Page 49 of Fall of the Alpha

Grigori

Cleaning up after bodies was a messy business, but these, in particular, he did not want traced back to him. Kennet and Liana’s parents were too powerful. Too well connected. They might complain to Paldon.

Though right now, Grigori was considering getting Paldon out of his way, too.

Did the male truly have any use left?

Without him, there would be a vacuum. The question was whether or not Grigori would be able to fill it.

Quite a few of the upper echelon of Zone One seemed disturbed by their leader’s disappearance. Others had brushed Grigori off, impatient with his presence. He’d made a mental note of each and every one of them. Sooner or later—though probably sooner—they’d regret not taking him seriously.

Having disposed of the bodies, Grigori made his way back to his dwelling through the side streets, thinking dark thoughts.Wondering where Paldon was. Wondering if he should make his move now while the leader was still absent.

But then he might never find out where Paldon had been and what he’d been up to.

Grigori was still cursing the ineptness of his spies when he turned onto his own street and saw two of Paldon’s guards there waiting for him.

Blast the male. He must have returned as suddenly as he’d left. Well, at least now Grigori might be able to find out what the hell was going on.

Stalking down the street, he felt gratified when the two guards spotted him and immediately straightened, squaring their shoulders and lifting their chins before bobbing them down in greeting as he approached. Despite being shut out of whatever Paldon was up to now, Grigori still commanded respect from the male’s guards.

“Is Paldon in there?” he asked, jabbing his finger toward his front door.

“No, sir, the First requests that you come to meet him. Now.” Despite the male’s respectful tone, it was clear this was an order and not a request.

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Grigori narrowed his eyes, even as a spark of fear flitted through him. Liana and Kenet’s parents shouldn’t have already noticed their children were missing. The two were constantly off gallivanting together these days. They’d been in the middle of fucking in a rented house when he’d caught up with them.

No, it couldn’t have anything to do with them.

There were a few bodies on his hands now, though. More in the past week than there had been in the past ten years. At least, that could be directly traced back to him. There had been quite a few more than that, but not done by his hands, only at his command.

The urge to establish his own power by making Paldon wait warred with his urge to discover where the First had been. The need for knowledge won out. Without knowing where Paldon had been, what he’d been doing, Grigori couldn’t be sure what the next best move would be.

He needed to talk to Paldon first, then he’d be able to decide whether or not to take the male out… and how.

“Very well. Let’s go.” Grigori swept his hand out, gesturing for them to move aside. Walking through them, he stalked down the street, his mind already turning. The fact that Paldon wanted to see him immediately probably meant he wanted advice.

Foolish male.

He should have brought Grigori with him or informed him ahead of time about what he was doing if he wanted Grigori’s thoughts on the matter. They were going to have a very frank discussion about what Paldon should and should not do. Then Grigori would decide whether or not it mattered what Paldon did or if he should just finally remove the male from his position.

29

THE ALPHA’S PAST

Bella

Despite her intention to speak to Malachi about the negotiations with her father immediately, it ended up having to wait until the next morning, in large part because of her mother’s presence. Her mother didn’t want to be separated from her again and, truthfully, Bella was loathe to be parted from her as well. They talked deep into the night until Malachi finally came to fetch her and take her back to their room.

She saw the flash of disapproval in her mother’s eyes, but she didn’t protest, and she was fading, anyway.

Malachi carried her back, and she fell asleep the moment she was in the bed… the best sleep she’d had since arriving. Likely due to being able to see her parents, especially her mother.

She woke to pleasure.

A hot mouth on her breast, fingers stroking between her legs, Bella whimpered as her mind caught up with her body. How long had he been touching her? She didn’t know. Long enough that when she clenched, slick gushed from her opening, coating his fingers with the hot, sweet liquid. His mouth lifted from herbreast, leaving her nipple hard and aching in the cool air as he loomed above her, shifting their bodies to get his into position.

Hard and thick, his cock pushed into her pussy, stretching her open. Bella cried out, writhing as she was impaled. His green eyes glittered as he looked down at her, his hands pushing her knees back toward her chest, bending her in half so he could thrust all the way inside her. The thick shaft moved deeper, making her clench and shudder as more slick coated his length.

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