196 Secrets Beneath The Surface
Mara
I
I drove quickly, trying to make up for lost time. Traffic was heavier than expected, but I still arrived at the park fifteen minutes early.
I decided to take a walk-clear my head. That’s when I spotted the ice cream stand. I almost walked past it, then stopped.
Sorbet.
I usually hated it. Too icy. Too tart. But now? I wanted it. I was craving it. I ordered a couple of flavours-lemon, raspberry, mango-and smiled to myself. The pregnancy was already changing me. Maybe that was a good thing.
I walked to the mini-lake near the center of the park, letting the breeze settle me. Then I called Rowan.
“Meet me by the lake,” I said.
“Almost there,” he replied.
I found a spot on a bench with a clear view of the water and sat quietly, spooning sorbet into my mouth and letting my thoughts wander.
What were we doing wrong?
We were trying to patch holes in a ship that was still being attacked. Chase had made a mess of things, and the longer he remained out of reach, the more exhausting this game became. I didn’t want to bring a child into a war zone. Lucian didn’t need to juggle fatherhood with a covert manhunt
I whispered a silent prayer.
Please… let him slip. Just once. That’s all we need. One mistake.
I heard footsteps behind me and turned.
Rowan.
I smiled as he approached. He looked tense-glancing around like he was expecting Lucian to jump out of a bush. I
couldn’t help but laugh.
“Why did you call me out here, Mara?” he asked as he sat beside me, still scanning the area.
“You know how Lucian is.”
I grinned.
“What do you think he’ll do to you, Rowan?”
He wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
“I don’t know… maybe beat me up like he beat Theodore for talking about your ass in the locker room.”
My spoon froze midair.
“He did what?”
Rowan looked genuinely surprised.
“He didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head slowly.
196 Secrets Beneath The Surface
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“Theodore started describing your features-loudly-right as Lucian walked in. Let’s just say Theodore will neversay your name again. Especially not around Alpha.”
I tried to hold in the laughter, but I couldn’t. It burst out of me. Of course Lucian did that. Theodore had a filthy mouth-l could only imagine the words he used.
“That’s why you dragged me all the way out here, isn’t it?” Rowan said, eyeing me. “So I wouldn’t get stomped for looking at you too long.”
I smiled, letting the warmth of his friendship settle beside the weight of what I was about to ask.
“No,” I said softly. “You’re here because I need your help. And I need someone I can trust-not just someone who follows orders.” Rowan nodded understanding what I meant.
“How’s the investigation with Winston’s Corp?” I asked, watching Rowan as he sat beside me.
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, the weight of everything visible in his posture.
“Tight-lipped,” he muttered. “They’re all tight-lipped. Every single board member is holding the line. But we found
something… Chase recently bought the largest shares in Winston’s Corp. Legally. On paper. Tiffany’s father’s name is all over it.”
That stunned me.
“Tiffany’s father?”
Rowan nodded grimly.
“Yeah. He’s being tried for treason now. No one understands why he’d help an outsider-especially one who’s actively sabotaging his Alpha. He swears he didn’t know Chase’s intentions, but he gave us something: a hotel name. Chase is in Mistwood.”
My breath caught.
So close… and yet just out of reach.
“Lucian and Darian don’t want to cross the water,” Rowan added. “They’re hoping to choke off Chase’s power here first- on Mooncrest. If they can freeze his operations and isolate him financially, he’ll have no choice but to come back. And
once he’s here, they can move in.”
I nodded.
“Cutting his supply line… that’s smart.”
“Money can’t be transferred off the island right now. Everything’s sealed. If Chase’s assets are stuck here, he’s stranded in Mistwood with no leverage,” Rowan said, almost proud.
But my smile was short-lived.
“That’s great, Rowan,” I said quietly, “but Chase is already cutting our supply. He’s infiltrated our accounts and IT. department. Someone on the inside is helping him hack into our systems and bleed us dry.”
Rowan’s eyes widened. I could see the shock ripple through him.
“You’re serious?”
“Based on what I’ve seen, Chase is trying to financially cripple the Nighthorns. This isn’t just sabotage-it’s a soft coup. Once we’re weak enough, he’ll sweep in with his own resources. And he won’t need outside military help. The poor packs here? They’ll flock to him if he offers stability and coin. Loyalty can be bought.”
Rowan shifted in his seat, visibly uncomfortable.
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“But… Lucian’s mark. They can’t betray him, not without consequences. His Alpha mark will override theirs if it comes
to that.”
I nodded, smiling gently.
“Yes… that’s the theory.”
I didn’t say the rest. I didn’t tell him about my doubts.
Lucian was born on Mooncrest, yes-but his blood ties to Driftwake and Neev made him unique. His Alpha mark shouldov erride every Alpha on the island. Every wolf born of Mooncrest blood should answer to him. But that kind of power- ancient, absolute-wasn’t something easily wielded. Not even by the rightful heir.
And I wasn’t sure Lucian had learned how to wield it at all.
I kept that to myself.
There was no need to panic Rowan. Not yet.
I looked out at the water again, hiding the knot in my stomach behind another quiet smile.
