Chapter 5

Thorne’s POV

My interrogation room was more like a bar, a well-furnished one with just enough dangerous weapons hanging above the polished counter to make a statement. The stark lighting overhead was the only thing that illuminated the dark space, focusing solely on the woman sitting across from me. Selene, her long legs crossed, exuded an aura of confidence, but I could see the subtle tremor in her jaw, the slight dart of her eyes as she carefully maintained her composure. She was good at pretending, but I could see through the act.

The silence between us stretched on. I could tell she was trying to gauge me just as I was assessing her. When you deal with people like Matteo’s wife, the game was never straightforward. It was always about pushing, testing limits.

“I’m going to ask you this once,” I said, my voice low, the words deliberate. I swirled the wine in my glass, watching the red liquid spin as if the motion could help me focus. “Why are your husband’s wolves stalking my territory at night?”

Selene didn’t flinch, her expression unreadable. She leaned back in the chair, her posture perfect, as if she had no care in the world. I couldn’t decide if I admired her strength or hated it.

“I have no idea, Thorne,” she answered, her voice cold, the words deliberate as she met my gaze, unwavering. “If my husband had any other plans, he certainly never shared them with me. My meeting with you was scheduled by him. If this is his way of getting you to kill me on his behalf, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

Her words struck me like a cold breeze. I hadn’t expected her to speak so openly about Matteo. Was she testing me? Trying to see if I would take the bait?

“And why would he want you dead?” I asked, amusement creeping into my tone. I could feel the game shifting, the tension thickening in the room. Matteo and his wife were always playing some kind of dangerous game, but this? This felt like something different.

“Let’s just say he doesn’t agree with my methods lately. Perhaps he feels threatened by my forwardness, or maybe he doesn’t know how to clip my wings,” she said, a smile curving her lips as she spoke. It was a smile of someone who knew their power, even in the face of danger.

A flash of curiosity crossed my mind. I hadn’t expected that answer, but I should have known. Serene had always been a woman of ambition, and with that ambition came the inevitable friction with Matteo’s less than visionary approach. But what was she playing at? I would need to be careful. Every word she spoke was a part of a greater game, and I needed to stay ahead.

“What do you think the prisoner may have to tell me?” I asked, shifting the conversation. My patience was wearing thin, but I needed to know about this prisoner. He was the one who could give me answers, or so my guard had said. Matteo’s games had always been a tangled web of lies and half-truths, and I hated not knowing exactly where I stood.

“Like I said, I have no idea. I swear,” she replied, her voice earnest, but I didn’t believe her for a second. I could see the way her pulse quickened beneath the surface, the telltale sign of someone trying to keep secrets. But I didn’t have time to waste on her anymore. If she wasn’t going to be useful, then I’d have to find the answers elsewhere.

My mind started racing. My hands tightened around the glass in my hand, the feeling of the smooth crystal against my palm only adding to my frustration. Before I could stop myself, I squeezed, feeling the glass break under my grip. The sharp shards dug into my skin, but I barely felt it. The pain didn’t register, not when there were more pressing matters at hand.

Serene flinched, her eyes widening in surprise. For a split second, I caught a glimpse of something in her, fear, maybe? Or was it something else?

“Is it weird that I find that hot?” she asked, her voice tinged with a strange mixture of fascination and something darker.

I stared at her, my expression unreadable. I wasn’t in the mood for games. I wasn’t even sure why she had said it, or if she genuinely meant it. The whole exchange felt off, and I didn’t like it. I turned away from her, walking toward the door, not bothering to spare her another glance.

“Keep an eye on her. She’s not going anywhere,” I ordered, my voice low and commanding. I didn’t need to look back to know that my guard would obey without question. I could feel her watching me, her chest rising and falling with nervous breaths, but I didn’t care.

I moved with purpose, my stride long and measured as I exited the room. The tension in the air followed me, but I didn’t care. I needed to know more, and I needed to act fast.

Outside the room, I found my Beta, Darius, waiting for me.

“Darius,” I growled. “Where is the prisoner?”

“He’s being held at the north border, Alpha,” Darius answered, appearing from the shadows. “We’ve kept him there for you.”

I nodded, not wasting any more time. My steps were quick, measured, but there was something in the air tonight, something off. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Matteo’s game had only just begun.

Darius followed close behind, matching my pace.

“What’s going on?” he asked, voice low.

“Matteo,” I muttered, my jaw tightening. “He’s playing something, I can feel it.”

Darius didn’t respond immediately, as if weighing his words carefully. “What do you think he’s trying to pull?”

“I don’t know yet,” I said, frustration bubbling under my skin. “But whatever it is, it’s not good. That meeting was too convenient. The way Serene tried to distance herself from it… she’s hiding something.”

“And you think Matteo’s involved?” Darius asked, keeping his voice neutral.

I turned to look at him, locking eyes. “I’m sure of it. The way he’s been looking at my territory, the way he tries to one-up me at every turn… This is no coincidence.”

Darius nodded slowly, his brows furrowing in thought. “Do you think Serene knows more than she’s letting on?”

“I know she does,” I snapped, my voice low but filled with certainty. “She’s playing a game with me, and I’ll make sure she knows she’s not in control. Matteo is just as much of a puzzle as she is, but I’ll figure it out.”

We reached the courtyard, and I could feel the pull of the woods just beyond the boundary. There was something primal about it, something that calmed the tension in my muscles. But this wasn’t the time to be distracted by the call of the wilderness. I had a prisoner to deal with, and answers were the only thing that mattered.

I didn’t say another word to Darius as I strode out of the courtyard, the cold night air hitting my face like a slap.

When we reached the edge of the woods, I paused. The trees ahead seemed to whisper in the wind, but my mind was focused. I needed to know what the prisoner had to say, anything that might give me leverage over Matteo and Serene. My wolf stirred restlessly, eager to get this over with, but I needed to keep my wits about me.

“Stay close,” I said, looking back at Darius. “This isn’t going to be a simple interrogation.”

Darius nodded, eyes sharp. “Understood”.

Without another word, I called on my wolf, feeling the shift ripple through me. My bones cracked and rearranged, fur growing where skin had been. Within seconds, I was in my full werewolf form, massive and powerful. The wind stirred the air around me, and I bounded into the woods with a single leap.

Darius’s footsteps followed close behind, but I couldn’t afford to slow down for him. My wolf had taken over, and the chase was all-consuming. The prisoner was somewhere deep in the woods, probably anticipating my arrival.

I pushed myself harder, driven by the need for answers, the gnawing sense that this game had much higher stakes than I’d initially thought.

The trees blurred around me as I ran, my paws hitting the ground with heavy thuds, my senses sharper than ever. Darius kept pace, but I was already too far gone.

Tonight, I wasn’t Alpha Thorne, the ruthless leader, I was a powerful wolf hunting for answers. And nothing would stop me from getting them.