Chapter 21: Code

Ella’s POV

It’s an hour before midnight and we’re heading back to Pax’s house for the Black Covenants’ meeting. It usually happens once a month where we meet with all the members of our organizations to keep track of our current goals and progress.

Although these meetings have been getting more frequent lately due to the deadline getting closer.

Megan was right. If we don’t quicken the pace of our plans, then we might not be able to accomplish everything on time and all of these will be for nothing.

I can’t let that happen.

Zane holds my hand as we enter the grand room, an expansive space capable of hosting hundreds of guests.

Pax, Megan, Lysia, and Ethan are already there. Arden is not. I don’t know where he is but I didn’t ask because I already have a hunch.

“Thank you for attending tonight’s gathering. As you all know, our organization—the Black Covenant—is steadily growing. Why, you may ask?” Ethan says as he steps up to the podium. “Is it because we give out free coffee?” He glances at several members sipping their freshly made drinks. “Or is it because your leaders are good-looking?” He flashes a boyish grin.

I shake my head.

“Those are reasonable benefits, but they’re not the reason our organization is growing. The reason is this: we are a family that accepts everyone—humans, werewolves, or anyone in between. Those who have been rejected, cast out, shamed, or unclaimed. Everyone has a place in this organization.”

Several of our members nod.

“And what is the goal of our organization, can you remind me again?” Ethan gestures his hand on his ear as if waiting for an answer.

“To destroy the obsolete systems that encourage unequal statuses and ranks!”

“Correct!” Ethan points at the members who answer. “What else?”

“To destroy packs that promote those systems!” someone shouts.

“Correct again!” Ethan nods in approval. “And the most important goal of the Black Covenant is…?”

“Create a world where all werewolves can be equal. And a world with a balance between humans and werewolves,” a member in front answers.

“Five stars!” Ethan exclaims. “And we are getting closer and closer to that goal. But we’re gonna need everyone’s hands on deck if we want to accomplish our biggest goal…”

I watch quietly as Ethan hypes up the crowd. He’s our spokesperson for this kind of thing. We have over a hundred members watching him like a class of kindergartners excited for treats, but they’re not just ordinary people. Every single one in this room is capable of killing.

Every single one in this room has been trained by Pax himself. I turn to Pax and observe is stoic expression that rarely ever changes. If anyone is capable of taking down Alden in a one-on-one battle to the limits, that would be him.

The meeting ends an hour past midnight. But we’re not yet done because the leadership—us has a meeting scheduled after that.

“I sent some men to spy on Lev Ilyan two days ago and according on their reports, it appears that the Russian crime boss is really planning something shady in the coming days,” Ethan informs us.

“Do we know if this has something to do with the charity gala? Does this confirm Lena’s theory?” Zane probes.

“I guess it does, or at least it strongly supports our white wolf’s hunch. My men said that they saw

“I guess it does, or at least it strongly supports our white wolf's hunch,” Ethan says. “My men saw unusual activity at one of Ilyin's private ports. Cargo ships have been arriving almost every night this week. Usually, he only receives one shipment every few days. Right now, he's bringing in two or three ships a night.”

He tosses a folder onto the table.

“That's not the weird part. Half of those containers aren't listed on any official manifest. As far as the authorities are concerned, they don't even exist.”

Zane picks up the folder and flips through it.

“So we're talking about smuggled goods.”

“Big ones,” Ethan says. “Whatever's inside those containers, Ilyin doesn't want anyone knowing about it.”

Megan folds her arms.

“What could he possibly be bringing in this time? More weapons? Drugs? Human cargo? Seriously, what kind of nightmare are these people putting together?”

Silence settles over the room.

I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table.

“Whatever it is, we need to be prepared. More importantly, do we have any idea how we're getting into that secret gathering if it really exists?”

Lysia slowly shakes her head.

“Nothing so far. We can't find any information about another event taking place during the gala. Either your secret party doesn't exist, or they've been extremely selective about who gets invited.”

“I'd bet on the latter,” I say. “Either way, this is bad. We need to figure out a way inside.”

Pax remains quiet for a moment before speaking.

“We still have a few days. If things go south, we'll consider more drastic measures.”

Ethan immediately grimaces.

“Oh, man. I hate drastic measures. Drastic measures mean running around, breaking into places, and getting shot at. That's a lot of hassle.”

Megan rolls her eyes.

“You're such a whiner.”

**

Three days pass, and we're still out of luck.

We only have two days left before the Saint Aurelia Foundation Gala, and we still haven't found a way to get into the secret event that may or may not exist beneath it. If we're wrong, then we've wasted days chasing shadows. But if we're right and fail to get in, we might miss something important enough to destroy everything we've been working toward.

Frustration sits heavy in my chest.

Zane is buried in work this afternoon, so I decide to take a drive around the county by myself. Maybe some fresh air will clear my head. Maybe I'll bring him some pastries on my way back home.

Instead, I somehow end up parking in front of an antique bookstore.

A little brass bell chimes when I step inside.

Warm light spills across rows upon rows of old books. Some of them look so ancient that I'm afraid touching them might make the pages crumble.

