Page 17 of Stealing Sloane

“You don’t understand,” she said defensively, “Aunt Ella was old, and she didn’t have family to take care of her. Only the clan. She couldn’t get me away from them without losing her only support system. And, well … at first, it was fun, you know? Getting away with shit, feeling invincible, like?—”

“Nothing was ever gonna go wrong.”

“Yeah.”

“You were a kid; you didn’t know any better. No one taught you better.”

She shrugged. “I can’t change the past.”

“Which is why you should come to New York and make your case with the Alpha.”

“And what if it doesn’t work?” A sense of foreboding washed over her. “What if he gets away with it? Y-you don’t know what he’s like.” She hated the way her voice cracked. “He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”

“Then we’ll go after him.” His eyes burned like twin green flames. “You’ll get justice, one way or another. I promise.”

She wanted to believe him so bad, that he could keep such a promise. “I …”

“Come on, what have you got to lose?”

She chomped down on her lower lip, contemplating his words. “All right. I’ll go to New York.”

His face lit up as his mouth spread into a smile. “Lucas Anderson—our Alpha—is fair and wields a lot of power. If anyone can make a case against Forte, he can do it.”

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this.

God, she must be going out of her mind, letting this pretty boy convince her to trust another Alpha. “If you say so.”

“Good. I’ll take care of it. I’ll arrange a meeting and then we can fly to New York.”

“Wait—we? What do you mean, we? I thought you said he was fair and would listen to me. Why can’t I just walk into his office by myself and make my case if he already knows what’s going on?”

“Because … because you just can’t, okay? Do you think you can just walk into an important Alpha’s office like some schmuck off the street?”

“Fine. But I want to see him as soon as possible.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Tomorrow.” She figured he wastalking out of his ass and would never be able to get a meeting with his Alpha anyway, so she thought why not ask something impossible? “Or I’m gone.”

“Your wish is my command, Sweet Stuff. Now, I’m gonna go patrol.” He flashed her a grin, then stripped his shirt and pants off, sending heat flaring through her lower belly. “See you in the morning.”

She could only stare as he shifted into his wolf form—a gorgeous wolf with ruddy fur and green eyes—and trotted off the porch. The curl of heat in her remained, the image of his naked body burned into her mind.

Was he deliberately teasing her? She snorted, banishing his six-pack abs, firm ass, and other parts of him from her brain.

Even if she wanted to sleep with him—which she didn’t—he would just be a distraction from her goal.

However, she would try things his way for now. And as he said, she had nothing to lose.

Chapter 4

The next day, when Cliff and Stella found out that Jacob had arranged for Sloane to speak to Lucas Anderson in New York, they insisted on coming with them. Jacob was all for it. With her sister around, Sloane wouldn’t try to run away again.

“I don’t know what you did to convince Sloane and get her an audience with the Alpha,” Cliff said when they were alone as the two women went to Stella’s parents to tell them what happened. “But I’m glad you did. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

But the truth was, there was no meeting with the Alpha. Not yet, at least, but he was going to make it happen.

Honestly getting the stubborn she-wolf to stay had been easier than trying to get a meeting with Lucas Anderson. From what Uncle Killian had told him, though the Alpha heard them out, bringing up a case against Ronan Forte was low on his priorities right now. And who could blame him? Though they defeated their enemies and saved mankind, the Lycans were still paying from the aftermath of the war with the mages. They had lost a lot of good people, and their secret had been revealed tothe world. The Alpha certainly had more important things to worry about.

However, he did know someone who could get him an audience with the Alpha, though hereallydreaded going that route.

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