink and he takes it, savoring the taste as he takes a sip.

“Azalea?” he ventures, and a growl escapes my throat. My Lycan side ripples beneath my skin, still restless from the recent shift.

“Don’t!” I warn him sharply, the warning clear in my eyes.

Damian clicks his tongue.

“Your anger and your drinking,” he holds his glass up. “Is getting the better of you!” he snaps at me as I take my seat.

I sink into my seat with a heavy sigh, and Damian rises from his chair, moving around the room to retrieve a pair of black shorts from the closet behind the door. He tosses them to me, and I snatch them from the air before setting down my glass of whiskey.

“How did you go?” I ask him while pushing out my chair so that I can pull them up my legs.

“I’m thinking of sending someone to Crux. Perhaps they can gather some information by visiting the brothels,” Damian suggests, just as Liam saunters into the room. I slump further in my chair, feeling the weight of my responsibilities pressing down on me.

“Ah, you should be with Azalea,” I remark to Liam, who shrugs nonchalantly.

“Well, I’m here. And Trey is with her,” he responds casually, making his way towards the bar area. Instead of grabbing a glass, he grabs the entire bottle, topping up my glass before taking a swig for himself as he tips the bottle to his lips.

“Saving that liver of yours my King,” he says while sending me a wink. I pick up my glass and sip it, turning my attention back to Damian who I send off to look into the council finances along with Alpha Deans and Alpha Brock’s pack finances.

“Do you still think they have something to do with the missing children?” I inquire, sharing his suspicions. Our doubts about that particular pack have lingered for quite some time, but we are still in need of concrete evidence.

“Yes. Well, I don’t believe Ester is going around killing children. But even after you commanded her the other day …”

“Half commanded her. I wouldn’t call it a full command,” Liam chuckles as we both look at him.

“What? Gannon said she didn’t even break out in a sweat. So I would hardly call that a command,” Liam says, making my brows pinch because he is right. She put up no fight at all to my persuasion when I questioned her.

“Hmm...interesting,” I mull over the thought. Liam is right; her lack of resistance during my questioning raises questions of its own.

“Interesting? I don’t trust the bitch. Too much doesn’t add up,” Liam says and he is right. We are barely at the tip of the iceberg.

“What do you think of Trey?” I ask him.

“Ferret Face Fuck? I will admit that I had him pegged wrong but Ester...” He shakes his head.

“Too much doesn’t add up. And did you see Trey’s reaction when he learned about Marrissa? That was a genuine surprise, he wasn’t aware.”