She smiled and nodded. Was that pity I saw on her face? Did everyone know about my situation?
My phone buzzed with a text from Ty as I shoved a bite of egg into my mouth.
Meeting in five minutes in Dad’s office. Nico has an update.
My hands shook as I quickly replied.
I’ll be right there.
I turned my phone off, not wanting to be disturbed, and if I was honest, hoping to block Castro. I knew that was naïve thinking, but it made me feel like I was doing something.
My footsteps echoed through the halls adorned with exquisite paintings and ornate chandeliers as I navigated my way to Dominic’s office. It struck me as odd that the staff weren’t bustling about, attending to their morning duties, but I chalked it up to the increased security.
The poor staff must’ve been terrified that the home they worked in was now the center of attention, and not for good reasons.
I knocked softly on the office door. Ty opened it within seconds, his eyes reflecting his concern and exhaustion. He stepped out and kissed me on the cheek. “Did you sleep well?”
“Like a baby,” I replied with a smile. “Thanks for carrying me to your room last night.”
As I took in his appearance, my earlier suspicions were confirmed. He must’ve stayed up all night because he looked rough. His five o’clock shadow cast a rugged air about him, and his usually well-groomed, black hair was wildly disheveled.
Ty took my hand and led me into the office. We settled into a cozy seating area in the corner, our bodies pressed together. I was surprised to see my parents and Ty’s mother sitting across the room. Apparently, Dominic had decided to fill everyone in at once. After the broadcasts, nothing was top secret—not anymore.
We were all in this together.
“Are you okay?” Ty asked softly, his gray eyes searching mine for any signs of distress.
“I am,” I said, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. My mind, however, couldn’t help but wonder what had transpired during the night and how it would affect us going forward.
Nico entered, dragging a battered man behind him, and the mood in the room changed from nervous tension to ominous apprehension. A sickening mix of blood and bruises marred the man’s face, leaving it nearly unrecognizable.
His swollen eyes were half shut, and his dislocated jaw hung crookedly, giving him a grotesque appearance. I fought the urge to shudder.
“Meet William,” Nico announced grimly. “He’s the one who took the video, not my son. He was his partner on the mission and several others before the Wylde Pack incident.”
My attention snapped back to the conversation as Dominic stood in front of the man who dripped blood onto his rug. “Why, William? Why did you do it?”
William struggled to speak with his damaged jaw. “I... I grew up poor,” he began, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Ijoined the military program to make money for my family. After we’d been briefed on the mission, I convinced Nico’s son to wear the camera in case we got caught during the mission...” His voice trailed off, and a low gurgle came from his throat.
“Go on,” Ty urged, his voice tight with barely suppressed anger.
“Thought... thought I could use the footage someday. A man approached me a year ago. Said he knew about the video. For the life of me, I had no idea how he found out about it. Then I remembered that there had been a young shifter in the sidelines. He wasn’t one of ours, but he was just a kid. I didn’t think he was dangerous. He was watching our pack, hiding in the shadows during the fight.”
Castro.
He paused, collecting himself, before continuing. “He must have seen me take the hidden camera off Ilya when he died.”
“Wait a minute,” I interjected, bile rising in my throat. “You knew someone was watching. You knew they’d seen the camera, and yet you didn’t think to destroy the footage?” How could someone be so selfish as to endanger his own pack for personal gain?
William tried to turn to me, but he howled in pain.
“Continue, William,” Dominic ordered, his voice cold and unyielding.
“I didn’t keep it out for anyone to see. I buried it in my backyard,” William admitted.
A heavy silence enveloped the room. His betrayal hung heavily in the air, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for us all.
“Castro? You gave the footage to that psychopath?” Dominic roared, a vein in his neck pulsing.
