Page 52 of Spike

Amelia finally led us to Olaf's private office. She lingered by the doorway. Was she worried Nitro and I would do something to her boss?

Amelia didn’t matter, I reminded myself. I turned my attention to Olaf. Olaf looked even more worn out and older than I last remembered.

"Spike, so my old friend sends you here with gifts of apology. Venom values our friendship more than your well-being," Olaf said.

A growl slipped out of my throat without warning. Nitro gripped my arm, and the pain helped steady me. The old wolf's just trying to get a rise out of you, I reminded myself.

"Venom sent you here to explain yourself, so talk, because I'm rather busy," Olaf said when I said nothing for a few moments.

I was still trying to piece together today's oddness—the mention of Jack and his crew being elsewhere, Amelia's initial distrust of us, the strangely empty compound.

Something wasn't adding up, and I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach.

But I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. It was time to explain ourselves to Olaf, and hopefully, mend the strained relationship between our packs.

"Jack Roth sent mercenaries to our territory to retrieve Gray," I stated firmly, my gaze unwavering.

"Lies," Amelia interjected, her tone dismissive.

"Nitro, show them the video," I instructed, nodding towards Nitro.

He pulled up the footage he had captured during the interrogation and offered his phone to Amelia and Olaf. As the video played, Amelia leaned in closer, her expression skeptical.

"This means nothing, anyone would break under torture," she scoffed.

"Our resident hacker, Whizz, also looked into this mercenary's bank account and found a transfer from Jack Roth's personal account," I added, emphasizing our findings.

Nitro took his phone back, closed the video and displayed a copy of the mercenary's recent online banking transactions.

Amelia's complexion paled, and Olaf remained unnaturally still. It dawned on me that they were desperately hoping my claim wasn't true, but the evidence we brought forth was irrefutable.

As Olaf and Amelia mulled over the damning evidence we presented, I couldn't shake the feeling of impending trouble.

The sound of engines and laughter filtered in from outside, drawing my attention to the window. Stepping closer, I peered through the glass.

My breath caught as I spotted multiple vehicles pulling into the compound. Werewolves spilled out of them, their voices carrying on the wind. But it was the figure emerging from a sleek Mercedes that made my blood run cold.

Jack Roth.

He strutted out of the car, laughing at a joke another werewolf shared. My gaze flicked to the others in the room, but Olaf and Amelia seemed oblivious to the looming threat.

It wasn't just Jack and his crew; it looked like half the pack had returned with him.

I shifted my attention away from Jack and focused on the dark-haired, tall, muscular, and imposing figure that dismounted from his motorcycle.

It didn't escape me that most of the werewolves gave him a wide berth.

"Not a wolf," I thought as the guy looked up and took off his sunglasses.

Golden eyes tinged with black met mine, and the challenge in that crazed stare made me bare my teeth at him.

He only smiled at me, showing me double rows of teeth, like those of a shark's.

Was this who the mercenary meant by Jack’s monster?

A surge of urgency coursed through my veins and I forced myself to look away from…whatever that supernatural was.

I turned sharply to face Olaf and Amelia, who were engrossed in their conversation.

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