Page 32 of An Uncertain Claim

“Alpha?” he replied respectfully, knowing I was in no mood for jokes and teasing.

“Did I force you to stand and go to my office?”

My eyes didn’t stray from Peyton’s accusatory stare, but I heard the note of confusion in Tanner’s tone. “No… Why would you?”

I raised an eyebrow at my mate, and she relaxed, her expression becoming contrite. “Don’t worry about it,” I answered Tanner. “I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

His footsteps faded and I continued to regard Peyton, my features deadpan.

“Sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have assumed.”

“I’m disappointed that you don’t know me well enough by now to trust me when I say I never use that power unless it’s absolutely necessary.” My wolf grunted, frustrated with the walls she kept erected between us. He wanted me to tear them down, but bulldozing Peyton would only send her running.

“I do,” she insisted as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, as if she were nervous. “It’s not you…exactly.”

Sighing, I grabbed the hair band I’d tossed on the counter earlier and swept my hair up into a bun on top of my head. “Exactly what is it?” I couldn’t keep the aggression out of my tone, every bit the Alpha who expected obedience.

Peyton’s eyes narrowed, the flecks of gold swirling angrily, warning me to watch my footing. “What I meant was that it’s not about you, it’s the position you hold. The power you wield. It’s a bad habit and sometimes it just sneaks up on me.”

“And how did you acquire this habit?”

Her expression hardened and she didn’t offer any more information.

My best bet would have been to soften my approach and slowly convince her to open up. But as it often happened with Peyton—and only Peyton—I’d lost my patience. “More secrets?”

Ephraim’s voice floated to the forefront of my mind right that moment.

You’re not answering your cell phone.

Since I owed him no explanation, I didn’t offer one.Is this an emergency?

We found two more murdered shifters, this time on our land.

Fuck.I’d been neglecting all my other responsibilities while handling things with Peyton and needed to get back to them before something escalated beyond the point where I could control it. My wolf sensed the tension from my enforcer, and he went on alert for whatever danger was causing Ephraim to stress.

Tanner is already at my cabin. Meet me in my home office ASAP.

Already on my way.

“I have to focus on pack and Council issues right now, but don’t think this discussion is over,” I warned Peyton.

“Anything I can help with?” she asked. I started to reject her offer but stopped when thoughts of everything we’d talked about floated through my mind. And the discovery of her astonishing capabilities.

I needed to set aside my overprotective tendencies, because when I did, logic returned. This could be a perfect opportunity to show her that she’d be an excellent Alpha female for the Silver Lake Pack. “I’m not sure yet. Why don’t you come with me and see if you have any fresh insight or ideas?”

“Really?” Her eyes rounded with surprise.

I nodded. “I promised to try to share more. This is me keeping my word.” Yes, it was a subtle dig at the fact that she was still hiding shit from me, but she either missed it or ignored it because she didn’t say anything. Disappointed, I frowned and held back the caustic remark on the tip of my tongue. It would only make things worse, and I didn’t want her any more on the defensive when we revisited her “habit” later.

Chapter Sixteen

Nathan

“Neither of the shifters were from our pack,” Ephraim assured me. “But they were left on our land, and I can’t believe it wasn’t deliberate, a message.”

“Where were the others found?” Peyton asked.

Tanner and Ephraim both looked at her, though the enforcer’s expression was suspicious and brooding. He’d clearly been unhappy when Peyton had entered the room alongside of me and taken a seat at the table holding my chessboard.

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