Loose Ends

Evil Mastermind POV

My heart raced as I watched Camden storm in, his footsteps heavy and fast as he raced up the stairs. These days, I was always on edge. Every day felt like it could be the one when everything unraveled. I'd hoped to stay under the radar, to wait for the perfect moment to deal with that mate of his, but Camden just had to hire that slippery PI.

Maddsion and I had to  move up our timeline if any chance of us remaining in the pack was to happen.

Maddison and I would have to move up our timeline if we were going to stay in the pack. Our plan had to be executed perfectly—no room for error.

"Cam, where's the fire?" I forced a light tone, hoping to mask my growing anxiety. The last thing I needed was for him to get suspicious.

"Not now, Mom, I'm late for a meeting." Camden's words were clipped, and I knew something wasn't right. Camden didn't have any meetings scheduled. The last time he used that excuse, he'd gone to meet with that PI lady. I couldn't afford for him to dig any deeper into my plans.

"Alright," I said with a feigned look of concern. "I left a box of documents in your office for you to sign." Camden hated paperwork, and I had to remind him of deadlines constantly. It was the perfect opportunity to stash the transmitter in the box. Once I did, I'd be able to listen in on his every conversation.

Of course, I'd have to wait until the house was quiet, until everyone was asleep. No one could know.

My husband, Zach, pulled me closer, wrapping his arms around me as we settled into the chair. A feeling I'd grown accustomed to, despite my initial disgust. At first, the idea of the Alpha— the man who's pack killed my mate—touching me had made my skin crawl. But time had dulled that feeling, replaced it with cold ambition.

I came here with one goal: revenge. To destroy everyone who had wronged me, starting with the  the man who took my husband. But as time passed, I realized I didn't need to destroy them all—just him.

I befriended the alpha and wooed my way to his heart. I knew if I became Luna, I could gain the power I needed.

Maddison understood the plan. She was safe with her grandmother in our old pack, living of luxury—all paid for by the Alpha. She wanted for nothing. I wanted for nothing. And as for the wolf who had killed my husband? Well, it was no accident that he'd mysteriously died. No one suspected foul play. No one ever would. Not when I was this careful.

I breathed deeply, steadying my thoughts. I needed to move quickly. Time was running out."

Hon, I'm going to check on Camden," I said, standing up. I couldn't risk waiting any longer. I needed to know what he was doing and if that PI had found anything new.

"Okay, hurry back." He pulled me closer and planted a kiss on my neck, his touch like a brand. It sent a shiver down my spine. He was terrifying—no doubt about it. I often wondered what he would do if he ever found out my true agenda.

Would he be furious about my betrayal, would he crush me for daring to deceive him. Or would he spare my life?

I shook the thought away and made my way up the stairs, the soft click of my heels the only sound breaking the silence. The office door was closed, and I couldn't hear a thing. Taking a chance, I tried the handle. It was unlocked.

"Cam?" I called, stepping inside. "Is everything okay?"

His forced smile didn't fool me. His eyes darted to the side, betraying the anxiety underneath. "Yeah, just... a lot to process." His words didn't sit right with me. It had to be that PI. That woman was meddling in things she had no business in.

I watched him leave, muttering something about handling it. That was all I needed to hear. I needed to know what information that PI had uncovered. It could change everything.

As I moved toward the box of documents, a voice called from behind me.

"Luna, do you need some assistance?"

I froze. The voice was low, almost too calm. It was Joel—the quiet, lethal pack member whose very presence unsettled me.  He was wiping his blood stained his hands, no doubt from dealing with the rogues he had captured.

This man unnerved me. If there was anyone who could be more terrifying than Zach, it was Joel. His silence spoke volumes—he was a predator, much like me, and he knew it.

"Hi, Joel," I said, forcing a smile and using my best mothering tone. "I brought some paperwork for Cam to sign, but of course, he's too busy to even look at it." I laughed lightly to keep up the charade.

Joel's eyes didn't miss a thing. He studied me carefully, almost as if seeing through the facade I had worked so hard to maintain. "No, ma'am," he said, his voice like velvet wrapped around steel. "I was just looking for the Alpha. I've got a message for him."

