Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 146

-Alex's POV-

I pushed open the doors of my company and was met with a wave of hushed silence. Heads swiveled in my direction, a mixture of curiosity and nervous energy clinging to the air. The human-werewolf war that had been raging for weeks had finally settled into an uneasy truce. The constant skirmishes and open hostility had subsided, replaced by a tense awareness. Humans, it seemed, finally understood the truth we weren't just snarling beasts in the night, we were capable of being the very monsters they feared.

Back when the war was at its peak, my buildings had taken a physical beating. Broken windows, shattered glass, the occasional stray Molotov cocktail - the cost of being a prominent werewolf billionaire. Everything had been repaired, of course, but the scars remained, a stark reminder of the animosity that simmered just beneath the surface.

The headquarters itself had taken the brunt of the damage, both physical and emotional. When the news broke about my dual nature, a significant portion of the workforce had walked. The ones who remained, however, were a different breed. The nervous fluttering of their eyelids and the way they tried to appear engrossed in their work told a different story. These were the smart ones, the ones who understood that discretion was the better part of valor.

Ignoring the subtle tension, I strode towards my office, a newfound swagger in my step. My relationship with Amaya had been a revelation. It had unearthed a confidence I hadn't even known I possessed. Sure, I'd always been a bit of an arrogant asshole, but now? Now, I didn't give a damn what anyone thought.

There was a vulnerability to it, of course. The absence of my wolf was a constant weight on my shoulders, a missing piece that gnawed at the edges of my being. But despite the fear that sometimes crept in at night, a sense of empowerment overshadowed it all. It was a strange feeling, this confidence without fangs and claws.

"Mr. Thorne, I didn't expect you to be here today," Ruth greeted me, rising from her seat. She was one of the smart ones, no, that wasn't quite right. Ruth wasn't just smart, she was loyal. A genuine smile tugged at the corners of my lips, and for a fleeting moment, I saw a flicker of surprise cross her features. Before she could respond, I launched into the reason for my unexpected visit.

"I need everything," I declared, my voice firm. "Every record of every transaction, incoming and outgoing, for the past six months. All deals, all contracts - I want it all on my desk, ASAP."

My bluntness seemed to snap her out of her daze. She nodded briskly, a hint of efficiency returning to her gaze. "Of course, Mr. Thorne. I'll it right away."

get

on

forehead. The pieces weren't fitting together. If Ivan had been working in the shadows for so long, pulling strings and manipulating events, and

the fray, fists blazing. But Ivan was different. He was a master manipulator, a puppet master who had turned me into a pawn in his twisted game for far too long. This time, I needed to be more than a pawn. I needed to be a player, a force to be reckoned

wolf, I felt incomplete, a fraction of the man I once was. As if on cue, my phone rang, shattering the tense silence. A quick glance at the screen confirmed the

I answered, "Did

you know," Vargas answered in a

to you, Vargas," I mirrored his tone. Dislike still lingered for the man, but necessity had bred a grudging respect. We'd found common ground, a mutual understanding that transcended hierarchy. I'd made it official: Vargas was no

one willing to do a favor for a werewolf, that's the issue. Witches generally despise our guts." Frustration bubbled

end of the line. "Maybe if you told me

spilling the beans about my missing wolf. We might have found common ground, but Vargas still harbored ambitions for the alpha position. "Just do whatever you can to locate one, I

as I was about to end the call, another piece

momentarily halting the call. The news wasn't entirely unexpected. Whatever game he was playing, he needed a lot of power for it but that

Chapter 146

he

he had the combined strength of two packs at his disposal. This wasn't good. Not good at all. "Thorne? You still there?" Vargas' voice broke

my voice firmer now. "More than ever. Find me

the urgency of the situation.

arms. The weight of the situation settled on my shoulders as I gestured for her to place the files on my desk. Sifting through financial records wouldn't solve the problem at hand, but it was a start. Somewhere buried in those papers, there had to be a clue, a hidden transaction, a thread that would lead me to Ivan and Adrian. The clock was ticking, and the stakes had never been higher. The future of my company, the safety of my pack - everything hinged