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

1/5

Chapter 23 The

288 Vouche

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.”

“I’m not even the Alpha yet, and I have a murderer on the loose.

said, raising his hands in surrender. “But don’t forget Kylee’s cousin will be here this

energy to

gets here,” Briggs said. “Kylee has been bitching enough about you never being around

a change in Kylee for the first few days after the incident at the library, but it didn’t last. It wasn’t even a week before she started complaining about

would postpone the ceremony.

Chapter 33: Theo

That’s if I even

288 Voucher

the carafe of whiskey I kept

off our mating entirely yet. 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 be

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

Briggs called.

as I tried to make sense of

it?” Briggs was at my side as I

well in my eyes. I really had lost

“Theo?”

“He’s with her.”

fight them. Briggs gripped my shoulder in support but didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say. I had no right

move until the feeling finally passed, allowing

Chapter 33. Theo

288 Vouchers

revealing my bloody

have I done, Briggs?”

dropped down to the floor beside

know,” I said quietly. “I didn’t know she would feel it. We aren’t

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

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255