Page 184 of Healed in the Alpha's Embrace
“A shifter named Ryan Lee. He’s fairly new to the pack, only arrived about five years ago.” Lance rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Seems he was running from debt, and the debt caught up to him. George was the loan shark he used to borrow money from.”
I clenched my fists, anger rising in my chest. That motherfucker always preyed on the vulnerable. “Go on.”
“Ryan was borrowing from one lender to pay another, but never paying the debt off, only accruing more. Georgethreatened his wife and their child. They had no idea what he’d gotten caught up in.”
My heart sank. Another family torn apart by George’s cruelty. Jesus, how many men in my pack owed George money? This was the second man we’d discovered working with him. “What else did you find out?”
Lance met my gaze, his expression grim. “Ryan admitted to driving George in and out of town under a blanket in his car to evade the police at the town entrances.”
I slammed my fist against the wall, the impact reverberating through my bones. How could I have let this happen right under my nose? What kind of alpha was I if I couldn’t even protect my own pack from inside threats?
Lance placed a hand on my shoulder. “Noah, you can’t blame yourself for this. George is a master manipulator. He preys on desperate people’s weaknesses.”
I shook my head, not wanting to hear excuses. “I should have seen it. I should have known.”
“You’re doing everything you can to keep this pack safe. Don’t forget that.” Lance’s eyes were full of kindness, and I clung to it like a lifeline.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. Lance was right. I couldn’t change the past, but I could shape the future. And that started with bringing George to justice and ensuring that no one else fell victim to his schemes.
“Take me to Ryan’s address,” I said. “Now.”
Lance hesitated, his expression guarded. “He’s already at the police station. I dropped him with Warman before coming here.”
“You what?” My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “You had no right to do that. I should have been allowed to question him first.”
“With all due respect, Alpha, he’s suffered enough. His wife packed a bag and left with their kid to stay with her mother whenshe discovered his part in your mate’s torture. The man’s world has crumbled around him.”
I scoffed. “That’s all well and good, but had he come to me, I would have helped him. There was no need for him to get involved with George’s schemes.”
Lance shook his head, his gaze softening. “Ryan didn’t know the pack well enough to trust anyone. George preyed on that, told him he and his family would be kicked out. Ryan’s a victim, too. If you really think about it, put yourself in his shoes, you’ll see how desperate he was.”
I fell silent, my anger slowly dissipating. Lance was right. Ryan had been caught between a rock and a hard place, manipulated by a man who preyed on the vulnerable. I couldn’t fault him for that, not entirely.
My shoulders sagged. “You did the right thing, taking him to Warman. Hopefully, he can help with the investigation. But Lance, don’t take liberties like this again. I’m the alpha, and I need to be informed of these decisions.”
Lance nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re right, Alpha. I apologize. Consider my wrist well and truly smacked.”
I rolled my eyes at his attempt to lighten the mood, but I couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped me. “Get out of here, Lance. I need to check on Ryan’s wife and kid, make sure they’re safe.”
I watched him leave, unable to shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. George’s web of deceit ran deeper than I had anticipated, and it would take all of my strength and cunning to unravel it. But I was determined to see it through, to protect my pack and everyone I loved from his malice. No matter the cost.
With a heavy heart, I left my parents’ house. The drive home was a blur, my thoughts consumed by the betrayal and the impending danger that hung over us. It wasn’t until I parked mycar in the garage that I realized I needed to check on Zoey. I’d forgotten to call her and make sure she was all right.
I hurried inside, flicking on the hallway light as I went, my steps echoing on the hardwood floors. Our room was dark and empty. I made my way back downstairs, searching for Zoey.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, a sound stopped me dead in my tracks. There was water running in the laundry room. What the hell?
I crept toward the noise, my wolf senses on high alert. The closer I got, the more I realized it wasn’t the washer but the tub upstairs.
“Zoey?” I roared as I ran back upstairs.
“Noah?” she yelped, and I found her standing there, a damp towel wrapped around her curves, her hair dripping wet. “You startled me.”
“What happened?” My wolf bristled at the thought of her in distress.
“I-I just, uh... I spilled some wine,” she said, her cheeks flaming.
It wasn’t her words that set me off, it was her scent. Arousal coated the air, heavy and intoxicating. My wolf roared to the surface, demanding a claim on our mate.
