Howard’s POV 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

I laughed at Kai’s delusional fantasy of being with Ella. My daughter would never look twice at this mangy pup. She’d been obsessed with Draven Thorne since she was a teenager.

"That’s partly my fault," I admitted, cutting into my steak. "I groomed her for years, telling her Draven was perfect mate material. Pushed her toward him constantly."

The manipulation had worked beautifully until Ella’s rebellious phase. She became infatuated with that weakling Bruno Hill. Started hanging around him, mooning over him like a lovesick pup. The final straw was when she lost her virginity to him at some club where half the pack knew it. Ruined all my careful plans to connect our bloodlines with the Thorne family.

"I taught her a lesson that day," I said, remembering the satisfaction of her cries as the belt landed. "Promised to throw her out without a penny if she disobeyed again."

My wolf growled with approval inside me. "Weakness must be punished."

It worked. Ella was a pampered princess; her life revolved around shopping, partying, and flaunting her status. The threat of losing it all kept her in line. She must be suffering in that jail cell now, stripped of her luxuries.

"Kai, did you find out how they located my apartment?" I suddenly remembered to ask. "I’d forgotten about that."

"Yeah, almost forgot too." Kai sat up straighter. "I sent this junkie lawyer to put pressure on Linda in jail. Went yesterday."

"And?" I prompted, impatient with his scattered thoughts.

"She was pissed, man. Said to get her out fast or she’ll talk. She hasn’t yet, but wanted you to know that princess Ella requested a cell transfer a while back and got it."

"What do you mean?" That was strange. Linda and Ella had gotten along well in their shared misery.

"Seems Ella got a visit from some lawyer. After that, she wouldn’t speak to Linda anymore and demanded to be moved."

My interest piqued. "When did this happen?"

"Around when they raided your place. The lawyer—he’s a junkie but has moments of clarity—found out who visited Ella."

"Who?"

"Damn, forgot the name..." Kai scratched his head, then grabbed his phone to make a call. After hanging up, he laughed. "No idea how that guy passed the bar exam. He’s wasted already."

I hurled my takeout container at the table. "The name, you moron!"

"Oh yeah, Bruno something. Can’t remember the last name."

"Hill!" I snarled, fury rising. That little weasel must have told Ella everything.

"That’s it!" Kai snapped his fingers. "You’re smart, Evil One!"

"What else did Linda say?" I demanded.

"She kept digging and found out Ella was harassing the dungeon warden to talk to some investigators. Then another inmate told her Ella got an investigator visit in the warden’s office on the same day they raided your place."

I frowned. "But Ella didn’t know about the apartment." Even as I said it, doubt crept in. "And even if she did, she wouldn’t betray me."

"Look, Evil One," Kai leaned forward. "You killed her mother. You’re letting her rot in dungeon alone. If it were me, I’d want to rip your throat out and feed your heart to my pitbull."

My wolf snapped his jaws, wanting to tear into Kai for his insolence, but the pup had a point. Ella must have been furious. The timing matched perfectly—her meeting with the detective, the raid on my apartment, my accounts being frozen. My own daughter had turned against me.

Prodigal daughter! Traitor! I should have been more careful. Her mother had pulled similar tricks, hiding evidence of my sabotage of the old Alpha’s car—the "accident" that claimed the lives of Draven’s parents when those rogue wolves attacked their disabled vehicle. I’d arranged everything perfectly, but Diane had found proof and hidden it.

I should have realized Ella wasn’t as stupid as she seemed. Her mother must have taught her to gather information for leverage. Like mother, like daughter.

"Too late now," I muttered, My wolf’s rage making my hands shake. "She’s made her choice."

"So what’s next?" Kai asked, oblivious to the murderous thoughts swirling through my mind.

I composed myself, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. "We proceed with the plan. The quadruplets will arrive in two months. By then, I need everything in place."

"What about the surveillance problem?"

"We adapt." I reached for my phone. "I’ll tell our insider to place cameras around the Thorne estate perimeter. Old-school surveillance."

"And the hospital job?"

"Bring your nurse friend tomorrow. I want to meet her personally."

Kai nodded, finally serious. "What about Ella?"

I stared coldly at him. "What about her?"

"You gonna get back at her somehow?"

A slow smile spread across my face. "Family betrayal deserves special attention." I’d deal with my daughter when the time was right. After I’d destroyed everything Draven Thorne loved.

"That old Alpha thought he was so clever, catching me embezzling from the company," I said, more to myself than Kai. "If he hadn’t discovered my scheme, I wouldn’t have had to arrange his accident. Now his son will pay for his father’s interference."

My wolf’s bloodlust merged with mine as I imagined taking one of Caroline’s pups. The ultimate revenge—raising Draven’s child as my own, twisting it against its parents. Or perhaps selling it to the highest bidder among rival packs.

"Evil One?" Kai’s voice broke through my fantasy. "You zoned out there."

"Just planning," I replied, refocusing.

As Kai left to make calls, I leaned back, picturing Caroline’s face when she discovered her baby missing. The thought warmed me like nothing else could in this miserable hideout.

"Soon," My wolf promised within me. "Soon we hunt."