Page 28 of An Unexpected Claim

Peyton licked her lips and started twisting the ring around her finger again. I’d noticed she did it when she was wary or anxious and it made me wonder at the significance. I hadn’t looked close enough to make out the engraving.

“A friend wanted me to stay with them, and I decided to go home instead,” she finally answered.

Her explanation sounded logical, but in the short time I’d known Peyton, I’d learned a lot of her tells. I’d always been extremely skilled at reading people, but for some reason, I didn’t have to try hard with Peyton. And it definitely wasn’t because Peyton wore her emotions and thoughts for all to see. No, she’d been closed to my mother, and yet I’d seen past her barriers. Not completely—it wasn’t as if I could hear the thoughts in her head—but I had a sixth sense of sorts that had specifically tuned in to Peyton. And it was currently warning me that she was still hiding things. But I decided to let her finish her tale and see how much she revealed before tackling her secrets.

“Yesterday…wait, no, the day before…” She closed her eyes and shook her head as if to clear it. “I’ve lost track of the days.”

“I found you yesterday morning,” I prompted.

Her lips curved slightly, and she nodded in thanks. “Right. So, the night before that, he showed up in my apartment. He came at me and we fought, but I managed to escape. As soon as I hit a safe place, I shifted and just…started running.”

My hands balled into fists and my body vibrated with the force of the anger coursing through me. When I found the evil son of a bitch, I was going to make him bleed. His end would be slow and painful. My wolf growled his agreement and bared his teeth as though we were already facing the villain down.

Peyton lifted her hands at her sides, palms up, and shrugged. “I honestly have no idea how I ended up here.” Her hands were trembling, and I could see how hard she’d been trying to keep her emotions in check while relaying the story.

I had no answer for her on that score. “I don’t know, but I’m glad you did.” I leaned forward and grasped her chin, locking our eyes. “Try to trust me, Peyton. I promise, you’re safe here. I will protect you.”

“I don’t need you to protect me,” she said. “But I won’t turn down your help anymore.”

“You’ll stay?” I asked.

She nodded. “I’ll stay for a little while.”

“Good.” I released her face and leaned back in my chair. I put my feet up on the rail, crossed at the ankles, and folded my arms over my chest while looking up at the clear blue sky.

“If you’re determined to take the risk”—she shrugged—“that’s your prerogative. Although I’m not sure how your ‘brawn,’ as your mother put it, will help catch the guy.”

“Maybe I’m not as dumb as I look,” I drawled, my tone and expression dry. An amused smile broke out on Peyton’s face and my breath caught in my lungs for a beat.Damn, she’s beautiful.

“Touché.”

It occurred to me that it might be a good time to tell her about KBO, but my mind kept drifting to something else. That feeling of familiarity still danced around the edges of my mind, but I couldn’t grasp it long enough to study it. I needed more information. Dropping my gaze, I connected with Peyton, who had been observing me with an expression that suggested she wasn’t quite sure what to make of me. However, my mind was preoccupied so I didn’t take time to address her curiosity.

“Tell me everything again,” I instructed. “Don’t leave out any details. What he said, what he was wearing. Did you notice anything specific about his victim?” I felt like an asshole for making her relive the story multiple times, but Ineededanswers to my questions.

Peyton sighed and settled back into her chair, in a position similar to mine—appearing relaxed, except the fiddling with her ring gave her away. “Why?”

Not used to explaining myself, I frowned and almost brushed off her question with another command to be obeyed. At the last second, I reasoned with myself that Peyton wasn’t a member of my pack and didn’t respond well to being ordered. Normally, I didn’t care and simply railroaded over any obstacles in my way. But something about Peyton… I had a feeling that if I wanted her to open up and trust me, I needed to make an effort to alter my behavior with her. Easier said than done when you were my age and set in your ways. “Theories are trying to form in my mind, but there are too many holes for any of them to truly take shape. So I’m hoping you’ll remember details you missed before by telling it again.”

My explanation satisfied her, and she relayed her story a second time. After she finished, the question clanged louder in my head. Could it be the same killer?

“One more time.”

Peyton frowned. “Is there some specific detail you’re looking for?”

“I’m not sure yet,” I answered.

After a sigh, she grasped the sides of her chair, squeezing them tight before folding them in her lap. Then she repeated her tale.

As I’d hoped, every time she told it, she remembered new details and the idea that we might be chasing the same guy strengthened.

My stomach rumbled and a quick peek at my watch showed we’d been talking well into the afternoon and I realized we hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I immediately felt like an ass.She’s fucking pregnant, King. Might want to feed her.“You must be starving,” I stated as I moved to get up. Peyton waved a hand and curled her tiny frame up in her chair like a little kitten in a box.

“I’m not hungry, but you go ahead and eat.”

I frowned and put my hands on my knees, leaning toward her. “You’re pregnant, Peyton.”

Her eyes rounded like saucers and she gasped. “I am? Why didn’t you say anything?” Her fake shock disappeared as quickly as it had shown up. “I know how to take care of myself. And my baby. I don’t need you to hover. It makes me…antsy.” Her gaze swept over the forest with longing. “I think I need a run.”

---