Auctioned Mates Revenge
Chapter 64

Ben's

POV

I didn't recognize either of the women on Felix's arms, but knowing Felix they wouldn't be there for long. It was good to see Felix, most of the time. I thought once that he was the reason for Matt's behavior, but that wasn't the case in the slightest. Felix worked hard and played harder. His company had put out a new product, last I checked, that was more than popular by any standards. He was likely indulging as a celebration of success.

I could at least admit that he had lovely tastes. I didn't care much for unnatural hair color, but the magenta-haired woman who didn't seem to want to look me in the face was pretty. There was something in her face that felt familiar, but I couldn't place her features. The blonde reminded me a bit of Sharon. For a moment, I wondered if they could be related. Sharon had a much more neutral tone to her skin and different eye color, but the shape of her lips and eyes were reminiscent of my late, spiteful, bitter wife. She'd left that spite behind and instilled it in our eldest son, Matt. The little bastard knew too much for my tastes and was too secretive for me to ever be comfortable. If only I had gotten ahead of the Interpack Alliance. I could have kept the truth from him for years, kept him and Joel under my thumb, but that was a missed opportunity.

I had been lost in joy and pleasure at the time. I wouldn't make the same mistake now.

Felix wasn't nearly so guarded, so there was a chance that I could use this little moment to garner some information. He was as close to a good influence as Matt had in his life at the moment, and he was too important to overlook.

Felix's business brought in enough money to Warhammer that I had to manage him properly. His being Matt's friend meant that he wouldn't think about moving his company anytime soon, but I needed a relationship with Felix beyond that. It was rare that I got a chance to speak with him as he often avoided the more upscale parties thrown for business owners of Warhammer in favor of wild club events.

"What brings you to Midnight?" I asked, "Don't tell me that Mordecai is trying to lure you to the west coast?"

I wouldn't put it past the bastard, and honestly, Felix's business was better suited to Mordecai's pack. There was no way to change the foundation of Warhammer to suit Felix's company. Larry's had closed down seemingly overnight and hadn't opened back up and there were only a handful of other brothels in my territory worth anything more than a way to get rid of people.

Felix laughed, "Mostly a vacation and helping out Matt with somethings."

He gestured to the truck, "Picking up an order."

I eyed the pallets. They bore the Warhammer seal and the sight of it angered me a bit. Matt's grip on most of the transportation companies gave him a monopoly on the seal. It was a fact that only a few people knew.

The longer that Matt was out of my control, the closer to the surface the truth felt. If anyone ever found out the truth about Warhammer, I'd lose everything. Sonia was selfish enough to leave me despite our bond. Wade was ambitious enough to jump at a better opportunity if he was smart enough to garner one. He wanted so badly to be on the same terms with Mordecai as Matt was, but Mordecai knew he was an idiot and had already chosen his would-be nephew.

If Joel was still alive, I imagine that Mordecai would have taken a liking to him as well.

I smiled at Felix, refocusing on the path ahead. The truth of Warhammer wouldn't remain the way it was now for long if I could help it. Prying the Warhammer industry away from Matt started with information and a reformation of his public persona.

"I'm slated to have dinner at Mordecai's in a few days with the alpha of Skyfall and his son, why don't you come? I'm sure Mordecai will get around to inviting Matt when he's not so busy."

Felix grinned, "Sounds great! Just let me know when and where."

I glanced at the two women, "I trust you'll understand what sort of meeting it is."

Matt would be bold enough to bring his playthings to such a thing, but I had better hope for Felix.

Felix grinned, "I never mix business with pleasure."

That I could believe. I left him and headed towards Caleb's office. The man looked up, grumbling at a pile of papers as I entered. He sat up straight and looked at me a bit nervously.

"A-Alpha Wallber, an honor to see you. What brings you to my office?"

I closed the door and took a seat across the desk.

"You're going to tell me everything Matt has been importing."

He nodded, shakily and went searching for paperwork before giving me the pages.

"There's nothing much of interest. Not even the latest shipments..."

Matt wasn't dumb enough to have anything of interest coming through the official ports, but perhaps, there was something in the lists that would tell me what he might have in mind. Mattresses, an assortment of liquor, recreational drugs of various types: typical things one would need for a brothel to a degree. Upon arriving, I'd learned that he was opening up a

The drugs were a new touch, but I assume that Matt has his reasons for it. There was nothing out of the ordinary on the list or the routes by which the shipments came. I left Caleb and headed to the house where Mordecai received guests.

I found him in his pool, swimming laps in the cool afternoon. He stopped and looked up at me before pulling himself out of the pool with a laugh.

"I was wondering when you'd manage to get from the airport here," Mordecai said, "Had fun snooping around on your son?"

I smirked, "Had fun pretending to have a son?"

Mordecai laughed, "You're in a mood, aren't you? Guess you couldn't find anything you wanted. Come have a drink with me, you cranky bastard."

I followed him into the parlor as he slipped into a robe and dried his hair roughly. One of his servants poured us whiskey before going to grab whatever else Mordecai asked to be served. If I knew him well, it was probably a spread of meats and cheeses. "I ran into Felix picking up a shipment for Matt."

"Oh?" Mordecai asked, "I didn't know he was here too. Should invite him to dinner when Matt gets back."

"I already extended the invitation. Where is Matt?"

Mordecai laughed, "What kind of uncle would I be if I got between you two? Can't you just call your son? You talk to that other one often enough."

I didn't know if that meant that Mordecai didn't know or if he was simply not telling me. He usually wasn't so hard to read, but there was a low-level irritation that didn't seem eased with whiskey in his hand. Something was frustrating him. I could guess that it was related to Matt or a woman perhaps, but I wasn't so sure of the second.

Mordecai had never married and didn't seem as though he would ever marry. That was fine because he was enough to deal with without an heir. His father had only had one son, as had his father before him. "What's gotten you into such a mood?"

He glanced at me and sipped his drink, "How's Sonia?"

I snorted, "Still upset about Everlasting. Pouting."

Mordecai hummed, "Dianne has always been too attached to her morals and pride. She brought that on herself."

I shrugged, "There will be another Everlasting soon enough, I'm sure. Once the mines are back up and running." "How's that?"

"Incompetence abounds, but that is what happens when you must start over..."

Mordecai flashed me a cruel grin and I grinned back as he lifted his glass to me.

"What has my wayward son been up to while here? You seemed concerned about it before."

Mordecai waved nonchalantly, "That was before I'd met with him. I'll never turn down someone wanting to add to the economy of Midnight."

"Not trying to poach my eldest son, are you?"

Mordecai grinned, "You think he'd come if I asked?"

I stared at him. He said nothing. For a long moment, it felt like when we first met, almost glaring at each other across the ballroom, sizing each other up. Would Matt agree to be Mordecai's heir?

It would be crippling for Warhammer. It would give Mordecai more information about my pack than I ever want to be revealed, but most importantly, it would shift the balance of power forever.

It was troubling that I did know the answer and didn't want to admit it.

If only I had dealt with Sharon sooner, none of this would have happened.