Chapter 214: Chapter 214 Disturbed Earth
Caroline’s POV
We arrived at the office together, but as soon as Draven disappeared into his office, I texted Ruby, Kyle, and Ava to meet me. Nina greeted us with a smile so bright it was suspicious.
"Conference room, now," I commanded, grabbing coffee for everyone. "Eleanor is joining by video."
Once settled in the break room, I connected the tablet to see Eleanor already waiting, looking far too pleased with themselves.
"So, ladies," Eleanor began, grinning wickedly. "Did everyone drive their man crazy last night? Because Nate can barely walk straight today."
"Draven barely let me sleep," I groaned, sipping my decaf. "Not that I’m complaining."
Kyle laughed, adjusting her turtleneck. "Had to dress strategically today. Luke went full wolf on my neck. I was jealous of Nina’s hickey yesterday, but now I’ve got my own collection."
"I can barely move," Ruby admitted, trying and failing to hide her smile. "For fuck’s sake, Ryan is insatiable."
"Speaking of insatiable," Ava chimed in, looking smug. "I drove Joseph absolutely wild. Kept him hard all night without letting him touch himself. Poor baby had to take an ice-cold shower this morning."
"That explains why he’s terrorizing the entire office," Eleanor nodded sagely. "Man looks ready to murder someone."
"But how do you know he didn’t handle it himself in the shower?" Nina asked innocently.
"Because I joined him," Ava said with a devious grin. "Told him since I’d already seen every inch of that gorgeous body, what was the point of privacy? Nearly came myself just watching him standing there, all frustrated and dripping wet."
"So, Nina," I steered the conversation. "How was your night with Investigator Tall-Dark-and-Dangerous?"
Nina’s cheeks flamed instantly. "It was... nice."
"Nice?" Eleanor repeated incredulously. "Girl, spill the juicy details! That mountain of a man must have rocked your world!"
"Well... not exactly..." Nina stammered, looking mortified.
"Don’t tell me that ridiculously hot guy doesn’t know how to use his cock?" Kyle gasped, making us all laugh.
"We didn’t have sex," Nina finally confessed. "We just talked... a lot."
"Talked?" Ruby repeated like she’d never heard the word before. "As in, with your mouths? Making sounds? Not kissing?"
"No, we kissed," Nina clarified quickly. "A lot of kissing. And... touching. And yes, he’s proportional everywhere. But he said he wants to take it slow. Be gentle. Careful."
"I’m telling Ryan I found someone to take your virginity," Ruby announced suddenly.
"Why would you do that?" Nina squeaked.
"Because then your hot investigator will know right away and stop with the gentle nonsense and bend you over his desk like you clearly want him to," Ruby explained, making everyone erupt with laughter.
"Not a bad idea," Eleanor agreed, wiping tears from her eyes.
After our girl talk, we all returned to our desks. The day flew by with meetings and reports. Draven stopped by my office at lunchtime.
"I’m having lunch with the guys, but I’ll bring you something sweet after," he promised, dropping a kiss on my forehead.
His words sent my mind straight back to last night, heat rising in my cheeks. "Looking forward to it."
The afternoon passed in a blur of meetings and reports. True to his word, Draven returned from lunch with a small pink box from my favorite bakery. Inside was a chocolate éclair that made my pregnancy cravings sing with joy.
"You’re the perfect mate," I sighed happily, taking a bite and not caring about the chocolate smear on my lips.
"I know," he smirked, using his thumb to wipe the chocolate away before sucking it clean. The simple gesture sent heat straight through me.
"Stop that," I whispered, glancing toward my open office door. "I need to focus on work."
"Later, then," he promised with a wink.
By evening, I was exhausted but satisfied with the day’s accomplishments. Draven and I picked up Liam from daycare together, our little boy running to us with drawings clutched in his tiny fists.
"Mommy! Daddy! Look what I made!"
My heart still skipped whenever he called Draven ’daddy.’ Seeing them together, both with those stunning violet eyes.
After dinner, Draven took charge of Liam’s bedtime routine.I listened from the hallway as he read three bedtime stories.
Draven had just closed Liam’s door when his phone rang. His expression immediately tensed as he answered.
"Jace. What’s up?"
I watched Draven’s face darken as he listened, his jaw clenching tighter by the second. When he hung up, his eyes were troubled.
"What is it?" I asked, already dreading the answer.
"That was Jace with news about the investigation," he explained, leading me to the living room. "Remember I told you about the forger who made fake documents for Howard? The one called Swift Mind?"
"Yes. What about him?"
"He was arrested this morning," Draven said grimly. "This Swift Mind cracked under interrogation and revealed everything about the documents he forged for Howard. Not just passports, company documents too."
"So he knows a lot," I mused.
"And he’s cooperating fully. Already provided all the aliases Howard and his wife were using. The Alpha Council investigators used that information to trace a fake credit card Diane used recently. They got an address."
Something in his tone made my stomach clench. "And?"
"They raided a property this afternoon. Howard wasn’t there, but the investigators noticed disturbed earth in the garden and called in forensics. Jace said they found..." Draven paused, as if deciding whether to continue.
"What did they find?" .
"Diane’s body. Buried in a shallow grave with a plastic bag still tied around her head. Asphyxiation. According to the medical examiner, she was killed approximately three days ago, shortly after using that credit card. Evidence points to Howard himself as the killer."
I bolted for the bathroom, barely making it before emptying my stomach. The violent heaves continued long after there was nothing left.
"I’m sorry," he murmured. "I shouldn’t have told you so bluntly."
I shook my head, feeling sick again. When the nausea passed, Draven helped me clean up and took me to bed.
"He killed his own mate," I whispered, horror washing through me. "What kind of monster does that?"
"A desperate one," Draven replied grimly, pulling me against his chest. "The Council investigators believe she wanted out—threatened to expose him. Howard couldn’t risk it."
"If he killed his mate, what might he do to us?" I put my hand on my belly, thinking of our baby.
"We’re increasing security at the pack house and the office," Draven assured me. "Extra patrols around our territory. Howard won’t get anywhere near you or Liam."
But his words couldn’t stop the memory of that disturbing doll from surfacing—the one left at my desk with its throat slashed. Howard knew about Liam. Had been watching us.
"Try to rest," Draven urged, kissing my forehead. "I’ll be right here all night."
Even with him beside me, I had terrible dreams about plastic bags and dead bodies.
I woke up scared several times, and Draven always held me tight.
"You’re safe," he whispered after my third bad dream. "Our babies are safe. I won’t let anything hurt you."
I held onto him, trying to feel better. But I was still very scared.
Howard was still out there somewhere. And now he had nothing to lose.