Chapter 0225

Alexander

He's completely serious.

I see it in his gaze, those impossibly dark eyes fixed on me.

If he were a Wolf, I would have put him in his place already.

"They weren't interested in Gabriel. Not even remotely."

I roll my eyes.

Honestly, I was just relieved Gabriel was dead.

I didn't care who did it, as long as I never had to deal with his twisted ways again.

"Remember, Gabriel killed Sophia. I've watched Julian. I know how his mind operates. He manipulates others into doing his dirty work." Zachary mutters.

"No, he doesn't—"

Zachary raises an eyebrow. "You really don't see it, Alexander? He was head of war tactics. Those types don't get their hands dirty. They control from the shadows. They assess the situation, determine the best outcome, and make everyone else fight their battles so they maintain control."

'Why is he always right?' Titan grumbles.

Zachary leans back in his chair, wrinkling his nose at Sebastian's lingering scent. "He'd actually fit in well with the Rogues. Maybe that's why he sought out that Lycan who looks like Athena. He wanted a pawn to do his bidding."

"Zachary!" I growl a warning. He's pushing too far.

"Weren't you the one who told me Julian always coveted what you had? Your position, your power, your mate?"

"You're on very thin ice!"

"You just said it might be good that I don't always agree with you. I didn't come here to be your yes-man. I came to protect Athena. If that means pointing out things you're blind to or just refusing to see, then I'll speak the truth."

"I know you care for your brother, Alexander. Somewhere deep down. Because I cared for mine too, right up until he crossed the line. But you're letting that cloud your judgment, even now. I will protect Athena. If that means eliminating this woman who resembles her…"

"Seraphina." I seethe.

"And your brother. Then I will." He continues.

His seriousness was undeniable.

"Your theories are all hypothetical. We don't know for sure if she killed Gabriel."

"What are the odds it wasn't her or them?" Zachary challenges. "Like I said, Julian rarely does anything himself."

'He has a point.' Titan mumbles. 'Julian wants your spot. He finds someone who just happens to be Athena's half-sister and now….' He trails off.

'What?' I snap.

'He wants the pack.'

I was about to respond to my Wolf when the phone in the corner of my office rang.

My eyes snapped to it.

The last time it rang was when I received the request from Silver Creek.

This phone was for other packs to contact me in desperate need of help.

But since nearly all my contracts were severed after the battle, it had fallen silent.

Contacting me always came with a steep price.

I held a hand up to Zachary, signaling him to stay.

I picked up the phone without a word.

"Alexander, this is Ryan, the Alpha of Crestwood City." He blurted out before I could even greet him.

I almost laughed at his awkward self-introduction. He still hadn't mastered projecting Alpha dominance.

"I hope you don't think I want a contract. I never contacted you. They came to me." He rushed out, stumbling over his words. "I told them the same thing. And though I'm grateful for their actions, I was hoping for another way to repay you."

They?

So Seraphina had lied when she claimed she hadn't seen my brother for months.