The Luna’s Choice

Chapter 109: Theo

I held Ayla’s hand as we left the apartment. We weren’t two feet out the door when I heard my mother.
“There you are,” she said brightly, excitement radiating off of her. I wanted to roll my eyes. She knew exactly where we were. She grabbed Ayla and pulled her into an embrace. “The packhouse is buzzing with the wonderful news. I can’t tell you how happy this makes me.”

““Thank you, Luna,” Ayla replied.

“Oh, honey, for the last time, it’s Grace,” Mom insisted. “After all, we’ re family now. Besides, that title belongs to you now, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

“Not quite yet,” Ayla said.

Mom waved her off. “Formalities,” she said. “Speaking of which, I think it’s time to plan your introduction to the pack.”

“My what?” Ayla asked.

“I think this Saturday will do,” Mom said. “That should be plenty of time to get the word out. Annabelle can help with the menu. Ooh, we’ Il have to go shopping for a dress. There’s so much to do.”

Ayla had gone a little pale, so I stepped in.

“Mom,” I said with a smile, “can we have a minute alone? She’ll know where to find you.’
”

She looked between the two of us. “Oh, yes, of course. Forgive me.

You come find ine when you’re done.”
–
She gave Ayla another big hug before bustling off to do what my mother does best — planning a party. I turned to Ayla, who looked a little like a deer in headlights.

“I guess I didn’t realize when you said the secret was out that it was, like, out-out,” she mumbled.

I laughed, wrapping my arms around her waist. “Yeah, Mom loves an event. It is a tradition to have a big gathering for the pack to come and meet the ranking member’s mates. Mina had one, too.”

“Yeah, she mentioned that,” Ayla said. “I guess I didn’t think about it.”

“Hey,” I said, k*ssing her nose, “if you don’t want to do it, we won’t do it.”

“No,” she said with a smile, “I want to. It’ll be good for us. If we don’t, it may seem like I have something to hide.”

I hated she had to think that way, but part of me knew she was right. There would still be some members that would question what happened. People did like Kylee. We had support for our mating despite us not being fated. That would have an impact.

“Besides, I think it would break your mother’s heart if I declined,” Ayla pointed out.

“Yeah, you’re probably right with that one.” I k*ssed her firmly and deeply. “Don’t worry, babe. Mom has it under control. Just go with the flow, and don’t let her talk you into anything you don’t want.”

“Okay,” Ayla sighed with a smile. “I can do that.”

“Good,” I replied. “I have to go to the precinct for a while.”

“Randall still not talking?”

I shook my head. “No, he’s smarter than we gave him credit for. He’s either able to withstand my commands, or he gives vague, useless answers. But we’ll break him. I’ll be back this evening. Have dinner with me?”

“Hmm, I don’t know,” Ayla teased. “Will it be as good as the last one?”

“I can make sure it ends as good as the last one,” I insinuated, grazing my l*ps along her jaw to her neck.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

“Oh, then I guess you can count me in,” she said.

I nipped her ear with a growl, making her laugh.

“Okay, okay, you better get going,” she instructed, pushing me away.

I k*ssed her one last time before leaving her to join my mother. I walked through the packhouse happier than I had any right to be. But I was determined not to mess this up again. I would prove to the goddess that she was right to give me a second chance with Ayla.

I left the packhouse grounds and headed into the city. Alex was waiting for me when I entered the precinct.

“Any change?” I asked as he joined in step with me.

“No,” he grunted. “But we may have a lead on his car. Something in those files led him to your office. If he has it, I’m betting that’s where it is.”

“Where are you thinking he stashed it?”

I stepped into the observation booth for the interrogation room Randall was being held in. He looked like hell. Withstanding an Alpha’s command, even when it’s not your Alpha, takes a heavy toll. I have to be careful how I use it as well. If he’s fighting this hard, I run the risk of breaking his mind if I push too hard too fast. I needed to find his weakness to break his determination.

“We found a bank charge for a cabin rental not far outside the city. We think he stashed it somewhere near there and traveled back on foot.”

We already knew he had gotten to the packhouse in his wolf form. He had been wearing clothes from our stashes when he was caught. But that hadn’t really given us enough to know where he had come from. This was at least something to go on.

I looked at the man on the other side of the glass. He was on a mission. And it wasn’t personal. His actions, his evasiveness, his skill all told me that he was sent here for a reason that was above him. He had become less concerned for himself since we had captured him. He may believe in whatever he is a part of, but he’s not acting on his own accord. I didn’t think it would take much to get us on the right track. Once we found one piece of evidence, he would start to panic.

“Have you sent a team to search yet?” I asked Alex, not taking my eyes off Randall.

“No, we were waiting for you,” he confirmed.

“Good,” I said. “I’m going with.”