Chapter 4: A New Threat

“Hey Ash!” The voice echoed down the pack hallway, just as he had gotten home and had managed to creep up the steps without anyone noticing that he was home. A sigh came from him as he glanced over his shoulder to see Liam walking towards him.

“We need to talk. I have important news, and no before you ask, it cannot wait.” Liam stated, his voice dripping with nerves. With a single nod, Ash led him into the study that had once been his father’s, it had been redecorated to his tastes, much darker and the curtains were always drawn closed. He had one picture of his parents with him on his desk right before they were murdered, but he often placed the frame face down so he wouldn’t have to look at them.

“What is it?” He asked once they were comfortably seated in his office, Liam shifted, glancing around before he began to talk.

“There’s a rumor going around, there’s a new threat rising.” Liam began, and once Ash had motioned for him to continue. “A few have heard that there’s a group trying to take down groups like us.” Liam finished, Ash seemed to be thinking for a few moments before he finally spoke up.

“Like us… You mean supporting the businesses that deserve it? Or the fact that we’re hunting down those that get away with too many… charges against them but there’s never anything done about it?” Ash chuckled quietly. “We do bad things to bad people. I think a lot of people misunderstand that.” He sighed as he stood and then ran his fingers through his hair.

“Thank you, we’ll have to keep a tighter watch on our group, and anyone in it. Just… In case something happens. That new guy needs to be dealt with, if he hasn't already been dealt with. I will look into this… Do you have any other information?” Ash questioned as he stood to leave his office. A concerned look crossed Liam’s features for a brief moment as he looked up at Ash.

“The leader of the new group is apparently an omega, a female omega. And she was last reported being seen near here.” He explained quietly. “Just be careful Ash…”

“I will be. I always am, you know that.” He reassured Liam as he walked out of the office, he headed back into his bedroom, tugging off his work clothes and changing into something much more comfortable. Once settled for the night, he let the conversation with Liam replay in his mind, slowly, he connected the dots in what Liam was trying to say.

“God d*mn it all.” He growled under his breath, the realization hit him harder than what it should have and his wolf grumbled in disappointment. “It’s her… I hope it’s not…” He said out loud to no one. “Thea… Fuck.” He snarled as he tossed a pillow across the room, anger filling every vein in his body.

“Two can play the game Ms. Veryne.” He huffed, staring up at the ceiling until his eyes had grown heavy and his body had forced him into a deep sleep.

***

ONE WEEK LATER

Ash was looking over the latest evidence provided by the members of his group in regards to the ones trying to take them down. He didn’t have enough evidence yet to fire Thea, or at least put her on a probationary period within the company. She was almost perfect at her job, minus her behavior in the presence of Ash, which on its own could be considered insubordination, but he wanted to get her for something else.

“Perhaps you’re jumping ahead of yourself, we don’t even know if it is her.” Liam’s voice echoed from the other end of the line. A sigh came from Ash, he knew Liam was right in a way, they didn’t know if Thea was the one. But… after the interactions he had with her, he couldn’t help but feel as though he was right in this situation.

“Maybe I am Liam… But, I want some more investigations done about this group, I’ll join you when I can after this meeting.” Ash responded as he then hung up, sitting back down at his desk, though a knock had interrupted him.

“Come in.” He stated as he glanced up, Thea came waltzing into the room and stared him down. “What.” It was more of a demand than a question as he returned the stare.

“What business of it that you’re snooping around my personal life?” She questioned, about a thousand curses ran through Ash’s mind when she asked that. One of the guys must not have been as careful as what he had hoped.

“I run background checks on all employees Ms. Veryne, yours wasn’t done too carefully. I don’t snoop anymore than necessary. It would be unfair for me to go that far. Martha had admitted to simply looking over your resume and deeming you the best fit for the position without contacting previous employers, or references.” He stated. “And considering your most recent behaviors towards me, I decided to reach out to see if you had behaved like that at any of your other jobs.”

Ash stood, swiping a pile of papers off his desk and into his hands as he walked around the desk to lean against it in front of Thea. “What I find interesting, Ms. Veryne, is that a lot of said employers had never had an employee named Thea.” He chuckled as Thea’s face had paled for a brief moment.

“Though they did have various names for you, all with the same matching description, and right before you had quit the job, the business ended up failing… And each one of those employers had sunk.” He growled as he leaned down, noting the way she had shrunk back into the chair as he stared down at her.

“So, tell me Ms. Veryne, if that is your actual name… What you actually do for a living rather than pretending to play secretary.”