Page 5 of The Alpha Wolf's Pregnant Bride

“I had to come,” Alpha Flynn of the Blood Moon Pack of Zafra relents with a sigh. “If there’s one thing I’m sure of, Dorian is on our side.”

I can't help but feel grateful for the man's attendance today. During the past couple of months, ever since we learned about the threat against werewolf packs in the Oklahoma region, the leaders of the surrounding packs had formed an alliance that had subsequently turned into what is now known as the Alpha Council of Oklahoma. With six Alphas, including myself, forming the Council, we've had to regroup because of one of our members’ disappearance last week.

Flynn Lycoan's mate had recently given birth, yet he's attending the meeting. It comes as a surprise since the missing Alpha was considered his enemy before Flynn was able to find out the truth.

Dorian Walker, the Alpha of the Nightclaw Pack of Fort Smit, used to be his brother's best friend. Dorian was with him the night he died, and for a long time, Flynn didn't trust that he had nothing to do with it. Once his suspicions were put to rest, Flynn and Dorian had become amicable enough to shake hands at every Council meeting since then.

Dorian's disappearance is what has brought the Council together today. For almost four months, the rogue werewolves who'd kidnapped werewolves from Dorian's pack had been missing in action. The trail we found that led to their location was cold when we discovered their whereabouts, and for sometime, we thought we were rid of the impending threat that had all of us in a chokehold.

They're back now, and they've taken one of our own.

“Have you found anything in Fort Smit?” I ask Damian, the Alpha of the Valley Walker Pack—Dorian's younger brother.

The man shakes his head, blue eyes growing sadder. Though he and Dorian hardly see eye to eye, I can tell that his disappearance has affected Damian.

“The rogues seem to be quite smart,” Damian reveals. “For a bunch of homeless mutts, they sure seem to know how to cover their tracks well.”

I clear my throat, drawing the attention of the boardroom to me.

“Unfortunately, we'd been unsuccessful in gaining access to the satellite,” I informed them. “However, my Beta has been able to gather information about a very… diligent hacker…”

“A hacker?” Theodore, Alpha of the Blackmaw Pack, asks skeptically. “Isn't that illegal?”

“It is,” I admit tersely, fixing the collar on my shirt. “But we don't have any options. The government has refused our request.”

“Won't this be a threat to your company?” Flynn asks.

I nod slowly. “I'll take my chances. The threat of the rogues on our kind is my priority now.”

The other Alphas nod their agreement since we've all established one thing—the safety of our respective packs is our main priority as Alphas and members of the new alliance.

I'll do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of the Moon Shine Pack. Like any good leader, it's the only thingthat's become important to me. Even risking the reputation of Rudolph Inc., a tech company my grandfather built from the ground up, is a risk I'm willing to take.

I know it's what my father would have done if he was still alive.

When the meeting is wrapped up, I ride the elevator to my office floor, sending a mind link to my Beta. Doubling up as my assistant at work, he's already waiting in my office when I arrive.

“Have you made contact yet?” I ask as I take a seat behind my desk.

Jarrod nods, hanging on the opposite side of the desk as he skims through his smartwatch. “Her handler has gotten back to me. They want two-fifty.”

“Two-fifty dollars?” I chuckle. “Go ahead—”

“No, Cyrus,” Jarrod interjects. “Two-hundred-and-fiftythousand.”

“Fuck!” I exclaim, slamming a palm on the desk. “A quarter of a million? That's absurd!”

“It's a government satellite…” he reminds me glumly with a sigh. “And she's the only one who can do it.”

I run a hand through my hair, deliberating my choices with a huff. Our only hope of finding Dorian is with the help of the infamous hacker, Asuka. With a clean track record of some of the most stealthy jobs known to the technological world, the help of a faceless hacker comes with a heavy price.

“Have you tried negotiating?” I ask, to which Jarrod nods.

“Tried and failed. Her work is spotless. Her assistant won't budge.”

My cheeks hollowed out as I let out a heavy breath. “Set it up,” I instruct Jarrod. “Money isn't the issue. I need to know that she can be trusted.”

“She comes highly recommended by everyone I've spoken to,” he assures me. “I'll set up a meeting ASAP.”

---