Chapter 196: Chapter 196
Kyra’s POV
I had barely stepped into the living room when I heard Nathan mention contacting Kieran.
My mind flashed to my wedding day, when Kieran had appeared so abruptly and departed just as quickly. Why did my issues always seem to circle back to him? What kind of alliance were Nathan and Emily forming?
Nathan caught my confused expression and immediately explained their conversation about Connor potentially having backing from a larger organization, and his alliance with Attorney Lee and Detective Marshall to conceal the truth.
After hearing Nathan’s explanation, I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. This was far more complex than I’d imagined. Connor wasn’t just trying to seize the company; he had an entire criminal network supporting his actions.
I looked over at Emily, watching her gaze fixed on Matt who was still sleeping in her bedroom. I remembered how she had indirectly revealed her feelings for my cousin to me.
I moved beside Emily and said, "Emily, you don’t need to get so deeply involved in my problems. You’ve always despised your father’s rogue faction. Using his criminal organization for my sake must be a burden for you."
Emily weakly shook her head, her eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and vulnerability. "Kyra, this isn’t just for you. I have my own reasons too."
"My father’s rogue faction has done so much harm already. If I can use it to do something good for people I care about, I don’t see that as a burden."
Her words warmed my heart. Sylvia, my wolf, stirred with appreciation for this friendship.
I squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Emily."
Emily looked between Nathan and me, hesitation crossing her features. "Actually, there’s something I haven’t told you. Kieran came to see me before."
Nathan immediately leaned forward. "So you know how to contact him?"
Emily shook her head, her hair swaying with the movement. "He only came to gather information about other Rogue Alphas. Then he left. Like I said, we don’t have frequent contact."
"Why did he come to you specifically?" Nathan asked, his brow furrowed.
"Kieran is planning to take down all the Rogue Alphas," Emily explained, her voice lowered despite the privacy of her condo. "We Rogues are different from territory-bound packs like yours. We live in the shadows, wandering, but we join organizations that provide protection. The price for that protection is proving your value to the Alpha. The Alpha controls everything - when an Alpha falls, the organization becomes leaderless and disbands."
Nathan and I listened intently. We had never really understood how these rogue organizations operated before.
"Kieran inherited his father’s faction. My father is also a Rogue Alpha. Actually, my father arranged my marriage to Kieran to merge our organizations, to become part of a larger power structure. Since my father is seriously ill, his organization has weakened. That’s why Kieran hasn’t targeted my father."
"How many Rogue Alphas are there total?" Nathan asked, his fingers intertwined with mine.
"Seven altogether. Five are still active, but I don’t know their identities. I never attended the Rouge Alpha meetings - I only know they’re businessmen and unnamed politicians."
"Businessmen and politicians?" I repeated, a sense of foreboding building in my chest. "Do you think Connor might be one of them?"
Emily considered this for a moment, her eyes narrowing. "It’s possible. That would explain why he has so many resources and connections. If he truly is one of the Rouge Alphas, his power is far greater than we imagined."
I nodded thoughtfully, feeling the weight of this new information. "Indeed, these Alphas’ identities are mysterious. If Kieran and I weren’t step-siblings, I wouldn’t know he’s a Rouge Alpha either. His public identity is as the heir to my father’s pack, the Alpha of Raven Shadow Pack."
"Do you think we can work with Kieran?" Emily asked. When Nathan turned to me, I realized she was asking me specifically.
I frowned. "Why would we work with him?"
"He has resources, Kyra," Emily said earnestly. "Look at what he’s accomplished... taking down those Alphas one by one on his own."
I swallowed hard. "I doubt he’d cooperate."
"He will," Nathan said firmly, his eyes holding mine as he gripped my hand tighter. "He’ll cooperate, Kyra. If it’s for your safety, he will."
I stared at him, searching his expression. "Do you trust him?"
"I’d rather trust him than trust anyone else right now."
If Nathan wasn’t concerned about Kieran helping me, what reason did I have to resist such help? I remembered Kieran’s retreating figure as he left my wedding dressing room. At least he still considered me family.
I sighed and slowly nodded. "I... have his contact information."
"Give it to me. I’ll call him myself later," Emily said.
I was about to nod when a groan and shuffling footsteps came from behind us. Turning around, I saw Matt standing there, his brow furrowed as he stared at Emily.
"Who are you planning to call?" Matt asked, his gaze sharp despite his weakened state. His face was pale from blood loss, and he steadied himself against the doorframe.
