Page 15 of Pack and Forth

Kira smiled, feeling a pang of love and gratitude pierce her heart. “She is. She’s the best. I don’t know what I would have done without her love and support.”

“Do you see her often?”

She shook her head. “Not really. When I was a kid she married my stepfather and they had Maggie. Several years ago they retired and moved to Costa Rica to live in a house by a beautiful rainforest. She keeps asking me to come visit, but I haven’t really had the time. Maggie sees them twice a year.”

“Do you not want to go see her?”

She frowned. “Why would you say that?”

“Because if you wanted to, you would.”

She sighed. “My mom is human. She had a fling with a shifter and ended up with me. My father was killed during a territory war and the pride never acknowledged or wanted me. I wasn’t full blood. My stepfather is human too. They see life through a different lens. They don’t get a lot of what I do and I think I confuse them. So I stay away.”

He nodded slowly. “Have you tried talking to them about this?”

“No. I don’t know if I am ready to hear them tell me all the ways they don’t understand me and how different I am from them.”

They lapsed into silence for a moment, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Then Nash spoke again, his voice soft and hesitant.

“You know, growing up in a pack is different. There’s always someone there to guide you, to teach you what it means to be a shifter. But there’s also a lot of pressure, a lot of expectations. You’re expected to follow the rules, to fall in line, and do what’s best for the pack.”

Kira nodded, her expression sympathetic and understanding. “That must have been hard, feeling like you had to live up to someone else’s standards all the time.”

Nash shrugged. “It was, but...it also gave me a sense of belonging, of purpose. I knew that no matter what happened, I would always have a place in the pack, always have a family to come home to.”

Kira felt a twinge of envy, a longing for that sense of connection and community. She had always been an outsider, had always felt like she was watching the world from behind a pane of glass. She wished she had a real relationship that was connected. Like what he and Rex discussed.

A triad with both men could give her all she needed in her life. It was late when Nash went home, but when he did, Kira was already feeling much better.

EIGHT

Nash drummed his fingers on the table, his phone pressed to his ear as he waited for Kira to pick up. He glanced at the computer screen in front of him, the lines of code blurring together as his mind wandered to the lioness shifter who had captured his and Rex’s attention.

“Hello?” Kira’s voice crackled through the speaker, snapping Nash out of his reverie.

“Hey, Kira,” he said, leaning back in his chair with a grin. “It’s Nash. I was wondering if you could use some help with your investigation.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Nash could almost picture Kira’s brow furrowing in confusion. “Help? What kind of help?”

“Well, I happen to be pretty handy with a computer,” Nash said, his fingers already flying across the keyboard as he spoke. “I could dig up some information on potential suspects, maybe see if there are any patterns or connections we’re missing.”

Kira hesitated for a moment, and Nash held his breath, hoping she would agree. Finally, she sighed. “Oh, all right, Nash. I could use an extra set of eyes on this case. When can you come over?”

Nash pumped his fist in victory, a smile spreading across his face. “How about now? I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Kira laughed, the sound sending a thrill down Nash’s spine. “Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”

Nash hung up the phone and grabbed his jacket, his heart racing with excitement. He had been looking for an excuse to spend more time with Kira, and now he had the perfect opportunity. On his way to her apartment, he made a quick stop at Kira’s favorite bakery, picking up an assortment of pastries and coffee as a surprise.

Twenty minutes later, he was standing outside Kira’s apartment, a box of still-warm pastries in one hand and a tray of coffee in the other. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, suddenly nervous. Before he could second-guess himself any further, the door swung open, revealing a slightly disheveled Kira. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and she wore a pair of yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt that hung off one shoulder. Nash’s mouth went dry at the sight of her, his brain short-circuiting for a moment.

“Nash, hey,” Kira said, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the coffee and pastries. “What’s all this?”

Nash grinned, holding out the box like a peace offering. “I thought I’d surprise you with some treats from your favorite bakery,” he said.

“But how did you know my favorite bakery?”

He laughed. “I’m a computer geek. Information is what I do. And when it comes to you, I want to know everything.”