Chapter 21


    Alpha Ryker


    We arrive in the city, park outside Zenith Creations, enter the facility, and find an elevator. The elevator


    door dings and opens. We step out and spot arge door and enter. It’s quite a modern, sleek waiting


    room. It even has a water feature on one wall. I approach therge desk to see a blonde receptionist


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    on the phone. Leaning on the desk, I tap my fingers impatiently. The receptionist raises a perfectly


    shaped brow at me. I take the phone from her and throw it behind her.


    ‘Excuse me!’ She says. ‘That was a significant client on the phone!’ She yells.


    ‘I don’t give a shit who was on the phone. Where’s Zenith? | want to speak with him immediately!’ I yell.


    She picks up a phone and presses a button.


    ‘There is a vulgar man here, with two other men wanting to speak with you immediately, she says. She


    covers the mic on the phone with her nail-polished hand.


    ‘What is your name?’ She asks.


    “Alpha Ryker, I snap.


    “Alpha Ryker, sir, Yes, okay. I will send them in,’ she tells Alpha Zenith. She puts the phone down and


    stands. ‘Follow me, please, she says.


    We’re escorted to the middle door a few metres behind her desk. Alpha Zenith sits in an oversized


    chair behind a desk with two bodyguards.


    ‘Alpha Ryker! What a surprise to see you here. Please, sit,’ he


    says with a smile.


    ‘No, we will stay standing. Where is she?’ | ask.


    ‘Where is who?’ Zenith asks. cing my hand in my pocket, I pull the card out and m it onto his


    desk.


    ‘My mate, Astrid. I know she is here. We can smell her scent!’ Zenith pauses and stares at the


    business card.


    ‘I found this card in her room after she ran, I say.


    ‘Yes. Astrid was here, but only for a few days. She asked me for a few days’ work to skip town. I didn’t


    question her. She was a young girl who needed help, so I helped her and gave her a job, and she left,


    Zenith exins.


    ‘You’re lying,’ I yell. Zenith puts his hands in the air.


    ‘Look, believe me, or don’t believe me, I don’t care. I don’t know why you’re bothering to find Astrid if


    she doesn’t want to be with you. Maybe you should let her be, he suggests.


    ‘She only left because some of your old pack members threatened to kill her if she didn’t!’ | growl,


    Zenith has a poker face, and his two men give each other a look.


    And which old members would they be?’ Zenith asked.


    ‘Alice and Vanessa. But not to worry: they’re currently locked up awaiting punishment.’ I notice the two


    men give each other another look, and then re at me.


    “And what will their punishment be?’ Zenith asked calmly.


    T’ll have them killed, and their heads ripped off for threatening my Luna and mate,’ I say, lying. Zenith


    res for a split second.


    ‘I see,’ he says, his fists clenched.


    ‘I suppose you haven’t seen my missing beta Seth either?’ || ask, expecting another denjal. I can smell


    Seth’s scent in the room. He has been here as well.


    ‘No, we haven’t, but I will let you know if Astrid contacts me if you like?’ He says. I re at him. He is


    the worst liar I have ever met.


    I would appreciate that.


    ‘Your beta and gamma?’ I ask, looking at the two men.


    ‘These are my sons: James, the future Alpha of Shady Crest and John, he says. James is ring at me


    as though he despises me and wants to rip my head off. John is smirking.


    I’m sure we will see each other again soon,’ I say, leaving Kane and Leon following behind. Out of the


    elevator, we go


    straight to the car.


    ‘He is lying,’ I say.


    ‘We figured as much, Kane says.


    ‘I can smell Seth’s scent. He has been there, I point out.


    ‘What’s our next move?’ Leon asks.


    ‘Let’s get back home and make a n. We will need all our warriors,’ I say.


    We arrive at Shadow Crest a short whileter.


    ‘Leon, get the maps of Shady Crest from the library. Kane, bring Mia and Hayley here.’ They both nod


    and leave. Leon returns a short timeter with a couple of scrolls he hands to


    me.


