Alpha Loren novel Chapter 145

Max's Point of View

"I have a lead," I announced marching into the Alpha's office at the base and slamming an envelope down on his desk.

His head, which had been staring down at the same set of papers and photos that had been there all day, suddenly shot up to reveal a set of agitated but tired eyes.

"What?" he asked. 

His shock didn't surprise me. The week had been a series of dead ends with no evidence or clues pointing to Ella's location. It was almost as if she had been plucked from the world. 

"I have a lead. Look," I insisted, pushing the envelope closer to him.

He pulled the papers out of the envelope and looked intently. The idea had come to me as I was writing a list of all the people I knew hated the Alpha early that day.

"We know that it was somebody that has something against you-"

"That doesn't narrow it down much," he interrupted.

"And we know it was somebody experienced and knowledgeable to carry out a such a clean, organised, large-scale operation without leaving any evidence. That cuts rogues out of the question. And we also know that Ella is still alive-"

"We don't know that for sure," he interjected again with a creased frown across his features.

"The man in the phone call said 'we have what we came for'. Doesn't that suggest they wanted her alive. And don't you think that if they did kill her, they'd want you to know? It's been a week, Alpha," I explained.

He was still studying the contents of the envelope, which consisted of some documents from the pack database and a photo, but looked up to me for a short second with a half smile.

"I hope you're right, Maximus," he said before casting his eyes back down.

A few minutes later he had read all the papers twice over and studied the photo.

"You really think it's him? Lennard Giodarno. A self-proclaimed King? I remember you telling me about this so-called Kingdom when you first came back to the pack. About Nicolos Jones living there alive but you said it wasn't a threat. What's caused the change of heart?" He asked me.

"It wasn't. When I left the pack seven years ago after escaping the prison, as you know I ended up there before I went to Italy. It was a weak and small organisation. There were maybe fifty men, most of whom were old or injured and I thought nothing of it. I would have left even if I didn't find fucking Nicolos Jones alive and well. But I can tell you one thing," I said before pointing to the photo of Lennard Giodarno. "That man loathes you with a fiery, burning passion. He told me he was planning something big so if the Kingdom grew, which we have reason to believe that it did, there is no reason why he shouldn't be our prime suspect."

"I suppose it adds up. He has a motive, could have the means to do this and if Nicolos is still there, however much I dislike him, he wouldn't let them kill his daughter which explains why she's probably been spared," he said through gritted teeth as if it was painful to complement the man. 

"So what now?" I asked.

"I can't take my army until I'm sure. If she's not there, I'll deal with them in due course but my mate is my priority. How long were you there for again?" he said tapping his lips in thought.

"A few weeks."

"Would it be suspicious if you were to turn up there again? Do they know you rejoined my pack?"

"As far as I know, no. And I was well acquainted with Lennard...we um...we bonded over our dislike of you. I don't think he'd be shocked to see me again. When I left, I said I might come back."

"It would be a risk and if knew that you were working for me again, you'd be in serious trouble but-"

"I'm willing to take that risk, Alpha. I care about her a lot too and I'm the only person that knows exactly how to get there and wouldn't be regarded as an enemy upon arrival," I said immediately realising what he was suggesting.

He wanted me to go to the Kingdom alone, find out if Ella was there and report back to him. Seems like a fairly straightforward mission right?

"Very well. Go as soon as possible," he ordered.