Chapter 825 - Do you want to disgrace us?

Chapter 825: Chapter 825 - Do you want to disgrace us?

With Jasmine around, Kael and Damon no longer had to divide their responsibilities or travel separately to inspect different packs.

Instead, the three of them worked together, and the results were far better than anyone could have anticipated. Their partnership grew stronger with every visit, their efficiency improved considerably, and they soon developed a routine that allowed them to accomplish more in less time.

At first, Kael and Damon had visited different packs, each handling their assigned responsibilities and submitting their findings independently.

Their investigations were separate, and although they eventually compared notes, they often had to spend additional time verifying information or following up on matters the other had already examined.

With Jasmine accompanying them, though, everything became much easier because they could approach each pack as a team, combining their individual strengths and making sure nothing important escaped their attention.

For instance, while Damon examined the pack’s financial records, looking closely at its revenue, expenses, debts, and investments, Kael concentrated on its administrative structure, leadership arrangements, and the strength of the warriors.

When it was time to prepare their reports, they would first sit down with the Alpha concerned and ask questions about anything that appeared questionable, carefully comparing the answers with the information they had gathered during their investigation.

Jasmine usually remained quiet throughout these discussions, allowing the two Betas to handle the questioning while she observed everyone involved.

She rarely needed to say much, but her presence was invaluable because, once the interrogation was over, she could tell them whether the Alpha had been truthful or was concealing something sinister.

Her wolf possessed an extraordinary ability to sense intentions that people might successfully hide behind convincing explanations, and that gift had become one of their greatest advantages.

Their approach had already produced excellent results at various packs, where they had worked with Alpha Brad, Curt, Oren, Dante, Flex, and Cage. Everything had gone relatively smoothly, and they had managed to make significant progress without unnecessary confrontations.

The real drama began on the fifth day when they arrived at the Shadow Pack, where the atmosphere seemed unusually tense even before they entered the territory.

Their schedule allowed them to cover two packs a day, usually spending the night at the second pack before continuing to the next destination the following morning.

It was an exhausting routine, but none of them complained because they understood the importance of what they were doing, and seeing the changes taking place in the different packs made every tiring journey worthwhile.

When they arrived at the Shadow Pack, Alpha Killian seemed particularly pleased to see them, although the enthusiasm in his greeting carried an unmistakable note of false cheerfulness.

"Beta Damon and Kael, I heard about the wonders you did at the other packs. It seems the Alpha King has really changed because, from what I heard, there haven’t been any missing limbs."

Kael’s expression darkened immediately, his jaw tightening as his hands curled into fists. The remark was clearly intended to provoke him, and for a moment, he struggled to contain his irritation, especially since Killian seemed rather pleased with himself for bringing it up.

Before Kael could respond, Jasmine reached out to him through their mindlink, her voice calm and reassuring.

’Relax. He’s just trying to get on your nerves. Inwardly, he’s rather scared.’

Knowing Killian was speaking out of fear rather than genuine confidence helped Kael regain his composure. His shoulders relaxed, and the irritation in his expression gradually disappeared as he looked at the Alpha with renewed amusement.

Then, remembering something that would probably bother Killian far more than any argument, he decided to give him a little taste of his own medicine.

"Ah, just so you know. Jasmine is my second-chance mate, so I guess you are still waiting for Daisy."

The effect was immediate.

Every trace of excitement vanished from Killian’s face, his smile freezing before his expression hardened.

The mention of Daisy had clearly struck a nerve, and whatever pleasure he had taken in welcoming them disappeared as he forced himself to concentrate on the reason for their visit.

"Yes, I returned the funds from the Lycan King, and the pack is six hundred million in debt. If you can loan us a billion, we shall pay back in monthly installments with interest."

Damon stepped forward, taking over the conversation with the professional seriousness expected of his position.

"It’s not that simple, Alpha Killian. You have to allow us to check the accounts and arrive at our own conclusions. We shall suggest the amount you need and how capable you are to pay it back depending on the pack’s resources." His gaze remained fixed on Killian as he raised another important question. "But have you confessed to your pack yet?"

Killian’s expression tightened, and some of the confidence he had been trying to display disappeared from his face.

His other Alpha friends had already told him about their experiences, explaining how their pack members had initially reacted with anger and disappointment when they confessed what they had done.

Most of them had struggled to accept that their leaders had secretly taken financial support from the Lycan King, especially when those same leaders had failed to tell them the truth about their dealings.

Things had only improved after the Alphas explained that they had recognized their mistakes, turned over a new leaf, and were now willing to submit to the authority of the Alpha King.

Their pack members had eventually forgiven them, although forgiveness did not mean their trust had been completely restored. Many had made it clear that they would be watching their leaders closely, and any further dishonesty could cost them their positions.

Killian understood that the confession was the hardest part of making things right. It meant standing before the very people he had disappointed, admitting that he had abused their trust, and accepting that they might no longer consider him worthy of leading them.

For an Alpha who had grown accustomed to having the final say, exposing his failures to everyone was a particularly painful experience.

"I shall do it over training in the morning," he finally answered.

"In that case, we shall wait until it’s done," Damon replied firmly, making it clear that there would be no financial discussion until Killian had fulfilled that responsibility.

Killian had little choice but to agree, although his shoulders slumped slightly as he considered what awaited him the following morning. His pride had already taken a beating, and the thought of confessing before his entire pack made the situation even more uncomfortable.

After checking the financial records, investigating several matters, and speaking privately with a number of pack members, Kael and Damon confirmed that Killian had told them the truth about the pack’s financial situation.

Jasmine also sensed no hidden malicious intentions from him, which meant they could proceed with the next stage of their assessment.

The real confrontation began when Killian stood before the entire pack to make his confession.

He had barely started explaining himself when his father, Alpha Atticus, became visibly upset. His face reddened with anger, and the disapproval in his voice was impossible to miss as he turned toward the two Betas.

"Beta Kael and Damon, why are you doing this? Do you want to disgrace us?"