Page 54 of The Reaper's Vow

Vanessa's smile turns predatory. “Did we touch a nerve? Poor Reaper, so focused on his new toy that he's missing the bigger picture.”

My hand moves to my weapon, but I force myself to stop. Information first. Violence second. “Explain.”

“Lockhart knows about your little mate,” the suit continues, emboldened by my restraint.

Vanessa tilts her head, studying my reaction with obvious satisfaction. “Karina Greene. Lives alone in a shitty apartment in Eureka. Oh, and she’s your mate.”

My vision tunnels, the warehouse fading except for the two figures in front of me. They know everything. How the fuck do they know everything?

“You see, she wasn't as invisible as you think,” Vanessa continues. “Lockhart has been tracking her and others like her for months. Building a database of potential...acquisitions.”

The word 'acquisitions' makes my wolf howl with fury.

“You're lying,” I growl, but doubt creeps in like poison. How could they know so much about her? About us?

Vanessa's smile widens. “Am I? Then why is your hand shaking, Reaper?”

I glance down, surprised to find my fingers trembling against my sidearm. I force my hand to steady.

“Whatever game you're playing, it ends now,” I say, drawing my weapon in one fluid motion. “Tell me what Lockhart knows and how he knows it.”

The suit raises his hands. “We're just messengers. Kill us, and you'll never get the information you need.”

“I don't need both of you alive to get information.” I aim directly at his head. “One will do.”

Vanessa steps forward, positioning herself slightly in front of the suit. “You're making a mistake. This isn't about territory or businesses anymore. Lockhart is playing a different game—one Anselm doesn't even understand yet.”

“What game?” I demand, my patience evaporating with each second that passes. Every moment I waste here is another moment Karina could be in danger.

“Genetics.”

Ice floods my veins. “What are you talking about?”

Vanessa circles me slowly, confidence radiating from her in waves. “You really don’t know, do you? The big bad Reaper, so focused on taking his prize that he never stopped to ask why she was worth taking in the first place.”

“Stop playing games,” I growl, my finger tightening on the trigger. “What does Lockhart want with Karina?”

“The same thing everyone will want once they discover what she is. Who she is,” Vanessa's smile widens. “Lockhart's just been...patient. Watching her for years while the rest of you remained oblivious.”

My world tilts on its axis. Years? That can't be right. Karina was living a normal life until two days ago. She was hidden among humans, unknown to our kind.

“Why?” The question scrapes from my throat, raw with an emotion I can't name. “Why would he watch her?”

She laughs, the sound like broken glass. “All this time, you thought you found her by chance. That fate brought her to you.”

“Get to the point,” I snarl, my patience shredded to nothing.

“She isn't some random wolf who happened to catch your attention.” Vanessa beams with malicious satisfaction. “She's the daughter of Elena Rosewood.”

Every wolf on the West Coast knows the legend of Elena Rosewood—the only female alpha born in three centuries.

“That's impossible,” I breathe, but even as I say it, doubt creeps into my mind.

“Is it?” Vanessa tilts her head, savoring my shock.

“Elena Rosewood disappeared in 1995.”

“So she did, but did you know her mate disappeared with her? They had a daughter born the following year. A daughter they kept hidden from the supernatural world.”