Marked by the Moon—Rejected by my Alpha mate

CHAPTER 17: Execution Time.

[ Nicholas POV ]

"Deal."

I said it immediately she pronounced the last word. Watched something flicker across her face—she was expecting resistance, maybe even hoping for it. Resistance would have given her something to push against.

I wasn't going to give her that.

She held my gaze for three seconds longer than necessary then looked down at the file. I picked up my coffee. The evening light was doing something unreasonable to her face and I made a point of looking elsewhere.

Kyle was insufferably smug.

"Strictly business," I said again, mostly to myself.

"Exactly." She didn't look up.

Right. Just right.

My own mate made me sign a deal not to develop feelings that were already enforced by the bond she hasn't yet recognized and I don't why that is.

But maybe it's for the best—if she knows I'm her mate now, she might reject us and I don't want that. I don't want this bond now either, but it seemed like the Moon Goddess chose to punish me for my sins in the best way possible.

Each time I set my eyes on her gradually ruins my control. My canines ached whenever she's close, Kyle wants to put his mark on her so bad, I want to make her mine so desperately. She was right in front of me and completely out of reach—what punishment could be worse than that.

My gaze flickered back to her face still looking down, but not at file this time—it was on her phone. She was texting someone.

“Ambrose will be here in a few minutes.”

“Is he supposed to be part of this,” I asked, setting my empty coffee mug on the table.

“Yeah, why not.” she replied, shooting her head up at my raised brows.

“The meeting concerning the deal is over. Now it's time to plot.”

“Plot, huh? I love your choice of words,” I said, nodding in understanding.

“Not for long, they'll get nasty soon.” she said, and I could only stare at her in quiet disbelief. This is going to be a really bumpy ride.

The door clicked open and Ambrose came rushing in. “No time to check time, first plan launching tonight.” He slumped down on a seat, dropping a suitcase on the table.

“Are you cursed?” Elena snapped at her twin as she dragged the suitcase to her side, already opening it.

“Huh?” Ambrose’s face creased in confusion.

“Do you have to come late to every important meeting?” Elena said flatly.

“But it's only five minutes,” Ambrose countered, gazing at his wristwatch then back at her.

“Whatever,” Elena said, rolling her eyes, “Hope you didn't forget anything.”

“Oh wow, Lena, you could really do better than bugging me, okay?”

“Bugging you? I'm just making sure you don't mess things up like you always do.”

“i never mess things up.” Ambrose shot back.

“Oh really,” Elena drawled, “then why is dad always complaining and let's Elijah handle most of the things?”

“Lena watch your—”

“Enough!” I slammed my fist against the table, before Ambrose could finish. It made them gasp. What in the world is wrong with these twins? Because tell me why grown up adults are arguing like kids.

“Oh, Mr. Nicholas Hale,” Elena started, leaning forward, a slow smile forming on her lips, “you gonna have to put up with our madness.”

Damn. This girl.

“Just call me Nick.” I replied and she hummed.

“My sister is a lot to put up with, just pray to the goddess she doesn't drive us crazy.” Ambrose chuckled.

Elena shot him a hard glare.

“Guys!”

“Alright, back to business everyone.” Elena said, bringing out the files in the suitcase one by one. “Our goal is simple; first, get the Umbral. Second, payback everyone that had a hand in my family's humiliation in ten folds. Third, help our dear friend here get to the root of his murder investigations on blackstone—which I'm very much interested in. Sounds nice?”

“perfect.” I said, leaning back.

“Can you tell us more about the murder.” Ambrose turned to face me.

“Sure,” I cleared my throat and balanced my weight on the chair. “It happened twenty five years ago, a boy was found half dead on Roseville borders by a Lycan minister. We tracked this lineage, he was from blackstone and we figured his parents were dead too—or should I say murdered because that's what it means apparently but there's no evidence to prove that.”

“That's why you're here?” Elena said quietly.

“Yes.”

“is this boy still alive?” Ambrose asked, leaning forward.

My throat tightened. “Very much, he stayed at the Lycan kingdom ever since.”

“Wow, it seems like Blackstone got lots of juicy skeletons in their cupboard,” Elena said, something sharp lighting her eyes, “can't wait to unravel.”

“Me too.” Ambrose agreed, cracking his knuckles.

“So here's the plan, you and Ambrose will focus on finding the Umbral while I take the council vote angle. Hopefully everything will tie back to Lucan and our revenge will land more cleaner.”

“Why don't you and I take the Umbral angle?” I reasoned, “since it's Melissa who took it.”

“I'm very much on every side Nick, and even though Melissa admitted to my face she stole it, we don't have solid evidence against her.”

“But enough conviction to make her suffer before the ultimate revenge.” I said, a mischievous smile forming on my lips.

“Wait, she admitted it to you.” Ambrose’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yeah, to get me provoked at their reception party and I guess it worked.” Elena said drily, “and Nicholas—”

“It's Nick.”

“Melissa is just a pawn in Lucan’s game, so she's not really the focus.” she continued.

“She's the door, sweetheart.” I pressed, leaning forward, my voice even.

“I know but I think it's wise we enter through the council vote angle, there's less friction there.” Elena countered.

“You scared of the heat?”

“No baby, warmth is a better strategy, less noise.” She said sweetly.

“I like to play rough.”

“you'll have to learn to go smoother if you're going to be on this team.” Her hand slammed lightly on the table.

Ambrose’s eyes darted from mine to his sister's all the while, he had a stupid grin on his face like to say he was enjoying this. Elena turned to face him, a stern expression on her face. She was warning him to keep his mouth shut through the mind link. I could tell.

“Alright guys, here's the plan for tonight,” Ambrose cut in, spreading the map on the table. “The last council meeting was held at blackstone pack house in respect to their deceased member—Alpha Raphael. He was a good man.”

I almost laughed at their saddened faces, only if they knew the man they were grieving over.

“The election was held there as well. The votes are recorded and saved on a file which is kept in the pack's archive after the votes are counted by the chief of the electoral body—Elder Lyod.”

“That sleazy old pig.” Elena sneered.

“Cool it Sis, you need that energy to break into the archive.”

“Easy.” Elena shrugged.

Ambrose cast a quick glance at her then back to the map. “There's a secret passage on the—”

“I know that place like the back of my hand.” Elena cut in.

“If things get squeaky and you need backup, just holler at us.”

“That won't be necessary.”

She seems overly confident in her abilities and it's making me fall harder for her.

“Alright then,” Ambrose said, raising to his feet, “It's execution time.”

*. *. *. *.

[ Elena's POV ]

The archive was exactly where Ambrose said it would be. So was the secret passage.

I slipped through without a sound, the darkness swallowing me whole. My wolf sight adjusted fast to see rows and rows of filing cabinets filled with old records. The smell of dust and old paper filled the air.

I knew what I was looking for—Council vote records from the last election cycle.

Third cabinet. Second drawer. I found the file in under five minutes.

Then I found the one behind it.

No label. No date stamp. Just a plain brown folder that someone had deliberately tucked out of sight.

I opened it.

My blood went cold.

The document inside was dated eight months before my wedding. Eight months before the vote. Eight months before any of this even started.

And my father's name was already on it.