Lucre pack in danger!
1973 Words
The next morning, Nia stood in front of her mirror, angrily brushing her hair. Her thoughts were consumed by the hurtful words exchanged the day before. Just as she was lost in her anger, she heard a soft knock on the door, breaking her concentration. Irritation etched across her face as she reluctantly approached the door and opened it.
As she laid eyes on Evan, her anger intensified. Her expression was serious, her arms folded tightly across her chest. Without uttering a word, she simply stared at him, waiting for him to explain himself.
Evan shifted nervously, his eyes filled with remorse. "Nia, can I please come in?" he asked, his voice tinged with regret.
Nia hesitated for a moment before reluctantly stepping aside, allowing him to enter. She closed the door behind him, the sound echoing her lingering frustration.
Evan took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the ground as he struggled to find the right words. "Nia, I'm truly sorry for what happened yesterday," he began, his voice filled with remorse. "I know I crossed a line with my anger, I have no idea what came upon me."
Nia remained silent, her arms still tightly folded, her eyes drilling into him with a mixture of anger and hurt.
Evan continued, his voice filled with desperation, as he took a step closer to her. "I am really sorry, Nia. You mean the world to me, and I never want to jeopardize our friendship. I promise to work on controlling my anger."
Nia's jaw tightened, her anger still palpable. She wanted to believe his words, but the pain from their heated argument lingered, making it difficult for her to easily forgive and forget.
With a deep sigh, Nia unfolded her arms and finally spoke, her voice strained with emotion. "Evan, your anger... the words you said, they hurt me deeply. This isn't the first time you're acting angrily, I'm getting tired of it! The last time you beat up a man who was innocently talking to me, and now you call me a b***h, Evan!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration. "Do I look like a b***h to you?"
Evan's shoulders slumped, his eyes filled with sadness. "No, not at all Nia, you're not one. I'm really sorry."
Nia nodded, her anger still evident in her eyes. "Yet you had the guts to call me one," she eyed him angrily. "And you grabbed my phone, checking who I was talking to. Look, Evan, I need to make it clear to you. You have no right, no right whatsoever, to dictate whom I talk to. Let this be the last time you dare to do anything like this."
Evan nodded, standing silently, a mix of anger and hurt in his eyes. "I'll leave you alone for now," he said, his demeanor suddenly changing. "Let's talk when you're better."
With that, Evan left the room, leaving Nia alone, wondering how his mood suddenly changed. How did someone who came in apologizing suddenly leave as if he's the victim in the scenario? The weight of their strained friendship lingered in the air.
##############
Ryan paced restlessly in his office, consumed by worry for his pack. The recent threats to his pack had ignited a fiery anger within him, fueling his desire to bring those responsible to justice. As he continued his restless pacing, his beta, Stark, stood by his side, reading a letter with a mix of concern and determination.
"Alpha," Stark called out, raising his gaze from the letter. "It's from a group called the Wanderers." He extended the letter towards Ryan, showing him the name and logo printed on it.
Ryan's eyes narrowed as he took the letter, his grip tightening around the paper. Anger surged through him as he read the ominous words, feeling a surge of protectiveness for his pack. "Who are these Wanderers?" he growled. "And what do they mean by 'the doom you evaded'?"
Stark shook his head, his brow furrowed with worry. "I'm not entirely sure, Alpha. It's unclear what they're referring to. However, I must inform you that a similar letter was found inside your father's lifeless body."
Ryan's heart skipped a beat as he processed the weight of that revelation. The possibility of a connection between the current threat and his father's demise made him feel uncomfortable. What did this group of people mean, and what could they want from his pack? His mind raced with several thoughts. If they had placed such a letter in his dad's body, it meant they had been planning things for a long time. It also meant they were more dangerous than he had thought. He clenched his fists, a steely resolve filling his gaze. "Stark, we need to talk to Ella," he said firmly. "Our pack's safety is at stake." Ella was the pack's witch, and her family line was the only one gifted with the ability of foretelling and prediction. Ryan needed to confirm if the threats his pack was receiving were connected to the unfolding war and battle she had earlier predicted.
Stark nodded in agreement, his loyalty to Ryan unwavering. "I will reach out to her to contact you, Alpha," he assured him.
Ryan nodded. "Okay. Besides that, I need you to install security cameras across all locations where our pack members are," his voice firm. He walked over to his sofa and took a seat. "Also, make sure to tell everyone not to change into their wolf form for the time being. If this person attacking us is here in the human world, they only know because they somehow know that we are werewolves. Let everyone keep their heads down for now," Ryan instructed.
"Okay, Alpha. Consider it done, sir," Stark replied. He could clearly see the worry etched on his Alpha's face. Stark wasn't happy seeing Ryan like this. "I'm sure things will be alright soon. We just need to catch them."
