Bonds

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.”

briskly, a hint of efficiency returning to her gaze. “Of course, Mr. Thorne.

get

on

Settling into the plush leather chair behind the mahogany desk, a frown creased my forehead. The pieces weren’t fitting together. If Ivan had been working in the shadows for so long, pulling strings and manipulating events, and now Adrian was inexplicably targeting my company, there had to be a connection. Somewhere, somehow, they’d found a way to exploit a weakness in

He was a master manipulator, a puppet master who had turned me into a pawn in his twisted

my 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 caller – Vargas. A sigh immediately escaped

I answered, “Did you

would be nice, you know,” Vargas answered in a dry tone,

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 longer

a werewolf, that’s the issue. Witches generally despise our guts.” Frustration bubbled up inside me. “I need a witch, Vargas, and I need one now.”

end of the line. “Maybe if you told me why, we could explore alternatives.”

wolf. We might have found common ground, but Vargas still harbored ambitions for the alpha position. “Just do whatever you can

was about to end the call, another piece of

hovered over the end button, 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 still threw a wrench into the plan. “What about

Chapter 146

I heard, he was

the radar for this long. Now, he had the combined strength of two

there?” Vargas‘ voice