    ‘Alpha Ryker!’ Mia says as she enters the room, Kane and Hayley behind her.


    ‘Please tell me you found them, she says, hopeful. I shake my head.


    ‘No, but I can confirm they were both at Zenith Creations. Their scents were faint but were there. Alpha


    Zenith denied seeing Seth but said Astrid worked for him for a few days before leaving with enough


    money to skip town. So, he has them. He’s lying,


    We gather around the table and roll out the map showing Shady Crest.


    ‘I think they’re in his house. They’re not exactly going to let us have a look around. The only way in is if


    we trespass and dere war. The girls gasped.


    ‘If we go to war, some of our pack members could die,’ Hayley grabs Kane’s arm tightly.


    ‘No one has to die, I reassure her.


    ‘How so?’ Leon asks, confused.


    ‘When we were in the office today, I mentioned Vanessa and Alice as the reason why Astrid fled. I told


    him they would be punished by death. Zenith tried to hide it, but he and his sons weren’t happy about it.


    We need to find out why he doesn’t want Alice and Vanessa harmed. Leon, take a few warriors with


    you and bring Alice and Vanessa here for questioning.’ Leon nods and leaves the room.


    Leon returns with warriors who are dragging Alice and Vanessa into the room. They sit them on a chair


    next to each other. Alice spits at my feet as I approach.


    ‘That isn’t very nice, Alice,’ I say. She lets out a derangedugh,


    “You have to tell me, what are you to, Shady Crest? What are your rankings? | ask. Alice res at me,


    remaining silent.


    Vanessa stares into my eyes with sadness.


    ‘Why couldn’t you just love me as I loved you?’ She cries. Kneeling in front of her, I lean in closer.


    ‘What are you to, Alpha Zenith?” I ask, ring at her. Vanessa recoils from me and looks away.


    ‘You will answer me, or Mia will convince you to talk.’ I motion for Mia to step forward, and she cracks


    her knuckles, giving Vanessa a death stare.


    I’m his daughter,’ she confesses. I could have heard a pin drop.


    ‘Vanessa!’ Alice growls at her.


    ‘You’re Alpha Zenith’s daughter? That makes Alice the Luna of Shady Crest! You said they abused you,


    that you were the pack ves! Why did youe here if you’re the Luna, and you’re his daughter?’ |


    ask, half questioning, half-wondering.


    ‘Vanessa, keep your mouth shut!’ Alice snaps.


    ‘Leon, take Alice back to her cell,’ I order. Once Alice is gone, I


    grab Vanessa by the chin.


    ‘Tell me everything you know, now!’ I demand.


    My father, Alpha Zenith, sent me here to be Luna and bear your pups, But unfortunately, he killed


    my true mate. Dad said my mate was weak, and his children would only breed


    with the best. Knowing you were mateless and one of the strongest alphas around, he told me to seek


    refuge here, with the intent of us sleeping together. The irony is, the moment ! met you, I instantly had a


    crush on you. It was all too easy to fulfil Dad’s wishes.’


    ‘Do you know where Astrid is?’ | ask. Vanessa looks away.


    ‘Please, Vanessa. She’s, my mate. I love her. Tell me, and your punishment will be lenient,’ I


    I’m only going to tell you, Ryker, because I love you, and I want you to be happy, she says, tears rolling


    down her cheeks.


    ‘She is at Shady Crest,’ she confesses.


    I knew it! Seth’s there too!’ I growl.


    ‘Wait! There is something you should know. My brother James ns on marking her, and sleeping with


    her, tomorrow night after her shift, she says. Angry, I growl loudly at her words,


    ‘No wonder he wanted to rip my head off when I saw him today, I ponder.


    Kane, let’s go over the map and work out the best strategy to defeat Zenith and his pack, Leon, you


    can get the warriors prepared. Then, tomorrow evening, it’s war!’ I dere.