“So, what you’re saying, Lone Wolf, is that you lied to us.”
The New York Alpha’s words were like a punch, and it took all of Eli’s strength not to flinch. Physically, Lucas Anderson was not the biggest man in the room. Eli himself was probably a couple inches taller, and Connor Forrest—all Lone Wolf partners joined them to meet with the Alpha, as well as Sloane and Jacob—towered over all of them.
Yet, something about Lucas Anderson was justdifferent. There was a cool confidence in his stature as he sat behind the large glass and chrome desk inside his penthouse office. As CEO of Fenrir Corporation, one of the world’s most successful companies, he was worth more money than everyone else in the room, and probably building, combined.
However, it wasn’t just his wealth that made Anderson intimidating. There was a power and authority that radiated from him that both Eli and his wolf instinctively recognized. It was the sign of a true Alpha, and he wasn’t just any Alpha. The New York Clan was the largest and most powerful in the world. Ronan Forte had the same kind of aura, yet he didn’t even have half the dominance Anderson exuded. Every wolf in the roomdeferred to him, and Eli’s animal cowered under the Alpha’s scrutiny. His intense stare was made even more menacing by his strange eyes—one green, one blue.
“I did,” Eli managed to answer. “And I’m very sorry for that, Alpha.”
“I deeply apologize too, Primul,” Killian added. “I took him on and hired him, and I should have done my due diligence checking on his background.”
“Yes, you should have. All of you should have looked into his background,” the Alpha’s bi-colored gaze shot toward Connor and Quinn.
“Don’t punish them for my actions, Alpha.” Eli’s gut tied up in knots. This was exactly what he didn’t want to happen. The three Lone Wolf partners had been good to him, and he didn’t want any blowback on them.
“Then you shouldn’t have lied to them in the first place.”
“You’re right,” Eli replied. “And I took advantage of the situation in Lake Hope. Killian and the others didn’t have time to look into my story.” He knew what he was doing when he came to them for a job. He looked each one of the three partners in the eye and lied to them about who he really was. “For that, I’m sorry too.”
“How do we know you’re telling the truth now?” The Alpha’s gaze bore right into him. “That Forte and your father didn’t come up with this plan so you could infiltrate New York?”
Eli tamped down the anger that bubbled whenever anyone referred to that bastard as his father. “Forte had no interest in other clans. In fact, he avoided them at all costs, except when he knew it was to his advantage.” His former Alpha didn’t give a fuck about the mages, but he wanted to play nice with the High Council and the other Alphas. Ronan Forte was a dangerous combination of cunning and patience, often playing the long game. “The only Lycans he went after were those under hiscontrol, especially if they tried to get away from his influence. But humans were fair game. All he cared about was making money and keeping his clan under his thumb.”
“And why should we believe you?” the Alpha countered. “Will Forte or McCall corroborate your story?”
If Forte found out Eli had faked his death and been hiding here, his former Alpha would probably do everything he could to make sure Eli rotted in the Siberian prison alongside him, even if it meant lying.
“Alpha, may I speak?” Sloane interjected.
“Sloane, right? You’re the Lone Wolf who brought down Forte.” Anderson clasped his fingers together and rested his chin on them. “Go ahead.”
“Alpha, I’m sure you’ve heard my testimony, as well as the other members of the clan. Forte was not a good Alpha. He used his position to coerce, and in some cases”—she glanced meaningfully at Eli—“to force us into doing his bidding, even if it was illegal.”
“Yes, I have heard the testimonies, including that of your own and Jacob’s. Lone Wolf, have you killed others?” he asked Eli. “Lycan or human?”
“No, I’ve never taken a life.” At least he could answer that truthfully. “But I have hurt others. Yes, both Lycans and humans. And I remember all of them.” A pain formed in the back of his throat. “And what I did to them will live with me for the rest of my life.”
“You may not have killed any Lycans,” the Alpha said. “But your actions and your crimes risked exposing our kind. Everyone complicit will have to pay for their choices and actions. And there’s still the fact that you lied about who you were,” the Alpha pointed out.
“Because he had to,” Sloane countered. “Given the chance, I would have done the same, if I could have gotten awayfrom Boston. Ronan had an iron grip over the clan.” Her voice hitched. “I’d have sold my soul to the devil if it meant Ronan Forte could never make me steal again.”
“He threatened to hurt her if she didn’t, Primul,” Jacob added through clenched teeth, his hands balling into tight fists at his side. “And he followed through his threats with anyone who disobeyed him. No one could leave, even if they wanted to. Sloane’s parents paid the ultimate price for trying to go straight.” Sloane wrapped a hand around his bicep, tugging at him reassuringly until he relaxed.
“If it matters at all, he’s proven himself to us,” Killian added. “In the field, he’s loyal and capable. Saved other agents as well.”
“You’re willing to speak for him?” Anderson raised a dark brow. “Even after his deception, you still want him to stay in New York?”
Killian’s lips pressed together tight. “If it was just about him, it wouldn’t matter to me. You could send him to the deepest, darkest reaches of the earth, I wouldn’t care. However, I understand why he did it. As you know, before we came to New York, my brothers and I weren’t exactly law-abiding citizens. But aside from that”—he inhaled deeply—“I’m not asking you give him leniency for myself, but rather, for Olivia. She’s having his child.”
The Alpha turned to Olivia. “Is this true, Olivia?”
“Yes, Primul.” She took a step forward. “Eli is also my True Mate.”
He’d heard it several times now, but each time, Eli still found himself holding his breath, as if this was a dream and he was waiting to wake up. He still could not believe that Olivia was his True Mate and pregnant with his child.
The Alpha’s nostrils flared. “I see.”
Killian huffed. “Primul, being a father yourself, I’m sure you can understand why I would speak for Eli. You would do anything for your child.”
