Page 32 of An Unexpected Claim

Something in Tanner’s tone brought my head up so I could see his face. “Yes. My wolf. He’s overly possessive of her and it’s bleeding into my actions.”

“What about jealousy?”

I studied him in silence for a beat, then admitted, “He’s exhibiting some jealousy.”Or a lot.

“Your wolf.”

“Yes, asshole,” I snarled. “My wolf.”

“Okay,” Tanner said, holding up his hands in surrender. “But do you think it’s possible…” He trailed off and I raised an eyebrow while I waited for him to finish his thought.“She found her way to you…” I nodded, then narrowed my eyes in suspicion when one corner of his mouth lifted. “And the last time you were together was in the morning.”

“Yes,” I stated, annoyed at his rehashing when we both knew he hadn’t forgotten a single detail of our conversation. Tanner had an eidetic memory.

The other corner of his lips rose up. “Your wolf is feeling possessive and jealous…”

“For fuck’s sake, Tanner,” I grunted. “If you don’t start finishing your own sentences, I’m going dumpster diving in your brain for answers.”

Tanner’s mouth curved up even more, forming a smirk.“I know you don’t have much use for emotions and shit, but I’m a little surprised it hasn’t occurred to you.”

My expression darkened and I growled ominously.

“No,” he said with a shake of his head as he pushed back his chair and stood. “I’m not going to interfere.”A knowing look entered his eyes and I almost threatened to take his secret conclusions from his thoughts. Except we both knew I only did that when it was necessary. I avoided invading the privacy of my pack as much as I could and only ever bent their will if it involved their safety, or someone else’s. I demanded and expected the loyalty of my pack, I did not force it.

“I’ll brief the IT team on the records they need to acquire.” Tanner meandered toward the door of his office but stopped before he went through it and twisted around. “You might want to check the lunar clock on the night you met her.” Then he sauntered out.

I rolled my eyes and slowly rose to my feet. Tanner had a flair for the dramatic. But I’d only taken a few steps in the direction of the door when my feet steered me over to his computer.

The jackass already had the lunar clock open to that date. Yeah, he definitely…

“Hey, bossman.”

I tore my eyes from the calendar before I could take a good look. Lisa was standing in the doorway. She pushed a hand through her short, dark purple curls before jabbing her thumb behind her. “Tanner said I’d find you here. I want to go over the technical details for the Vienna op with you before I give the go head on the surreptitious entry plans.”

“Is there a problem?”

Lisa sighed, then explained the issues the op was facing that needed my immediate attention. The full moon took a backseat for the time being and I headed to the command center. Once we arrived, one of the other techs,

My thought process trailed off as I locked in on the morning I’d left Peyton naked and satisfied in bed.

7:23 A.M.

Well, shit.

Chapter Fifteen

Peyton

Istretched like a cat as my eyes drifted open. I glanced at the clock on the end table beside me and my eyes went wide. Damn. Eight A.M. I’d slept the rest of yesterday away.

After reliving my experience over and over earlier, I’d been emotionally spent and physically exhausted.

But after my nap, my body was finally starting to feel somewhat normal after so much trauma from the last week. My muscles were still quite stiff, and I tired more easily, especially with the pregnancy adding to my fatigue, but I was steadily healing.

Slowly, I sat up and looked around. The house was quiet and still, but that didn’t necessarily mean I was alone. Nathan was a predator, stealthy despite being a giant. It was possible he was around somewhere.No doubt ready to pounce, I thought with a sigh. I’d been a little surprised at his tenacity, wearing me down until I gave in. And all the while he’d been calm and patient, never once losing his temper, though he hadn’t always masked his frustration.

I was also surprised that he’d somehow convinced me he could help me take down the son of a bitch who was after me. And while I could take care of myself, I eventually had to admit that it wasn’t just me I was responsible for anymore. It had to do everything in my power to protect my cub.

Nathan’s fierceness at protecting me and the cub he thought belonged to someone else had taken me by surprise. Why would he feel the need to put himself in danger for a child who wasn’t his? In my experience, bastard children, especially those of a different species from their pack, were treated as outsiders and took the brunt of everyone’s anger. I’d been around enough packs after leaving mine to know that this wasn’t always the case. But usually when those children found acceptance, it was because there was a relationship with a deep emotional connection (usually pairs who were about to, or had already, mated) between the parent and the step-parent.

---