SWNOVELS Chapter 36
Chapter 36: Theo
I stood in the middle of the office. She had paused outside the door. She knew it was me.
When she finally opened the door, she looked at me with no expression on her face. But her eyes told me a lot was going on inside her. She was still beautiful. And s*xy as hell in a business skirt and blouse that accentuated every curve. I felt my resolve sl*p for a moment.
“Theo, what are you doing here?” she asked calmly.
My anger and determination were renewed as I remembered my purpose for coming here. I held up a large envelope.
“I’m here to deliver these,” I said, dropping it on her desk. “I wanted to personally make sure you got them.”
She walked over to her desk. I finally noticed the walking boot on her leg and had to push back the wave of quilt and
concern.
Looking at me, she picked up the envelope. “What is this?”
“That would be your court summons and a copy of the warrant for your arrest.”
Shock flooded her face. “Excuse me?” she asked. “And what on earth have I supposedly done now?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Ayla,” I said, stepping closer. “You didn’t really think we wouldn’t know you took the money, did you? You cut your ties, so you took every dime your mother
Chapter 35: Theo
had so you could run away.”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. But then she started laughing bitterly and shaking her head.
“I should have known she would have put this on me,” she said, sitting at her desk and typing something into the computer.
“Don’t try to blame Kylee.”
Her head snapped up at me and she stood back up. “I wasn’t. I was talking about Ma. But thank you for correcting me in assuming who accused me of taking it.”
The printer kicked on and started spitting out papers. Then another scent hit me, and it took everything to smother the growl building in my chest.
“Ayla, what’s going on?” Kingston came walking in. He froze when he made eye contact with me. His jaw clenched as he quickly pushed his own anger aside. “Alpha Theo, I’m
disappointed that Beta Briggs wasn’t able to get my message across.”
I didn’t respond. I watched him swagger his way over to Ayla, putting himself partially between us and entirely too close to her.
“What is this about, Ayla?” he asked.
“Apparently, my mother has managed to drink and gamble away the last of the money I sent her already,” Ayla said, not breaking eye contact with me. “Except she’s saying I stole it from her instead. So Theo has decided to press charges on her behalf.”
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Chapter 36. Thas
Kingston turned on me. He was about to come for me, Ayla grabbed his arm.
“Stop,” she said.
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but
I would have gladly taken him on. I didn’t care if it was his territory or not. I wanted to tear the b*stard apart.
The sound of the printer faded, and Ayla grabbed the papers off the tray.
“What are you doing?” Kingston asked.
Looking at me, she set the stack on the desk in front of me. “That’s three years’ worth of bank statements.”
Kingston put his hand on the pile. “Ayla, you don’t have to do this,” he insisted. The hand he put around her waist nearly sent me over the edge. “If this foolish pup isn’t smart enough to check your mother’s bank records before pressing charges…”
“What did you just say?” I was done with this a*shole.
“You heard exactly what…”
“Stop it. Both of you,” Ayla yelled, walking around the desk and handing me the bank statements. “Three years is more than enough to prove that I not only didn’t take a thing from my mother but that I had absolutely no reason to. I’d go back. ten, but that would be a bit overkill.”
Kingston managed a smirk at her words, but his eyes were full of disgust toward me. The feeling was mutual. What kind of Alpha preys on a woman in Ayla’s position?
There was a knock as someone came to the door.
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“Ayla, sweetie,” a woman said, “I’ve got those stats I wanted to review with you. Just come next door whenever you’re ready.”
Ayla changed her expression, putting on a polite smile as she answered. “I’ll be right there, Erica. Just finishing up.
“And Theo,” Ayla said once the woman was gone. She picked up the envelope off her desk and walked up to me, shoving it into my chest. “I can guarantee I won’t be needing these.”
Tingles erupted beneath her hand. Even through the fabric of my shirt, I was affected by her touch. She pulled her hand back and walked out of the office without another word.
As I watched her leave, I felt Kingston approach me.
“She’s not yours anymore,” he said quietly.
“You don’t get to decide that,” I snarled.
“Oh, but I do,” he replied. “Ayla is a member of my pack, and I will protect her.”
His words hit me like a freight train. I had been so distracted by her that I didn’t realize she didn’t have the scent of a rogue.
She had already joined his pack.
He continued to speak. “I know you’re about to find out exactly how big a mistake you’ve made. But I’m only going to say this once, stay away from her. You’re not welcome on my lands. The threats end now.”
My blood ran cold. “What threats?”
“Don’t,” Kingston growled as he got in my face. “Ayla may not believe they’re from you, but I know better.”
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Chapter 36 Thro
“I would never threaten Ayla,” I hissed.
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“No?” Kingston said. “Oh, yeah, that’s right. You just keep her bound to you so you can rip her apart while you f*ck her sister.”
My fist made impact before I even knew what I was doing. Kieran had flown to the forefront, fighting to take control of the shift. Kingston straightened up, his eyes glowing yellow and his canines extended. He moved to lunge at me, but Ayla appeared between us.
“What the hell is the matter with you two?” she yelled. “Theo, get out.”
“Not until this a*shole tells me who’s threatening you,” I growled.
Ayla looked back at Kingston. I couldn’t see her face, but I knew she wasn’t happy. She looked back at me.
“That’s none of your concern, Theo,” she said.
“Ayla…”
“I’m not a Greytooth anymore,” she insisted. “I’m not your problem. So just go.”
Her eyes pleaded with me. I was hurting her again.
I left the office, ignoring the sound of Kingston comforting her behind me.