Brother Wolf

Ch 22 Kinsmen

We followed Lone Wolf into the ground-floor manager's office. An older man was shoving ledgers into a briefcase while a younger man stood to the side, arguing with him. "I still don't understand why you have to leave. A few more months and I'll have my degree. Why can't you just wait..."

Our entrance interrupted the younger man. The older man looked like a deer caught in headlights for a second. His eyes went to my face, then to Lone Wolf's, before settling on Maximus. The man swallowed hard, lowering his eyes. When the younger man started to move toward us, the older one put out an arm, stopping him.

Maximus stepped forward, his hands clenched into fists. Not knowing how much the younger man knew, I reached forward to stop Maximus, but the older man was faster. With a thud, the man fell to his knees, blocking Maximus from the younger man. The older man held the briefcase before him like an offering.

"My lord," he began, looking up at Maximus, but also glancing at Lone Wolf. "I heard there were strangers. Alpha commanded me to protect our records."

"Our old alpha is dead. This is the king. He is in command now," Maximus ground out, seething at what looked like a betrayal by someone he had trusted. "You will explain your actions, Omega Stephen."

"Dead," the older man repeated with a look of surprise flashing across his face for a moment before looking up sharply between Maximus and Lone Wolf.

I caught Lone Wolf's slight shake of his head and smelled his subtle changes in emotions that spoke of a state of heightened alert. I could tell the two knew each other and most likely had some sort of working arrangement. I focused on Steven. The older man smelled of distress and apprehension, putting me on alert.

"You've no right to call me an omega," Steven complained bitterly. "I never should have been part of your pack. He..."

Steven stopped himself, glancing behind him at the young man. "We should speak in private, lord. Steve, go back home and wait for me."

The younger man hesitated, eyeing our group in the now-crowded office, looking reluctant to leave the older man alone with us.

"Wait outside," I commanded. "We shouldn't be long, and you deserve some answers."

The younger Steve opened his mouth, but a head shake from his elder had the young man give me a slow nod. He squeezed between Arctic and Cherokee, closing the door behind him. I didn't doubt he would try to eavesdrop.

"Tell me your story," I ordered the older Steven, "as briefly as you can, beginning with exactly who you are. After that, explain what's in the briefcase. And stand up already," I added in exasperation, "I can't hold a conversation with someone who's kneeling before me like that."

Steven glanced at Maximus, getting a nod from the young Alpha, before hauling himself upright. The man set the briefcase slowly on the office desk, stepping away from it. For a moment, the way he dropped his head, I thought he was going to go back to his knees. Steven surprised me, though. After looking down for a moment, he looked up, squaring his shoulders and looking me directly in the eyes.

"I am Steven Wallingford," he declared, having gathered his courage, "and according to the old contract, this building is now mine. Get out," he spat.

"Yours? This is my territory," Maximus snarled, stepping forward again, raising his arm as if to strike Steven.

I moved forward to block him even as Steven flinched. "No hitting," I reminded Maximus. I repressed a growl as I turned to Steven. "Tell me about this contract."

"The original is in that briefcase," Steven said as his body trembled. "His side of the family rules the top. My side controls the bottom. The agreement is that we don't interfere with each other. But that bastard... he's really dead?"