<b>Chapter </b>178
Adrian’s POV
78
1 asked Elder Selene to provide me with Victor’s information, scanning through the file as soon as she handed it over. The moment I saw his pack affiliation, everything clicked into ce.
“Stormhowl Pack,” I muttered, the realization hitting me like a physical blow. “That’s why he looked familiar during the second trial.
Ryder, who stood beside me, mmed his fist against the wall. “So he’s the bastard who threw Skye in that oven and almost burned her alive?”
“I still have evidence of the sabotage,” Lydia said. “The wires were deliberately damaged. It wasn’t an ident.”
Xavier and Leon exchanged shocked nces, clearly processing this revtion.
“You mean someone deliberately tried to kill Skye before?” Xavier asked, his usualposed demeanor slipping. “Why didn’t anyone report this to the Council?”
Leon’s face darkened with fury. “If I had known someone from Stormhowl Pack was targeting her…” His voice trailed off as his fists clenched at his sides. “How did no one make this connection earlier?”
I couldn’t answer. Instead, I mmed my fist into the wall, creating a sizeable dent in the ster. Pain shot up <b>my </b>arm, but it was nothingpared to the guilt consuming me. Skye had been hurt because of me. Because of my past. Because of my enemies.
“This is my fault,” I growled, staring at the damaged wall. “This is on me. They wereing for me–not her.”
The thought that the perpetrator had been right under our noses while I remained oblivious filled me with self–loathing. <b>I </b>should have been more careful, more vignt. I should have protected her better.
“Elder Selene,” I turned to face the older woman, struggling to control my voice. “When did Victor start working for the North American Werewolf Congress<b>?</b>”
Elder Selene’s expression tightened. “One moment, I’ll have my assistant check.”
She made a quick call, and we waited in tense silence. Her difort was evident as she shifted in her seat.
“This is… unfortunate,” she finally said. “I never would have thought one of our staff members capable of such heinous acts.”
She cleared her throat before continuing. “Every year, we recruit promising young wolves from various packs to work at the Congress. With the Alpha King election this year, we brought on additional staff. But I assure you, our hiring process is extremely rigorous.”
Her attempt at exnation did little to calm my growing rage.
“Maybe it’s just a coincidence,” she offered, though even she didn’t sound convinced. “Victor left town, perhaps he just had urgent business<b>? </b><b>As </b>for the oven in the second trial, maybe… maybe it really was just an ident?”
Just then, her assistant entered with a folder. “Here’s the additional information you requested, Elder Selene.”
The assistant looked at us nervously. “Victor Reeves officially joined the Congress staff in June of this year.”
<b>10:31 </b>Fri<b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M
A
I flipped through Victor’s file again, noting his impressive credentials. Exceptional agility, physical prowess, Intelligence… every metric indicated a promising future. No criminal record whatsoever.
Why would someone with such potential risk everything to target me?
There was only one answer that made sense: Maxwell. My uncle must have orchestrated this, using Victor as his pawn.
“Ryder,” I said, closing the file. “We’re going to find Maxwell.”
I turned to Xavier and Leon. “You two should head back. What’sing next… that’s between me and my family.”
Xavier ced a hand on my shoulder. “If you need anything at all, I’m just a call away.”
I nodded gratefully. “Thanks. Would you mind taking Lydia back?”
Lydia hesitated, clearly wanting to stay with me.
“Lydia, wait with Garrett at the hotel for my update,” I told her firmly.
Leon stepped forward, his posture rigid. “I’ming with you. Skye is my mate. I have a duty to uncover the truth and ensure her safety.”
I wanted to argue, to tell him that he’d lost any right to call Skye his mate when he rejected her. But this wasn’t the time for that fight. Reluctantly, I nodded, and we reached a temporary truce for Skye’s sake.
When we arrived at Maxwell’s hotel, the staff refused to let <b>us </b><ol><li>in. </li></ol>
“I’m sorry, sir, but it’s past visiting hours,” the receptionist said firmly.
My patience, already worn thin, snappedpletely. I mmed my fist down on the reception desk, cracking the polished surface.
“Get him on the phone. Now.”
Ryder backed me up, unleashing a string of profanities that made the hotel staff flinch.
Ourmotion attracted attention. The receptionist hurriedly picked up the phone, her hands shaking.
“Mr. ckwood, there are two Alphas insisting on seeing you,” she said, voice trembling. “They’re causing quite a scene in the lobby.”
Minutester, Maxwell appeared in the elevator, his expression morphing from annoyance to shock when he saw us.
“What the hell are you doing here at this hour?” he demanded, ncing at the broken reception desk.
I didn’t bother answering. Instead, I lunged forward andnded a solid punch to his jaw.
Maxwell recovered quickly, retaliating with a blow to my stomach. “What’s wrong with you<b>?</b>” he growled.
Leon intervened, positioning himself between <b>us</b><b>. </b>“Sorry for the disturbance,” he said to Maxwell, though his tone suggested otherwise. “We just want to know if you ordered Victor to kidnap Skye.”
<b>10:31 </b>Fri, <b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>M
What the fuck? Maxwell’s brow furrowed in genuine confusion. “What are you talking about?*
“Don’t y dumb,” I snarled. “Who else would it be?”
Maxwell wiped blood from his lip. “Victor? You mean that warrior from Stormhowl who went to work for the Congress? What does <b>that </b>have to do with me? Why don’t you go ask Elder Selene? She’s his boss now, not me.”
<b>Just </b>then, my mother stepped out of the elevator, her silk robe wrapped tightly around her. <fn41a3> Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel</fn41a3>
“I heard everything,‘ she said, her voice calm despite the tension. She turned to me. “Adrian, I truly don’t think your uncle has anything to do with this.”
My anger red hotter. “Of course you’d defend him. He’s your…” I couldn’t bring myself to say the word “mate” aloud.
“I care about Skye too,” my mother insisted. “Why would I allow anyone to harm her? I promise you, your uncle is not involved in this!<b>” </b>
Maxwell straightened his shirt, looking indignant. “I haven’t sunk so low that I need to target women to get what I want.”
My mother took his arm, leaning into him slightly. “This Victor person… perhaps you could help investigate him? He was from Stormhow<b>! </b>Pack, after all.”
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