Insight

Bastian always had a plan. He certainly wouldn't have left Eve alone with the Shadow pack, if there hadn't of been something emergent. You see, the rogue Alpha had lost contact with someone who used to give him information. His contact had seemingly disappeared.

However, one of the supporters in Summerville had made a strange discovery. The mate of the missing contact had suddenly relocated from the mountain. She had gone to the Star Dust Hope foundation to seek aid. Apparently, she'd been exiled.

The same supporter was given orders to keep an eye on her situation. Bastian thought that his contact had to have been caught. He was either in StarLight custody or he'd been executed. Now, he'd learned that the exiled mate would have a visitor in town from Green Tree. Bastian couldn't turn down the opportunity he saw in front of him.

He was sitting in the truck outside a French restaurant in the valley. Summerville never failed to remind Bastian of his own childhood with the Lawlers. They'd struggled to keep control over him and he intentionally made it difficult for them. Still, they never gave up on him. No matter what he did.

Finally, he spotted her. An old woman with white hair and fierce brown eyes. Her visitor had arrived and was walking behind her. He held the door open for her and Bastian examined him. He carried himself like a serious person. His light brown hair was styled in a business cut and the suit he wore was expensive.

Bastian watched them enter the building. He waited a few minutes before climbing out of the truck. He unbuttoned the collar of his shirt and tugged at it. He hated wearing collared shirts and suits. He always had. They felt constricting. Still, in knowing who he was dealing with; he knew appearances mattered to his possible new informant.

He opened the door and walked up the podium. A small woman in a pressed, black dress smiled at him from behind it. She clicked the pen in her hand and opened the large, thin book in front of her.

"Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?" She greeted him politely.

Bastian glanced into the dining room. At a table in the corner, he saw a waiter delivering wine to the pair he was following. The rogue Alpha leaned his elbow on the podium, wearing his most charming smile.

"No, lovely. I don't. Today is my friend's birthday and he refused to let me throw him a party. But, he's here right now and I want to at least say something." Bastian was accustomed to lying. It came easily to him, sometimes easier than the truth.

"I'm sorry, sir. I can't let you in without a reservation." The young woman blushed and averted her gaze from him.

"What's your name, lovely?" He purposefully caught her eyes.

"Jenny..." She answered shyly.

"You have beautiful eyes, Jenny." He grinned.

"T-thank you." The constant eye contact was making her falter.

"If I may ask... How old are you?" Bastian probed.

"Twenty." She replied quietly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." He held out his hand. "I'm Seth Lawler."

Jenny hesitantly took his hand. Her human skin was unaccustomed to the warmth of Bastian's Lycan blood. She furrowed her brows for a moment before she met his gaze again.

"I just want to say happy birthday and buy a friend a bottle of champagne. After that, I'd love to continue our conversation." He lowered his voice while still holding her hand.

"O-okay." She breathed.

Bastian released her with an affable smile. He walked calmly toward the table in the corner. The room was dimly lit and the square black tables were covered with stark white tablecloths. The rogue Alpha had rarely spent any time in places like this. He stepped up to the table and sat across from the man he'd come to see.

"Can I help you?" The man asked with a suspicious expression.

The woman beside him leaned away from Bastian, examining him closely. It was obvious that the newcomer was a very strong Lycan, anyone could feel his power.

"I think I'm the one who can help you." Bastian smirked.

"Explain yourself." The old woman demanded.

"Allow me to introduce myself..." He extended his hand. "Candor, at your service."

The pair froze. The looks of bewilderment they held didn't surprise Bastian. The waiter approached and delivered their plates.

"Can I get you anything, sir?" He asked courteously.

"Yes, a bottle of champagne please." Bastian answered.

The waiter nodded and walked away. The pair had collected themselves by the time the order came. Their surprise had shifted to anger and resentment. The rogue had expected this. He took a drink from his glass as the waiter left again.

"Nice to finally meet you, Graham. I've heard a lot about you." Bastian smiled.

"I should kill you." Graham whispered harshly.

"You're welcome to try." He shrugged casually. "But, like I said, I'm here to help you."

"You said the same thing to my husband." Alice hissed. "Look where that got him."

"I knew when I didn't hear from him that something happened. Flint Dolan killed him, right?" Bastian nodded.

"Yes. He was executed. I was exiled." Alice retorted sharply.

"I told him to burn my letters. He should have listened to me." The rogue sighed.

"I'm going to report this meeting. Don't think I won't." Graham stated bluntly.

"I don't think. I know you won't." Bastian smiled.

The Beta tightened his grip on the edge of the table. He had the urge to destroy everything around him. However, he had never struggled to contain his impulses.

"I learned a lot from your father. I never wanted him to get hurt. That's just what Flint does." He shook his head.

"You're not just after Flint Dolan. I know better than that. You've killed wolves. Not just from StarLight." Graham released his grip.

"True. Tell me, did it work?" Bastian smirked.

"They're dead. Nothing worked." Alice replied quickly.

"Did the other packs turn on Flint? Did StarLight?" He took a calm drink from his glass.

The pair was silent. Bastian leaned his elbows on the table, drawing closer to them.

"You're welcome." He whispered before relaxing back into his seat.

"Being involved with you, even in remaining to sit here, threatens my life and my status in the pack. What help can you provide that outweighs those risks?" Graham's expression hardened. "I can't think of any."

"You want Flint dead. So do I. He killed both of our fathers and many others. Letting him rule will lead to the corruption of StarLight. Possibly the violent ends of it." Bastian explained. "I sacrificed a few in exchange for the many. Would you have done less?"

"Yes." Alice nodded.

Bastian ignored the old woman and instead made eye contact with the man across from him. He could tell that Graham understood, at least to an extent, the actions Bastian had taken. Even if he wouldn't have done the same things.

"I'm still waiting to hear of the help you claim to be offering." The Beta grunted.

Alice looked at her son in surprise. She said nothing before sitting back, clearly discontented.

"That's more like it." Bastian smiled sharply as he refilled his champagne flute.

"I didn't say I would help you do anything." Graham stated.

"I know." The rogue Alpha nodded. "But you will, once you hear what I have planned."