Page 54 of An Unending Claim

“Hamna.”

“Son of a bitch,” I muttered. Hamna was one of Azreal’s Council members. “She’s missing?”

“They found her body last night. It’s my understanding that no one knew she was missing until then. The thing is…”

Willa was not a member of my pack, but we’d been working together for two decades, so we’d come to know each other well. When she trailed off, I knew what she was trying not to say.

“Where did they find her?” Peyton asked from right next to me, stealthily appearing like a cat. It didn’t surprise me in the least that she’d also picked up on the direction of the conversation.

“The alley behind The Spot.”

Peyton gasped and stumbled backward, but I caught her before she fell and set her in my lap. The color had drained from her face and she looked completely shell-shocked. Her eyes bled to gold as her panther tried to understand Peyton’s reaction and discern the threat.

No wonder Willa hadn’t wanted to share this with Peyton listening. Not only would this bring that night screaming back to her, but Sam was potentially in deep shit.

“Azreal is demanding Sam be punished.”

“What?” Peyton shrieked. “Does he have proof that Sam was involved? Because if he does, it’s bullshit. Sam would never!”

“Relax, baby. Breathe,” I said in as soothing a tone as possible, rubbing circles on her back. She didn’t have many panic attacks, but with this hitting so close to home for her, I wanted to keep it from happening.

Peyton inhaled slowly, but her hands were curled into tight fists and her knuckles remained bleached from her grip.

“Azreal doesn’t care if Sam was involved in the actual incident or not, he wants Sam punished for allowing it to happen on his property.”

“Is there evidence that it actually happened on his property?” I asked, my mind working through the options.

“No. In fact, Scott is certain her body was moved there.”

Scott was the NYC chief of police, a warlock who used his position to help protect the anonymity of supernats. He also held a seat on the Interspecies Council, so we’d worked together a lot.

“There’s more.”

“Fucking hell,” I sighed. My wolf was becoming more and more on edge and had taken to pacing agitatedly.

“She was shot with a hunting rifle. Similar to the ones being used to hunt shifters upstate.”

“I think my head is going to explode,” Peyton mumbled, as she rubbed her temples and continued to breathe deeply.

A knock on the door to my office startled us and had both my head and Peyton’s whipping in the direction of the sound.

Tanner and Jase stood there looking grim and when their thoughts flashed in my mind, I closed my eyes and tried to tamp down my own fury.

“Willa, I need to deal with something. Have Scott and Dana send me all of the reports. I’ll deal with Azreal.”

At the name, Tanner’s brow shot up and Jase blanched.

“Okay, but—”

“Wait,” Tanner interjected. “I want Willa to hear what I have to say as well, then we can see if there is some kind of discernible connection.” I frowned, wondering how Tanner knew what Willa had called about. “Asher was at HQ when the word came in,” he explained after he heard my inquiry through our connection. “Didn’t see Azreal as far as I know, though.” Tanner’s expression turned dark. “Tell me that bastard is not involved.”

“I wish I could,” Willa sighed.

“Fuck,” Jase breathed. “This is an even bigger shitstorm than we thought.”

“Explain,” I demanded. I’d gained some of it through our linked minds, but needed the full story.

Both enforcers took a seat on the couch, and Tanner shoved his hands into his hair as he blew out a frustrated breath, before resting his elbows on his knees. “Nadia Castile is dead.”

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