"It's not just my father," Cassie said. "There are other Alphas also."
"Who else is involved?" Damon asked stiffly.
Cassie glanced nervously at James. "Alpha Edward from the Red Moon pack."
Damon already knew about Alpha Edward and Alpha Richard. Those two were allies for a long time, and they were openly against Damon since he took over as Alpha. Damon wanted to know about others.
"Who else is involved?"
Cassie shrugged. "In the last few weeks, my father also talked to Alpha William and Alpha Patrick, but I'm not sure how much they are involved."
"Is Alpha Adam part of this plan? What about Alpha Peter?" Damon started listing names, and Cassie shook her head.
"If they are involved, I'm not aware of it."
"If you don't know about others, how can you be sure that my father is involved?" James asked from the side. It's not that he didn't believe her, but he wanted proof.
James saw this as an opportunity for Damon to get more allies. If there was evidence of Alpha Richard and Alpha Edward working with rogues, Damon could use that to sway neutral packs to join him. Alphas would follow power and benefits either for personal gain or as an excuse for how it benefits their pack. However, working with rogues only brought misfortune. No one would associate with rogues unless they are ready to give up on their pack.
James was confident that Damon could use this information to unite packs and maybe even get rid of Alpha Edward for good.
"I took photos of documents my father kept in his drawer," Cassie said. "The photos are in my phone."
"We need more than photos, Miss Cassie," James said condescendingly. "How do we know that those photos were not manipulated? How do we know that Alpha Richard didn't send you here as a spy?" That was another burning question.
"I wouldn't do that." Cassie turned to Damon. "You know me. I say a lot of things, but I don't lie."
"Is this the time for you to worry about Alpha Damon's opinion of you?" James asked. He leaned toward Cassie. "My presence here should tell you that Alpha Damon values what I have to say, and unfortunately for you, I don't believe you. You will either prove that your information is solid, or I will kill you right here."
Cassie glanced nervously at Damon.
"He won't save you, Miss Cassie," James said. "This is about my safety and the safety of my mate."
Cassie paled. "Your mate?" Since when did young Alpha James have a mate? Isn't he underage? But there was a female right next to James, and they were sitting close and holding hands, and she was marked! No werewolf would act so familiar with a mated female that belonged to someone else.
"Why did you tell me that?" Cassie squeaked.
James sneered. "To show you how serious I am. If I suspect you are backstabbing us, I will kill you. I will do anything in my power to keep my mate safe."
Cassie thought that the air was getting thinner in the room. What the heck? No matter how much she proved herself, she was a liability, and James will kill her. Even if that doesn't happen, they won't let her leave, not with so many secrets.
Cassie's only hope to get out of this alive was Damon.
"I'm telling the truth. You can see photos and… there is more."
Damon gestured to Cassie to keep talking.
"If you give me a map, I can point where rogues are."
This got Damon's attention. "You can?" They were trying to locate rogues for a while. If Cassie's information was valid, it would be a breakthrough… or a trap.
Cassie nodded fervently, happy that Damon finally showed some interest in what she had to say. "I also know they are planning to make their move at young Alpha James' birthday party."
"What are they planning to do?" Damon asked.
"I'm not sure," Cassie said in a small voice, and she panicked when James moved. "I only know that they will be there, and my father got instructions not to react when the attack happens and to ensure that Alpha Natalia is not harmed."
"People behind rogue attacks are after Alpha Natalia?" Talia asked. Weren't they after Luna Talia? Sure, it was the same person, but not many knew that.
Seeing that Cassie's confidence was returning, Talia's mood fluctuated.
Liseli amplified Talia's hostility, and with the pregnancy hormones affecting her, Talia was on the verge of snapping.
"My father got…"
Cassie's voice trailed when Talia pushed herself to stand.
Talia pressed her palms on the surface of Damon's desk as her eyes narrowed on Cassie.
"No more games, Cassie," Talia's voice was low with a slight echo as she issued an Alpha command that can't be refused. "The truth. All of it. Why is your father part of this? Money? Territory? Women?"
Cassie was sweating like she was in a sauna, but the air around her was cold, and she struggled to talk, "Power."
"What kind of power?" Talia asked.
"Life. Abilities."
"Explain!"
"My father believes that the people behind it all can grant him longer life, youth, and abilities."
Talia would be confident that Cassie was lying if not for the Alpha command. But she was not sure if she heard it right. "What?"
"My father is getting into an age where he is not a young man anymore. He wants another lease on life."
"How?" It was Damon who asked.
"Organ transplant."
"What?" This was James.
Cassie turned to look at James. "They speak of creatures with powers, like humans, but not exactly. They call them witches. Alpha Edward is an expert in that area. They say that if they transplant organs from witches, there is a chance that the recipient will be rejuvenated and get mysterious abilities. Humans died during experiments, but with werewolf healing, the surgeries have a high chance of success."
Cornelia was looking at James anxiously. "What does that mean?"
Cassie rolled her eyes. "Don't you know what an organ transplant is? They take heart or a liver or a…"
"Enough!" Damon roared. His eyes lost focus for a moment, and Keith and Arya stepped into the study.
"Take her into the dungeon," Damon instructed.
"What!?" Cassie shrieked. "I cooperated!"
"You wouldn't cooperate if I didn't make you," Talia said.
"I would!" Cassie exclaimed while looking anxiously at Keith and Arya, who were approaching her now. "I was just keeping that information for last."
Damon waved his hand, indicating to Keith and Arya to go ahead. "Make sure she is isolated, and no one is allowed to talk to her. Only warriors with the highest security clearance are allowed to bring her food."
Cassie struggled and shouted, and then…
'PAK!'
Keith karate-chopped her neck, and Cassie passed out.
With Cassie gone, the study descended into a tense silence.
"You didn't ask her if she came here as a spy," James was the first one to speak.
"It wouldn't matter," Damon responded. "We will soon get reports on the data in her phone and tablet. Cassie came here because she was hoping we would help her escape from Alpha Richard, or she came to set us up on his orders. In either case, Cassie only worries about her interests." But more importantly… "Does anyone believe the organ transplant story?"
