Chapter 86
55 vouchers
Aiden had barely driven a mile when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and narrowed his eyes. Jeremiah. One of the men he’d sent to track down the van.
“Jeremiah,” he answered, his voice clipped.
A muffled response came through the line, and Aiden’s jaw tightened.
“Good. I’ll be there.” He ended the call, shoved the phone aside, and pressed his foot hard on the accelerator The car roared, tires screeching as he turned sharply left.
Minutes later, Aiden pulled up in front of a car stand. He killed the engine, stepped out, and headed toward the shop beside it. A man in his fifties stood at the door, his face registering shock the moment his gaze landed on him.
“Alpha Aiden?” the man stammered.
“Leo,” Aiden greeted, giving him a faint smile.
“I wasn’t expecting you. Jeremiah said Beta James would be coming. If I’d known it was you, I would’ve had everything cleaned up and prepared something to offer p>
“Relax,” Aiden cut him off with a wave of his hand. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “You already know why I’m here. Jeremiah must’ve sent you the footage p>
Leo bobbed his head quickly. “He did.” He motioned for Aiden to follow, leading him past the rows of cars. His steps slowed when they stopped before a van. He jabbed a finger toward it. “That’s the one. Rented it out two nights ago. It was returned this morning p>
Aiden’s gaze swept over it, sharp and scrutinizing. His pulse quickened. It was unmistakably the same van from the CCTV.
“Who rented it?” His tone dropped, laced with steel.
Leo hesitated, scratching his temple. “Hard to say. Three men came together. They took the van, returned it,
and that was it p>
“One of them must’ve left a name p>
Leo chuckled awkwardly. “Names slip my head, Alpha. You know, old man like me p>
“Check your register.” Aiden’s voice sliced through his excuse.
Leo swallowed and shuffled back inside. Aiden waited, his impatience simmering, until the man returned with a large ledger. Pages flipped rapidly until Leo’s eyes lit up.
“Here…Dante. Dante Colby p>
The name meant nothing. Aiden’s brow furrowed as he locked eyes with Leo, “Did he leave anything else p>
18:03 Mon, Oct 20
Chapter 86
“Address, yes. No photo. Wait…” He hurried back, scribbled on a slip of paper, and handed it over.
Aiden scanned the writing, a cold determination settling over him. This was a lead, and he would see it through. He dug into his coat, pulled out a bundle of cash, and shoved it into Leo’s hands.
“Thank you p>
Leo beamed, clutching the money. “Anytime, Alpha Aiden p>
Aiden turned, slid back into his car, and ignited the engine.
The car screeched to a stop before a rundown apartment. Aiden compared the numbers on the house with the ones scrawled on the paper. A perfect match.
He stepped out, boots crunching against gravel, and strode into the compound. His knock echoed against the wooden door, but silence greeted him. His eyes darkened. With one twist, the lock snapped, and the door creaked open.
Inside, the air reeked of dust and abandonment. Cobwebs clung to the corners. The floor bore no footprints, no signs of life. Aiden frowned, his instincts bristling. Had the bastard handed him a false address?
Something on the floor caught his eye. A photograph. He bent down, fingers brushing the edge, his froze. The face resembled Sofia.
eyes
His grip tightened, but before he could study it further, footsteps echoed outside. He slipped the photo back, straightened, and pushed the door open.
A woman stood there, wide–eyed. The instant she saw him, she gasped and dropped her gaze, bowing quickly.
“Alpha p>
Aiden studied her intently. He didn’t know her, but she clearly recognized him.
“Do you live here?” His voice was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
She shook her head quickly, cheeks flushing. “No, I live down the street. It’s… it’s such an honor to meet you, Alpha.” Her eyes flicked up nervously, unable to hide the way they lingered on his face.
“Do you know who lived here p>
“Yes. Dante. He used to stay here p>
Aiden’s jaw tensed. So the lead was real.
“He was my friend, but he moved out… maybe two years ago. No one’s seen him since. But I heard he became rich overnight.” Her voice lowered, tinged with gossip. “They say someone in the Alpha’s family made him rich. Just like that p>
Aiden’s gaze hardened, confusion flashing briefly across his face.
“That’s enough. Thank you for your time.” He turned without another word, leaving her blinking after him.
18:03 Mon, Oct 20
Chapter 86
ལྦི4)
65 vouchers
Inside the car, his hands tightened on the steering wheel. The woman’s words repeated in his mind. Someone from the Alpha’s family. His family.
Could someone under my own roof be funding the man who tried to kill Amelia?
His mind leapt to his father, then recoiled. No. His father’s methods were brutal and direct. If it were him, Amelia would already be dead. This was someone else. Someone hiding in plain sight.
But the Alpha house? His lips curled into a bitter scoff. Maybe it’s just a rumor.
Still, uncase knotted his chest as he slammed the car into gear and sped off.
Meanwhile, Cassia sat in her office, staring at the glowing screen in front of her. Her hands moved across files, but her mind wasn’t there.
Aiden’s face invaded her thoughts. His scent, his voice, the weight of his presence. Her chest tightened, and anger spiked in her veins. She clenched her fists hard enough that her nails dug into her palms.
She hated him. She told herself that again and again. Yet every time he was near, her wolf stirred. The wolf she thought had died with the rejection would come alive, clawing inside her, drawn to him against her will.
Was it really gone that night, or had it only hidden, retreating into silence to escape the pain?
Her chest ached with the question.
The sudden crash of her office door flying open jolted her upright.
Her head snapped up, eyes widening.
Alpha Alaric stood there, fury radiating off him like fire. His eyes burned as they locked onto hers.
Cassia froze, confusion and anger washing over her. He hadn’t knocked. He hadn’t even hesitated. He had barged in like a storm and he looked ready for war.
TBC
4
田