The Alpha’s Forbidden Claim

16

I scowled. “Liar.” There was no way she could have seen that painting waking down the hall in this direction — not without walking into the room and looking around.

Iris raised a brow, not so much as flinching as I called her out. “What? You’ve never seen a piece of art you liked before?” she replied, sticking firmly to her story. “Well, that doesn’t surprise me about you.”

Suddenly, the painting was the furthest thing from my mind. Before realizing what I was doing, I stormed down the hall, reaching out as quickly as a viper to grab her by the elbow. She tried to jerk her arm back, and while I didn’t tighten my grip, I didn’t let go, either. I bared my teeth, no longer caring if it made me look a bit feral. This shifter had no manners. None at all. “You’re worse than a lone wolf,” I growled. When she sneered, I raised a brow, tempted to sniff for the faint scent of a pack. “You are a lone wolf, aren’t you?”

Iris jerked her arm again, baring her teeth right back at me. “That’s none of your damn business,” she snapped, eyes flashing like dark clouds in a storm. “No wonder you’re just another alpha in just another pack, hm? Your social skills are atrocious.”

As if she has any room to talk. I stiffened and very carefully did not dig my nails into her skin, but oh. Oh. I wasn’t sure if anyone had ever tested my patience like she was right now. My wolf snarled again but didn’t make any further motions towards her; usually, he would be surging against me, insisting that we were paid the respect we deserved. I wasn’t sure what stopped him, but instead of thinking too hard about it, I settled on maturity.

That sounded good.

“Says the woman snooping around her host’s office,” I growled back, tugging her down the hallway. This had gone on long enough. I wasn’t particularly close with Remus, but I still wasn’t about to let rude wolves snoop around his things. Besides — the nursery was on the other side of the house. Who’s to say she wouldn’t bother them next? Or worse?

Iris didn’t struggle much until we reached the front door, and then she finally wrenched her elbow away, rubbing her arm. “You are seriously overreacting to me appreciating a piece of art,” she huffed, raising a brow.

For a moment, I almost felt like she was right — that I was overreacting — but no. I’d walked down that hall more than once. In the direction she was going, she couldn’t have seen it until she stepped inside. Liar. What were you looking for?

I didn’t even address her, looking at the guard by the door instead. “She’s not allowed back inside, am I clear?”

“Crystal,” the large man said, turning his gaze to Iris.

She simply shrugged and opened the door, letting herself out without so much as a look back. I watched her as she walked down the gravel path, but she didn’t even pause. Allowing the guard to shut the door and resume his watch, I retreated to the office, looking around. That woman was looking for something. But what?

Nothing looked out of place. I wasn’t sure if she’d touched anything… but her story did not make sense. There was no physical way, so… What was she looking for?

I left after another moment, furrowing my brow. Nothing in the house seemed out of place, but… I didn’t know it that well. I paced to the other side of the house, taking a brief moment to poke my head into my nephews’ room, but Ryland and Rory were sound asleep. One of them snuffled, and I withdrew, not wanting to wake them.

Ugh. I should probably tell Remus about this…

When I got outside, one of the guards was speaking to Remus. I could see his face fall before he strode over to me. Guess I get no choice in this…

“Dale said you threw someone out of the party?” the alpha asked, his face unreadable.

I braced myself. “I did. I was coming out of the bathroom and saw her stepping out of your office — I assumed you weren’t allowing anyone self-guided tours of your home.”

“Absolutely not,” Remus snapped, his spine stiffening.

I forced myself to take a breath. “I already checked the room — and the twins. Nothing seemed out of place. Maybe she was just looking, but… still. It seemed very weird to me. I told the guards not to let her back to the party.”

Remus also seemed to take a moment to settle some of the tension. “Thank you,” he said, watching my face. “You were right to throw her out. I don’t like someone… what, wandering around my home.” He scowled and looked past me towards the ranch, shaking his head. “There’s always someone, isn’t there? Always one bad apple to spoil the bunch.”

For once, I agreed with him. “Yep,” I replied, shoving my hands in my pockets. “In all seriousness, though, I think she was just being nosy. Bad social skills, or whatever.” I still remembered the words she’d thrown at me, barbed and unkind. My wolf bristled, and I forced him back down. “Don’t let her ruin your party.”

When Remus raised a brow at me, I just shrugged. “You have guards for a reason, right? Let them do their job.”

He was quiet for another minute before inclining his head, seemingly conceding my point. “I suppose so. Again, I do appreciate it.”

I shrugged, not used to being thanked for — for what, really? Doing what any other sane wolf would do? I muttered something under my breath, which seemed enough for Remus, who simply nodded and returned to his guests, sliding over to discuss something with a shifter I’d never seen before.

My wolf groaned as we found ourselves alone on the porch again, circling restlessly like he didn’t want to be here — like he wanted to go back inside. No, to go out the front door. The realization hit me like a truck, forcing me off the porch, and further into the party. My wolf wanted to go after Iris.

Iris!

Earlier she was a complete b***h to me, though that was starting to make sense. She was just brushing me off because she was eager to get inside and snoop around. Does Silverstreak Motors have a rival? I paused and shook my head. Why the hell do I even care? She clearly just wanted to snoop. It didn’t matter why or what she was looking for. What mattered was that she was a piece of work and deserved to be ejected from the party.

As I looked out, my wolf huffed, stamping his paws, spying Hannah dancing with a few others. I had no idea if they were her friends or shifters she’d just met — she caught my eye and winked. I smiled back, an upward quirk of my lips. My wolf rumbled, stomping a paw down again.