Page 21 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

Except for the part about getting killed.

The warning he left me with has me wondering if there's something he's hiding. If there’s something he knows that's linked to his motive for needing Asuka's help.

My help, which I'm not willing to give away without understanding what's truly going on.

I'll just have to find out.

In the meantime, I'd better get out of this dress…

Chapter 6 - Cyrus

“... There has been a delay with obtaining the hacker's help,” I explain to the gathering of Alphas in the boardroom, glancing with a warning at my Beta, Jarrod. “She…” I clear my throat, quickly rummaging through my mind for a suitable explanation.

It's not like I can tell the Alpha Council that the hacker's assistant had fled shortly after arriving at the restaurant last night.

According to the waitress, the woman posing as my wife arrived and saw me flirting with the lady at the sushi bar and left without a word.

So much for a ruse… I, of course, didn't think Asuka's rep would be put off enough to leave and prompt the hacker to refuse a quarter of a million dollars.

Maybe she's a feminist. But not as professional as I was expecting.

It's only with Jarrod's insistence that I've accepted their apology and considered a rescheduling of our meeting.

“She's out of the country, but as soon as she's back, we'll have a meeting with her.”

The Alphas seem to accept the lie, and Alpha Flynn goes on to explain that his mate, Luna Lila—who attends today's meeting—has uncovered a key piece of information in Dorian's disappearance thanks to her supernatural gift of vision.

Each of the Alphas is given a sketch of a building that the Luna saw a vision of through her gift. I stare at the sketch, unable to discern its location from a drawing.

While the meeting concludes around us, the Alphas eventually leave. Jarrod and I are the only ones who hang back, and I pass the sketch to him.

“If Asuka were on board, we'd be able to pinpoint the exact location of this building…” I grouch, skimming a finger over my lips as I stare out the window at the setting sun.

“Her assistant said—”

“I don't care what the fucking assistant said,” I cut Jarrod off with a grunt. “Fucking rep…” I murmur under my breath. “What did she think? That it was a marriage proposal?”

“Cyrus…” Jarrod's voice is full of reasoning, but I lift a dismissive hand.

“Save me the lecture, Jay,” I huff. “I know; we just have to wait. I don't like lying to the Council. It's not a good look for us.”

“Of course,” Jarrod hangs his head. “If it helps, Asuka's assistant said he'll get back to me in a week.”

“That's too long…” I lament, tucking my bottom lip between my teeth and picking off the chapped pieces of dry skin. “There isn't someone else who can pull this off, is there?”

Jarrod shakes his head disappointedly.

I tap my fingers on the table, mulling over the lingering threat and my role in finding Alpha Dorian. If I can uncover his whereabouts, it'll give me an advantage.

The Alpha Council will see me as a valuable ally, even without a mate.

Already, the presence of Alpha Flynn and his Luna seemed to have upset the other members of the council—especially Alpha Simon of the Misty Creek Pack. As one of thestrongest werewolf packs to exist amongst us, having a Luna by his side sets him apart from the rest of us.

It's not enough reason for me to change my mind and take a mate. I don't need one. The pack doesn't need a Luna, either.

I just have to pull this off successfully, but I hate that our only option is enlisting the help of some hacker who's too afraid of showing her face.

“Fine…” I relent after a terse moment of silence. “... We'll wait.” I turn to Jarrod with determination, pulling my face taut. “Offer her more money if that's an issue.” I get to my feet with a nod. “Do whatever you can to secure the help of that hacker.”

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