Secrets Never Die

The Watcher

Aiden

From the rooftop across the street, Aiden adjusted the dial on his monocular, the focus tightening on the ivy-covered entrance of the small, tucked-away restaurant.

His breath fogged in the cool night air, but he didn’t move.

Inside, through soft candlelight and windows streaked from rain, Alyssa Hart sat at a corner table. Her posture was relaxed, her smile unguarded. Across from her, laughing at something she said, sat Cole Donovan.

Aiden didn’t blink.

The realization had come to him a few nights ago, after tailing the pair for nearly a week. At first, he thought Donovan was just another nosy local wolf. The city had no shortage of them, territorial, brooding, protective.

But then he saw the way he moved. The stillness, the control, the way even a crowded street seemed to part for him without him asking.

Then there was the scent, unmistakable alpha blood, powerful and old. Not just any wolf.

This was Cole Donovan.

The CEO of Donovan Enterprises. His father had been the original founder of the now largest privately held security-tech firm in the Western Hemisphere. A ghost in public, but a giant in private power circles.

Aiden had done his homework the moment suspicion struck. No online footprint and no interviews. The last press photo was from a weapons expo five years ago, standing next to a general whose name had since been redacted from most databases.

The man had money, reach, and more than a few friends in high places.

And now, he was having dinner with Alyssa Hart.

That was the part Aiden couldn’t make sense of.

He adjusted the scope again, zooming in as Cole leaned across the table and brushed something from Alyssa’s sleeve. She laughed, soft and warm. She did not seem nervous or guarded. She seemed comfortable and even familiar with him.

Aiden’s jaw tensed. His hand hovered over the shutter button on his camera.

What the hell was this?

Was she with him willingly? Did she know what Cole was?

That part wasn’t clear. She didn’t look under duress. If anything, she seemed... drawn to him. As if they had history, were they old friends, lovers? .

Aiden pulled back from the scope, rubbing his face with a gloved hand.

None of this was in the file.

According to Lucas, Alyssa had gone completely off the radar after Trent’s death. No known associates. No new addresses. No trail. She’d vanished. Which was impressive. Most people couldn’t disappear like that unless they knew exactly what to hide from.

And now she was back, practically glowing across from a man whose power could flatten city blocks.

It didn’t add up.

Aiden flipped open his pocket notebook, scanning notes. Meetings, locations, even a grocery list from two days ago. She hadn’t bought anything suspicious, just almond milk and instant ramen. That didn’t scream suspicion.

He clicked his pen and underlined a fresh line:

Why is Donovan involved?

Was she using him? Or was it the other way around?

He’d seen what men like Donovan could do. Wolves had a way of getting under the skin, of blurring lines between charm and control.

Aiden watched as their server refilled their glasses with what looked like wine. She took a sip, laughing again. Donovan leaned in, saying something quiet. She tucked her hair behind her ear.

It was too natural, too easy.

Aiden hit record on his phone and zoomed in again, catching her expression. Soft. Interested.

If she was afraid of him, she didn’t show it.

And if she wasn’t afraid...

Then she knew.

Aiden clenched his jaw. That was the most dangerous scenario of all.

Because it meant she had willingly aligned herself with a wolf.

He lowered the scope and took a slow breath. Rain misted against his hood, collecting on the metal ledge of the rooftop.

He’d report what he saw. Send the footage to Lucas. Let him make the call.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket and pulled his hood up, retreating into the darkness.

First the girl. Then the wolf. He’d bring both of them down. Lucas wanted the girl for what she did to his brother and he wanted the wolf for what they did to his family and Aiden had to obey or he knew the consequences would be deadly.

He just needed the right opening to make his move.