Chapter Five

Amos's POV

After Mira leaves my office, I sit in the darkness thinking about everything she told me. Her story matches the pattern I found in those old complaints. It makes sense in a way that Kyle's version never did.

But believing her means accepting that my brother is a predator who tried to assault his own pack member. It means Sarah lied to protect him. It means I rejected my innocent mate and tortured her for something she didn't do.

The thought makes me sick.

Titan paces restlessly in my mind. "We need to make this right. Our mate has suffered enough."

"I know," I tell him. "But I need proof before I can accuse Kyle and Sarah publicly. Their families are powerful. If I'm wrong, it could start a war within the pack."

"You're not wrong," Titan insists. "You know the truth. You can feel it."

He's right. Deep in my gut, I know Mira was telling the truth. But knowing something and proving it are different things.

I spend the rest of the night going through old pack records. I find the names of the five females who complained about Kyle and left the pack. I need to contact them and ask if they'll give statements about what happened.

By morning, I'm exhausted but determined. I've sent messages to three of the females through their new packs. If they respond and confirm Kyle's pattern of behavior, I'll have enough evidence to confront him.

There's a knock on my office door. "Come in," I call out.

Kyle enters with his usual limp, smiling like nothing is wrong. "Good morning, brother. I heard you brought Mira out of the dungeon yesterday. What was that about?"

I study his face carefully. He looks innocent and curious, but I notice how his eyes are calculating, watching my reaction.

"I wanted to question her about the incident," I say neutrally.

"Why? We already know what happened. She attacked me." Kyle sits down without being invited, making himself comfortable. "Unless she's trying to manipulate you with lies. She's good at that."

"What kind of lies?" I ask carefully.

Kyle waves his hand dismissively. "Oh, claiming I attacked her first, that she was defending herself. It's ridiculous. Why would I ever touch her inappropriately when I have Sarah?"

The way he says it sounds rehearsed, like he's repeated this explanation many times.

"That's what I thought," I say, pretending to agree. "But I needed to hear it from her directly. As Alpha, I have to be thorough."

Kyle relaxes slightly. "Of course. That makes sense. So what are you going to do with her now?"

"I haven't decided yet. Maybe keep her in the dungeon a few more weeks."

"Good idea," Kyle says quickly. Too quickly. "She needs to learn respect. Maybe after a month in the dungeon, she'll finally admit what she did."

Or maybe you're hoping she'll die down there before she can tell anyone else the truth, I think but don't say.

"How's your leg?" I ask, changing the subject.

Kyle touches his leg carefully. "Still hurts. The pack doctor says I might always have a limp. Mira really did damage when she attacked me."

I nod sympathetically, but inside I'm analyzing everything. If Mira pushed Kyle away during an assault, he would have fallen backward. The injuries to his head and leg match that scenario perfectly.

"Well, I should let you rest," I say, standing up. "I have Alpha duties to attend to."

Kyle leaves, and I immediately send a message to Dr. Chen, our pack doctor. I ask him to come to my office privately.

Dr. Chen arrives twenty minutes later. He's an older wolf with gray hair and kind eyes. He's been the pack doctor for thirty years and delivered most of the younger wolves, including me and Kyle.

"You wanted to see me, Alpha?" Dr. Chen asks, sitting down.

"Yes. I need to ask you about Kyle's injuries from three months ago. Do you still have the medical report?"

Dr. Chen looks uncomfortable. "Of course. May I ask why?"

"I'm reviewing the incident. Can you tell me about his injuries?"

Dr. Chen pulls out a tablet and brings up the report. "Kyle had a head laceration requiring stitches and a fractured ankle. The injuries were consistent with a backward fall onto a hard surface."

"Backward fall," I repeat. "Not consistent with being attacked from the front?"

Dr. Chen hesitates. "Well... actually, if someone had attacked him from the front, I would expect defensive wounds on his hands and arms. Bruising on his chest or face. Kyle had none of those."

"Did anyone ask you about that at the time?"

"No," Dr. Chen admits. "I assumed the investigation was thorough. It wasn't my place to question it."

I lean forward. "Dr. Chen, off the record, what did you think really happened?"

The old doctor sighs deeply. "Honestly? The injuries looked like Kyle fell backward, possibly while someone pushed him away. Combined with his history..." He stops himself.

"What history?"

"I shouldn't say. It's not proper to speak badly of pack members."

"I'm your Alpha," I remind him gently. "And I need to know the truth."

Dr. Chen looks conflicted but finally speaks. "Over the years, I've treated several young females for anxiety and panic attacks. When I asked what triggered them, they mentioned uncomfortable interactions with Kyle. I reported it to your father once, but he said I was overreacting. Kyle was young and just being friendly."

