Auctioned Mates Revenge
Chapter 31

I put thoughts of murder aside. One day, Ben would get what was coming to him, but it couldn't be today. Ben was at the top of a tower of corrupted alphas and people crawling around in the underbelly of the packs.

He would be the last person to deal with if I was going to get Renda her revenge and prove to her that I was worthy of her love.

I left the room and sent a group of other staff members to get them checked over and settled somewhere in the building before returning to the office, I pulled out paper and sketched out a crude map of North America and marked where the packs I knew were involved were.

Midnight was on the upper west coast of North America, just below where Skyfall was. Skyfall was just to the west of where a pack called Frost Pelt had once been. Luftmensch was just below Warhammer on the east coast. Blue Fire was in the Midwest. Dune was in the desert of the west coast.

A knock sounded on the door as I was looking over the crude map and turned on the computer. Renda and Grace entered. Renda looked a bit pale. I narrowed my eyes at her. "Are you alright?"

Renda nodded shakily, "I'm just fine. We spoke to the girls..."

I sat up, "Did they tell you anything useful?"

Grace and Renda looked at each other before Grace began to speak, "They were pretty out of it and most of them went to sleep before we'd gotten much out of them. "What are you doing?"

I looked up at Glenda who looked down at the crude map.

"Making notes of what I know and where targets might be."

Renda leaned over as I went back to writing.

"The girls told me they were from Blue Fire, Dune, and Fluorite," I said. Renda shifted a bit as I continued. "All three of them are packs that have fallen in the last decade. It stands to reason that I should look into any other packs that have fallen in the same time frame and look into it."

"You think they're connected?" Grace asked.

I nodded, "Ben is a greedy, ambitious son of a bitch. So is his son, Wade. I'm still having the records at Larry's looked through, but-"

"You bought Larry's?" Renda asked, near breathless. Her eyes were wide and horrified.

"I did."

We stared at one another for a few moments. I could almost hear her questions, but I wouldn't answer them until she asked. She looked away from me with a stubborn scowl. "Why?"

"The same reason I bought Club Heaven," my lips twitched, "Well... mostly."

There was the fact that Wade and his father would be furious about me shutting down one of the biggest tourist attractions of Warhammer. I couldn't wait for that news to get out soon.

My phone chimed with a message from Armand. He'd forwarded an invitation for my consideration. I didn't usually go to pack parties to avoid the political nonsense of them. Rubbing elbows with Ben's lackeys and people who wanted to be his lackey had no appeal to me, but Midnight was in my sights from the traffickers up to Mordecai, they would all pay.

I looked at Grace and turned my phone towards her, "What do you know about this party?"

Her lips twitched, "Felix always wanted to be invited, but Mordecai made sure that he didn't get an invite because he wouldn't agree to the deal set."

That meant Felix might be at the party along with several other members of Midnight's pack.

"Why would Mordecai let me be invited?"

Mordecai was one of Ben's closest friends and associates. They were the same kind of a*****e.

"I think it's more likely that Walter Harrison made sure to invite you. He'll be expecting his cut of the proceeds from Club Heaven for trafficking." "Why?"

"He runs the border patrol and the police. Nothing gets in or out of Midnight without him."

I smirked, "Well, ladies, you should get ready for this party."

Grace's eyes widened, "Me too?"

I stood and nodded, "We'll need to get you two clothes. I can't go to this party without an assistant or a date."

I rounded the table and ushered them out of the room, "Let's go shopping."

The next evening, I straightened the cuffs of my faux tuxedo shirt as Grace came out of the other guest room fully dressed. She looked a bit nervous though her cocktail dress fit her well. Felix kept her well-fed and in shape. No doubt he'd try to pull her aside while we were at the party. "Grace," I said, "I want to be clear about this."

She straightened and met my eyes.

"I am taking your aid because you offered, but are not bound to continue helping me. Your identity should be ready in a few days. You can go to Warhammer or back to wherever you came from if you'd like."

She shuddered and turned her head, "Where I came from doesn't exist any longer."

I frowned as she crossed the room to where the decanter of wolfsbane whiskey sat. She poured herself a tumbler and tossed it back as if she needed the strength.

Her hands shook and she sighed before taking a deep breath.

"I'd almost forgotten how strong it was," Grace turned and looked at me. "Mr. Wallber, you don't have to worry about me retracting my help...I have my reasons."

I didn't ask what she meant because it was pretty obvious. She was from one of the packs that had fallen. She probably also had a grudge against whoever she considered responsible. "Where are you from?"

Her gaze met mine. She hesitated before turning away as Renda's heels clicked down the hall.

"Frost Pelt."

I took note of the name. It was familiar, but why it was familiar escaped me.

Renda walked towards me with a brilliant smile. She had done something with her makeup to make her eyes seem different and refreshed her hair color to a brilliant blue-violet that went well with her silvery cocktail dress. "Shall we?"

I nodded, escorting them both out of the hotel and down to the car that would take us to the party as Grace began to explain the party. It happened about the same time every year, so there were plenty of people around from all over the continent. Most importantly, the poker games were by invitation only and the stakes varied depending on the table you were invited to.

I would have to wait until we arrived to know if I would get to play.

When we arrived, I helped the two of them out of the car, keeping Renda at my side as we entered.

I scanned the crowd, looking for faces I recognized. Mordecai was there looking across the hall as we entered. He sipped his drink and didn't approach.

Felix was there as was Andrew, surprisingly. It wasn't strange that he was here since Skyfall was just another of Midnight, but it was suspicious. Skyfall was a relatively new pack and while they were near, they didn't share a territory border. Andrew was here alone. Something was going on. It screamed that something underhanded was going on. Renda turned to me.

"We should split up."

I wanted to protest, part of me knowing that she would go after Andrew, but I nodded. I was better served leaning on what Grace knew of the people in the room and searching for answers that way.

"Matt Wallber," someone said, warmly. "I hear you're the new owner of Club Heaven!"

I turned to look at the man. He was a bit overweight for a werewolf. He reminded me of photos of Denis in the way that his eyes seemed cold and a bit off.

Lucas didn't like him and I couldn't help but agree. He smelled like rotten garbage.

"This is Caleb Dawson," Grace said demurely. "He owns a portion of the main mall of Midnight."

"Grace," he said, leering at her. "I'm surprised old Felix left you behind... You look as delicious as always. Are you here as a party favor?"

My heart lurched as Grace stiffened, "I've hired Grace as my assistant while I manage the transfer. I plan to keep her on as administrative staff."

He sucked on his teeth, "Shame. It would be such a waste after Felix kept her all cooped up, dangling her in front of us all these years..."

My stomach turned and I clenched my fist at my side, barely keeping myself from punching him.

"Maybe next time then," Caleb said with a hearty laugh. "You should join us at our table later. Buy in is five grand."

I smirked, "I will."

"Excellent!" He cried, "It's always good to get fresh blood at the table!"

He walked away chattering as I leaned down to speak to Grace.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded, "Caleb isn't the most disturbing of the guests.

My gaze drifted over to where Renda and Andrew were talking. He leaned close to speak in her ear as if he was telling her a secret and I clenched my jaw at the sight. He bowed and left her after someone came up behind him and led him away.

"Will you be alright if I leave you?"

Grace chuckled, "I promise to stay in plain sight."