Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Parker, I’ve never laid eyes on this woman before,” Rob began, talking about Soraya, “but I’m going to give you some advice. You’re going to want to cut ties with her right now. If your document was based on her giving good head, then your role on the council isn’t the only thing you need to worry about.”
The guy, Parker, blanched and looked to Soraya as if determining whether the BJ really was worth it.
“Yes, Alpha,” he said, then tucked tail and… ran. Right out the door.
Holy shit.
I could guess what an alpha was. Rob did radiate quiet authority. Power. But every time I met Rob Wolf, he was so chill. Of course, none of his alpha-ness had been directed my way. But seeing that guy cower and literally flee…
Impressive.
Soraya wasn’t as smart. She remained, her hands on her hips, and she somehow managed to both smirk and glare at the same time.
There was a knock on the still-open door.
Soraya smiled. “Good, the sheriff’s here. Now this will all be resolved.”
35
WES
For the first time in over twenty-four hours, I could breathe again.
My mate was beside me. The council member had left.
Now we just had the sheriff to deal with, and with any luck–
In walked the deputy sheriff, Kyle Abbott, followed by the sheriff of Cooper Valley, Levi, who happened to be a shifter, packmate, and friend.
I took great satisfaction in watching Soraya’s self-satisfied little smile droop when she caught a whiff of Levi.
That’s right, bitch. The Sheriff of Cooper Valley is a wolf.
Joy didn’t know that, though, and she stepped forward, and held out her hand to halt them. “Sheriff, Deputy, I don’t know what this woman told you, but it’s all lies.”
Levi took off his hat and studied Joy. “I’m aware.”
Soraya’s jaw went slack at his words.
Kyle Abbott, the deputy sheriff, was a human, but his daughter, Riley, was mated to Cody, one of our packmates. He knew and kept our shifter secret.
Whatever tale Soraya had spun must’ve been to Kyle because she wouldn’t have known he was a wolf. She’d wanted to pit a human on this but chose the wrong one. Clearly, Kyle went to Clint with the complaint, and they put it together.
Because they hadn’t bought a word of it. Thank fuck.
Kyle looked at Soraya. “Ma’am, did you know it’s a crime to file a false police report?”
I smelled desperation on Soraya. She stabbed a finger in my direction. “He kidnapped my daughter from me when she was a baby. I just now found her, and I demand that you arrest him!” Her voice was shrill.
Kyle Abbott propped a shoulder against my door frame in a casual stance. “Remind me,” he drawled slowly, “What is the penalty for filing a false report with a peace officer in Montana again, Sheriff?”
“Up to six months in prison in the county jail,” Levi answered.
Soraya’s upper lip curled. “A prison wouldn’t hold me.”
“Nah, it probably wouldn’t,” Johnny interjected. “That’s where I come in.” He took a menacing step toward her. “As enforcer.”
Shifter enforcers carried out the sentences of the council. Because human prisons couldn’t hold our kind, those sentences were usually capital punishment. Johnny may be young, but he’d seen more death than I had, even working the rodeo.
That threat did the trick. Soraya shot toward the door, bumping into Kyle.
“My suggestion to you,” I said, glancing at Remy’s sweet face. “Is that you stop traumatizing your daughter by threatening to take her from her loving family.” I glanced at Joy to make sure she was on board. That we were a family–the three of us.
As always, those perfect lips of hers tipped up in a smile.
“If you ever hope she’ll find it in her heart to give you a distribution from her inheritance,” I added.
A carrot and a stick.
Soraya’s nervous glance went from Remy’s face to mine then to Johnny’s. “Remy, Mommy loves you,” she said.
“Oh, please,” Joy muttered with an eye roll.
Remy reached for Joy, and I transferred her over to my mate. “This is my mommy.”
“I know.” Soraya had taken my suggestion. “But I’m your other mommy. And I love you very much.”
“Okay, byeeee,” Joy cut in.
Soraya flicked a glance at Kyle, and he took his time moving out of the threshold of the door, so she could get through.
“Mommy will come and visit you all the time, okay, baby?”
“Byeeeee,” Remy mimicked Joy’s dismissal.
Levi and Rob chuckled. It was probably not the best thing for her to have learned, but like most everything a four-year-old did, it was damn cute.
Soraya went out the door, and Kyle shut it behind her. “Byeeee,” he said. “I think that’s the last we’ll see of her.”
Rob nodded, offering a smile. “I agree.”
Remy giggled.
So did Joy.
Then, unbelievably, I found myself laughing, too.
It was over.
Remy was still here. So was Joy.
All the crushing despair of the last day disappeared. Even the longer-term, familiar weight and solitude of carrying this two-person family on my own for the past four years lifted away.