Page 48 of Hunted

Dominic followed Luke into the building with a somewhat less confident demeanor. They wound their way through the halls, and no one stopped them until they were intercepted outside a closed door with a sign that read, “Christian Harper, Esq.”

“Good morning, Luke!” His father’s cheerful secretary greeted them. “Is there something I can do for you?” Luke ignored her and burst through the door as she shouted, “Mr. Harper isn’t taking appointments today!” at his back.

“Well, Luke!” his father said. “I haven’t seen you since you chased after that harlot! What was her name?”

“Get out,” Luke commanded.

“It’s lovely to see you, too, Son.” Christian smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Luke ignored him. “I know what you did. The firm has been covering for your bad decisions for a long time, Dad, but if I had known how dangerous you’d gotten, I’d have done this years ago. Pack your things and leave.”

“Oh, so you found her.” Some of the blood drained from Christian’s face, but his expression remained oddly menacing. “I suppose she told you some awful story, but there’s no way I…”

“Save it for someone who believes you, Dad. You forget that I grew up with you. You’re heartless. I always knew that, but I didn’t think you’d go this far.”

Christian scoffed. “Apparently there was merit to that family therapy idea. You have a lot of pent-up aggression for imagined offenses, Luke. You should get that checked out.”

“I don’t think I will, because someone else got checked out. Abigail. Remember her? She was found half-dead on the side of the road and all the evidence points to you.”

The two lawyers eyed one another, each knowing how well the other could bluff. Suddenly, Christian’s face transformed into a mask of suffering. “She came at me! She was vicious! She said she was coming for you next. I did it for you, son! All for you! She was supposed to stay, to go toourdoctors so we could help her get better, and then… oh, she went crazy!”

“He would know,” Dominic muttered under his breath, his eyes wide in disbelief.

Stunned at the change he saw in his father, Luke’s voice was gentle but firm. “Dad, I’m taking over the pack now. You need to go.”

Christian didn’t hear him. He seemed to be having a difficult time controlling his change reflex. His hair, fangs, and claws sprouted and then receded several times as Christian panted and foamed at the mouth.

“He’s gone feral,” Dominic said in a warning tone, stepping back and partially shifting himself to be ready for an attack.

“Dad?” Luke tried again.

“You wouldn’t share her with me!” Christian shouted. “You’ll share her with this stranger but not with me! You bastard! I should have eaten you at birth! Mutiny! Coup! Mutiny!”

Luke rushed to the door and called for help. Several beta-blooded wolves entered the room and took Christian by the arms, leading him to the infirmary as Luke explained the situation using as few details as possible.

As the betas left with Christian, closing the door behind them, Dominic turned to regard Luke. “So, that was…” he sighed. “That was messed up.”

Luke gave Dominic a shell-shocked look. “I had no idea. I mean, I really had no idea. How the hell didthathappen? I know it’s been a while since we talked, and I thought he was going a little senile, but when did thathappen?”

Dominic looked toward the door, his brows knitted together in concern. “Who was your dad’s advisor? Like his right-hand man or whatever?”

Luke followed Dominic’s gaze and seemed to draw the same conclusion. He rushed to the door, shoved, and then banged on it before pushing with all his might.

“What is it?” Dominic asked, knowing what had happened but hoping he was wrong.

“They barricaded it.” Luke shook his head. “We’re stuck.”

Chapter 22

Dominic

Well,whatthefuckdo we do now?Dominic thought as they were surrounded by more and more betas.

Christian was smiling a dangerously crazy smile as Dominic and Luke were nearly swallowed up by a crowd of beta wolves. When Dominic looked over at Luke, the other alpha was looking right back at him.

The same question shone in the other alpha’s eyes:What the fuck do we do now?

Dominic knew they were both thinking of the same thing—getting home to Abigail. That was what they both wanted. She was waiting for them anxiously. She wanted thembothback.

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