Page 31 of An Unexpected Claim

“There’s more…” I hesitated again, the reluctance to discuss Peyton—outside of her status as the witness—still hovering on the periphery of my mind. My wolf growled in agreement, not wanting to share Peyton. My wolf’s reaction was based on animalistic instinct, without any real-world shit affecting it. But my own disinclination confused me because, while I wasn’t exactly an open book—okay, more like a vault—I’d never felt so possessive over a woman. My best guess was that I felt an extra layer of protectiveness due to the cub. Even if it wasn’t mine, they were both in need of my protection. But one of the reasons I’d come to Tanner was to talk this out so that I could put the puzzle pieces together so I could move on.

“I’d already met her before she showed up here. Last month, when I was out with Asher and Jace. I went home with her.”

Tanner stared at me in stunned silence.

“I never saw her again, until she showed up on my land yesterday morning.”

“How did she know to come to you?” he finally asked when some of the shock had worn off.

“According to her, she didn’t.” I went on to explain about how she’d been attacked in her apartment and went on the run. “She said she let her panther take over and the next thing she knew, I was waking her up.”

“Instinct?” Tanner queried as he observed me with an odd glint in his eyes.

“Apparently.”

Tanner scratched his chin and continued to scrutinize me. “What aren’t you telling me?”

One of the reasons Tanner held the position of Beta was his ability to reason and his detailed perception. It was a very useful skill…until he turned it on me.

I narrowed my eyes and my wolf brushed under my skin, his tolerance of Tanner’s probing reaching its limit. “I promised to help her.”

Unsurprisingly, Tanner nodded without question, in full agreement with my pledge. His lips pinched as he contemplated something for a few seconds. “Okay, we also have a serial killer to catch. But that’s not why you came to talk to me in person.”

I scowled and leaned back against the couch, stretching my legs out. “There’s more to her story besides what happened with that murder. It’s all in little things, but I can’t get enough from each of them to form an actual conclusion. She’s damn good at hiding shit and playing her cards close to the vest.”

Tanner snorted and I tossed him a dark look. “Are you telling me she’s even more closed off than you?”

“That’s not the point.”

He bit back his smile and nodded. “Okay, what is the point?”

After running my hands through my hair, I folded my arms over my chest and admitted, “I don’t know what the fuck to do with her. I’ve never spent more than a few nights with one woman, let alone had one stay with me.”

Tanner threw his head back and howled with laughter.

I understood his humor, even if I didn’t appreciate it, so I simply waited for him to let it out.

“I—I don’t think I’ve ever seen you at a loss before, Nate.” He chuckled for another minute before finally sobering, though his eyes still shone with amusement. “I’m assuming she’s an adult. I don’t think you need to do anything with her. Now, if you want to do somethingtoher, that’s an entirely different ballgame—pun intended.”

“Not helping,” I growled as I struggled to keep my wolf from shifting and tearing out Tanner’s throat.

“She’s not open to another roll in the hay?” he asked. Though the humor lingered, his question was earnest.

“I don’t think it would take much to convince her.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It’s complicated. Not only does she need my protection, but she’s pregnant.”

Tanner’s jaw dropped.

“That was about my reaction too.”

“The father…?”

I shook my head. “We were together the morning before the full moon. It’s someone else.” I frowned. “I have this need to find him and beat the shit out of him for not taking care of her.” I dropped my head back against the couch and stroked my beard. “In all my years, through all the wars and rebellions, all the women I’ve been with, I’ve never felt so…protective of a woman. It’s damn confusing. Why her? And my wolf seems to think he has a claim on her. He’s being a real pain in the ass about it.”

“Your wolf.”

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