My Alpha Husband Forgot I Was The Blackridge Reaper Chapter 09
My Husband Plans to Kill My Father
Knox brings me two pieces of information.
Either one could tear Blackridge apart.
The first concerns Ivy.
Ivy Lane was born Ivy Cross.
She is the daughter of Damon Cross, the former Blackridge Beta who led a rebellion against my father ten years ago.
Alpha Marcus crushed the rebellion.
Damon and every adult who fought beside him were executed.
The Hales secretly smuggled his nine-year-old daughter out of Blackridge.
They changed her name and raised her as Ivy Lane.
Richard knew exactly who she was. He helped hide her identity for ten years.
She never entered my estate because she wanted to be Adrian’s foster sister.
She came for revenge.
Knox’s second discovery is worse.
Ivy’s older brother is still alive.
His real name is Caleb Cross.
He lives beyond Blackridge’s western border under the name Caleb Ward, pretending to be a private school teacher.
The same Caleb Ward who received money from Adrian.
Ivy and Caleb exchange messages twice a month.
Their courier is a driver employed by the Hale family.
Three nights ago, Adrian drove beyond the western border to meet Caleb himself.
Knox’s Enforcers followed him.
Adrian and Caleb spent an hour talking inside a farmhouse.
Their plan is simple.
On Alpha Marcus’s fiftieth birthday, Caleb’s rogues will enter the Alpha estate disguised as catering staff.
They will lace my father’s ceremonial wine with concentrated wolfsbane.
Adrian will use his position as the Alpha’s son-in-law to inspect the kitchen and clear their path.
After my father dies, warriors from Red Moon Pack will cross our border and seize Blackridge.
Their Alpha has already agreed to reward Adrian.
Adrian wants control of the Blackridge treasury.
He also wants to become the pack’s Beta.
He wants the entire pack handed to him.
Emma’s knees nearly buckle when she hears the report.
“Miss Halston, we have to warn Alpha Marcus. We need to arrest all of them now.”
I shake my head.
“If we arrest them now, Adrian will claim he knew nothing and blame everything on the Cross family.”
“We’ll catch a Hale driver and two rogues dressed as caterers. Then what?”
I close Knox’s file.
“Adrian will remain the Alpha’s son-in-law. He will stand in front of the pack and pretend to be an honorable male.”
Emma’s scent spikes with panic.
“Then what are we going to do, Miss Halston?”
I rise and walk to my closet.
At the bottom is a black riding suit, folded neatly beneath my dresses.
I have not worn it in ten years.
There is not a speck of dust on it.
Emma has kept it ready for me.
She always knew I would wear it again one day.
“I am going to let them make their move.”
I lift the black jacket from the shelf.
“In front of every powerful wolf in Blackridge, they will put their own necks in the noose.”
The next morning, I go to the Alpha estate and meet my father alone.
Alpha Marcus studies me from behind his desk.
“Is something wrong with the birthday banquet?”
“Father,” I say.
“I have prepared a special gift for you.”
I hold his gaze.
“When the banquet begins, sit back and watch.”
“And do not drink a single drop of wine.”
My father stares at me for a long time.
The Alpha who has spent half his life crushing rebellions slowly nods.
For the first time in ten years, there is no fear in his eyes when he looks at me.
Only trust.
Knox waits outside the study.
He lowers his head as I approach.
“Miss Halston, should we take Caleb Cross first?”
“No.”
“What about the rogues posing as caterers and the Hale driver?”
“Leave them alone.”
I look toward the setting sun.
“Replace the poison without alerting them.”
“Hide our Enforcers among the staff.”
“Then let the banquet begin.”
Five days later, Alpha Marcus turns fifty.