The Alpha’s Forbidden Claim

11

The officer seemed to realize what he was saying and finally cut himself off, looking a bit abashed. He glanced up at me, his green eyes pleading. “You didn’t hear any of that, okay?”

“Hear what?” I asked, flashing him a bright smile. “Thank you. I feel a lot better. I appreciate you taking the time to speak to me — I wish more of the officers were like you.” That was probably as much as I’d get out of the man —frankly, I wasn’t lying. It would be easier to work with them if they were as forthcoming — or even as friendly — as Officer Mansfield. I took a step back and bobbed my head. “Well, have a good day,” I said, giving him a little wave.

He gave me a little wave in return, and I left the building without looking back, feeling a bit triumphant for once.

Once I’d ambled to my car, I sat inside — I still had time on the meter, and I was in no great hurry to get anywhere. Admittedly, it was a bit hot, but I’d been wise enough to replace the air conditioner and water pump at the beginning of spring. I’d completed a job for an older mechanic in Arizona, and he was so grateful I’d taken him seriously in the first place that he replaced both parts for me, free of charge.

I’d been planning on using some of the fee to pay for a vehicle inspection and check the rattle I had, but he’d sent me on my way rattle-free with new parts, plus a few hundred bucks in my pocket. There was no way the case was worth that much. I’d tried explaining that to him, but he said it was priceless to finally know what had happened to his son when he was adopted.

I smiled at the memory; it wasn’t often I got to work on such wholesome cases, nor were the outcomes usually that good. The man met the son he’d only become aware of five years before and could not track down, plus he also found a daughter-in-law and two lively granddaughters. His son had been delighted to meet his biological father. It was… well, those were the cases I lived for.

I leaned back, my smile fading as my mind turned back to the case at hand. The trip to the police station had provided something at least — now I knew there was some truth behind the ‘bad dope’ bullshit Demi had been getting, but there was no way all the missing folks I’d uncovered had all been involved with drugs. Nor had they all arrived in Austin at the same time and all taken something from the same batch. There was just no way.

There were coincidences, and then there was ‘you’re trying way too hard.’

Or, in Detective Hightower’s case, not nearly hard enough. I was pretty sure anyone from my high school forensics class could have seen the dots simply didn’t line up.

I still needed to confirm that they were all shifters, but I felt confident that they were. The Moonmate ceremony was in a few days, and I could tie up those loose ends. Besides, none of the names I’d written down as possible wolves had come up as those found to have died of the bad batch — none of them had been found at all, and if it was drugs, well. There’d be more bodies.

I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, turning this over in my mind. It was just too coincidental. It sounds like… My skin prickled. I didn’t want to consider that this might be bigger than one missing girl, but…

What if someone is hunting the hunters?

Silverstreak Ranch Home

Travis County, Texas

T

he Moonmate ceremony came all too quickly. It brought Harry Ríos to the area, but after that… all I had was dread. Sure, my father hadn’t made any specific comments about me finding a mate today or even trying, but I still felt like the expectation was hanging overhead anyway. After all, why would I even be asked to attend if no one expected me to find a mate? Hooking up with someone you met at a Moonmate ceremony was discouraged, even if it did happen.

Despite my dread and my wishes otherwise, the afternoon of the ceremony arrived, and the afternoon soon shifted into evening. I found myself at Remus’ ranch home about an hour outside of Austin; I’d traveled separately from my father to have a bit of space, but I’d run into him immediately after arriving.

Well, him and Fiona Silverstreak.

I had nothing against Remus’ mother — really, I didn’t. The woman had been nothing less than cordial on all occasions and usually bordered on kind, but… It bothered me. I was a grown-ass man. Whatever went on between her and Nicholas Archer was their own business, and while I appreciated she wasn’t directly trying to eject me from his life or something, it just felt weird. As if I had any say over who my father dated. It wasn’t like he’d stop simply because I didn’t like his chosen partner. After all, how many times had I told my mother that Brock was a—

I cut the thought off and migrated towards the bar, tearing my eyes away from where Fiona and Nic were dancing like no one was watching. Remus’ expression was hard to read as he watched them, but I looked away before he turned in my direction. Tonight, I wasn’t in the mood to engage with him. I had no idea how he felt about our parents getting back together, even if they wouldn’t say as much to either of us. Honestly, I didn’t care and didn’t want to commiserate about it.

I wish Myles were here.

Myles and I were opposites in many ways, but we both agreed on the absolute futility of ‘fated mates.’ Uncle Gage would likely force him to attend if they were in the States. He was someone I could actually gripe with, who understood me better than anyone else.

“Hey there. How’s the whiskey?”

“Hm?” I looked up at the sound of a female voice. A woman about my age had appeared next to me, her russet hair falling in loose waves as she offered me a gentle smile. Her green eyes twinkled as she repeated her question.

“I said — how’s the whiskey?”

I paused, glancing at my tumbler for a moment. “I can’t complain.” I glanced up, almost feeling bad. Almost. “Well. It’s actually some of the better whiskey I had this year, if I’m honest.”

Her smile brightened a little, and she leaned over the bar. “I’ll have what he’s having,” she told the bartender, eyes falling to me while her drink was made. “What’s your name? I’m Jayme.”

I bristled even though my wolf was hovering near the surface, clearly pleased with the attention. It was just casual flirting, but it wasn’t something I frequently indulged in — and even less with other shifters. It made it much simpler when it came to the point of breaking things off. “Eli,” I answered, not wanting to give up my last name if I didn’t need to.

Most of the Silverstreak pack understood I was Remus’ half-brother at this point, and it seemed to be met with any number of reactions — some were friendly or familial, others were aloof, and a few were actually chilly or downright hostile. As if I were here to take over Silverstreak myself – as if.