CHAPTER 57: THIS CHANGES NOTHING

Keith’s POV

The flat-screen on the office wall was tuned to the news, the sound low but the message clear.

A government official, his face a mask of strained diplomacy, was formally announcing the clause to the public. The secrecy laws still stood, but now there was a single, narrow exception: registered racers for the Serpent’s Kiss. It was a leash, thinly disguised as a privilege.

"About time," Kieran commented from the sofa, a hint of his usual chaotic optimism in his voice. Kayden, as expected, was silent, his focus on the screen unwavering.

What was relevant was the efficiency of the outcome. The clause was now public. The first step was complete.

My thoughts, however, were not on the official. They were on the contract signed and returned to my desk within less than a day of being offered. The three women. Eleanor, Mira, and Roxy. I had anticipated hesitation. It was the logical response to a suicide mission. Their immediate agreement was an anomaly.

A tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Kayden’s hands moving in sharp, precise signs. You haven’t told me why you hired those women? It isn’t like you to hire on sentiment.

He was right. Sentiment was a currency I didn’t deal in. "The incident at the track," I stated, my voice flat. "Three women, two of whom presented as unremarkable, survived an encounter with a horde of rogues. Their pursuers, including several trained werewolves, were wiped out. The official statement is a placid lie about self-defense and rogue unpredictability. The evidence suggests otherwise."

Kayden’s eyes narrowed. He signed again. But there isn’t any proof that the women did something about it. You hired on a hunch. And that is inefficient.

"A calculated one," I countered. "The variables don’t align. The most logical conclusion is that they are concealing their capabilities." I turned from him, looking back at the news footage of the track. "We need as much riders we can get. The ritual must be contained at any cost. If there is even a chance they possess an ability that could be useful, the resource must be utilized."

Kieran leaned forward, a grin on his face. "Okay, but are we just going to ignore the big thing? We all thought that Eleanor was human."

I dismissed his concern. "She is not special. She is not the first werewolf to learn how to hide her scent and act human. It is a skill, that is all."

I saw Kayden shift in his seat. He had a look on his face. "What is it?" I asked him.

Kayden’s hands moved quickly. I have seen her before.

Kieran laughed. "We all have, brother."

Kayden shook his head and signed again. No. Before that. At the Kingsley Hotel.

"That’s not what I’m talking about," Kieran said. "Don’t you remember? The day we had to fill in as substitutes for Damon’s dancer at his club."

I frowned. How could I forget that day?

Kieran’s grin widened. "And don’t tell me you both don’t recognize Eleanor as the woman we danced on that night? "

A memory, sharp and unwelcome, flashed in my mind. The feel of her beneath me, the heat, the way my body reacted despite my control. I had pushed the thought away, but Kieran was right. I had ignored such speculation, thinking it was too much of a coincidence.

"Before you argue," Kieran added, "I asked Damon for the security footage from that night. It’s definitely her."

I pushed the filthy memory aside. "If you are still suggesting that this woman is our mate, you are wrong."

"I know that," Kieran said, his smile fading to something more thoughtful. "I don’t think she’s our mate. But... I can’t shake this feeling about her. It’s a nagging thought that won’t go away."

The same, illogical feeling also tugged at me.

My focus snapped back to Kayden. " Wait. didn’t you just say you had seen Eleanor at Kingsley hotel?"

Kayden’s hands moved in quick, sharp signs. He tells us how he stepped out and met her in a disheveled state. and how Mr. Hans was looking for her after.

A cold, sharp anger, sudden and unreasonable, tightened in my chest. The thought of that man, Hans, hunting her... it made my protective instincts flare with an intensity that was inefficient and misplaced.

Why did the idea of her in danger provoke such a strong reaction?

"Why didn’t you tell us this before?" My voice was harder than I intended.

Kayden signed back, his expression unreadable. It was not necessary. Until now.

Kieran let out a low whistle. "It makes sense why he got his men to go after he again. I bet he never imagined his men would end up dead."

