Page 33 of An Uncertain Claim

Tanner hadn’t even looked surprised; he’d just smiled and bent his head in a respectful acknowledgment of her presence. I knew he was still confused by her talk of leaving, but he knew it wasn’t the time to revisit the subject and didn’t bring it up.

I gave Ephraim a look of warning when he didn’t answer Peyton right away and he shifted positions on the couch, looking slightly uncomfortable with my heavy stare. I left it there for moment and filled in Peyton on the details of the other attacks. “So there was no reason to think it might be personal to your pack until now?”

“No. We haven’t been able to find any rhyme or reason to the victims either,” Tanner supplied. “It’s not like the guy who’s after you. We don’t even know if it’s one person killing these shifters or a group of some kind.”

Peyton went quiet and started playing with one of the chess pieces. I had a feeling she was processing the information, so I sat back in my chair and waited, curious where her thoughts might take her. After a minute, she met my eyes and there was clarity in them, as though she’d completed a puzzle and could see the whole picture. I doubted she’d come up with all the answers. It was more likely that she’d come up with a solid plan.

“There might be more of a pattern than we think. With B, even though we haven’t found a connection between the victims”—Tanner’s brow rose, and he shot me a questioning look. I just shook my head. I wasn’t keeping it from her, I simply hadn’t had a chance to tell her—“it became obvious by the modus operandi. I think if I dig into their lives, I might find the connection. Patterns often emerge through hard data laid out in front of you.”

I stroked my beard, rolling her idea around in my head. “You have a point. Anything you can suss out would be greatly appreciated.”

Peyton smiled, pleased that I’d accepted her suggestion. “Just have someone pass along everything you have on the incidents already. I’ll get started as soon as…” Peyton stopped suddenly, and her lips furled down in a frown. “When you grabbed my stuff, did you happen to bring my computer?”

I nodded but cut her off before she could ask for it. “It’s not secure, you’ll have to wait until you’re at KBO—” Tanner’s laughter halted my explanation and I glared at him. “What?” I asked crossly.

Peyton chuckled and I swung my gaze over to her. “I think he’s laughing at the ridiculous notion that my computer wouldn’t be more secure than Fort Knox.”

My lips tipped up at the corners and I scratched my chin. “I probably should have thought of that, but in my defense, you kept your skills a secret until last night.”

Ephraim grunted and I glanced at him with narrowed eyes.

And how long have you actually known her?Ephraim asked through our connection.

Leave it, Ephraim.

“Regardless,” Peyton said, her green eyes bright with humor, “while my computer is secure, you are probably right about working at KBO, so I don’t have to access your records remotely.”

Since when do you let people with a hidden agenda have complete access to KBO?Ephraim sneered in his mind.

He’d insinuated as much about Peyton before and it pissed me off.Are you questioning me?Aggression built inside me and it sent alpha vibes over our connection.

No, Alpha. His head dipped in a sign of respect.

Leave KBO and Peyton to me.

Ephraim’s brow furrowed, clearly frustrated, but he nodded. He said nothing more, though he continued to watch Peyton with suspicion.

A knock on my office door drew everyone’s attention. My father stood in the hall with two other members of my pack. The former alpha had passed down many of his traits to me, his height, his silver eyes, and blond-brown hair--though he wore his cropped close to his scalp. He wasn’t as bulky, having a leaner frame, but since we stopped aging in our thirties, we were often mistaken for brothers.

I glanced at the clock, startled to see that it was already time for my meeting with them. We’d spent the last couple of hours discussing a plan for moving forward with an investigation into Council members, and then the situation with the murdered shifters.

“Alpha.” Ephraim and Tanner greeted my father, their former Alpha, with respectful nods and wide smiles. Everyone in the pack had loved and respected my dad when he was the Alpha. He’d been an excellent leader and I strove to be like him every day. But, when he’d handed the mantle to me, I’d been shocked to see the change that slowly came over him. He’d slipped into a laid-back personality whenever he didn’t have to be acting Alpha in my absence, or when being consulted as the former leader. So, while he still demanded and received everyone’s respect and loyalty, they also enjoyed his humor and easy-going nature.

“Boys,” he replied with a smile as he entered, followed by Felicia and Dane, both accountants for the pack.

Ephraim stood and looked at me with a carefully blank expression as he nodded. Then he walked toward the door the room, but despite his attempts to hide his thoughts, I felt his aggression spike as he passed Peyton. It wasn’t the time, but soon, I was going to have to have a talk with my enforcer about how he treated his Alpha’s mate—his alpha female.

When Peyton made a move to follow him, I called her name and she paused to look back at me. “Stay.”

She raised an eyebrow and I sighed. “I’d like you to stay.”

Her brow knitted and she glanced around the room. “Isn’t this pack business?”

“Yes. And I’d appreciate it if you’d stay for the meeting.”

“But—”

“Staying for a meeting isn’t an eternal commitment, Peyton,” I stated in a dry tone.

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