Chapter 3: Hijack's Insight

Vivienne

“You found your mate and he’s an Alpha?” Clarissa practically yells as we pull out of the parking lot. “And not just any Alpha, he’s a smoking hot Alpha and apparently one of the good ones?” she asks, glancing at me.

I look at her. “He should have let me reject him,” I say softly.

“Well, I think it says even more about his character that he didn’t, Viv. By the way, here’s your food. Eat while you can,” she says, grabbing a bag of food from the backseat.

I dig in. When we’re on the street, we don’t always have the luxury of stopping to get food and when we do, it’s frequently so greasy or unidentifiable that I won’t eat it. It didn’t take long for me to live in a pack with excellent cooks to develop a more discerning palate. I never used to care what food looked or tasted like. I only cared that it filled my empty stomach.

“So, what are you going to do with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?” she asks.

I’m saved from answering by my phone ringing.

I put it on speaker and answer.

“Hey, Hijack,” I say with a mouth full of food.

“Vivienne, I was hoping to catch you before you left, but I guess I missed you,’ he says.

I swallow before answer.

“Yeah, Clarissa picked me up. We’re heading over to meet the others. What’s up?”

"I wanted to find out if either of you have any idea who might be making these she-wolves disappear,” he says.

I glance at Clarissa.

“What makes you think it’s only one person?” she asks.

Our team has started to think that this is more than a singular operation. I thought things would settle once my father and Grady were arrested, but it feels like everything is heightened now.

“You think there’s more than one person?” he asks.

One thing I’ve learned since we started working with Hijack is that he’s extremely intelligent. You don’t have to waste a lot of time explaining things to him.

“Yes,” I say. “Our team has talked about it and while there may be one person in charge, there are a lot of ‘middle managers’ working the street to make sure these she-wolves continue to be forced into this lifestyle,” I say.

“So, it is a much bigger operation than we originally thought,” he murmurs.

“We think so. There are too many she-wolves going missing too fast,” I say.

“Have you heard anything about auctions?” he asks.

I look at Clarissa and frown.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“We know that some of these women are being sold into mate bonds, but perhaps some of them are being sold on the black market. Have you heard anything about that?” he asks.

I look at Clarissa.

“It never even occurred to me,” she says.

“Me either. We haven’t been listening for that, Hijack, but we'll start now. I think you might be right. It would be a quick, easy way to get rid of these she-wolves, especially the ones who are considered more attractive than others.”

“Or more powerful. I’ve been pondering this idea since we considered that your father might try to sell Piper. He had an Alpha willing to buy her, but honestly, someone like Piper, someone as strong as she is, could sell for more money in something like an auction.”

I snarl. “I would fucking kill them.”

“I’m sure you’d have to get in line behind Alpha Henry, but I think the point is well made. Your father let Piper go to the Academy for a reason. She’s already taken down one Alpha, and she can hold her own against Alpha Quirin. Somone like that, someone who would be hard to break, would go for a lot of money on the black market, more than Alpha Peter paid for her,” he says. “I’ll remind you that Gamma Nathan’s and your father and brother’s court dates are coming up soon. You know you’ll have to return for those, right?”

I hate the idea of having to face them in court, but I know I have to. They need to go to prison for life for what they did to my mother and others like her.

“Yes, I know. It will be a good opportunity for the team to take a break,” I say.

Clarissa glances at me and shakes her head. She and the others have been adamant that they shouldn’t get a break when I go to court. Court isn’t a ‘break’ for me. It’s just a different kind of stress.

“Start asking about an auction, a sale, or anything like that, see if that is something that’s going on for these she-wolves. Honestly, I’m hoping they’re being sold off and not killed. They may not agree with that, but eventually, we’ll find them and get them out of the hell they’re in,” he says.

“I’m glad you’re on our side, Hijack,” I say.

“You and your team are doing all the hard work, Vivienne. I’m just hunting down the trails you're leading me to,” he says.

“Those hunts are finding these she-wolves and giving us the opportunity to get them out of the hell they’re in. Don’t underestimate your role in all of this, Alpha,” Clarissa says.

We’ve all talked about how impressive Hijack is. Even if I’d never met him face-to-face, I’d know he was an Alpha. He’s dedicated, he works tirelessly to help others, and he doesn’t stop until he has his answers. It doesn’t matter how many roadblocks we come up against, he refuses to back down. He’s been an incredible ‘silent’ partner on our team and I’m pretty sure Clarissa has a crush on him.

“Let me know what you find out, and I’ll let you know if I come across anything I need you to dig into for me,” he says.

“Thanks, Hijack.”

After we hang up, Clarissa looks at me. “What’s his real name?”

“No clue.”

She sighs. “Too bad. So, back to you and Alpha Gorgeous …”

“There’s nothing to talk about, Clarissa. He’s an Alpha of his pack. I’m an ex-prostitute. There is no future for us.”

“And yet, he didn’t let you reject him, did he?” she asks.

No. No, he did not.

Yana POV

Me: What can I do to help?

As soon as we got to Yorrie and Cyra’s pack, I raced to my room and pulled up my DM to Hijack.

Just like the rest of my family, I don’t like it when someone I care about is threatened. Cyra is an incredible sister-in-law. I refuse to let anyone hurt her. And while my father, Yorrie, Connor, Henry, and Quirin want to send me out on patrols to help guard the pack, I know I could be doing more.

Lane: It’s too dangerous for you to be involved, Phisher.

Goddess, I hate that name.

Me: This is my family, Hijack. If you won’t bring me in, I’ll get Wendy to.

Hijack: Sphinx will be too busy to talk to you, and even if she isn’t, she’s working hard to earn a spot on our team. She won’t jeopardize that by involving her younger sister on a project that not only breaches confidentiality but also puts you at risk.

Me: Please. Give me something I can do.

I see the three dots pop up, then go away. Then again. And again. And again.

Me: Please, Lane.

I’ve worked enough with Lane that I can picture him sighing.

Me: I’m about to run patrols with Wade and Yvonne. That will give you time to find something that doesn’t breach confidentiality and will still let me help.

Lane: Won’t you be tired after running patrols?

Me: I doubt any of us will sleep until Stellan is caught.

I sense the sigh again.

Lane: If there’s anything I can pass to you, I will. If there is, it will be the gruntiest of grunt work,

Me: If it helps my family, I don’t care. And I’m pretty sure gruntiest isn’t a word.

I smile. I’m also pretty sure that made Lane almost smile.

Lane: Correcting my English now, Phisher?

Me: You know me, always trying to help -grinning emoji-

Lane: -raised eyebrow emoji- Be safe on patrols and let me know when you’re back. I’ll see what I might have for you.

Me: Thanks, Hijack. Gotta go.

I race out of my room when I hear Wade calling for me to hurry up. It’s time to go on protection detail.