CHAPTER 152: CHAPTER 152 THE RECKONING

Draven’s POV

"Ryan, I need you to spread the word immediately that Linda has been terminated from Thorne Enterprises," I ordered as we returned to my office. "Contact all our business partners, suppliers, and every establishment we frequent. Make it clear she was trafficking corporate information and had placed spies throughout our network."

"Already on it, Alpha," Ryan replied, pulling out his phone.

"And send Gamma with a team to find Linda. She betrayed not just the company, but our pack. I want her detained for questioning."

"You think she might flee?" Ryan asked.

"After what we’ve uncovered? Absolutely. She’s been Howard’s accomplice all along."

I paced my office, Alaric growling deep within me.

"Alpha Draven, when you were dating that slut Liz, she got along well with Linda, right?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, but later Linda said she was really disappointed in Liz. She never imagined something like that could happen and didn’t want to see her again. Why?"

"Because I’m starting to think your reunion with Liz wasn’t a coincidence!" Kyle voiced her suspicions.

"That’s impossible..." I commented.

"Totally possible, Draven," Ryan agreed with Kyle.

"I’ll look into this. Liz’s mom goes to my sister’s salon," Kyle concluded.

"Besides,I’ve arranged for Howard and Ella to be here in thirty minutes," Kyle reported."The conference room is prepared."

"Perfect. Get Ava to compile all the evidence we’ve gathered," I instructed. "I want a comprehensive presentation ready when they arrive."

Ryan hung up his call. "Gamma has dispatched a team to Linda’s residence. And I’ve notified our key business contacts about Linda’s termination."

"Excellent. One more thing,contact the Social Club casino and have Leila removed immediately."

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "You think Linda’s network extends that far?"

"I’m certain of it. This is like a cancer that’s spread throughout our operations."

"What about Bruno?" Ryan asked.

"Have him brought in as well. The poor bastard deserves to know he was being used."

An hour later, I sat at the head of the conference table with Ryan and my pack lawyer beside me. Howard entered first, looking smug as always, followed by his wife and daughter.

"Draven, darling!" Ella squealed, moving to embrace me. "You’ve been so busy lately. I’ve missed you terribly!"

I stepped away from her touch. "Have a seat, Ella."

Her smile faltered at my cold tone, but she complied.Howard glanced around nervously.

"I assume this meeting is about the mating agreement?" he asked.

"Not quite," I replied as Bruno was escorted in. The young man looked confused, especially when he spotted Ella, whose face immediately darkened.

"What is he doing here?" she hissed.

"Clarity," I answered simply. "Kyle, please begin."

Kyle dimmed the lights and started the presentation. First came the footage from the party with Clayton’s confession about the drugged whiskey. Then the security camera footage showing Ella slipping into my office afterward, followed by the medical reports confirming the false pregnancy.

By the time the lights came back on, Howard’s face had turned purple with rage, while Ella sat frozen, eyes wide with panic.

"Bruno, I called you here because I don’t want you to be deceived like I was. Ella isn’t pregnant and never has been."

"Yes, I am pregnant! That test was fake!" Ella screamed.

"Oh, honey, stop it! Did you get tested when we went to the hospital that day?" I said with a smile.

"What hospital?" Howard asked in panic.

"Draven took me to meet our wedding godfather and said I had to get STD tests because his father’s will required it so he wouldn’t lose everything," Ella said hurriedly, not understanding what it meant.

"Ella, are you insane?" Howard roared. "Why did you agree? It was all a trap! Why didn’t you call me?"

"Because he wanted to stay with me, so he turned off my phone and had me pretend he agreed to live at his parents’ house. Then I forgot," Ella said, making me laugh.

What followed was shouting, cursing, crying, and pure drama. I let the circus continue because I was genuinely enjoying it. Suddenly, Bruno shouted,"Were you using me, Ella?"

"What do you think, you idiot?" Ella replied with a cynical smile.

"Enough!" I stood up. "Ella, now you know the wedding is off. You better not show your face around me again, or I’ll have you thrown in jail. You’re behind some criminal activities here."

"This is absurd!" Howard sputtered. "These accusations—"

"Don’t give me any of your bullshit," I growled, my Alpha authority filling the room. "Howard, you’re fired from Thorne Enterprises, effective immediately. And I’m calling an emergency meeting with the Council of Elders to get you kicked out of there too."

"You can’t do that!" Howard roared, standing up. "I’ve been on the Council for twenty years!"

"I can and I have," I replied coldly. "You committed treason against your Alpha and your pack. You orchestrated corporate espionage, drugged me, and plotted to trap me in a mating with your daughter through deception. The penalty for such betrayal is traditionally far more severe than mere dismissal."

Howard paled at the implication. In the old days, such treachery would have been punishable by death.

"Ryan," I called."Please escort Howard, his wife, and Ella from the premises. They are banned from all Thorne Enterprises properties and pack territories."

"You’ll regret this," Howard threatened as security approached. "My influence extends beyond..."

"Your influence is finished," I cut him off. "Leave now, or we will remove you by force."

Once they were gone, I turned to Bruno who sat staring blankly at the table.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"How could I have been so blind?" he whispered.

"She manipulated you," Ryan said. "Don’t be too hard on yourself."

"Do you need a ride home?" I offered.

"No, my father’s driver is waiting downstairs."

I nodded to Joseph. "Make sure he gets to his car safely."

After Bruno left, I collapsed into my chair, exhausted but relieved to have dealt with one threat.

"That’s one fire extinguished," Ryan remarked.

"Any news on Caroline?" I asked immediately, my thoughts returning to what mattered most.

"Nothing concrete yet," Ryan admitted. "Our people checked airport security footage. Looks like she and Elle took an international flight, but we’re still confirming the details."

I stood up. "Tell pack members to focus all resources on finding her now. I want updates every hour."

Ryan nodded. "We’ll find her, Draven. I promise."

"We have to," I said. "She’s everything to me."