A message from the rogues? My heart skipped a beat. Was he playing me? Was he trying to bait me?

"Oh, just leave it on his desk," I said, trying to keep my voice casual. "Cam should be back soon. He just stepped out."

I could feel my nerves tightening, but I masked it with the calmest smile I could manage. The rogues didn't know anything. Dr. Armstrong might have been shady with his clientele, but he was my husband's best friend. He wouldn't make a move that could trace back to me. He'd pick people who did what they were told—no questions asked.

But what if he messed up? What if something I hadn't accounted for had gone wrong? Dr. Armstrong had been sloppy once before. Five years ago, when he let Avery and the child slip through the cracks, leaving behind the very proof that could come back to haunt me.

The pit in my stomach deepened. I needed to make sure nothing slipped through again.

Joel's gaze lingered on me for a moment, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of his scrutiny. "Sorry, Luna," he said, his tone oddly respectful but firm. "This is really important. Can't risk it ending up in the wrong hands."

I smiled sweetly, but inside, I felt the cold, calculating gears of my mind turning. "Of course," I said with exaggerated patience. "I'm sure you wouldn't want that."

I watched as he turned and left, his footsteps echoing down the hallway. As soon as I was sure he was out of earshot, I grabbed the transmitter and slipped it into my bag. The weight of the device felt like a ticking bomb in my hands, and I moved quickly, as though someone were breathing down my neck.

Downstairs, Zach was waiting, looking at me with a raised eyebrow. "Sorry it took so long," I said, stepping into the living room. "I ran into Joel. He had an important message for Cam."

Zach's concern flickered for a moment before he pulled me onto his lap, his large hands settling possessively on my waist. "I hope everything's okay," he murmured, his voice low and thoughtful.

"I'm sure it is, love," I said, forcing a smile. Inside, my mind was already turning, calculating the next steps in my plan. The pieces were falling into place. The power was mine for the taking.

________________________________________________________________________________

The next morning, I rushed to my office to play the recording.

I had planned to sneak away last night to check the recording, but Zach's insistence threw me off course. He pulled me into the chaos of entertaining the pack, and by the time the last of the guests left, I was too exhausted to think straight. But then, just as I thought I could escape, he drew me close. His touch was persistent—dominant even—and part of me resented it. Yet another part of me, the one I hated to admit, responded. His kiss, his hands roaming, reminded me of the way things had once been. It was a comfort I hadn't realized I needed, and it made me feel something—something I shouldn't have allowed myself to feel.

I should have been focusing on the recording, on my plan, but in that moment, I let myself get distracted. I felt guilty, conflicted, but his hold on me was too strong. I let him pull me deeper into the moment, knowing I was putting my mission on hold, knowing how dangerous that was. My mind screamed at me to stop—to leave, to be alone with the recording—but I stayed.

The fear of being caught added to the tension. What if someone walked in? What if Camden or Joel—someone—noticed me sneaking away? I couldn't risk it. My body was trapped in this web of distractions, and I hated myself for allowing it. I had to wait for the night to settle, for everyone to sleep, and then maybe, just maybe, I could listen to the recording. But the guilt twisted in my gut.

What was I doing? Was I slipping up already?

I hit play, listening intently as the conversation unfolded. I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening on the edge of my desk.

"No... no..." I muttered under my breath., my pulse quickening as my mind raced.  If she had uncovered this, if she had reached him before I could—everything I'd worked for, everything I'd sacrificed, would be for nothing. The pieces of my plan, carefully constructed over years, were slipping through my fingers faster than I could grab them.

The more I listened, the clearer it became—this woman had to be stopped. It wasn't just about keeping my secrets safe anymore. She was a threat. I couldn't afford to let her interfere with my plans.

"I need to act fast," I thought, my mind spinning as I mapped out my next move. "She's a loose end, and so was he. Loose ends always need to be tied up."

I hit stop on the device, my mind already shifting into action. There was no time to waste. They had to be taken care of. And fast.