Chapter 215

Chapter 65: Theo “Kingston will be here later today,” I told Alpha Harden over the phone the next morning. “I’ll keep him here until you arrive. I don’t think it will be a problem.

“Good,” Harden replied. “Cooper will be coming with me, of course. He’ll have the best information to approach the other packs with. I do suggest you go ahead and reach out to Alpha Vincent. Cooper worked with him recently with a Waar P ak situation. He doesn’t know it was Waar P ak, but I think it’s safe to bring him in.”

“That’s concerning,” I said. Alpha Vincent was the leader of the Dawnfall Pack. Their land bordered ours to the west. “It sounds like the Waar P ak are surrounding us.”

Harden sighed. “It has been considered, but we didn’t have enough to bring to you yet.”

“We’ll add it to the agenda,” I stated. “I’ll contact Alpha Vincent. If I can get all of you here together, it will go a long way to getting his support. I’ll keep you updated.”

“We’ll see you soon,” Harden said.

I hung up the phone and leaned over my desk, pinching the bridge of my nose to ease the headache. I was exhausted. I wouldn’t have been able to sleep last night even if Ayla hadn’t been up and down vomiting all night. It was hard enough. seeing her going through that. The worry that something would happen to either her or our baby was gnawing.

A knock on the door pulled me out of my commiseration. It was Mina.

“Come in,” I called.

She entered with a box in her hands.

“Whoa,” she said. “You look like sh it.”

“Ha,” I scoffed. “Your baby cousin is keeping their mom and dad up already. I wonder which side of the family that comes from?”

“Yours, of course,” she teased, setting the box down on the credenza. “I come baring gifts.”

I stood from my desk and crossed the room, watching as she started to remove the contents.

“What’s all this?”

“Well, the lab had been pretty focused on our project,” Mina explained. “As per our agreement, they have been doing their own developments.” She opened a small case and showed me the patches we had found on Ayla before. “These have been modified. Instead of blocking the mind-link, you can use them to link with anyone wearing one. That should help with cross- pack communication.”

“That definitely can,” I confirmed.

“We reformulated the de-scenting spray,” she continued. “It still shouldn’t be used long term, but it’s safer than what Harry was using and more effective than the police standard. There are a few other things in here that weren’t from Harry’s work, but I thought could be helpful.”

“This is fantastic, Mina,” I said. “Thank you. We’ll definitely put all this to use.”

“There’s something else I think you’ll be eager to learn,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest with a smug look.

“What’s that?”

“We have all agreed that Harry didn’t do all of this by himself,” she said. “He had to be working with someone.”

“Yeah, or working for someone,” I agreed. “The Waar P ak, from the looks of things.”

Mina nodded. “Yes, well, one of the techs at our company recognized some of the engineering. He thinks he knows who was responsible for it and – who they work for.”

“He thinks?” I asked sternly. “How does he know this?”

“He’s been thoroughly vetted,” Mina assured me. “In fact, he was all too happy to give the information once he was sure. So, I did some digging.”

“And?”

“And Harry’s contact is an engineer working for a research and development firm in the Moonshadow Pack,” Mina said. “And guess who one of their primary shareholders?”

I scoffed. “Charles Anderson.”

Mina nodded. “Mhmm. His niece and nephew have a stake as well.”

I wasn’t surprised, but it was unexpected. If it was anyone else, I would have been enraged. But my dislike for Anderson and his family just made me grateful for a reason to be rid of them.

“We’ll have to try to prove their part of the Waar P ak before we can move against them,” I said.

“It also begs the question of whether Alpha Anthony is a member also,” Mina said. “Charles was his father’s Delta as well. The fact that he maintains that position even now suggests a close relationship.”

“He’s definitely a concern,” I concurred. “We’ll discuss it in our meeting with Harden and Kingston. Thank you, Mina. Seriously, this has been a huge help.”

“Anything for family,” she replied with a smile. “And genuinely, you look exhausted. Why don’t you get some rest before everyone gets here?”

“I’ve got to go to the cellar,” I said. “But I’m sure Ayla would be grateful for your company if you have time to stop by and see her.”

“I’ll be bringing them lunch in a little while,” she informed me. She paused for a moment. “Briggs told me what you’re doing with Hawkins. You’re not starting to believe him are you?”

“Of course not,” I rushed.

I was shocked, and a little insulted, that she would ask. But then I realized it was a reasonable question. With my history, I wouldn’t expect Mina to ever fully trust my judgment when it came to Ayla. That doubt would always be there. As much as it may pain me, I had to accept that.

I sighed. “I understand how complicated this will be,” I said, leaning against the credenza. “I hate having to do this. /

Probably more than you. And not just because of the outward implications. I can’t imagine distancing myself from Ayla right now.

In any situation.”

“Are you worried the space will start to change your mind?”

I scoffed. “No, not at all,” I assured her. “I just hate the idea of her facing any part of this without me.”

Mina rested a hand on my arm. “She won’t be alone, Theo. None of us would ever let that happen. You just focus on getting this over with. So we can all get on with our lives.”