Page 50 of Stealing Sloane

“And what sources are these? Can we speak with them?”

“My sources fear backlash from New York, and for now, would like to remain anonymous.”

Lucas snorted. “How convenient.”

Jacob had to hand it to Lucas’s ability to remain calm under pressure and avoid directly lying to the council. But, if he read his father’s face correctly, this still did not look good. “How did he find out? Did Uncle Killian send someone to Boston? Did they catch Lizzie?”

“No way,” his sister, who was on speakerphone, piped in. “The man doesn’t even know how to use a smart phone.”

“As far as I know, we haven’t contacted anyone connected to Boston,” Quinn added.

“He could be bluffing,” Selena offered.

“Or … there was someone else there during the night of the attack.” Quinn tsked. “It was chaotic, we didn’t think to sweep the place. But, what if there was a fourth person there who got away?”

“He could have been watching, and they saw us. Then followed us and reported back to Forte.”

“It’s possible.”

“I’ll check all the surveillance videos from the alley,” Lizzie said.

“Ladies, Gentlemen of the Council,” Lucas began. “If there are no actual allegations being made and no evidence to back any claim, then what are we doing here, exactly?”

“I just want to get ahead of any allegations,” Forte said. “And if New York has any problem with me, it’s only fair we hash it out in front of the council. On the record. I would also like it to be noted that I have never made any claims against New York or any other clan. In fact, when Lucan Anderson asked for help against the mages, I was one of the first to answer his call, and I lost a few good people. My beta lost his own son.”

“We all lost people,” Lucas countered. “But everyone who joined in the battle did so of their own free will, for the good of all Lycans.”

“In my clan, we believe loyalty is everything, and we pay in kind.”

“Gentlemen,” Mr. Ngozi began. “I thank you for your attendance today, but it seems we do not really have much cause to continue. This meeting has been entered into the official record, as per your request, Mr. Forte. Now, unless there is any other business, we can wrap up.” Neither Alpha uttered a word. “Excellent. This meeting is concluded. Thank you.”

“So, what the hell was this about?” Jacob said as soon as the screen blacked out.

“He wants to rattle your Alpha, and us,” Sloane said. “I’ve seen him do this before. He makes you think he knows you’ve done something against him, so you break first.”

“That won’t work against Lucas,” Jacob said.

“Oh shit, there was a fourth person there,” Lizzie’s voice interrupted as it cracked through the phone’s speakers. “I’m sending you footage now.”

A window popped up as the laptop screen brightened. It appeared to be a video from a camera in the alley behind Blood Moon.

“See?” Lizzie said. “There’s someone there in the corner wearing a hoodie. He just stays there the entire time.” The video fast-forwarded through the fight with the three Lone Wolves, Quinn and Daric appearing in the alley, and then moments later, Jacob and Sloane leaving, with the figure following them. The screen changed to a video in the lobby of the offices of Lone Wolf where Jacob and Sloane entered, then went into the elevator. The same figure in the hoodie slipped in and stopped at the elevator, looking up at the numbers on the display before he left. “I tracked him all the way out of the city, but lost him somewhere in Jersey.”

“Ronan is smart,” Sloane said. “Between Stella’s video and kidnapping attempts, plus the incident in Blood Moon, he had enough information to put two and two together.”

“He called for a meeting as a warning,” Jacob said. “To keep out of his business.”

“No. This is just his way of telling us that he knows.” Her blue eyes hardened. “He knows you’re hiding me. It was a warning—for me.”

Chapter 11

“Well, fuck that, he’s not getting to you,” Jacob growled. “This time, I’ll burn anyone he sends to ashes.”

“How can you be sure he’s warning you, Sloane?” Selena asked.

“I just know it.” A pit formed in her chest at Ronan’s final words to the council.

In my clan, we believe loyalty is everything, and we pay in kind.

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