Ryan sighed as he sank further into his chair. "I hope so, Stark. I really hope so. I just wish I could claim my Luna so we could go back and live together as one pack."
Curiosity gleamed in Stark's eyes as he leaned forward in his chair, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "How are things with her, Alpha? Any progress yet?" he inquired, his voice filled with a hint of excitement.
Ryan hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting off into the distance. He weighed his words carefully, not wanting to raise Stark's hopes unnecessarily. "Well, nothing out of the ordinary, to be honest," he replied cautiously, a touch of uncertainty coloring his tone.
Stark nodded understandingly, a glimmer of hope still present in his eyes. "It'll happen soon, Alpha," he reassured, his voice filled with genuine belief. With a slight shift in his posture, Stark reached for his phone, a notification flashed on the screen, indicating an update from the team responsible for tracking the illicit cocaine trade “Alpha, you need to hear this," Stark said, his eyes glued to his phone screen. "This is the message I got from the drug handler investigating the source of the cocaine."
"What does it say?" Ryan asked, his body curiously shifting forward from his chair.
"Unfortunately, Alpha, from the message, we don't have any leads yet," he admitted sadly. "The message I received says that the sellers operate through an anonymous agent, who receives the cocaine from another anonymous sender. All transactions are conducted through off shore accounts and blockchain, leaving no traceable names or bank accounts."
Ryan grabbed the phone from Stark, his eyes scanning through the content. Frustration and pain grew in him as he read the words for himself.
Ryan exhaled deeply, his mind racing with the urgency of the situation. "Stark, we need to find out where this cocaine is coming from," he said, his voice filled with concern. "It's important. I'm very sure there has to be a lead. If you need to stalk this man you're speaking to and kidnap him to trace the leader, then I need you to do so. I can't afford to lose any more of my pack members."
Ryan's jaw tightened, frustration mingling with his determination. He wouldn't allow this anonymity to shield those responsible.
"Yes, My Lord, I'll get on it," Stark said before leaving the room.
Ryan watched as Stark left the room, his mind still preoccupied with the threats looming over his pack. The weight of his responsibilities bore down on him, but amidst the turmoil, his thoughts drifted to his mate. A small smile played on his lips as he reminisced about their recent conversations.
Ever since they started talking online, Ryan had felt a newfound sense of happiness and anticipation. Their exchanges had become a ray of light in his otherwise tumultuous life. The connection he shared with her, even from a distance, was a source of comfort and strength. He admired her wit, intelligence, and the way she effortlessly made him smile. Ryan had quickly formed a bond with Nia that went beyond mere words on a screen.
Lost in his thoughts, Ryan reached for his phone and eagerly opened their chat. The familiar glow of the screen sent a delightful flutter through his heart as her name appeared. Each beat of his heart quickened, yearning to hear her voice, even if it was just through text.
Ryan's fingers danced across the screen, a mix of excitement and longing guiding his words.
"Hey, Kotik," he began, his fingertips gliding across the smooth surface.
He paused, his gaze fixed on the screen as he awaited her response. The anticipation was palpable, the connection between them growing stronger with each passing moment. He could almost hear her voice, soft and melodious, as if she were right beside him.
Ryan couldn't help but wish he could hold her in his arms, to feel the warmth of her embrace.
As he eagerly anticipated her reply, Ryan found solace in the presence of their connection. The worries of the outside world faded into insignificance, replaced by the sheer joy and profound affection he felt for his mate.
A notification chimed, and a message from Nia appeared, causing a smile to spread across Ryan's face.
"Hello," Nia replied, her words breaking through the digital barrier.
"How are you, Kotik?"
"I'm good," Nia curtly replied. Ryan sensed the tension in her responses, devoid of playfulness or teasing.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ryan asked, filled with concern.
"I'm fine. Let's just talk later," Nia typed abruptly before going offline, leaving Ryan bewildered and anxious about what might be happening with her.
"Kotik, where are you? Are you okay?" Ryan typed, his mind consumed by various possibilities of what could be wrong with her. It had been a while since Ryan last saw her. When he visited her neighborhood, he discovered that she had moved out, leaving him to wonder where she might be.
No reply came. Minutes turned into an eternity as Ryan stared blankly at the phone screen. Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind, and he decided to dial Stark.
"Stark."
"Yes, Alpha?"
"I need you to do something for me. I want a thorough background check on Nia Addams. Retrieve her account number, account balance, transaction history, her current location, and her living conditions. Give me everything you can find."
"Alright, Alpha. I'll get right to it."
"Wait," Ryan paused, reconsidering his decision to conduct a background check on his mate. He quickly decided that it was necessary and continued with his instructions. "But when you inform the others, tell them it's just from you. I don't want them to know she's my mate."
"Understood, Alpha. I'll ensure it remains discreet."
"Thanks, Beta," Ryan smiled, expressing his gratitude, and ended the call.
- Writer
