Page 30 of And Omega Makes Four
I'm led into a large office where Charles is sitting behind a desk. He looks up as I'm brought in, his expression souring at the sight of me. "What's this?"
"He claims he's got news about River," the guard says.
Charles waves him away, sitting up straighter and steepling his fingers as he looks at me with his calm, cold demeanor.
"Well?" His voice is low and dangerous. "What is it?"
"I know where he is." I keep my tone even, not giving anything away. "And I know how he escaped."
"I already know that." Charles raises a brow at me. "The guard responsible has already been dealt with."
There's something in the way he says those words that makes me wince a little. "I mean, I know how he escaped the first time. He had help."
"Oh?" Charles looks at me with a placid expression. If my words surprised him, he doesn't show it. "At this point, how he got out is less important than getting him back. So if you would please just tell me what you know so we can get this over with, you can be on your way."
"I'm sure you won't feel that way once you learn the truth." I'm pushing my luck here because he's clearly getting impatient with me, and I wonder what he'll do if I piss him off too much.
"I really don't have the time for games today." Charles's expression is calm, but there's the barest hint of a growl in his tone. "I don’t give a shit who helped him escape. I'll deal with them later. My son's return, on the other hand, is of paramount importance. Now, either tell me what you know, or I'll have you dealt with. Severely."
"Would you still feel that way if the one responsible was your mate?"
For a split second, Charles's expression cracks. His eyes flash toward me and he springs to his feet, his chair falling over backward. But then, the mask is back in place, and he's just as cold as he was before.
"Be very, very fucking careful what you say next." Charles slowly circles around the desk, getting right in my face. "My mate has been nothing but loyal to me. You, however, are just some stray piece of shit I've never met before. Why would I believe you?"
"Nothing but loyal?" I quirk a brow at him. "So, you weren't aware of the affair she had with a hunter?"
River was right when he instructed me on what to say to get a rise out of his father. But this...might have been a mistake.
"You’re playing a dangerous game." Charles leans in closer, attempting to overwhelm me with his presence. He's not a physically imposing alpha, but his aura alone is enough to make me want to back off.
"I'm just telling you the truth." I shrug, doing my best to keep my voice steady. "Your mate had an affair with a hunter. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's the same hunter that you currently have in custody."
"You're lying." Charles spits the words, dropping some of his cool composure. "My mate would never betray me like that."
"The fact that you haven't had me immediately thrown into a cage or dungeon tells me you think it's at least a possibility." Maybe knowing the others are relying on me to fulfill my part of the plan is what’s keeping me from trembling in front of this alpha who's clearly used to wielding power.
"Even if my mate were responsible for his escape, if she were engaged in an affair with a hunter, then what does that have to do with you? Clearly, you want something from me. Otherwise, you would've just told me the information you claim to have." Charles looks at me with a mixture of annoyance and suspicion.
"I don't want anything from you," I say, choosing my words carefully. "But...there is something I want from your mate."
He looks at me sharply.
"She’s the true Alpha of this pack, after all...isn't she?" I tilt my head slightly to the side as I whisper those words so only Charles can hear me.
"You've been talking to River. That's the only way you could know that," he muses quietly. "So you do know where he is after all."
"Nothing I've said tonight has been a lie." I cross my arms to put some space between us as he steps back. "I know the situation you're in with the northern pack and that you see River as the only way to protect your pack."
Charles says nothing as he smooths the wrinkles in his shirt sleeves.
I clear my throat, preparing to take the biggest gamble of this entire game. "If I can speak with you and your mate, I may have a solution to your problem that doesn't require giving up your territory or your power..."
21
RIVER
Thirty minutes after watching Frankie enter the compound, three SUVs with out-of-state plates roll up to the front gates. They're waved through without any hesitation.
