Page 5 of Pack and Forth
“I won’t say it again,” the woman hissed, her hand darting out to grab Kira’s arm in a vise-like grip. “Leave. Now.”
Instinct took over, and Kira reacted with lightning speed. She wrenched her arm free, the woman’s nails leaving angry red marks on her skin. In a blur of motion, Kira swept the woman’s legs out from under her, sending her tumbling to the ground in an undignified heap.
The woman let out a grunt of pain, but she was far from defeated. She rolled to her feet with the grace of a predator, her teeth bared in a feral snarl. Lunging at Kira, she unleashed a flurry of blows, her fists seeking to connect with any part of Kira’s body she could reach.
Kira dodged and weaved, her own hands striking out with precision. Nails raked across skin, leaving stinging scratches in their wake. Fists connected with jaws, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing in the air. It was a dance of dominance, a primal battle for supremacy.
The scuffle was brief but intense, both women fueled by the need to assert their power. Kira’s lioness roared within her, demanding submission from the insolent wolf. With a final, well-placed kick, Kira sent the woman sprawling once more.
Standing over her opponent, Kira felt a rush of satisfaction. She was breathing hard, her heart racing with the thrill of the fight. A few scratches adorned her skin, but they were badges of honor, proof of her victory.
The woman glared up at her, hatred burning in her eyes. “This isn’t over,” she spat, her words filled with venom.
Kira smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, I think it is,” she replied, her voice dripping with condescension. “Next time, think twice before you lay a hand on me.”
With that, Kira stepped over the woman’s prone form and entered the building, her head held high. The confrontation had only served to fuel her determination. She had a job to do, and no uppity she-wolf was going to stand in her way.
As she strode through the lobby, Kira couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. If this was the welcome she received, she could only imagine what other surprises the Blood Stone Pack had in store for her. The sleek, modern interior contrasted sharply with the wildness outside. She was led to a spacious office where two men awaited her—Rex, a towering figure with broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes, and Nash, leaner with an easy smile and mischievous green eyes.
As Kira stepped into the office, the atmosphere shifted, the air becoming charged with an electric current that seemed to hum through her veins. She found herself standing before two men who couldn’t have been more different, yet each exuded a magnetism that was impossible to ignore.
“Gentlemen. I’m Kira Cress. Ms. Wilder hired me to investigate fraudulent use of her company’s image.”
“I’m Rex,” one of the men said. “He’s Nash.”
Rex, the taller of the two, commanded attention with his mere presence. His broad shoulders and chiseled features were like those of a warrior carved from stone, his piercing blue eyes holding a depth that promised both danger and passion. He radiated an alpha aura that made Kira’s lioness sit up and take notice, a primal pull that she couldn’t quite explain.
Nash, on the other hand, had a leaner build and an easy smile that hinted at a quick wit and a mischievous nature. His green eyes sparkled with intelligence, a keen intellect that Kira found herself immediately drawn to. He had an air of confidence that was different from Rex’s, more subtle but no less alluring.
Rex stared at her face. “What happened to you?”
She frowned. “I’m sorry?”
“There’s a scratch on your chin.”
She wiped at her chin and sighed. “Side effects of this job, I’m afraid.”
“You’re sure?” Rex’s gaze bore into hers and she sensed his concern. It would have been touching had she not been so turned on just by his and Nash’s presence.
As Kira began to explain the purpose of her visit, she found herself struggling to maintain her focus. The room seemed to crackle with tension, an instant chemistry that set her nerves on fire. It was as if an invisible force was pulling her toward these two men, a magnetic attraction that defied logic and reason.
Rex leaned forward, his gaze intense and unwavering. “So, you’re the private investigator handling the fraudulent matches,” he said, his deep voice sending shivers down Kira’s spine. “I have to say, I wasn’t expecting someone quite so... intriguing.”
Kira raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Intriguing? I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or a cause for concern.”
Nash chuckled, the sound rich and warm. “Oh, it’s definitely a compliment,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “It’s not every day we have a beautiful lioness walk into our den.”
Kira felt a flush creep up her neck, but she refused to let it show. “Flattery will get you nowhere, gentlemen,” she said, her voice firm despite the butterflies in her stomach. “I’m here strictly for business.”
Rex leaned back in his chair, a predatory smile on his face. “Of course, we wouldn’t dream of mixing business with pleasure,” he said, his tone laced with suggestion. “But you can’t blame us for appreciating the view.”
Kira’s lioness purred in approval, drawn to the alpha male’s confidence and charm. She had to remind herself that she was here for a reason, that she couldn’t let herself be distracted by the intoxicating presence of this duo.
“Let’s focus on the task at hand, shall we?” she said, trying to steer the conversation back to safer territory. “I need to know everything you can tell me about these fraudulent matches.”
Rex nodded. “We’ve had several complaints from our pack members,” he said, sliding a folder across the desk towards Kira. “We also had a mismatch of sorts.”
As Kira reached for the folder, her fingers brushed against Rex’s, and a jolt of electricity shot through her. She jerked her hand back, startled by the intensity of the sensation.