Chapter 21

Zac’s pov

The hallway felt too long after I left that room. I could still see Freya’s face, all scared and confused. I had to force my mind to switch gears. Ministers. Money. Pack business.

I told a passing maid to get a hot meal to my room, and another to find Sarah the nurse and send her up. They scurried off, eyes wide and obedient to do my bidding.

I loved the benefits of being an alpha. Everyone obeyed me. Okay not everyone but I got almost everyone at my fingertips.

By the time I pushed open the big doors to the throne room, I was trying to be Alpha again. Trying to shove the image of a broken vase and a broken little leg out of my head.

My financial officer, Ben, was pacing by the fire in the distance. He looked up, his face all pinched and worried. “Alpha. Thank you for coming.”

“What seems to be the problem?”

“Well… we have a little situation.”

I went to lean against my wooden desk as I waited for him to spit it out.

“What’s got you chewing your lip off?”

“It’s the reserve fund. The petty cash we keep locked in the office for small emergencies. It’s… it’s gone, Alpha. The whole wad. Someone broke the lock.”

A small emergency. Yeah. That tracked. My mind flashed back to the woods. To Freya’s bag, lying on the ground near the tree. The zipper was open. And inside, I’d seen it. A thick stack of bills. Bound with that distinct blue tape we use. The one with our pack’s wolf head symbol stamped on it.

Oh, Freya.

I knew that if anyone found out that she had taken it she would be hanged or worse. I wasn’t going to let anyone find out. It was time to save her… again.

“Let it go Ben.”

I let out a long sigh and looked to the door to indicate that our meeting was over.

He blinked. “Forget about it? Alpha, it’s nearly five thousand dollars. We can’t just…”

“I said forget it,” I repeated, my voice a little harder. “It’s stolen. It’s gone. We’ll get more.”

He just stood there, looking very confused. “But… the theft… we need to launch an investigation. Question the staff. Find out who…”

“No,” I cut him off, sharper than I intended. The last thing I needed was some pack enforcer grilling Freya in a corner, scaring her half to death over money she probably took because she thought I’d… gods, because she thought I’d hit her kid. “No investigation. Drop it.”

Ben’s confusion was turning into frustration. He was a good wolf, thorough. This went against every one of his instincts. “With all due respect, Alpha, I can’t just ‘drop it.’ The books have to balance. What am I supposed to mark down for where it went? I need a reason.”

My mind raced. I couldn’t tell him the truth. Couldn’t say ‘oh, just put down that the omega I brought home stole it because she’s terrified of me.’ That would spread through the pack like wildfire. Her life would be hell.

Think, Zac. Think of something stupid. And that was when it hit me.

I waved a hand vaguely, looking away from him. “Just… just say I took it.”

That got his full attention. His eyebrows shot up. “You took it? For what?”

“I don’t know, Ben!” I snapped, the stress of the night making me lose my temper little by little. I forced myself to calm down. “Just… make something up. Put it down for… for a new ceremonial robe. Or… a donation. Something. Anything. Just mark it as a personal expense from me and be done with it.”

He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face before he sighed and I could see that the gears in his head was about to pop out. They were turning so much anything could happen.

“But sire… a new robe?” He asked, still not buying my words. “The ceremonial ones are hand-sewn by the elders. They don’t cost five thousand dollars. And you hate wearing them.”

“I know what I said!” I growled, pushing off the desk. “Just do it, Ben. That’s an order. Mark it down and don’t mention it again. To anyone.”

He looked at me in shock and then nodded begore closing his eyes to calm his nerves.

“Yes, Alpha,” he said with a slow nod. “A new robe it is.”

I nodded as he turned and walked away. I could see how stiff his shoulders were due to what I had told him to do. He wasn’t one to lie. It was the reason I had made him my financial officer. He was that good of a wolf.

Any other wolf would have winked at me and walked away but Ben needed to make a report and I loved him for that.

I sighed. I can’t believe that I had committed such a crime for freya. This better be worth it.

I’d just lied to a trusted pack member. I’d messed with pack funds on the books. All to cover for a woman who stole from me and thought I was a monster.

I sighed again and again while leaning against the table. What the hell was I even doing?

While I was still thinking of what had happened, the door swung open with Marcus, my head of security walking in with a stiff walk and his face filled with a serious look.

That was never a good sign.

“Alpha,” he said, his voice a low rumble as he bowed. “We’ve got a situation.”

“Seems to be the theme of the night,” I muttered, straightening up. “What is it?”

“Patrols just caught another one. Snooping around the eastern ridge. A spy.”

I suddenly felt weak a bit.

Not now. Why now? “Where’s he from? Don’t tell me it’s…”

“Bloodwood,” Marcus cut in, confirming my worst guess. “Same as the last three.”

I shook my head, running a hand through my hair. It was still a little stiff with dried blood from the rogues. I had forgotten to have my bath and change my clothes. “What is wrong with those people? What are they even looking for? We got nothing they want. It’s just trees and rocks over on that border.”

Marcus just gave a slow, heavy shrug. His job was catching them, not figuring out their reasons. “Don’t know, sir. He’s not talking. Yet.”

The ‘yet’ hung in the air between us. I knew what it meant. Marcus was very good at making people talk. He just wanted me to give him the go ahead order to ‘make’ him talk. His interrogation techniques weren’t by the books but it didn’t matter to him. The pack needed to be safe and that was what we were trying to do. Make sure it was safe enough for everyone.

“Where is he now?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

“Dungeon holding cell. Wanted to wait for you before we… had a proper chat with him.”

Right. A proper chat. I pushed away from the desk, the weariness in my bones replaced by a cold, sharp focus. Freya, Zara, the stolen money… it all had to wait. This was pack security. This came first.

“Alright,” I said, my voice dropping into something harder. “Lead the way.”