The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

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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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.”

even the Alpha yet,

don’t forget Kylee’s cousin will be here this weekend. You need to be there when she arrives

the energy to

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

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 the things she was asked to do or finding ways to get out of them. We would have already had another talk if I hadn’t

would postpone the ceremony. She still

Chapter 33: Theo

That’s if I even

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to the carafe of whiskey I kept in the office and

It’s still a big change for her. If I didn’t make it work with her, I wouldn’t be able to try with

dropped it as a sharp, searing pain pierced my heart, bringing me to

Briggs called. “What the

breathe. I gasped to pull air into my lungs as I tried to make sense of what was going on. It was Kieran’s

it?” Briggs was at my side as I fell back against

to well in my

“Theo?”

“He’s with her.”

eyes closing as I let the tears fall, too tired and hurt to fight them. Briggs gripped 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

–

move until the feeling

Chapter 33. Theo

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hands slowly relaxed, revealing my bloody palms from

have I

down to the floor beside

said quietly. “I didn’t know she would feel it. We aren’t marked. We shouldn’t be able to

time to face that this isn’t a normal bond. It’s time you