Chapter 183: Chapter 183 Tracking Down Howard
Draven’s POV
"It’s time to start talking, Gilbert. Where the hell is Howard?" I demanded.
Gilbert’s face twisted into a cynical smirk. "I’m not stupid, Alpha. I want everything documented and signed by the Council, guaranteeing I won’t face execution and that my assets and my family’s standing within the pack won’t be touched."
Alaric growled inside me, pushing against my control.
"Gilbert," I said in Alpha voice,"first of all, you’re not in a position to demand anything. Second, you don’t have any assets. Everything you think you have, you stole from me and this pack. Third, you don’t set conditions here. You tell what you know, and the Council decides how to improve your situation."
"Well, then you figure it out," Gilbert crossed his arms with a smug smile on his face.
Magnus, the head investigator from the Alpha Council, stepped forward. "Then you can spend twenty years in the pack dungeons. And that’s assuming good behavior. I don’t think you understand—we’re dealing with fraud, murder, attempted kidnapping, and conspiracy against your own pack.You’ll answer for all these crimes plus obstruction of justice. And I will personally enjoy sealing the silver bars on your cell. Let’s go!" He grabbed Gilbert by the arm.
"But I didn’t kill or kidnap anyone!" Gilbert shouted in panic.
"But you knew everything and are helping the traitor escape," Magnus retorted, his grip tightening.
"I’ll talk! But I want at least a reduction in my punishment," Gilbert pleaded, his earlier confidence crumbling.
"You’ll have that under the terms of pack law, if you make a complete confession. The confession doesn’t work by halves. You tell everything, or it’s worthless," Magnus informed him coldly.
"Okay, I’ll talk," Gilbert finally agreed, slumping in defeat. "Howard purchased a rural estate about fifteen days ago when he concluded the deal. You must know the place; it belonged to Roger Fenton. He’s broke and sold the property to Howard for next to nothing."
"I know where it is," Joseph said from the sofa, where he’d been sitting lost in his own thoughts since I entered the room. "I was there with Sophia last week. I had no idea it had been sold."
As Joseph finished speaking, Ava entered the room quietly. She glanced at Joseph and arched an eyebrow, handed me a document, and left without a word.
"Moon’s blood!" Ryan cursed and moved to follow her.
"You’ve already messed up enough, but now is not the time to fix your personal affairs," I said firmly, stopping him. "Focus,Joseph. Tell us everything you know about the Fenton property—we need details."
"Damn it, Draven!"Joseph protested.
"Do you really think she’s going to listen to you now? Or that you’ll have any chance if she discovers you withheld information?" I challenged him. "Right now, everyone is focused on Caroline and Liam. What they want, just like me, is to see Howard behind bars, because they care about Caroline. So focus on that too, and we’ll help you sort out your mess later."
"Fine,"Joseph huffed,running a hand through his hair."What I know is straightforward. Roger was a high-ranking employee at Silver Ridge Construction, but the company collapsed, and he was left with nothing. He’s been selling his assets to pay debts and survive. His mate and two daughters drain his resources—they spend excessively, and he’s desperate to maintain their lifestyle.But I didn’t know he’d sold the estate.It’s an impressive property, isolated at the edge of our territory."
"Excellent. We’ll head there immediately," Magnus said. "Please document everything you know about the place, including layout, staff numbers, entrances and exits. If possible, sketch a map of the property."
"Of course, I can do that," Joseph confirmed, moving to the table where Kyle had already placed paper and pens.
"Well, if this little thief has nothing else important to share, I need to take him to the Council holding cells and formalize his statement," the second Alpha Council investigator said, gesturing to Gilbert.
"About Howard, one more thing," Gilbert blurted. "He has false identity documents. I’m the one who connected him with the forger."
"Then start by telling us what names are on those documents," Magnus demanded, his patience wearing thin.
"I don’t know the specific names, only who made them," Gilbert insisted. "The forger goes by Swift Mind. He operates from a den in the Moonlight Complex on the eastern border of the territory. Unit 1503. He’s always there, but be careful—the wolf is clever."
"Swift Mind? What kind of pack name is that?" Magnus asked with disdain.
"It’s because for everything you ask, he responds with ’stay swift, stay ahead.’ Strange wolf. Average height, round glasses, shoulder-length blond hair with some silver streaks. About thirty years old and constantly high on drug,I don’t understand how he produces such flawless documents," Gilbert explained.
"I’ll dispatch scouts there immediately," Magnus nodded. "We need to alert all territory checkpoints, border patrols, and neighboring packs. Howard must not escape our net."
"Already done," another Council investigator confirmed. "We’re closing in on this traitor."
"I’m taking this white-collar criminal to give his formal statement," Magnus said, nodding to another enforcer who placed silver-lined cuffs on Gilbert before escorting him out.
Meanwhile, the remaining Council investigators gathered to plan the raid. When Joseph finished his notes and sketches, he handed them to Magnus, who already had a strike team waiting. Two Council enforcers would accompany the operation, along with our own pack warriors.
"Alpha Draven, we’ll move out now. I’ll contact you by phone as soon as we have news," Magnus said before leaving with the others to hunt down Howard.
When the Council team departed, I collapsed onto the sofa, exhaustion finally catching up to me. Leo joined Alan, but said that if I needed him again, I just had to call. Joseph, Nate, Kyle, and I remained in the room.
"I think I’m going to recruit Eleanor, Ruby and Nina for Thorne Enterprise. Those women are a formidable team,completely unshakable! I’m impressed," I said, partly to lighten the mood and partly to provoke Joseph.
"Are you planning to poach my best employees, Draven?" Joseph huffed, a hint of amusement breaking through his stress.
"Don’t worry, I’ll send Kyle to you," I quipped.
"Now I’m wounded, Alpha!" Kyle pretended offense, placing a hand over her heart.
"You’re hired too, Nate," I added, lightly punching Eleanor’s mate on the arm.
"I appreciate it, but I’ll pass! Working alongside Elle is my worst nightmare. She terrifies me when she goes into commander mode!" Nate shuddered, making us all burst into much-needed laughter.
"Let’s go check on our wonderful, unshakable, and formidable women," I suggested, standing up.