IN BED WITH THE WRONG ALPHA

24

KANE'S POV:

"I want to see you in my office." I ended the call with my chief of security before he could speak.

Then I kept pacing around the office, drink in hand, waiting for him to come up. I wanted the nudge in my chest to go, for it to mean paranoia, but it remained. My instincts were almost never wrong.

Shortly, a knock came at my door, and Elias walked in.

"You asked for me, sir?" He gave a bow, and I turned to face him.

"I want you to configure the Luna's phone. To monitor her calls, messages, and location at every moment of the day. No single piece of information should be left out."

His brows drew down as I said this.

"You want me to hack your mother? Luna Wendy?" he asked, and I glared at him with venom in my eyes.

"My wife, you f**k. Or is she not up to your standard as Luna?"

He shook his head, fear crossing his eyes.

"I am sorry, your majesty."

My face remained straight as he gave a bow.

"Is there anything else you would like me to do for you, sir?" he asked, and I waved him off.

"Leave, and I want this done before morning."

With that, he walked away, and I continued with my drink.

**

I don't know how I fell asleep, or how much I had to drink, but the next time I opened my eyes, it was to Robyn tapping me lightly on the couch in the study where I had fallen asleep.

"Kane, come on." She groaned, and my eyes fluttered open to the sight of her beautiful, flushed lap.

Then my brows arched as everything from last night came rushing back with a horrible headache thrumming in my ears.

"What do you want?" I groaned as I sat up slowly.

She placed a hand to my forehead. "Your temperature is high."

Before I could utter another word, she walked toward my table, searched the drawers, and pulled out a card of painkillers. Then she grabbed a bottle of water from my cabinet. She handed the water to me, and for a second my eyes remained on her as she popped the pills into my hand.

"Here."

I gulped the medication down with the water.

"I don't know what I said last night that repelled you, but this is not the right time to be apart," she said to me in a pitiful tone.

Goddess, what if I was wrong? I asked myself as I looked at her. She was just genuinely seeking out my love, something I could never give her. A weird feeling rose in my chest, and I shook it off before it could settle.

"Are you even listening to me?" she asked as she walked to the curtains and drew them open.

I scrunched my eyes at the sight of sunlight.

"The Beta paid us a visit, and we are having lunch with him." The sleep in my eyes vanished instantly.

I had barely spoken with him in a while. The man was so close to my father that his death shook him badly, and he withdrew for a while. He made a swift entrance at our wedding, and that was it.

"Give me a moment and I will be down," I muttered, and she nodded, planting a kiss on my cheek.

Shortly after she left, Elias knocked and walked in.

"It was done earlier today, but you were asleep, Alpha."

"Anything yet?"

"No, sir. She only took a call from Lady June, and they made light jokes about the party last night before she informed her about her father's desire to have lunch with you."

"Okay." I sighed, standing. "You may leave."

I freshened up and made my way downstairs in no time. There, at the table, sat my mother with June and her father, then Robyn.

"I have missed pack duties, and I am eager to resume once I have everything settled with Alpha Kane," Beta Damien said.

"I am sure he will receive you well," my mother said.

Robyn saw me first and cleared her throat. "Look who decided to join us."

Damien and June stood immediately, bowing at me.

"No need for formalities. My father's people are my people," I stated in a clipped voice, and took a seat at the edge of the table, with Robyn and my mother on either side.

I flashed everyone a smile and took Robyn's hand, kissing the back of her palm for formality's sake. I watched June's eyes as they landed on ours. For a heartbeat, it crossed my mind. What if she should be on the list too? What if they were in on this together? Then my eyes flicked to my Beta, who was conversing with my mother.

Robyn reached for my cheek. "How do you feel?"

"Normal." The small act drew everyone's attention to us, and June turned to her father.

"They are so dreamy, Daddy. I cannot wait to get married."

Damien's face contorted.

"You have all the time in the world. Like, when you finish your studies," he answered, and she rolled her eyes.

My mother chuckled, but my face remained plain, and Robyn's palm remained on it.

"Shall we eat?" I steered the conversation, and my mother nodded.

We began to eat, and the Beta talked about his travels, his difficulties since my father died, and all the work he had done underground to make my reign easier. I wouldn't say I wasn't aware of them, but hearing it from him let me know how much he had sacrificed.

"I am grateful," I finally said, trying to cut through the glances June and Robyn kept giving one another.

"Can I speak with you for a second?" I asked, and he nodded.

Robyn's face went pale for a second before she forced it back to cheerful. No one else noticed but me. Either way, I stood up, and Damien followed me. When we were out of earshot in a room, I turned to face him.

"Have you noticed anything strange with your daughter and my wife since my father died?"

He shook his head, brows drawn down.

"My father spoke highly of you, and I believe you are in the best position to help me," I began. "I have an inkling that all is not well, and my wife might be involved in a hidden motive to overthrow me, or possibly cause me harm."

His eyes widened.

"That is—"

"Impossible," I finished for him. "She is a Ford, but we also know her mother's history with my father. Maybe an avenue to draw blood. If your daughter is involved, this is a chance to save her. Are you in, or not?"