Chapter 208 A Recurring Name

What could Lainey possibly want with Sebastian?

Fiona went over the facts again. Lainey’s brother, Vincent, was still wrapped around Serena’s finger, and Serena was carrying Sebastian’s baby. None of that explained why Lainey was digging into a group home in the Klamath Mountains.

Fiona wrote down the shelter’s name and location, then called the Carter Foundation’s community relations office.

"I’m reviewing the donation history for one of our approved charities," she said. "Can you tell me how that group home was added to the list?"

"It started with a private donation from Mr. Hale," the coordinator explained. "After that, he referred the shelter to us. Our compliance and public relations teams completed the review, and we added it to the approved list."

"Does Sebastian still donate to it every year?"

"Not directly. The foundation handles the payments, and the shelter has been selected several times through our annual program. I don’t have the full delivery history in front of me."

"Could you send me the records?"

"I can send the public files. If you need details about Mr. Hale’s personal involvement, you’ll have to ask him."

Fiona frowned. "And everything is clean?"

"Completely. The donations were reviewed and documented."

"Good. Thanks for your help."

She hung up, drummed her nails against the desk, and called Finn.

"Finn, did you know Sebastian personally delivered supplies to a group home in the Klamath Mountains every year?"

"A group home?" Finn paused. "I don’t know much about it, but Eira once mentioned growing up in one."

His voice sharpened immediately. Anything connected to Eira got his full attention.

"Why? What did you find?"

Fiona looked at the donation records on her screen.

Suddenly, the pieces fit.

Lainey was not trying to learn more about Vincent or Serena. She was investigating Eira. And she had a reason.

The Crawford family was close to Luna Seraphina. For years, the Reed elders had treated Lainey as a possible match for Alpha Killian. Now Alpha Killian had publicly chosen Eira at the Wood family clinic.

Fiona lowered her voice.

"Finn, you need to warn Eira. Lainey found the group home where she grew up."

Finn went quiet.

Fiona felt a pang of sympathy for Eira. She had already been betrayed by Alpha Sebastian. Now the Hale family was pressuring him to keep the divorce quiet and stop Eira from speaking publicly. They were treating her reputation and silence like problems they could manage.

Maybe Alpha Sebastian had negotiated a private settlement with her. Maybe he had not.

Either way, the Carters were prepared.

If Alpha Sebastian kept the scandal under control and protected the Snowmark project, the board would let him remain CEO. If he failed, they would vote him out without hesitation.

--

Alpha Sebastian’s burner phone buzzed.

The message was from Finn, but it was clearly meant for Eira.

[Eira, Lainey found the group home where you grew up.]

Alpha Sebastian stared at the screen, then typed a reply in the casual tone Eira usually used.

[Who’s Lainey?]

Finn took a moment to answer.

[You don’t remember her? She was with Vincent at dinner. His sister.]

Another message came through.

[The Reed elders have been pushing her as a possible match for Killian. She’s into him.]

Then Finn added:

[Watch your back, Eira. She looks sweet, but she was raised a Crawford.]

Alpha Sebastian read the warning twice before replying.

[Got it.]

He lowered the phone, but his thoughts were already racing.

If Lainey wanted Alpha Killian, why was she digging into Eira’s past?

Unless Alpha Killian and Eira were more serious than he had believed.

At the Wood family clinic, Alpha Killian had called Eira his girlfriend, and Eira had confirmed it. Alpha Sebastian had assumed they were only putting on a show to provoke him.

But Lainey’s investigation changed everything.

She would not be searching for Eira’s childhood records unless Alpha Killian had taken Eira seriously. He might have already introduced her to the Sterling family and the Reed elders, the people who guarded their bloodline and Pack alliances like national security.

Eira had met Alpha Killian’s family.

She had done it almost immediately after leaving Alpha Sebastian.

Jealousy flashed through him, followed by a sharp wave of panic. The stomach ulcer that had finally eased over the past few days began to burn again.

He did not forward Finn’s warning to Eira.

A selfish part of him wanted Lainey to ruin things between Eira and Alpha Killian. If she succeeded, Eira might still come back to him.

Before he could put the phone away, Jordan called.

"Alpha Sebastian, Snowmark wants to meet for dinner tomorrow night. There’s one condition."

Alpha Sebastian straightened. "What condition?"

"They want you to bring your Luna."

Jordan chose the word carefully.

Alpha Sebastian’s hand tightened around the phone.

Snowmark had built its entire negotiation strategy around Eira’s reputation and technical work.

If Snowmark learned that Alpha Sebastian had divorced Eira after benefiting from her name, they could pull out.

The board would blame him.

His position at Hale Group would be in jeopardy, and his standing as an Alpha would take a serious hit.

Jordan waited for his answer.

"I’ll be there," Alpha Sebastian said.

"With Eira Crawford?"

Alpha Sebastian closed his eyes. "I’ll handle it."

"Yes, Alpha."

Jordan ended the call. A moment later, the front desk called his office.

"Jordan, three packages have been waiting for nearly a week. One is marked urgent and requires a signature. Should I send them up?"

"Send all three."

A few minutes later, two boxes and a courier envelope arrived on Jordan’s desk.

He opened the urgent envelope first. Inside was another plain white envelope, sealed and unmarked.

That was unusual. The outer packet had already been logged and photographed, but the inner envelope had no sender listed. It could contain confidential legal documents, so Jordan left it unopened.

When Alpha Sebastian arrived, Jordan handed it to him.

"This was inside the courier packet. There’s no description on the label. It may be a personal letter."

Alpha Sebastian turned the envelope over. "Who sends letters anymore?"

He tore it open.

The first line made his stomach drop.

LEGAL NOTICE

To: Sebastian Hale, Hale Group, Inc.

Bishop & Marsh Attorneys, acting on behalf of our client, Eira Crawford, hereby give formal notice regarding marital assets transferred during the parties’ mate bond, without our client’s knowledge or consent, to a third party named Serena Winthrop...