Chapter 8 – A Dangerous Alliance
1116 Words
Keiran
I watched the guards escort the redhead away, her slender form disappearing around the corner. Something about her stirred an unfamiliar feeling in my chest. Intrigue? Or perhaps...
"She's lying," Kai, my inner wolf, growled. "I can smell something on her.... something disclturbing.... it's making me restless."
"Agreed, her pheromones smell farmiliar..." I muttered, moving to my desk.
"But where... have we met before?"
"I think she's lying." Kai uttered. "her story sounds so made up." he added.
"Agreed." I mumbled.the girl get on my skin.
I picked up my phone, dialing my most trusted hacker. "Run a face recognition on our new guest. I want everything you can find."
While waiting for results, I paced the length of my office. Kai was right. The girl's story didn't add up. A rejected mate? Thrown in prison by her own uncle?
It was too convenient, too perfect a tale to tug at one's sympathies.
My phone buzzed. I snatched it up, eyes scanning the incoming data. What I saw made my blood run cold.
"Sasha Redmoon," I read aloud. "Daughter of Alpha Blake. Heir to the Raven Pack throne."
"Kill her," Kai snarled. "She's the enemy. Blake's daughter."
Images of Lilly, my lost mate, flashed through my mind. Her broken body, courtesy of Blake's cruelty. The rage I'd buried for years bubbled to the surface.
"Guards!" I barked. "Bring the girl back. Now."
Minutes later, they dragged her in. Her green eyes widened in confusion, then fear as she saw my expression.
"Alpha Kieran?" she asked hesitantly. "What's wrong?"
I walked towards her, fuming with anger, and pressing Kai's fury to cut off her throat at once. She made a worried face, but I grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at me.
"You lied to me," I growled.
She flinched. "W-what? No, I-"
"Silence!" I roared. "You're not some castoff niece. You're Blake's daughter. His heir!"
The color drained from her face. "What...how did you-"
"That doesn't matter," I cut her off. "The Damn thing that matters is you step into my pack!" I yelled.
"You entered my territory and gave me false information. Give me just one good fxxking reason why I should not rip your throat right now."
"Do it," Kai urged. "revenge for Lilly."
But something held me back. The genuine terror in her eyes, yes, but also... curiosity.
No is it Her Scent? Her pheromones?
Why would Blake's heir run away? Why made up such an stupid lie about his niece and being locked up?
"Talk," I ordered. "And this time, tell me the truth. All of it."
Sasha's shoulders slumped. "You're right. I am Blake's daughter. Or... I was."
I raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
She took a shaky breath. "Everything else I told you was true. The rejection, the accusations, the prison. But I left out one crucial detail. My father... he found his long-lost daughter. My sister, his true heir."
"What?" This was unexpected.
Sasha's eyes filled with tears. "I was adopted. Taken in when my real parents died. But Blake's biological daughter returned, and suddenly... I was nothing. Worse than nothing. When Caleb rejected me, when those photos circulated... Blake saw his chance to be rid of me for good."
I studied her face, searching for any hint of deception. But all I saw was raw, honest pain.
"She's telling the truth this time," Kai grudgingly admitted.
"Why didn't you tell me this from the start?" I demanded.
Sasha laughed bitterly. "Would you have believed me? The long-lost heir, or being cast aside and imprisoned by her own father? It sounded too fantastical, even to me."
I released her chin, stepping back to consider this new information. If she was telling the truth - and my instincts said she was - this changed everything.
but why In the information, Blake loved his daughter..
Is it all lies?
"You realize," I said slowly, "that you've handed me the perfect weapon against Blake. His own daughter, bearing witness to his cruelty."
Fear flashed in her eyes. "I won't help you hurt my pack."
"Your pack?" I scoffed. "The same pack that threw you away like garbage?"
She lifted her chin defiantly. "There are good people there. Innocents who don't deserve to suffer."
I circled her, admiring her spirit despite myself. "And what about those who do deserve to suffer? Your father? Caleb? This... Tina, who set you up?"
Sasha's resolve wavered. I pressed my advantage.
"Join me, Sasha," I murmured. "Help me bring Blake down, and I'll make sure only the guilty pay. You'll have your revenge, and the innocents you care about will be spared."
"We can't trust her," Kai warned. "She's Blake's blood."
But looking into those emerald eyes, seeing the fire that burned there... I made my decision.
"You have a choice to make," I told her. "Join me willingly, or remain my prisoner. Either way, you're not leaving Havenpack."
Sasha's eyes narrowed. "And if I refuse to help you at all?"
I smiled, all teeth. "Then I'll use you as bait to lure Blake here. One way or another, you're the key to my vengeance."
She shuddered, and for a moment, I thought she might collapse. But then that stubborn chin lifted again.
"I'll help you," she said quietly. "But on one condition."
"You're not really in a position to make demands," I pointed out.
"Maybe not," she agreed. "But you need my cooperation. So hear me out."
Intrigued despite myself, I nodded. "Go on."
"I'll tell you everything I know about Raven Pack's defenses, about my fa- about Blake's weaknesses. I'll even testify against him if it comes to that. But in return, I want your word that the innocent members of the pack will be protected."
I considered her offer. It was more than fair, really. And having her willing cooperation would make things much easier.
"Very well," I said. "You have my word. The innocent will be spared."
Relief washed over her face. "Thank you, Alpha."
"Don't thank me yet," I warned. "You're still my prisoner until I'm certain of your loyalty."
She nodded, resigned. "I understand."
As the guards led her away once more, Kai growled in my mind. "This is a mistake. She'll betray us."
"Perhaps," I murmured. "But she might just be the key to everything we've worked for."
I turned, looking through the window, gazing out at my pack. The one I built after what Blake did.
Soon, very soon, Blake would pay for what he'd done to me and my pack.
And this fierce, beautiful redhead would be the tool of his downfall.
A slow smile spread across my face. Things were about to get very interesting indeed.
- Writer
