CHAPTER 75

Sam's murder was still a topic that never came up between Ethan and Collins,despite knowing fully well that Collins was the culprit.
Instead, he mourned the death of the wolf in silence along with every other member of the back. It was the way it had always been. No one had the gut to make Collins own up to his crimes. They were used to his atrocities but not for much longer if Ethan had his way. He had promised himself that Sam was going to be the last packmate that would die in Collins hand.
But it looked like Collins was also taking quick steps towards achieving his own goal, which was very clear to Ethan now. There was no doubt what he was up to with members of the Crescent pack. His guess had been right all along and he was happy he had warned the clueless pack's Alpha.
And in a way, Ethan had been waiting for him to come and be Bleeding Moon's messiah, by putting an end to Collins' tyranny as he was the only one with the capability.
But it didn't look that way anymore.
The Alpha was as trapped as his pack.
Just days before, he had seen the wolf meeting with Collins enter the territory with other people and his hope had been dashed when he found out the woman being held hostage in the warehouse was Crescent pack's Luna.
It had not been the best news to hear coupled with Sam's loss but so far, he had been unable to do anything about it.
Except now,he was thinking of a plan, although it was risky and dangerous.
Collins had played right into his hands by bringing the Luna into their territory. It was the only place he could keep her hidden but it was also the most stupid choice, considering he wasn't without enemies. Collins has been trying really hard to keep her identity hidden from those outside his circle of like minds but Ethan had his ways and he had heard things that were not meant for his ears.
Ethan reasoned that all he had to do was help the woman make her escape. But he didn't know how he was ever going to accomplish that. The warehouse was heavily guarded round the clock and no one was allowed in to see her except he woman called Elise and her crew.
But now, the crew was short of one core member. Just that afternoon, Collins had walked into the warehouse with his partner but he had walked out alone with bloodstains on his hands. For a moment, Ethan had been scared he already killed his prisoner. The man was that irrational about killing. Then he had been followed by Elise and very much later, the beautiful woman with them, her eyes obviously swollen from crying.
Later, Ethan had seen Collins' men carrying the man in a bag and Ethan had felt not even the barest sympathy.
His only problem now was how to have even a meeting with the hostage. That was the only reason he was at that moment standing before Collins with his head bowed and letting him bash him about not being there when he should.
"You sure disappear a lot for a right-hand man," Collins said snidely. "Or it just takes a long time for you to make your way back to me whenever you leave. I think the legs are to be blamed, right?," he asked with a chuckle. Ethan said nothing as Collins continued to taunt him.
"I heard a really young mind in the pack passed away in your loghouse. My condolences to his family. I would love to meet with them personally to express my regrets but I'm afraid I'm really busy at the moment," he said in mock regret as his hand rested over his heart.
I there was one in there to start with, Ethan thought to himself as his hands curled into fist at his side.
"I see you are angry," he said throwing back his head and laughing. Then his face got hard and serious in a flash. "You should know by now it's all you are ever going to feel,along with fear and helplessness because no matter how angry you get, you cannot do anything about it."
"Just you wait and see," Ethan replied in his mind but outward,he just continued to bow his head with his hands clenched by his sides.
"Why are you here? I don't think I've time to entertain your irrelevance for now," Collins said stonily. The mere presence of the wolf before him was making him angrier than he already was. There was this air of defiance surrounding Ethan that he had never seen before. It was like he finally reached a decision about a really important matter and everything else didn't matter to him.
And in this case, Collins could guess what the wolf was up to. He was still nursing the hope that Cole was alive and they could defeat him but they had another thing coming.
As soon as he becomes Alpha of Crescent pack,he was going to have the world at his feet and no matter how many Coles and Ethans appeared before him, he was going to crush them all.
But after what his stupid wannabe mate had said, he was having his doubts and the truth was, they were already there but she only made him acknowledge them.
He was blackmailing Asher and all he had was a mate the wolf did not want anymore. For all he cared, they could cut her head and present it to him on a platter and he wouldn't even blink twice. He had realized too late that his only bargaining chip was the unborn baby and the stupid mate had been slow enough not to tell her husband.
Just his life luck.
If Asher did not believe his message, then all his plan was for naught.
"The pack is worried about your guests," Ethan started slowly.
"Who cares? I believe they are mine to worry about."
"Everyone knows who's being held hostage," he continued slowly and he watched Collins' eyes dim a little.
Good.
"How?"
"News spread fast. Everyone is worried about what would happen hehen he comes looking for her."
"He won't come here," Collins stated with false bravado. It was beginning to sound more and more ominous the more he heard it being said that Asher would come for him but he didn't show it. And it didn't feel good knowing he was not the only one feared.
His mate seemed to be particularly afraid of Asher compared to me.
"I'm here to make a suggestion on behalf of the pack," Ethan continued quietly.
"And why do you think I'll listen to any stupid nonsense you are about to spurt?," Collins asked raisng his voice.
"It would be of a great benefit to you. You should at least, listen to me. You won't regret it," he tried to sound as convincing as possible. He knew the moment Collins relented as he leaned forward subtly in his seat.
"I'm listening," he said sharply.
"The pack doesn't want to make an enemy of the Luna, since her mate is our enemy already. She should be made to believe you are her friend instead of her enemy and she should be made to feel as welcomed as possible here....,"
"Why would I do that?," Collins thundered as he Rose to his feet. Ethan moved back a step when he saw the fire spitting from his eyes.
"So that it would be easy to convince her and make her mate look like the enemy. If there's a rift between the couple, don't you think it's the perfect way to come between them? But the Alpha wouldn't be involved in all these. You just carry on as you planned and you would leave me to convince his mate that he doesn't her and we are doing her a huge favour by keeping her here because his plans was to have her killed," he said hurriedly.
To Collins, it didn't sound like much of a plan but at that point, he was ready to give anything a trial, as long as he ended up getting what he had always wanted. "That isn't going to be any work. Truly, her mate doesn't want her but she's with pregnant with his cub and that's my bargaining chip. I'm afraid your help is not needed," he said tauntingly, testing to see if this whole plan was really for his benefit or for Ethan's.
Ethan tried not to cringe at Collins' beastly behaviour. It was replulsive that he had no qualms about holding a pregnant woman hostage. Instead, he shrugged like he was unaffected and turned to go. He was not stupid. He had seen the anxiousness on Collins' face when he entered the room and he was sure his plans weren't going exactly as he planned. And knowing the greedy bastard,he would take any help he could find. The only reason he was refusing was to test for his reaction.
"How do you plan on convincing her that her mate wants her dead?," Collins shouted at the limping wolf's departing back.
The smile spread across Ethan's face but he did well to hide it as he turned to face Collins. "I can be very convincing Alpha."
"What's the plan?," Collins asked.
"First, we release her and make her as comfortable as possible."