Chapter 33: Theo

The results of the investigation into the fire at the library weren’t what I had hoped. The fire marshal’s final report concluded that the fire was set intentionally. Since someone had targeted the pack, I ordered a full autopsy on Mrs. Walport. My suspicions were correct. Her neck had been broken. She was dead before I even entered the building.

I had dedicated every second I could to the investigation. Mom and Dad stayed at the packhouse instead of returning to the lake house. It was a big help and seemed to help lift Dad’s mood. But I worried he would overwork himself, so I had been keeping up with as many of my responsibilities as possible.

I

It meant I wasn’t sleeping much, but it also meant I didn’t have time to think about Kylee and our upcoming mating ceremony. Or Ayla. Although that wasn’t as much of a relief as I had thought it would be. In fact, it was bothering the heck out of me. Briggs had finally convinced me to learn more about Ayla’s past the night of the fire, but that wasn’t exactly something I could prioritize, considering the circumstances.

It was late, but I was still in my office trying to get through the supply orders we needed for the packhouse and the surrounding housing units. Briggs came in and sat in one of the chairs in front of my desk.

“You’ve got to get some sleep, man,” he said. “And take a break. You can afford to at least take half the day off.”

“Not yet,” I said. “I’m meeting with the detectives on the

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Chapter 23 The

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Walport case tomorrow.”

“Then get some sleep, Theo. I’ll finish up in here.”

I sighed and put the papers I was reviewing down on the desk. “I can’t.”

“Theo, you can’t keep doing this. You’re no good to anyone if you’re burnt out.”

“I’m no good to anyone if I can’t even protect the pack,” I snapped.

“Theo.”

yet, and I have a murderer on the

cousin will be here this weekend. You need to be there

have the energy to care about that right

better muster some by the time she gets here,” Briggs said.

days after the incident at the library, but it didn’t last. It wasn’t even a week before she started complaining about the things she was

I would postpone the ceremony. She

Chapter 33: Theo

I even stayed with

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my chair, going straight to the carafe of

I wanted to give her more time. It’s still a big change for her. If I didn’t make it work with her, I wouldn’t

lifted the glass but nearly dropped it as a sharp, searing pain pierced my heart, bringing me

Briggs called. “What

as I tried to make sense of what was

what is it?” Briggs was at my side as

felt the tears start to well in

“Theo?”

“He’s with her.”

my shoulder in support but didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say. I had no right to be angry. No right to be jealous. I had no right to feel anything about another male’s another Alpha’s

move until the feeling finally passed, allowing

Chapter 33. Theo

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fisted hands slowly relaxed, revealing my bloody palms from my

have I

to

know she would feel it. We aren’t marked. We

that this isn’t a normal bond. It’s time you figured out a

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