Ethan

The commander’s words sink in slowly, but I keep my spirits high despite the bad news he’s delivering.

Unlike the detective, I had the intelligence to think ahead. “Then I suppose it’s a good thing I made copies of every paper we found in Eve’s safe.” I muse aloud.

“You made copies?” The commander responds excitedly.

“Yes, I had a feeling about Detective Smithers, you see”I share. In fact, I made three sets of copies and promptly hid them. I’d been so paranoid about the conspiracy that I even made sure to put them in different locations. Unlocking my office safe, I pull out the copy lI brought to work. “I’m looking at them right now. If you send someone quickly, they might catch me before I leave for the day.”

Before he even responds to me, I can hear the commander barking orders to a uniformed officer in the background. “You, get to the pack headquarters this instant, go straight to the Alpha. No stops on the way.”
Once he finishes, his volume increases as he returns his mouth to the receiver, “Done. You know it’s the strangest thing. We found out about all this because Smithers got hacked this afternoon.”

“ls that so?” I inquire innocently. “Well, wasn’t that lucky for us?”

“Indeed.” He agrees, sounding more relaxed now that he knows the evidence wasn’t completely lost. “Of course we won’t be investigating that, since whoever is responsible exposed a traitor in our ranks. We really owe them.”

“If l hear anything about it l’l be sure to pass on your appreciation.” l offer, deciding not to excoriate the man for missing that all of this was happening right under his nose. After all, I’ve been there. I know just how cunning Eve can be, and how skilled she is at hiding her schemes.

As if he can read my thoughts, the commander states, “And l’m sorry for everything he’s put your family through, Alpha. I feel horribly responsible for not seeing his corruption sooner.”

“Thank you” l accept graciously, “l understand better than you think, but you should know this doesn’t end with me. The public isn’t going to be happy when this comes out”

“Ah” He replies, clearly understanding my warning about the hack reaching the papers. “Then l’ll begin writing my press statement now.”

“And l’ll go tell my mate the investigation into her is finally closed” I answer, wanting to hear him confirm it, just in case.

“Tell her congratulations from me, sir:” He answers, a bit more stiffly now. I imagine he’s not happy that this story is going to get out – it will be a public humiliation for the force. Still, I think he also realizes any other Alpha would have removed him from his position as punishment, and accepts that keeping his job comes with a price.

Hanging up the phone, I wait until the officer arrives and hand over the copied files, before heading home to Jane and the pups. When I walk in the door, four energetic munchkins rush my legs. “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!”

all in a bear hug squeezing them tightly even though they clearly didn’t come to me for

we tell her, can we tell

She’d been walking down the hall when I entered, and now she stood in the

gr0an in disappointment, but I release them and instruct, “go play, the sooner Mommy and l finish our conversation, the sooner we

Ryder and Parker instantly race off to their rooms, but Paisley stays snug against my ch3st, his little arms wrapped around my neck. Chuckling softly, I loop an arm around her middle and lift her as I get to my feet. “How was your day,

like

everything going on. People need to see me out and about, it’s important for leaders to be present when things

than the people.” Paisley tells me,

so?” I ask, searching

you’re my Daddy, not theirs” She explains, as if l should know this without

pack’s Daddy.” I explain. “l have to take care of,

her little

to” Jane answers for me, approaching us but staying out of my reach, as if she thinks that I’ll sweep her up alongside Paisley

have a choice?” Paisley asks me, blinking her bright

love the pack, I want what’s best

right Daddy?” Paisley grins

right” I

all to herself. “As long as you don’t love the pack

pups and

down so she can run off and play with her brothers and

surprise, she’s scowling at me. “What?” I ask her, closing the distance between us. “I’m not allowed to say

tells me, refusing to meet my gaze and determinedly

tease, settling my hands on her wa!st before she can think to move

as sullen as Paisley had been a

her neck when she still won’t turn

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