I smile.

When I first moved into Zane's house, he found out how much I loved reading and immediately had a personal library built for me. I still remember walking into the room for the first time and nearly crying over the floor-to-ceiling shelves.

I occasionally add books to my collection, and today suddenly feels like the perfect day to do exactly that.

I browse the shelves and pick up several books about herbology, a collection of old remedies, and a fascinating text about poisonous plants.

Then a weathered copy of The Language of Flowers and Healing Herbs catches my eye. It's sitting on the highest shelf. I rise onto my tiptoes and stretch my arm.

Another hand reaches it first.

I frown and turn around only to see Alden Blackwood standing beside me, casually holding the book.

He glances at the cover and raises a brow.

"So, you're a book nerd too, huh?"

What the hell is he doing in this place?

"And you don't look like one, so why don't you hand that book to me?"

A smile slowly spreads across his face.

"I don't think you have any golden bells to make me obey you this time. So I don't really have a reason to follow your request."

"I thought being a decent person was enough reason, but I guess that's not really you, is it?"

He smirks and flips through the pages.

"You're throwing hands over a book about organic fertilizers?" he says and I detect a little mocking there.

"It's a book about plants. If you find it hilarious, just give it to me,” I demand, holding out my hand.

"A book about plants?” His smile slowly fades. “Herbology. You like this too, huh?” he murmurs.

"What?"

He closes the book and steps toward me. I instinctively move back. But he takes another step. Then another, and I take another step back until my back meets the shelf behind me.

Alden studies my face. His gaze lingers on my eyes before drifting lower. For a second, it almost looks like he's staring at my lips before forcing himself to look back up.

"You really look so much like her," he says quietly.

His hand rises and brushes my cheek. I smack it away.

"Are you talking about your ghosts again?" I say bitterly.

A laugh slips out of him.

"Ghosts aren't real. But you know what are?"

"If I pretend that I'm interested, would you hand me that book?"

He shakes his head, amusement returning to his face.

"God, you have her face, but your mouth says things she'd never say."

Growing impatient, I snatch the book from his hand. He doesn't even try to stop me. I tuck it under my arm.

"I'm not sure why you're here, but in case you're lost, the cigarette shop is on the other side of the road."

I turn around and hear him laugh behind me. I've barely taken a few steps when his voice stops me.

"Hey, you dropped something."

I turn around and see him picking the invitation to the Saint Aurelia Foundation Gala from the floor. Shit, I knew these pockets were shallow.

Alden studies the card with a slight frown.

"Are you going to hand that back to me or are you planning to make this difficult?" I ask.

He ignores the question as if engrossed by the invitation.

"Looks like we're invited to the same party."

What?

He's going to the Saint Aurelia Foundation Gala too?

I suppose that shouldn't surprise me. Alpha aside, he's also a successful businessman like Zane. But if he's attending the gala…

Does that mean he knows something about the event hidden beneath it? If that exists just like my hunch...

I walk back over and take the invitation from his hand.

"I see. I'm surprised you're attending. Don't these kinds of parties bore you?"

He raises a brow.

"What makes you say that?"

I shrug.

"I don't know. It just doesn't seem like your type of party."

He slips his hands into his pockets.

"What better party is there than raising money for abandoned kids in orphanages?"

"I see.” I let out a mocking laugh.  “So you do have a heart."

He looks mildly offended.

"I'm an Alpha, not a monster,” he scoffs.

I study him for a moment. I have to come up with a way to make him cough any information he knows about the possible secret event underneath this gala.

"Is that all you're excited about, then? Helping raise funds for poor kids?" I probe.

He tilts his head. "What else should I be excited for?"

"I don't know. Anything else? Something you heard about the party… or from whoever gave you the invitation."

"Luxon Wilder gave it to me,” he says casually.

What? Wilder gave him the invitation? That prick…

It's making even more sense now!

"Really?" I ask. "Did he tell you anything else when he handed it to you?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Anything remotely interesting?"

He rubs his chin and laughs.

"You know what I find remotely interesting? You asking the same question in five different ways."

Ah, damn it. I’m not gonna get anything from here. Maybe he doesn’t know anything, anyway. Maybe he was just handed the invitation just like Zane.

Or maybe I was wrong. Maybe this was just an ordinary charity gala all along.

"Forget it,” I mutter and dismissively wave my hand in the air.

I turn around to leave. But a hand wraps around my arm before I can take a step away. A gasp leaves my mouth as he tugs me back.

I look at him in surprise.

"The code," he says before I can complain. "That's what you're asking about, isn't it?"

The code.

So there is a code! Shit, I was right all along. There’s really more to this gala than this fundraising thing!

And he knows about it.

"Tell me about this code."

A playful smile slowly appears on his face. Oh no—maybe not playful. Dangerous.

"Ah, look at that. How the tables have turned." He leans slightly closer. "Now you're the one who needs something from me."

A terrible feeling settles in my stomach. This is bad.

He pulls me a little closer by my arm until his mouth is near my ear.

"I can tell you all about it, Lena," he murmurs. "But only if you're willing to be my kitten tonight."