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

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.”

want to hear it, Briggs,” I said. “I’m not even the Alpha yet, and I have a murderer on the loose.

his hands in surrender. “But don’t forget Kylee’s cousin will be here this weekend. You need

don’t have the energy to care about that

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

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 postpone the ceremony. She still had a

Chapter 33: Theo

if I

288 Voucher

my chair, going straight to the carafe of whiskey I kept in the office and pouring myself

off our mating entirely yet. I wanted to give her more time. It’s still a big change for her.

as a sharp, searing

Briggs called. “What the

to pull air into my lungs as I tried to make sense of what was

at my

in my eyes. I really had

“Theo?”

“He’s with her.”

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

–

until the feeling finally passed, allowing

Chapter 33. Theo

288 Vouchers

slowly relaxed, revealing my

I

to

didn’t know she would feel it. We aren’t marked. We shouldn’t be

“Theo, it’s time to face that this isn’t a normal bond. It’s time you figured out