Chapter Thirty-One
Rafe
My tiny office had never been so packed or so quiet as it was when I hung up the phone. Zade and Clint were still in the chairs opposite my desk and the far wall was lined with my usual back up – Bane, Snake, Whiner, Jackal and, of course, where Jackal went, so went Vlad. Still, even with nearly every square inch of the room packed, you could have heard a pin drop when I dropped the telephone receiver back into the cradle with aclunk.
I looked around at the congregated beings and shook my head. "That office is short staffed right now, so unless we have actual proof instead of just suspicions, they don't have the manpower to investigate."
Everyone groaned in unison and I held up my hand to stave off the complaints that I knew would come at the tail end. "But we are more than welcome to send a crew to investigate."
"That's pretty far out of our jurisdiction," Whiner said skeptically.
"True," I agreed. "But we have their blessings, so.."
"We're really going to head out of state to see if there is a problem?" Jackal said dubiously. "Oof!"
Next to him, Vlad's signature caftan – this one a neutral beige covered in palm trees, but, as usual, nearly transparent – fluttered as his elbow was planted firmly in his husband's side before he stepped forward. "Of course, we have to help! I'd like to volunteer."
I smothered a smile – since vetting into the pack, Vlad was always one of the first to volunteer for any mission, regardless of danger or necessary skill set. "Thank you, Vlad." I nodded seriously and scribbled his name on the notepad in front of me. "As soon as we form a plan, I'll match volunteers to available assignments. In the meantime, you're all excused." I caught Whiner's eyes. "Council meeting at dawn."
No sooner than Whiner had led the troops out of the office, the COPSD receptionist was rapping lightly on the door.
"Got a delivery for you, Rafe."
"Thanks, Becky." I accepted the large manila envelope and, poking a claw through, sliced through the seal, grinning when Clint rolled his eyes at my shenanigans. Inside were two smaller, letter-sized envelopes. To my surprise, one had Zade's name neatly printed on the front. "Looks like this is for you," I commented, tossing it across the desk.
Zade's raised brow told me that he was just as surprised as I was. Tearing it open, he pulled out a wad of bills followed by two neatly folded sheets of paper. Quickly scanning the letter, he groaned and shoved it all back into the envelope and dropped it back on the desk.
"Good news?" Clint asked with a snicker. The snicker turned into a laugh when Zade glared at him.
"Scott," Zade huffed, "has taken it upon himself to prepare a purchase agreement transferring Harley to his care and keeping."
"Really?" I had to bite back a laugh myself. That Alpha definitely had nerve. "How much is he offering?"
Zade leveled a scathing look at me. "Like it matters?"
I cocked a brow. "Doesn't it?"
"You know damned well that I can't sell Harley when he doesn't even know who he is."
"Yeah, because that's the only thing that's wrong with treating Omega's like property," a newcomer sniped.
"Hey, baby." I stood up to give my chair to my mate. "Everything okay?"
Colby sat, giving me a grateful smile. "Yeah. Fine." He pulled an envelope from his pocket and waved it in the air. "This was left at the house, though."
"You're a popular guy today, Zade," I said with a smirk when I recognized Levi's neat printing on the front of it.
"Fuck my life," he groaned, leaning forward to snatch it from Colby's fingers. He ripped it open and scanned it, all his usual cockiness faded away and most of the color drained from his cheeks. "Son of a bitch." He shoved himself to his feet and turned to the door. "I've gotta go."
I picked up the letter he had dropped on top of the envelope from Scott and read it to myself. Wincing, I refolded it and gently placed it back inside the envelope.
"Remember when he said Levi would get over their spat about Harley and Scott?" I asked no one in particular. Clint nodded and I sighed. "Levi went back to Blue Ridge to pack up. It seems he's going back to werewolf territory."
"What?" Clint's eyes widened. "Why?"
"It doesn't really go into detail. He just says that he isn't willing to compete with Harley for Zade's affection and he suggests that Zade needs to do some soul searching to see if he is really asunattachedto Harley as he says he is."
"Fuck," Colby hissed under his breath. "That is not good."
