CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 77 BURIED SECRETS

Draven’s POV

I sat on Ryan’s couch, nervous as hell while Rose dropped one bomb after another about stuff happening right under my nose. My heart beat faster with each secret. As pack Alpha, I couldn’t believe how much I’d missed in my own territory.

"Alpha Draven, remember three years ago when you kept hiring detectives to find that girl from the Blood Moon Pack’s masquerade?" Rose asked carefully.

My chest got tight as memories of that magic night came flooding back. For years, I thought that mystery woman was my true mate. I searched like crazy for three years but found nothing.

Sure, I had Caroline now, my second shot at love, but thinking about that woman from my past still bugged me. What if someone messed with the search? What if my gut feeling was right?She was my true mate.

"Yeah," I told Rose, keeping my voice steady even though Alaric was getting worked up. "Was there something fishy about that search too?"

Rose nodded seriously. "I got curious because every time those detectives came to see you, I caught them talking quietly with Linda. The last detective, I saw him at this little coffee shop near work with Howard and Linda. I’m buddies with the owner, go there all the time."

She leaned in and spoke softly. "I only heard Howard saying he was ’really happy with his work,’ but I remembered you telling Ryan the detective found nothing and said the woman was impossible to find. So why would Howard be happy about that?"

It hit me like a punch to the gut. Had Howard been paying off those detectives? Did they mess up my search for her on purpose? For three years, I chased every lead and spent so much money, just to keep hearing she couldn’t be found.

Alaric raged inside me. "Those traitors. They stopped us from finding her. They took everything from us."

Ryan squeezed my shoulder, feeling how messed up I was inside. "Alpha," he said quietly, "let the past stay in the past. What matters is what we have now, right?"

I understood what he was saying. I had Caroline now, no need to hang onto old flames. But I felt completely lost.How much of my life had Howard and his crew messed with? If they killed my parents and ruined my search for that woman, what else did they do?

My head was spinning. Rose kept dropping bombs, and I needed a minute to think. I needed some fresh air and to let Caroline know I wouldn’t be back tonight. I told everyone to hold on while I stepped out to the garden to call her.

"Alpha Draven. I’m feeling generous, better take your chance," Caroline teased when she picked up.

"My angel," I said, my voice getting thick. I cleared my throat. "I can’t make it back today."

"Everything okay, Draven?" She sounded worried.

"Yeah. Just getting a lot of unexpected news."

"No worries. Go do what you need to do. We’ll talk later."

After goodbye, I hung up and turned to find Ryan behind me. He put his hand on my shoulder.

"We’re in this together," he said. "We’ll do whatever it takes to get justice for your parents and Caroline."

I nodded and we went back inside. Rose was talking non-stop, sharing everything she’d seen over the years without knowing how important it was. Each new thing she said shocked me more. She knew so much about everyone at work, stuff I never would have guessed.

"Rose knows every single person here," Riley said, impressed. "She’s found at least fifteen people working for Howard instead of you, Alpha."

"And she’s named twice that many we can trust," Ryan added. "People who knew something was off but didn’t know who to talk to."

I nodded, making a mental list of everyone we needed to talk to. "Arthur, can your security team start watching Howard right now? I want to know where he goes and who he talks to."

"Already on it," Arthur said. "My best people will be tracking him within the hour."

Rose looked tired after telling us everything, but she had one more thing to say. "Alpha Draven, there’s something else you should know." She smiled at Arthur. "Alpha Arthur, don’t wait around. Clara likes you too, has for a while now. And I know you like her."

I couldn’t help but laugh, even with everything going on. Rose really did know all the gossip. Arthur looked both thrilled and awkward hearing about Clara, his old friend who’d already moved to London.

Maybe I should transfer Clara back. These two deserved a chance.

When Rose finished sharing, we were all shocked at how much she’d seen.Ryan arranged for his driver and two security wolves to get her home safely.

"Keep watching for us, Rose," I told her. "Report anything suspicious to Riley daily. And your pay is doubled, starting now."

"No need, Alpha," she protested. "I’m doing this because it’s right."

"Not negotiable," I said firmly. "Loyalty like yours deserves reward."

After she left, Arthur, Ryan, Riley and I started plotting our next moves. We worked through the night, processing everything and making battle plans. By dawn, I was exhausted.

"Get some rest," Ryan urged. "We can’t afford to make mistakes because we’re tired."

I nodded reluctantly and used one of Ryan’s guest rooms to catch a few hours of sleep before heading to the office. Even with the brief rest, my head was pounding by late afternoon. I took a painkiller and stretched out on the couch in my office, intending to close my eyes for just a few minutes.

The sound of my phone ringing on the coffee table woke me up. Joesph was calling.

"Don’t tell me Caroline dumped you again and you’re drowning your sorrows," he said mockingly.

"Nothing like that," I answered. "Been up all night working. What’s up? Is Caroline okay?" I asked quickly.

"What am I, her personal bodyguard?"

"Lately, yeah, you’re watching over my mate," I replied, almost smiling.

"Did Caroline actually agree to be your mate? You’re getting ahead of yourself there. If I had your confidence, I might’ve won Ava over by now."

I chuckled, "Maybe you’re just not handsome or capable enough to get the girl."

"Can’t argue with that. Meet me at the store where Ava works, fast. The girls are meeting there to shop for dresses for the bar. Already cleared it with Nate, just need to call Ryan. But we gotta get there before them."

"Cool, I’ll tell Ryan, he just walked into my office," I said as Ryan approached my desk.

An hour later, we met at the store.