Page 52 of In Plain Sight

“What’s going on?” I asked, surprised at how normal my voice sounded.

Thomas closed the door then sat across from us. He pulled out his laptop and soon Kyle Westin’s face appeared

“Doc ran some tests on the cake the girls ate,” Thomas started after we had said our hellos to Kyle. We all went silent and I could feel the sweat dribbling down my back. I started to break out into my confession and beg for forgiveness, but he went on. “This doesn’t leave this room. Are we clear?”

Cole looked to Kyle, who nodded his approval. It was one of the rare occasions that I realized Cole’s allegiance still resided first and foremost with Westin Pack.

“Agreed,” Cole answered for the both of them.

“Of course,” I said.

“The girls were poisoned. We’re not sure what it was. Doc’s checked it thoroughly and says he’s never seen the composition of it before. I’ve gone through the ingredients list that Peyton used, and the substance doesn’t match any of them. We’ve checked the supplies at the diner, and everything looks fine. I think this was definitely done on purpose.”

“We suspected as much,” Cole said. “The horse that threw Kelsey had already been wiped down and cleared before I was able to get to the stables, but a closer look at the saddle used revealed that there were burrs placed on the underside of the saddle that I believe caused the horse to react like that. I spoke with several of the ranch hands and no one could think of any circumstance where burrs would naturally find their way there. Especially since the horses were carefully brushed down before they were saddled, and no similar incidents have been reported.”

“Shit! So it’s as we feared, someone’s after my mate?” Kyle said, and I could see the anger flaring up in him. I understand that feeling now.

“We can’t be certain, but it’s a solid theory.”

“So what? The other girls were just innocent bystanders?” I asked.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking,” Cole agreed. “Someone knew that cake was for Kelsey and poisoned it. I don’t know when or how, but I’m convinced of it.”

A man I didn’t know came on the screen next to Kyle.

“I’ve increased security around Westin. We need a sample of that cake for testing. I have Silas investigating any possible lead he can find to determine what’s going on. There’s been no obvious movements, though. We’re already monitoring Bulgarian activity despite the alliance that was formed, and everything’s been quiet.”

“Who’s Silas?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

“Silas is head of Westin Force’s Bravo team, an elite group that monitors and handles things for Westin Pack,” Kyle filled me in.

The man next to him looked curiously at me and something told me I’d just made a grave mistake.

“Who are you?” he asked.

Kyle spoke before I could. “Patrick, this is Bran, Ruby’s mate. Bran, this is Patrick, my sister Elise’s mate and one of my Betas. Patrick heads up security for Westin Pack.”

Patrick O’Connell. Of course I recognized the man now that I wasn’t blinded by nerves. Patrick came from the Irish Clan. He was an Alpha’s son too, and if he paid too close attention, he was the one person in Westin that just might recognize me.

All the Alpha kids spent summers together away at camp. It helped to establish alliances and friendships across packs from a young age and kept the old treaties strong. Often other high-ranking children would attend, too. Any children Ruby and I had would be eligible simply because their grandfathers on both sides were Alphas. They would be treated no different than any other Alpha kid because of that unique distinction.

Kyle had gone to camp with my brother Nicholai, but I was a few years behind them. Patrick was two years ahead of me, but we had attended together for several years. That was a long time ago and I prayed he didn’t put two and two together. I had told Thomas I was from the Indiana Pack and they would be looking there for me, though there were no real records to speak of out of that pack, so it gave me some anonymous safety—unless they followed the connection between the Indiana and Bulgarian Packs.

“Look, we’re all here because we all have a vested interest in finding answers. Poison didn’t just show up in that cake. Bran, how’s Ruby?” Kyle asked.

I sobered and sighed. “She’s going to be okay. She’s terrified this caused her to lose the baby, and only just left the house today to come here with me. She’s put herself on bedrest until we know something for certain, though Doc keeps telling her it isn’t necessary.”

Kyle growled. “I’m sorry, man. You have as much to be angry about as I do. Did Doc confirm she’s pregnant?”

I sighed and shook my head. “No, but my mate does not want to hear that. She will be a fierce and an excellent mother to our pups someday, of that I am certain.”

The guys laughed and nodded. Cole put his hand on my shoulder in support. The brotherhood we’d established during our time working on his house together surprised me and left me with yet another thing to feel guilty about. I wasn’t just betraying Kyle Westin, I was betraying all of them, and worst, I was betraying my mate.

My hand seared in pain at the mere thought of refusing to proceed. I bit back against the pain and tried not to respond to it. It was a reminder of the life sentence I’d signed before I’d ever even bothered to know these good people.

“We’re about done here. I’ll be heading home in two days. A piece of the cake has been preserved and I’ll be bringing it back for Silas’s team to study,” Cole said.

“Thanks, man,” Kyle said. “They’ll be ready and waiting.”

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