Chapter 208

Chapter 58: Theo We met our men outside to set a plan.

“Briggs and I will be going to the sheriff’s house. Jimmy, you take a few wolves back to the meeting spot and see who you can track down from there,” I commanded. “The rest of you split up into groups of three. Jimmy will link you any names he has. Start at their houses and hunt them down from there.”

“Don’t attack unless they do,” Briggs said. “Until we understand their loyalties, they are only to be questioned. They are still our pack members.”

“Let me know as soon you have them in custody,” I said.

Briggs and I headed to my car and I sped out of the parking lot. I hoped I was hiding my rage as well as I hoped I was. Sherrif Hawkins was a veteran from my father’s time as Alpha. We had had our disagreements in the past. He had always been a bit old–fashioned. But he didn’t have enough power to do any harm and he was loyal – or so I thought – so our differences didn’t seem like enough to take a man’s position.

That would change now.

“Theo, you understand how delicate this situation is, right?” Briggs said, his eyes falling on my white–knuckled grip on the steering wheel. “If he’s not speaking out against you as Alpha...”

“Loyalty to their Luna comes hand–in–hand with loyalty to me,” I said through gritted teeth/

“Hawkins is loyal to your family...”

“Ayla is my family,” I interjected.

“Theo, I’m trying really hard not to point out the obvious, but her taking the role as Luna hasn’t exactly been universally accepted,” Briggs shot back.

He was talking about what I had done with Kylee. The rumors that had spread after Ayla and my relationship came out would have caused doubts in Ayla’s character. I thought I had put those doubts to rest, but I guess we hadn’t been as thorough as I had hoped.

“Right now, we just need to get to Hawkins and find out what the f*ck he’s planning,” I said.

“Agreed,” Briggs said.

I pulled into the clubhouse parking lot of Hawkins‘ neighborhood and parked around the back where it was dark. I wasn’t sure if he would be home yet and I didn’t want to tip him off if he came back after us. We walked the short distance to his house, keeping out of sight as much as possible. The place was quiet and all the lights were off.

“His mate’s car is in the garage,” Briggs said as he peered through the windows.

I knocked on the door. After a couple of tries, I heard movement from inside. A moment later, Angela, his mate, opened the door.

“Alpha?” she said worriedly. “What are you doing here? Is something wrong? Has something happened to Bill?”

“May we come in?”

“Of course,” she replied.

I didn’t really wait for an answer and was already on the foyer, listening for any signs the Hawkins was actually there somewhere. I didn’t sense anything. The house appeared to be in order as well, so I didn’t think he had already come and gone. Besides, I didn’t think he’d leave his mate behind if he was going to run.

“Don’t turn the lights on,” Briggs said, stopping Angela as she reached for the switch.

“What’s going on?” she asked again, pulling her robe tighter around her.

“Do you know what your mate has been up to lately?” I replied. “Outside of his job requirements, that is.”

“I... I’m not sure what you mean,” she said.

“Angela,” I warned. She was lying. It was obvious.

She recoiled slightly, her shoulders falling. “Whatever he is doing, it’s to protect you and your family.”

“Bullshit,” I snapped. “Do you know what he is involved in?” I commanded.

“All I know is that someone came to him with information on a threat to the...”

“Shut up, Angela,” a voice burst through the room. Bill Hawkins emerged from the shadows of a back room. I had sensed him come in the back door. “Alpha Theo, Beta Briggs. I a s s u m e you’re looking for me.”

It took everything in my power not to launch myself across the room at him.

“Sit,” I forced through gritted teeth, indicating the chair Briggs had 46.11%

moved to the middle of the room.

Hawkins did as he was told.

“I would like to start off by saying that my loyalty to you or your father has not changed, Alpha Theo,” he said.

“Then why did my Gamma find you in a meeting plotting against our Luna?”

Angela gasped from the corner.

Bill shook his head. “She’s not our Luna, sir.”

I advanced toward him, but Briggs stopped me.

“Ayla Garner is Alpha Theo’s fated mate,” Briggs said, holding my shoulder firmly. “She is our destined Luna. What makes you think she’ s not? Who has told you otherwise?”

“Alpha Theo,” Hawkins replied coolly.

“Excuse me?” I spat.

“You accepted and announced Kylee Garner as your mate and Luna,” he insisted. “For over a year, she was your fated mate...”

“She was never my fated mate,” I bellowed. “I never once said that.”

“Then why does half the pack believe that?”

“Kylee lied,” Briggs said. “Regardless, Theo has marked Ayla. She is fulfilling the role in an exceptional way. Why question her legitimacy? What kind of threat is she supposed to be?”

“Ayla’s the one lying, sir,” he said confidently. “She has done something to manipulate her way into being our Luna. I know you don‘

t want to hear it, but it’s the truth.”

“You have no idea what the truth is, Hawkins,” I stated, “Kylee is the one who manipulated her way into my life. I was stupid and blind. She‘ s anything but worthy of being a Luna. If you truly knew anything about either of them, you’d see that.”

“Okay,” Hawkins replied. “Let’s say Kylee isn’t your fated mate either. If she was capable of manipulating you like that, why wouldn’t you believe Ayla was also capable of it as well?”

Briggs grabbed me again.

“We know exactly who Ayla is,” he confirmed. “We aren’t here to entertain the contrary. All we want to know is who told you she was a threat and why you believe them over your Alpha.”

“Because her father set you up.”