Page 20 of Stealing Sloane

“What are you doing here anyway?” Jacob asked as they made their way toward the large wooden doors on the far side of the office suite.

“Why can’t I be here? I was the one who cashed in a favor just to get you this meeting today.”

“You got me this meeting?” Sloane said.

“Yeah, me and the Alpha, we’re tight.” She raised a hand and crossed her middle and forefinger together. “Well, I mean, I did this one favor for him a couple years ago, so he owes me one.”

“The Alpha is expecting you,” said the young man in an expensive suit waiting just outside the doors.

Lizzie thanked him and pushed the heavy doors open. “Let’s go.”

The office of the CEO of Fenrir Corporation occupied an entire corner of the building, with floor to ceiling windows that showed off a spectacular view of the glittering New York City skyline below. Lucas Anderson, Alpha of New York, sat behind a large desk, head bent down, his fountain pen scratching on paper the only audible sound in the cavernous room.

“Primul,” Lizzie greeted. “We’re here.”

The Alpha put his pen down and looked up. The first thing anyone would notice about Lucas Anderson were his strange eyes—one green, one blue. But for a Lycan like Jacob, it was the pure dominant vibes emanating from him that caught his attention. This was a man who had true power and commanded respect wherever he went.

The Alpha stood with the languid grace of a predator and strode over to them. “Welcome to New York,” he said to Stella and Sloane.

Sloane bowed her head and pulled her shirt aside, showing the tattoo just below her clavicle, in a standard greeting Lone Wolves gave to Alphas. “Thank you giving me permission to enter your territory, Alpha.”

He gestured to the set of chairs and couches behind them. “Shall we?”

“Thank you, Primul, for agreeing to see us on short notice,” Lizzie began as they seated themselves.

“How could I say no, when you called in your favor,” the Alpha replied, an amused glint in his bicolored eyes.

“I did save the Lupa’s life,” she replied smugly.

“And I thank you for that. But, it’s getting late, and my family is waiting for me at home, so let’s get down to business,” he said. “Miss Sloane?—”

“Just Sloane,” she said.

He nodded. “Sloane. Tell me what you know about your parents’ murder.”

Despite her confidence and bravado, Jacob could sense the hesitation in her. She glanced around, and when he caught her gaze, he gave her a nod.You can do it,he said silently.

Turning back to the Alpha, she took a deep breath. “I was told my parents had died in some kind of war with another clan. But that was a lie. My Aunt Ella, who raised me, told me the truth about two years ago: Ronan Forte, Alpha of the Boston Clan, had them killed when they tried to escape and turn straight.” She paused, biting her lip as if she were trying not to cry.

“They wanted a better life for their children,” Cliff said. “Devon, Sloane, and Stella. They were split up. We think Ronan’s crew got to the parents somewhere in LA. They must have left them behind and sacrificed themselves so their children could escape.”

“You at least know that part is true,” Lizzie added. “We have records of Devon and Stella in the system, and DNA provesthat they’re Lycans and siblings. And I think it’s pretty obvious Sloane is Stella’s twin.”

The Alpha turned back to Sloane. “What do you think happened to you?”

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the last couple of days. My best guess is that Ronan must have seen that article about us being abandoned at the train station and his guys took me before my records were entered into the system.”

“Forte brought her back and forced her to turn to a life of crime. To use her gifts to break the law.” Jacob couldn’t help himself, and all eyes trained on him.Good. Sloane had tried to sugarcoat it by saying she had a good childhood, but that didn’t erase what Ronan did.

“Jacob,” Sloane warned. “That’s?—”

“He was her Alpha,” he interrupted. “He was supposed to protect her.” There was a subtle shift in Lucas’s face, so he continued. “Instead, he put her into more danger just so he could amass his wealth and power. Please, Alpha you have bring this case to the High Council and get justice for them.”

Lucas Anderson remained quiet, contemplating their words. “I’ve already spoken with Killian, as you know. And while I can’t stand by knowing another Alpha has committed murder and other crimes, I haven’t seen any evidence that links Forte to the murder of your parents. Any crime he commits against humans doesn’t fall under the Lycan High Council’s jurisdiction. I’m not dismissing your claims, but you must understand, the members of the council will ask you the same thing: where is your proof? You don’t even have bodies.”

“Bodies?” Sloane shot back. “They were executed and their bodies probably dumped somewhere between the Colorado River and Appalachians. What, you want me dig up old bones?—”

“Sloane!” Stella hissed, pulling at her arm. “Please.”

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