Page 45 of An Uncertain Claim

Since baseball was one of the few other sports that I enjoyed, I knew he was referring to the game between New York and L.A.—the winner would go on to play Philadelphia in the World Series. The game was on the West Coast, so it started at eight at night in New York. I’d intended to spend the night watching the game at The Spot with Sam and a few other fans. Before the shit hit the fan in my life.

Now, I was fucking exhausted and really wanted to sleep. Except…the idea of doing such a normal activity—being able to forget that I was being hunted by a killer and hounded by a wolf trying to convince me I was his mate—appealed to me. Even if I had to do it in a room full of strangers who assumed I was their Alpha female. “Fair warning, anyone in that room rooting for L.A. might end the night with ‘I Love New York’ scratched onto their body.”

Nathan chuckled and popped a quick kiss on my lips before releasing me. He and his dad each grabbed a case of drinks and walked into the den. I touched a finger to my lips, puzzled at Nathan’s casual display of affection. It felt strange because he was always so intense with me, a product of his personality and the raging chemistry between us. My panther was also surprised, but she didn’t question it.

It made me wonder about years down the road—if we remained mated. The passion as mates would always be strong, but would we eventually find a place where things would be easy between us? It was hard to imagine us comfortable and relaxed as a couple, but then he gave me a tiny glimpse of the possibility and, honestly, it just made my decision more complicated.

“Here,” Beth said, interrupting my reverie and handing me a platter filled with sandwiches. She carried a bowl of snacks in each arm, and we joined everyone in a room that had clearly been made for gatherings just like this.

The game was only two batters in, so we hadn’t missed much. Nathan was lounging on a large couch with his arm along the back of the empty spot next to him. He lifted his chin, basically ordering me to join him there. I narrowed my eyes in warning but wound my way through chairs and people on the ground to sit next to him.

“Hi,” a girl with black hair in a cute pixie cut, delicate features, and a bright smile said from my other side. “I’m Gilly. I live just up the road. I’m a dancer—well, I don’t perform as much anymore. I teach at a studio in town.”

I couldn’t help returning her enthusiastic greeting. “Peyton. Nice to meet you.”

“I think it’s so cool that you’re a panther,” she said excitedly. “My brother thinks it’s odd that our Alpha female isn’t a wolf, but I think he’s odd, so don’t pay him any attention. He’s mostly just a pain in the ass.”

I couldn’t contain my laugh and Emerald stuck her head between us from right behind the couch. “If you’re conspiring against Ephraim, I want in,” she whispered, her voice filled with mirth.

“Ephraim?”

Gilly rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat. “I’m Ephraim’s sister.”

My eyebrows rose to my hairline. “No way,” I breathed. How could this sweet, bubbly, fun young woman be Ephraim’s sister?

“I know,” Gilly sighed. “I keep pestering my mom to admit that he was adopted from a pack of wild, angry wolves.”

Emerald snorted. “Better explanation than I came up with.”

“And that is…?” I prompted.

“He’s an alien from some barbaric planet where they talk in grunts and have never experienced happiness.”

Gilly and I both cracked up, but we were drowned out when several people shot to their feet and started shouting. Nathan being among the loudest. “Ti yebanutiy, Blue!” he bellowed. I didn’t know what he said—in what sounded like Russian—but I was confident in my assumption that he’d just insulted the umpire.

“He essentially called him a moron,” Emerald piped up.

“He speaks Russian?” I asked, intrigued.

“Rowan says he’s fluent, but I’ve only ever heard him curse,” she answered with a giggle. Seeing my confusion, she added, “Rowan is one of my best friends. She’s mated to a Silver Lake wolf.”

“Ah.” I nodded in understanding, then paused and gave her a side eye. “Wait, you speak Russian too?”

“In another life,” she replied cryptically.

A man with dark and clear blue eyes who looked vaguely familiar was sitting near Gilly’s feet and he turned his head to smile at me. “Emerald’s been teaching me, but so far, I can’t repeat anything I’ve learned without being slapped.” Then he reached across Gilly’s legs to offer his hand. “I’m Jordan Grady.” He hadn’t quite reached me when he froze, his eyes jumping behind me and going wide with fear.

I sighed. “Down, boy,” I tossed over my shoulder. Nathan growled and lifted his arm from the couch to curl it around my waist and haul me up against his side. I didn’t bother trying to move away, knowing I wouldn’t have any luck against his strength.

“Ignore him,” I told Jordan, who looked at me dubiously before quickly withdrawing his hand. “Grady?” The name struck a chord and I realized why he looked familiar. “You’re Jase’s brother?”

“Yep,” Jordan said. “The younger, smarter, better-looking brother.” I laughed, feeling relaxed and having fun. “Oh.” He snapped his fingers as a thought occurred to him. “Jase mentioned that you’re talented with a computer and suggested I ask for your help.”

“If I can,” I agreed. I trusted Jase not to divulge too much about my expertise, but I wasn’t sure how much he’d shared with his brother, so I remained vague. It turned out he was a lawyer and needed help “retrieving” some files for an investigation.

“They won’t be admissible in court, but they’ll go a long way in helping us build our defense.”

I nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”

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