I processed this. Mr. Hans. A political man with a fragile ego. He would see her escape, and the death of his men, as a personal insult. He wouldn’t let it go. He would keep coming for her.

This was a direct threat to an asset. A problem that needed a permanent solution.

"Then we invite him over,"

My brothers looked at me. They knew exactly what I meant. The discussion would not be pleasant. And it would end with one less problem for us to manage.

***

We are at Damon’s strip club again. When we got into the VIP room, Mr. Hans was already there, a practiced smile plastered on his face as we entered. He stood and moved toward me, his hand outstretched.

"Mr. Vexxon, such a pleasure to finally meet you in person—"

I ignored his hand and walked past him, taking the central seat on the plush sofa. Kieran and Kayden flanked me. Hans’s smile tightened, but he recovered quickly, retracting his hand and sitting opposite us.

"I couldn’t come empty-handed," he said, gesturing to an expensive-looking bottle of wine on the table. "It’s an honor to be invited by you."

I looked at the bottle, then back at his obsequious face. "Can you still keep up with this humble act?" I asked, my tone leaving no doubt it was an insult.

He swallowed hard, the mask slipping for a fraction of a second before he plastered it back on. "I am just being honest, sir."

Kieran leaned forward, his smile not reaching his eyes. "So, Mr. Hans. We were sorry to hear about what happened to your men at the Serpent’s Kiss yesterday. That was... unfortunate."

We watched him. His jaw clenched, a tiny muscle twitching near his eye before his expression smoothed over into one of somber regret.

"Thank you for your concern," he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. "I feel the loss deeply. I saw them as family. But I would never dream of blaming the Vexxon company for such a... mistake. I apologize that my men entered your property without permission. It won’t happen again."

"That’s good," I said, my voice low and devoid of any warmth. "Since you understand the value I place on my properties, you should also understand that touching what is mine is the gravest offense imaginable. And I’m not just talking materialistically. I am talking about valuable person who work for me."

I leaned forward, my eyes locking onto his. "My brother here told me about your little encounter at the Kingsley Hotel. With one of our employees."

The color drained from his face. I could see the sweat beading on his forehead.

"The only reason you aren’t already rotting in a prison cell, or a ditch, is because your existence was too insignificant to warrant our attention," I continued, each word a carefully aimed blow.

"You were a speck of dust we couldn’t be bothered to wipe away. But if you so much as look in that woman’s direction again, I will personally dismantle your entire empire, brick by brick. I will grind your legacy into powder and scatter it to the wind. You will be less than a memory. You will be nothing."

As I spoke, I let my control slip. Beside me, Kieran and Kayden did the same. Our combined Alpha aura flooded the room, a crushing, invisible wave of pure dominance. The air grew heavy, pressing down like a physical weight.

Hans gasped, his body beginning to tremble violently. His knees buckled, and he crumpled to the floor, unable to bear the pressure.

"I won’t!" he choked out, his voice a strangled whisper. "I swear! I won’t go near her again! Please!"

"We will stop when we decide to stop," I said, my voice a low growl. The image of this pathetic worm laying a hand on Eleanor flashed in my mind, and my wolf snarled in agreement, pushing more power into our aura. The man on the floor whimpered, pressing his face into the carpet.

After a moment longer, I pulled the pressure back. My brothers followed suit. The only sound in the room was Hans’s ragged, terrified breathing.

"Get up," I commanded. "Take your cheap wine and get out of my sight."

He scrambled to his feet, not even looking at us as he snatched the bottle and practically ran from the room.

The door had barely shut before it opened again. Damon leaned against the frame, a wry expression on his face. "I could feel that far away. You’re going to scare away my paying customers."

Kieran shrugged, his usual casual demeanor returning. "Our business here is finished."

"Good," Damon said, stepping fully into the room and letting the door click shut. His expression turned serious. "Because I have something to tell you. I believe the council of leaders has not been entirely forthcoming with you regarding the Shadow Cult’s curse."