My stomach churns. My father knew? He knew Kyle had issues and did nothing?

"Thank you for your honesty," I tell Dr. Chen. "This conversation stays between us for now."

He nods and leaves, looking relieved to have shared his concerns.

I sit back in my chair, processing everything. The evidence keeps mounting. Kyle is guilty. Sarah covered for him. And my father ignored warning signs because he didn't want to believe his son could do something so terrible.

Which means I inherited a pack with a rot at its core.

There's another knock on my door. This time it's Marcus, the Beta and Sarah's father.

"Alpha, we need to talk," Marcus says, his face serious.

"About what?"

"About Mira. Sarah told me you took her out of the dungeon yesterday. She's concerned you're being too soft."

I keep my expression neutral. "I'm being thorough. That's different from being soft."

"Mira is dangerous," Marcus insists. "She attacked Kyle without provocation. She needs to be punished properly, not given comfortable rooms and second chances."

"How do you know I gave her a comfortable room?" I ask quietly.

Marcus pauses, realizing his mistake. "Sarah mentioned seeing her in the Alpha quarters."

"Sarah shouldn't be monitoring my decisions," I say coldly. "I'm Alpha now, not her puppet."

Marcus's face reddens. "I meant no disrespect. We're just trying to protect the pack."

"From what? A thin, traumatized girl who weighs barely a hundred pounds?"

"From someone who uses violence to solve problems!"

I stand up, letting my Alpha aura fill the room. Marcus immediately steps back, his wolf recognizing my dominance.

"I will handle Mira's situation as I see fit," I say firmly. "If Sarah or anyone else has a problem with that, they can come talk to me directly. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Alpha," Marcus says quietly, bowing his head.

After he leaves, I realize something important. Sarah and Marcus are scared. They're pushing hard to keep Mira locked away because they don't want me investigating too closely. They know if I dig deep enough, I'll find the truth.

Which means I'm on the right path.

I leave my office and head to the guest room where Mira is staying. I need to tell her what I've learned. I need to apologize for everything I put her through.

But when I arrive at her room, the door is slightly open. That's wrong. I left it locked for her safety.

I push the door open fully and my blood runs cold.

The room is destroyed. Furniture is overturned, the window is broken, and there's blood on the floor. But worst of all, Mira is gone.

On the wall, written in red paint—or maybe blood—is a message:

"STOP INVESTIGATING OR SHE DIES."

Titan roars in my mind, furious and terrified. "FIND HER! FIND OUR MATE NOW!"

I run out of the room, my mind racing. Who took her? Kyle? Sarah? Someone else who doesn't want the truth exposed?

I shift into my wolf form right there in the hallway, not caring about the rules against shifting indoors. Titan takes control, using our enhanced senses to track Mira's scent.

Her scent leads outside, toward the forest. But it's mixed with two other scents—wolves I don't recognize. Rogues.

Someone hired rogues to kidnap my mate.

I run through the forest, following the trail. My pack warriors must have seen me shift because I hear them following behind, asking what's wrong.

"ALPHA, WHAT'S HAPPENING?" someone mind-links me.

"Mira's been kidnapped," I send back. "Send warriors to search the entire territory. NOW!"

The trail leads deeper into the forest, toward the border of our territory. The rogues were fast, and they have a head start. But I'm faster, driven by desperation and rage.

I finally catch up to them at the border. Three rogue wolves surround Mira, who's unconscious and bleeding from a head wound. When they see me, they attack immediately.

The fight is brutal but quick. I'm an Alpha, stronger and faster than any rogue. I kill two of them within minutes. The third tries to run, but I catch him and pin him down with my jaws around his throat.

"Who sent you?" I growl through the mind-link, knowing he can hear me even though he's not pack.

The rogue laughs, blood bubbling from his mouth. "Doesn't matter. They'll just send more. That girl knows too much."

Before I can question him further, he bites down on something in his mouth. Poison. He dies within seconds, taking his secrets with him.

I shift back to human form and run to Mira. She's breathing but unconscious, her face pale. There's a large bruise forming on her temple where someone hit her.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, gathering her carefully in my arms. "I'm so sorry. I should have protected you better."

My warriors arrive and stare at the dead rogues in shock.

"What happened, Alpha?" someone asks.

"Someone tried to kill Mira to stop my investigation," I say, my voice hard. "Which means I'm getting close to the truth. And whoever is responsible just made a fatal mistake."

I look down at Mira's unconscious face and make a silent vow. I will find out who did this. I will expose every lie. And I will make them pay for every moment of suffering they've caused my mate.

Even if it means tearing apart my own family.