If we’re too late-
We won’t be.
My reply was sharp, unwavering.
Inside the conference room at the factory, tension hung thick in the air. Managers whispered in hushed tones, their eyes flicking nervously toward the door.
As we stepped across the threshold, the room fell into a sudden, heavy silence.
Sebastian
I didn’t slow my pace as I entered the factory. Let them stare, let them shrink away. Their silence wasn’t unexpected-it was exactly what I had anticipated. As I advanced, workers instinctively stepped aside, creating a path I hadn’t requested but was given nonetheless. No one dared to meet my gaze.
These factory employees had never laid eyes on me before-not as the newly appointed CEO of the Silver Peak Pack’s company. Yet, they could sense something intangible emanating from me. My Alpha presence radiated in waves, pressing down on the room like an invisible weight. Fear was a natural, instinctive response.
Without hesitation, I strode directly to the head of the conference table and sat down, refusing to waste a moment. “Has she been found?” I asked, my voice slicing through the heavy silence like a sharpened blade.
Slowly, I scanned the room, locking eyes with each person for a brief, piercing moment. No one answered. The silence thickened, almost tangible, pressing down on us all.
[They’re hiding something,] Soren growled quietly in the recesses of my mind, his voice low and fierce.
[I know,] I replied calmly. [I’ll handle it.]
Someone had to break the silence. By rank, that responsibility fell to the factory director. All eyes shifted toward Thomas Dunn. He visibly shrank beneath the weight of their and my gaze. My cold, fox-like eyes fixed on him-sharp, unwavering.
–
His heartbeat suddenly leapt, loud enough that I could hear it from across the room. “A-Alpha Sebastian,” he stammered, voice trembling, “she hasn’t b-been found yet.”
“You’re Thomas Dunn?” I asked, my tone dangerously calm.
“Y-Yes, Alpha Sebastian.”
I leaned forward slightly, spreading my fingers across the polished surface of the table. “As I understand it, you personally received Secretary Celina today. Logically, you should know her whereabouts better than anyone here.”
My voice was steady but carried an undeniable pressure-one that could crush the faintest spirit. The man’s pulse quickened further, a vein throbbing visibly at his temple. His eyes flicked nervously around the room; his breath grew uneven. Still, he fought to maintain composure. “Yes, I did receive Secretary Celina and saw her off. But I only accompanied her to the factory gates. After that, I returned inside. I truly don’t know where she went.”
“You truly don’t?” I leaned in closer. My gaze pierced him like shards of ice. “What if I told you I already know you’re lying?”
Panic blanketed Thomas’s mind, draining the color from his face until it turned a ghostly gray. “No, that’s not-I’m not lying, Alpha Sebastian. I really don’t know where Secretary Celina went.”
The other factory workers hung their heads, sweat beading on their foreheads, barely daring to breathe.
I remained silent.
Their reactions confirmed my suspicions. Celina’s disappearance was undeniably tied to them.
–
Alpha Xavien, who had been quietly observing from the side, could no longer contain his fury. With a sudden lunge, he grabbed Thomas by the collar, his face twisted in rage. “Where is my mate?” he growled, voice barely human. “What have you done to her?”
His explosive anger was terrifying, as if he might rip the man apart at any moment.
–
“Who-who are you? Let go!” Thomas gasped, struggling for air in Alpha Xavien’s iron grip.
Without hesitation, Alpha Xavien slammed Thomas Dunn’s head against the conference table with a sickening crack. The noise echoed through the room, causing everyone to flinch. It seemed as though the man’s skull might have fractured from the impact.
The room froze, each person terrified they might be next.
Alpha Sebastian watched the scene with cold detachment, his expression unreadable.
Beta Sawyer observed with alarm. His first thought wasn’t whether Thomas would survive the blow, but whether Celina, married to such a violent man, had endured abuse at his hands.
Alpha Xavien yanked Thomas’s head back up, his face a mask of murderous rage. “Tell me where my mate is. Now.”
Blood trickled down Thomas’s face from his nose, and he began to stammer that he didn’t know. But one look at Alpha Xavien’s furious glare told him continuing to deny would be his last mistake.
