Page 28 of Alpha’s Fake Marriage

I punched in James’s number, my thumb hovering over the call button as I waited for him to pick up. The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on my shoulders, each passing second filled with a sense of impending danger.

“Octavio,” James’s voice came through the line, crisp and businesslike. “What’s going on?”

“James, we’ve got a problem,” I replied, my words rushing as I tried to convey the gravity of the situation. “The Patron called. Men from the Seattle Bratva are on the way as we speak.”

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, the significance of my words sinking in. “Damn,” James muttered, his voice tight with concern. “We need to deal with Brian once and for all, then. If he’s a part of this, it’s time to figure it out now.”

I nodded grimly, even though James couldn’t see me. “Agreed. It’s time to put an end to this.”

“Round up the pack,” James said firmly. “We’ll hold an emergency meeting. Everyone needs to be there. The sooner we get this done, the better for all of us.”

“Got it,” I replied, already mentally making a list of everyone I needed to contact. “I’ll get everyone together right away.”

As I hung up the phone, a sense of determination settled over me. We were facing a formidable enemy, but with the strength of our pack behind us, I knew we could overcome whatever challenges lay ahead. It was time to confront Brian and put an end to his reign of terror once and for all.

With James’s directive echoing in my mind, I began dialing the numbers of our pack members one by one, each ring feeling like a countdown to the unknown. As I waited for the calls to connect, a gnawing worry clawed at my insides, fueled by the uncertainty of what Brian might have done and what consequences awaited us.

What had Brian done this time? Had his reckless actions endangered not only our pack but the entire community? The questions swirled in my mind, each one more ominous than the last. He’d threatened me, but without any magical items like the Ring of Rasputin, I didn’t think he would be brave—or stupid—enough to really do anything.

I guess I underestimated him.

We all did.

With each call I made, the worry intensified, like a storm gathering strength on the horizon. But I pushed aside my own fears, focusing instead on rallying our pack members to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As the last call ended and I surveyed the list of names, a sense of determination washed over me. We may be facing uncertain times, but together, as a pack, we would stand strong against whatever threats came our way.

The air crackledwith tension as I arrived at the designated meeting spot, my gaze sweeping over the assembled pack members and leaders. There was a palpable sense of anticipation, mingled with apprehension, as everyone waited for my next move.

Brian stood at the center of the gathering, his posture defiant, a stark contrast to the wary expressions of those around him. His presence cast a shadow over the gathering, a reminder of the turmoil that threatened to engulf us all.

As I approached, I could feel the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders once more. I wanted to kill Brian here and now in front of everyone, but I couldn’t. That wasn’t the way that things were done around here, and we really did need the peace treaty to survive.

With each step closer to Brian, the tension in the air seemed to intensify, like a storm brewing on the horizon. But I remained steadfast, my resolve unwavering in the face of adversity.

As I finally reached the center of the gathering, I met Brian’s defiant gaze head on, my expression a mask of calmdetermination. It was time to confront the threat he posed, to make sure that our pack remained united in the face of danger.

But Jesse grabbed my shoulder.

“Hold on. We need to talk first.”

As the tension thickened in the air, a decision needed to be made on how to proceed with questioning Brian. Much as I wanted to do it, I actually agreed with Jesse that James was the best one to handle this. He was the Blackpaw leader, after all.

It was a difficult decision for me to step back, especially considering that James was my friend and this involved my mate and her family. Yet, I knew deep down that it was the right thing to do. Emotions could cloud judgment, and we needed to approach this situation with clarity and objectivity.

As James stepped forward, a sense of gravity settled over the gathering. All eyes were fixed on him as he prepared to address Brian, his expression firm and unwavering. I stood by his side, offering silent support, knowing that the weight of responsibility rested heavily on his shoulders.

In that moment, I trusted James to lead the interrogation with wisdom and impartiality. The future of our town hung in the balance, and we could ill afford to make any missteps. It was time to uncover the truth, no matter how difficult or painful it may be.

“Brian,” James began, his voice measured but firm, “we’ve received reports of your connections to the Seattle Bratva. Care to explain?”

Brian’s lips curled into a sly smirk, a glimmer of defiance flickering in his eyes. “Connections? You’ve been listening to gossip, James. I’ve got no ties to those Bratva scum.”

I narrowed my eyes, studying Brian closely for any signs of deception. His nonchalant demeanor didn’t match the gravity of the situation, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something.

“Then how do you explain the presence of Bratva enforcers heading towards our town?” James pressed, his tone growing more insistent. “Right now, as we speak.”

Brian’s smirk widened, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Maybe they’re just passing through. You know how it is, James. People come and go all the time.”

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