Noah felt sick. âAnd then what, Scott?â
Scott swallowed hard. âAnd then poison you. Kill you. Zoe would marry me, and we would take over Nightcrest together.â
Noahâs legs felt weak. He sank back into his chair, staring at Scott in disbelief. âBut... but why? Why would you want that?â
A bitter laugh escaped Scottâs lips. âWhy? Because Iâve always been second best, Noah. Your halfâbrother, never even remotely considered for being Nightcrestâs Alpha. You got everything you ever wantedâthe pack, the girls, the attention. This was my only chance to finally have some power.â
Noah shook his head, trying to process it all. âBut you wouldnât have been Alpha, Scott. Adam would have been named heir, not you. Even if your plan had worked, Adam would have become the Alpha instead. Perhaps you would have been his regent, but as soon as he came of age you would lose the power that you killed your own brother to get.â
An evil little smirk grew across Scottâs face then, and Noah felt his blood run cold. âYou wouldnât...â he whispered, horrified.
Scott merely shrugged.
Noah was astonished. Killing him was one thing, but to think that Scott would actually consider murdering his own son, a child no less, in order to become Alpha of Nightcrest... It was disgusting. Noah shuddered, thinking of sweet little Adam, the boy he had played hide and seek with. Thank the Goddess. he was safely with his grandparents now.
ââAnd Zoe?â Noah asked.
âWe slept together a few times and nothing more,â Scott said matterâofâfactly. âI suppose I could have put on a sad face when she died in the same car accident that would have killed Adam, but it would have been a mask. I hate her just as much as you do, believe it or not.â
Noah let out a laugh, but the sound was one of disbelief and horror, not humor. âSo you planned on double -crossing her just as much as youâve doubleâcrossed me.â He shook his head wryly. âAre you loyal to anyone, Scott?â
âIâm loyal to myself.â
Scottâs words nearly made Noah flinch, but he managed to control himself. Taking a deep breath, Noah smoothed down his suit jacket and rose again. âWell then,â he said, his voice flat, âI suppose weâre done here.â
With that, Noah called for the guards. As they entered, Noah pulled a small tape recorder from his pocket. Scottâs eyes widened in shock.
âHe confessed to everything.â Noah told the guards, holding up the recorder. âAnd I have it all on tape. Take him to our highest security cell.â
Scott hung his head as the guards led him away, all the fight having been drained out of him. Noah didnât even deign to watch the bastard go.
+25 BONUS Chapter 0410 With Scottâs interrogation complete, Noah moved on to his next taskâquestioning Zoe.
Down the hall, he stood outside the next interrogation room, peering through the oneâway glass. Zoe sat primly at the table, her back ramrod straight, eyes cast down at her clasped hands. She looked every bit the picture of innocence, but Noah knew better now.
âShe hasnât said a word,â the officer beside him reported. âWeâve been trying to get information for hours.â
Noah gritted his teeth, his blood boiling at the sight of her. âLet me talk to her,â he growled.
As he entered the room, Zoe didnât even look up or move a muscle. Noah took his seat across from her, studying her carefully.
Her perfectly manicured nails, her immaculate hairâeven in custody, she maintained her flawless facade.
âScott confessed to everything. Zoe,â Noah said, his voice cold as he pulled the tape recorder out of his pocket. â1 know all about your plans. You might as well confess now.â He set the recorder down in the middle of the table and pressed play.
âThe plan was for her to marry you,â the recording went on, âget Adam named as Nightcrestâs heir, and then...â
Zoe remained impassive as she listened to the recording, her eyes fixed on her hands. When the recording finally ended, the click echoing in the cold room, she licked her lips before she spoke.
âI want a lawyer.â
Noah leaned back in his chair, a humorless smile playing at his lips. If Zoe wanted to turn this into a monthsâlong legal battle, then so be it. But he wasnât about to let her have the last word.
Rising from his chair, Noah leaned over the interrogation table, his voice low and dangerous. âYou can have your lawyer, Zoe.
But know thisâyou will never get away with what you did. Never.â
Only then did Zoe lift her eyes to meet his. For a brief moment, Noah saw a flicker of fury in her gaze, crack in that perfect little mask of hers.
And to think that he almost married her. What a fool he was.
âAdam was right, you know,â Noah said, his voice hardly more than a whisper. âHis mommy really is a monster.â