“If you want to die, I can arrange that,” Alpha Xavien snarled, veins bulging at his temples, his patience clearly worn thin.
“I… I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!” Thomas broke under the pressure. One more blow like that and he’d be dead or unconscious.
Several employees in the room felt their hearts leap into their throats. Some wanted to intervene, others took a hesitant step forward, but all were instantly frozen by the coldest, most commanding gaze in the room-Alpha Sebastian’s. His eyes promised destruction to anyone who dared move.
If Thomas spoke, they were all doomed. But if they tried to stop him, they’d share the same fate.
The tension became suffocating.
“Secretary Celina, she’s-she’s at-“
“What is going on here?!”
Just as Thomas began to reveal the truth, a firm voice interrupted from the doorway. Zoe had arrived, with Amara close behind.
Alpha Sebastian turned toward the interruption, his eyes glinting with icy displeasure, as if silently demanding: I’m here-who gave you permission to speak?
Zoe’s heart pounded fiercely as he nervously rubbed his nose and stepped behind Amara.
Alpha Xavien, so close to extracting answers only to be interrupted by this unexpected arrival, was consumed by a rage hot enough to burn the entire room down.
He pointed at Zoe and barked orders to his men, “Take him outside and beat him within an inch of his life.”
Gasps filled the room.
As Alpha Xavien’s men moved to comply, Zoe panicked and began darting around the conference room, pursued by several burly security guards. Chaos erupted once more. Zoe was eventually captured.
Amara stood frozen, stunned.
[Who is this man?] she wondered.
She glanced at Alpha Sebastian, but Beta Sawyer leaned in to whisper cautiously, “That’s Secretary Celina’s…” He hesitated, aware the divorce papers weren’t finalized and wary of Alpha Xavien’s wrath if he said ‘ex-husband.’ He chose his words carefully: “…husband.”
“Husband? She’s married?!” Amara exclaimed, her attention fully captured by this revelation, no longer concerned about Zoe’s fate.
[Cecilia was actually married.]
The emotions that had been swirling inside her suddenly found no outlet.
–
Just as Alpha Xavien’s men were dragging Zoe and Thomas Dunn outside, a group of local thugs burst into the conference room. Their leader shouted, “Uncle Dunn!” and charged forward to free him.
Several men rushed at Alpha Xavien, forcing him to release Thomas Dunn to defend himself. His security detail had to abandon Zoe to protect their Alpha.
Alpha Xavien and his men became entangled in the brawl. Amid the chaos, Thomas Dunn was swiftly escorted toward the exit. Beta Sawyer looked urgently at Alpha Sebastian. Should we call for reinforcements to recapture him?
Alpha Sebastian gave a single, meaningful nod.
Beta Sawyer understood immediately and quickly left the conference room.
–
Alpha Xavien, having dealt with several thugs, also pursued Thomas Dunn with his men. The beaten thugs scrambled after them.
The once chaotic conference room fell silent again.
Someone helped Zoe to his feet, offering sympathy and concern.
“Oh, my back!” Zoe complained, rubbing his lower spine. “That man was absolutely barbaric. Couldn’t he just talk things out like a civilized person?” He settled into a chair, acting as if he owned the place.
The branch company employees seemed relieved at his presence, as if their savior had arrived.
–
Sebastian
I stood there, my face as impassive as stone.
I didn’t shout or show anger. I simply remained standing, one hand tucked casually in my pocket, watching Zoe with a faintly mocking expression.
He began to sweat heavily, shifting uncomfortably in his seat before awkwardly rising again. “Please, Alpha Sebastian, take a seat.”
“Vice President Zoe,” I said with deceptive casualness, “you certainly have quite the influence here.”
I tapped my finger sharply against the table, emphasizing my point. “Perhaps this branch should be renamed after you.”
Zoe’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes flicked nervously toward Amara.
[He’s hiding something,] Soren snarled inside me. [I can smell his fear.]
“Alpha Sebastian…” Amara began, but stopped when she caught the icy chill in my eyes.
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