Page 8 of Pack and Forth
It was a far cry from his usual alpha male persona, but for Kira, he’d gladly shake it off and embrace his inner Swiftie. Anything to see that radiant smile directed his way.
The image of Kira’s smile sent warmth blooming through his chest, chasing away the lingering tension of the day. She was a rare find, a woman who could match him in strength and determination, but who also had a tender heart and a zest for life. He couldn’t wait to unravel her secrets, to discover all the little quirks and qualities that made her uniquely Kira.
His phone rang and he picked it up.
“Hi, Father,” he said, the lightness of his conversation with Nash replaced by the usual alpha command he carried like a shield.
“Your mother and I are waiting on you for dinner.”
He glanced at his watch. Fuck. He’d gotten himself worked up with thoughts of Kira and plans of romancing her. His bi-weekly dinner with his parents slipped his mind.
“I won’t be able to make it tonight. I got caught up in the office.” It wasn’t a lie. He was still at the office.
“I understand, son.” His father’s voice lightened. One thing his father was okay with was being a workaholic. He still worked on his own side project now that he was a retired alpha much more than he spent time with his mother. Good thing his mother had Kyle, the third in his parents’ triad and his father’s beta who gave his mother the connection his father failed to.
Rex clenched his jaw as he thought about that. He was determined not to be like his father. To be committed to his mate and make the effort to be involved in his mate’s life and in their relationship. Unlike other triads, Rex and Nash got along great. Not only were they birth bonded, they were best friends.
Rex and Nash understood their individual and joint roles in their pack. Like every beta part of an alpha triad, Nash was sterile and unable to have his own children, which meant the alpha line would be the only one growing through the triad. Rex hated that Nash couldn’t have kids and had always felt bad about that.
He knew Nash had grown up used to the idea he could not have kids, but Rex loved Nash like a brother and knew he would make a great dad. Good thing he’d be part of Rex’s kids’ lives so he could be as involved as any other father.
FOUR
Kira stared at the case files strewn across her desk, trying to focus on the details of the investigation. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept drifting to thoughts of Rex Stone and Nash Jeter. The two men had made quite an impression on her during their first meeting, and despite her best efforts to maintain a professional distance, Kira couldn’t shake the intense attraction she felt for them both.
Her lioness was restless, pushing her toward the two wolves, urging her to explore the connection further. But Kira’s human side was conflicted and wary. She had always prided herself on her independence and self-reliance, and the idea of giving in to her baser instincts made her uncomfortable.
With a frustrated sigh, Kira pushed back from her desk and stood, stretching her arms above her head. She needed to clear her mind and refocus on the task at hand. Gerri Wilder was counting on her to solve this case and put a stop to the fraudster who was sabotaging her business.
Just as Kira was about to sit, the sound of her doorbell echoed through the apartment. Frowning, she glanced at the clock. It was still early, and she wasn’t expecting any visitors. Curiosity piqued, she made her way to the front door and opened it to find Rex Stone standing on her doorstep.
“Good morning, Kira,” he greeted her with a charming smile, holding up a cup of coffee and a paper bag. “I brought you your favorite coffee and a coffee cake. Thought you might need a little pick-me-up before we get started.”
Kira blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his unexpected appearance. “Rex, what are you doing here?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the way her heart raced at the sight of him.
Rex shrugged, his confident demeanor making it clear that he wasn’t taking no for an answer. “I’m here to help you with the investigation, of course. We’re in this together, remember?”
Kira hesitated, torn between wanting to push him away and wanting him close. Her lioness was thrilled by his presence, practically purring with satisfaction. But Kira’s rational mind struggled to maintain control, reminding her that getting involved with a client was a bad idea.
“I appreciate the offer, Rex, but I really don’t need any help,” she said, trying to sound firm. “I’m perfectly capable of handling this on my own.”
Rex raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I have no doubt about that, Kira. But two heads are better than one, right? Besides, Nash and I have a vested interest in seeing this case solved quickly. The sooner we catch this fraudster, the sooner we can put this whole mess behind us.”
Kira sighed, realizing he had a point. As much as she hated to admit it, having Rex’s help could be valuable. And if she was being honest with herself, the idea of spending more time with him was not exactly a hardship.
“Fine,” she relented, stepping back to let him inside. “But let’s keep things professional, okay? We’re here to work, not to socialize.”
Rex grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Whatever you say, boss.”
As he brushed past her, Kira caught a whiff of his scent - a heady mix of pine and musk that made her knees go weak. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her body reacted to his proximity. This was going to be a long day.
They settled in at Kira’s kitchen table, the case files spread out before them. Rex handed Kira her coffee, and she took a grateful sip, savoring the rich, bold flavor. He had even gotten her preferred blend and how she liked it prepared. The small gesture touched her more than she cared to admit. How he knew, she didn’t want to know.
“So, where do we start?” Rex asked, leaning forward to study the files.
Kira pulled out a list of the mismatched couples, the ones who had been set up by the fraudster posing as Gerri. “I think our best bet is to interview these people and see if we can find any common threads or clues that might lead us to the culprit.”
Rex nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Good thinking. We should also look into any disgruntled employees or clients Gerri might have had in the past. Someone with a grudge against her would have motive to want to sabotage her business.”