Chapter 62
Chapter 62: Lucas
I followed the rental’s GPS instructions as the voice told me to turn left. It led me onto a dirt road leading through a field of tall grass. Set on a small hill was an old farmhouse. I parked under the carport next to an SUV. Getting out, I went to the side door and knocked twice. I heard footsteps on the other side and it opened soon after.
“Alpha,” Soloman greeted me, “I’m glad you could make it.”
“Why am I here, Soloman?” I asked as I stepped inside.
“We have trouble,” he said. “More than I expected.”
“You said you found something?”
“I did,” he said, holding up a file. “Not what I expected, but it’s… troubling, to say the least. You told me that Sutton’s father was doing business with Alpha Anders. I found out what that business was.” He dropped the file on the table and opened it up. “He’s mining mercury.”
“What?” I growled, grabbing the papers.
All lycans were born with an inherent allergy to certain metals. They were some of the few things that hindered our ability to heal and were lethal depending on their usage. Mercury was one of those. Next to silver, it was the most dangerous. It’s how it got the alternative name of quicksilver generations ago.
“That business with Sutton’s father was a land deal,” he explained. “He bought over two thousand acres along the eastern mountain range.”
“Why? And is it just mercury or are we talking silver, too?”
“I don’t know,” Soloman said. “I didn’t have time to get that information. It’s going to take me a little longer to infiltrate his company to figure out what he’s up to there. But he’s shipping a lot of product into Dawn Stalker territory.”
“How do you know this?” I demanded.
“Ah, yes, well, that leads to the other reason you’re here,” he said, pointing toward the next room. “I have someone you should meet.”
I followed him to the living room where a man jumped up from the couch. He was average–looking with blonde hair and brown eyes. He seemed anxious. His eyes darted between me and Soloman and around the room nervously.
“Alpha Lucas,” Soloman began, “this is Wesley Langston.”
“Alpha Lucas?” the man replied. “You’re the one who has news about my daughter. Where is she? Is she safe?”
Rhonen was growling and snarling. I pushed him back, using more energy than I wanted to keep him under control. My hands fisted but I kept my expression blank. We needed answers. To more than just Sutton’s identity, it seemed.
“As I told you, Mr. Langston, we will provide with information about your daughter after you answer some questions,” Soloman told him.
“We will?” I inquired. “I never made such a deal.”
“Alpha, Mr. Langston has been working with Alpha Anders for several years now,” Soloman said. “He has important information regarding his
business endeavors.”
“The only reason I came here was to find Sutton,” Langston insisted. “I won’t tell you anything until I know she’s safe.”
He obviously didn’t know Sutton was under my protection or was my mate. Soloman would have withheld that information for a reason. I would use the same caution.
“Why do you think we would know anything about your daughter?” I asked. “Who is she?”
“She’s Beta Mason’s mate, of the Dawn Stalkers,” Langston said. “They were attacked a few weeks ago and she has gone missing. But you know that because Alpha Anders spoke to you. He told you what happened.”
“He never gave a name,” I stated.
“You have blocked his attempts to find her,” Langston yelled. “You’re protecting her captors, aren’t you? Where is my daughter?”
“Gentlemen,” Soloman said, stepping between us, “let’s calm down. Mr. Langston, I assure you, we will help you find your daughter once you fulfill your end of the agreement. Now, sit down.”
1/2
3:41 PM
Chapter 62
Langston shot us each a look of anger and disdain before falling back onto the couch.
“Thank you, Mr. Langston,” Soloman said, sitting down himself. I took a seat in the chair across from them. “You have been partners with Alpha Anders on more than one business venture, is that correct?”
“No, not partners really,” he said. “But do work with him, yes. I helped him acquire the land in the Upper Vale. I’ve also helped him forge contracts with several suppliers I know.”
“What kind of suppliers?” I asked.
“Industrial supplies, building supplies. I don’t know the specifics,” he admitted. “I was mostly just the contact. I introduced Anders to the necessary people when he asked.”
Soloman looked at me. “I have a friend from the council who informed me that Anders has built several assembly plants in his territory,” he said quietly. “He says they are producing industrial tools but no one can get close enough to verify that. Apparently, the operations are surprisingly guarded.”
“Dawn Stalkers aren’t known to be the most open or welcoming pack,” I reminded him.
“True, but they are going out of their way to keep these plants concealed even from the Royal Council,” he said. “They’ve managed to put off all audits and inspections since their conception. It’s… troublesome, to say the least.”
“What does any of this have to do with my daughter?” Langston demanded.
Those were my thoughts exactly. These revelations about the Dawn Stalkers were as the Ambassador stated – troubling. But I had yet to make any direct link to Sutton or his reasons for keeping her close. I also hadn’t figured out any reason why we should tell this piece of scum anything about Sutton’s whereabouts. And his outbursts were testing my patience. Rhonen was pacing menacingly in my head, ready to force the shift if I relinquished even an ounce of control.
“I told you what I know, now tell me where Sutton is,” Langston ordered as he jumped to his feet again.
I launched from the chair, my hand going to his throat.
“Why the fuck would I tell a bastard you anything about my mate?”
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