Noah felt sick. “And then what, Scott?”

Scott swallowed hard. “And then poison you. Kill you. Zoe would marry me, and we would take over Nightcrest together.”

Noah’s legs felt weak. He sank back into his chair, staring at Scott in disbelief. “But… but why? Why would you want that?”

A bitter laugh escaped Scott’s lips. “Why? Because I’ve always been second best, Noah. Your half-brother, never even remotely considered for Nightcrest’s Alpha. You got everything you ever wanted—the pack, the girls, the attention. This was my only chance to finally have some power.”

Noah shook his head, trying to process it all. “But you wouldn’t 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 you killed your own brother to gain.”

An evil little smirk grew across Scott’s face, and Noah felt his blood run cold. “You wouldn’t…” 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, 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.

“And Zoe?” Noah asked.

“We slept together a few times, and nothing more,” Scott said matter-of-factly. “I 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.”

Noah let out a laugh, but the sound was one of disbelief and horror, not humor. “So you planned on double-crossing her just as much as you’ve double-crossed me.” He shook his head wryly. “Are you loyal to anyone, Scott?”

“I’m loyal to myself.”

Scott’s words nearly made Noah flinch, but he managed to control himself. Taking a deep breath, Noah smoothed down his suit jacket and rose. “Well then,” he said, his voice flat, “I suppose we’re done here.”

With that, Noah called for the guards. As they entered, Noah pulled a small tape recorder from his pocket. Scott’s eyes widened in shock.

“He confessed to everything,” Noah told the guards, holding up the recorder. “And I have it all on tape. Take him to our highest-security cell.”

Scott hung his head as the guards led him away, all the fight drained from him. Noah didn’t even deign to watch the bastard go.

Chapter 0410

With Scott’s interrogation complete, Noah moved on to his next task—questioning Zoe.

Down the hall, he stood outside the next interrogation room, peering through the one-way 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.

“She hasn’t said a word,” the officer beside him reported. “We’ve been trying to get information for hours.”

Noah gritted his teeth, his blood boiling at the sight of her. “Let me talk to her,” he growled.

As he entered the room, Zoe didn’t even look up or move a muscle. Noah took his seat across from her, studying her carefully. Her perfectly manicured nails, her immaculate hair—even in custody, she maintained her flawless facade.

“Scott confessed to everything, Zoe,” Noah said, his voice cold as he pulled the tape recorder from his pocket. “I know all about your plans. You might as well confess now.” He set the recorder down in the middle of the table and pressed play.

“The plan was for her to marry you,” the recording went on, “get Adam named as Nightcrest’s heir, and then…”

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 speaking.

“I want a lawyer.”

Noah leaned back in his chair, a humorless smile playing at his lips. If Zoe wanted to turn this into a months-long legal battle, then so be it. But he wasn’t about to let her have the last word.

Rising from his chair, Noah leaned over the interrogation table, his voice low and dangerous. “You can have your lawyer, Zoe. But know this—you will never get away with what you did. Never.”

Only then did Zoe lift her eyes to meet his. For a brief moment, Noah saw a flicker of fury in her gaze, a crack in that perfect little mask of hers.

And to think that he almost married her. What a fool he was.

“Adam was right, you know,” Noah said, his voice hardly more than a whisper. “His mommy really is a monster.”