Mated To My Boyfriend's Dad

Chapter 194: Trying Times

As Rhett exited his residence, he made his way to the station. He was beyond elated, though it didn’t show on his face. He and his mate were back to talking again. Now he could concentrate on work without having to worry much about her.

Once he got to the station, he stepped down from his car, quickly searching for Farkas.

"Farkas!" He called out, his gaze traveling around the precinct which was bustling with activities, in preparation for the upcoming orientation of the enlisted pack members and fey.

They had to make a good first impression and assure those who’d volunteered on their own that they’d be treated well.

Rhett was just about to head for Farkas’s office to see if he was around, but a voice caused him to halt in his tracks.

"What do you need the military advisor for?" Darius seemingly popped out of nowhere, eyeing him curiously. "I have a feeling that it has something to do with the recent murder which you’ve managed to keep hidden away from the pack. A murder that happened right under your nose. Tell me, what does that say concerning your role as Gamma?"

This... this was one of the many reasons why Rhett tried avoiding the Beta as much as possible. He somehow always found the right words to push him to the edge, irking him to no end. ALWAYS.

He glared at Darius, unable to mask his irritation any longer. "What are you, obsessed with me, Darius? Since when did the two of us working together in overseeing the enlistment program, equal you not leaving my ass for once? Are you monitoring my job as Gamma? You’re prying and interfering and I don’t like it one bit."

His voice boomed, managing to catch the attention of several officers. Rhett didn’t care anymore. He could feel his sanity slipping away with each minute he spent around the Beta. He couldn’t stand it, he couldn’t accept it.

The good mood he had after leaving Isleen had almost completely washed off after seeing the Beta.

As for Darius, he scoffed— as usual— before replying. "Do you think I enjoy getting close to you, Rhett? I’m the Beta with my own duties and responsibilities as well. But I also have the duty of overseeing this enlistment program. Tell me, isn’t that too much already? Why then would I add the burden of watching your ass to my bucket list?"

Rhett clenched and unclenched his fists, not having anything else to say. At least, not to the Beta. Not right here when his men were watching with wary curiosity.

Luckily, he spotted Farkas just then, waving at him. So, he ignored the Beta’s ranting, walking away.

"Leaving all the work to me again, I see?" Darius hollered, his voice echoing behind Rhett.

Hmph. He could go hang himself for all he cared.

"I doubt this Cullen guy is our vampire." He announced immediately they got into his office and sat down. He took in a deep breath, trying to calm down his nerves from the brief encounter with Darius.

At this rate, he’d have a heart attack!

"By the moon! So now we’re back to square one?" Farkas groaned, running his hand through his hair with frustration.

Rhett understood Farkas’s frustration all too well. If he said he didn’t share in it, he’d be a hypocrite.

They’d gotten evidence that Isleen’s ’son’ was the vampire in disguise and had thought that would give them an advantage in fishing him out. But how could they ever even succeed in capturing a millennia-old vampire who could walk under the sun and shape-shift?

They need some more clues. They needed guidance. Rhett needed guidance...

"No, not entirely." He answered Farkas’s lamentations with a thoughtful look. "Remember our hypothesis of there being a high-ranked traitor in our midst?"

Farkas creased his brows at his words but replied nevertheless. "Yeah? What about it? Do you already have a suspect in mind?"

Rhett wasn’t entirely sure, but he had a hunch. So, he cleared his throat before speaking again.

"Yes." He stated simply before dropping the bomb of a reveal. "The Beta, Darius."

Upon hearing that, Farkas’s eyes bulged, threatening to pop out of their sockets. He opened and closed his mouth, but then managed to find his words.

"I know saying you hate the man is an understatement, but seriously? Darius? Does he even look competent enough to carry out such a betrayal?" Farkas questioned with disbelief.

However, Rhett remained unfazed. His suspicions weren’t based on merely a personal vendetta against the Beta. Yes, he hated the idiot’s guts, but other factors were at play here.

"Think about it, Farkas." He tried reasoning with his friend. "Ever since the new Alpha came in, it’s seemed like there’s some odd power dynamic between the duo. One that the Beta could use to his advantage. Also, isn’t it oddly convenient how the Alpha had half the station’s officers placed to protect his mansion, which the Beta also resides in? Almost as if he knew just how heated the battle was going to get that night. And then there’s the fact that he’s always monitoring my existence. He’s hiding something, Farkas."

Even though his gut wasn’t always one hundred percent correct, he could rely on it to know when someone was suspicious. Just like he’d done with Liam. And Cora the fairy.

Right now, he felt like Darius was suspicious, but he had to thread lightly too.

"This just keeps getting more complicated, huh?" Farkas chuckled wryly before adding. "So, now what? What are you going to do? Confront him?"

Rhett shook his head before replying. "That’ll be brash and stupid. Since we’ll both be overseeing the enlistment program, I’ll keep an eye on him. He can’t keep hidden forever, especially when I’m around him. If he’s our traitor and I’ve gathered enough evidence against him, then I’ll confront him. After reporting him to the Alpha, of course."

Farkas almost hollered at the last part. "If you’re right, and Darius is a traitor, then what makes you think that the Alpha isn’t on the same boat? Especially after seeing how close they are."

Rhett didn’t have an answer to that. At the end of the day, the Alpha was still the Alpha. He couldn’t question his rule without also being seen as a traitor himself.

The problems surrounding the Raven Wood pack were becoming overwhelming. First, the murders, then the discovery that they were the doing of a special and ancient vampire hiding in their midst, and now the threat of a potential traitor amongst the high ranks of the pack.

These were indeed, trying times.