“How do you know?” Brian tugged the tea away.
“She poured something into the glass and sat next to it for a while before you came in. If it was transmitting some sort of killer vapor, she’d be a goner.”
Brian blinked at him a few times, took a deep breath, and then blinked again.
“I’m thinking some sort of aphrodisiac. I don’t suppose you have a lab here that can test that drink?”
Brian parted his lips, tilted his head to the side, and blinked some more.
“I’ll take that as a no.” He bit his lower lip and sighed. “Welp, that leaves us with a couple of options.”
“I have no idea what’s happening. Keith, what is happening?”
“We can either wait for the Ruperts to do whatever it is they plan to do with your hair, or I can go to Green Field now and end this nonsense.”
“My hair?”
Keith nodded.
“Again, what is happening?” Brian asked.
“Cringey Claire was sent here by the Ruperts to do something that involved drugging you. My money is that thesomethingis fucking you. They also prepped a contingency plan that requires your hair, which I’m assuming she got when she was rubbing up against you outside. Plan A failed so they’re sure to go with Plan B.”
“How do you know that?”
“I was watching through the dining room window when you were outside and she was all, ‘Alpha, I want your big cock. Please, hot Alpha, look at my huge boobs and suck my nipples.’”
“That…” Brian coughed. “That did not happen.”
He shrugged. “Close enough.”
Brian sighed. “Let’s try to stay on topic. You were watching us and you saw her take my hair? Why would she do that?”
“No idea why and I didn’t realize she was doing it at the time. I saw her feeling you up, but I assumed she was in it for the fun, because, I mean, who could blame her, right? But then later she was talking to herself, and she said she had your hair.”
“Which you know because you were in the dining room watching and listening?”
“Right.” Keith nodded.
“And you recognized her from Green Field?”
He pressed his lips together and shook his head. “I’ve never seen Cringey in my life and she doesn’t smell like pack. She’s not from Green Field.”
“We’ll get back to what you mean about smelling like pack. First, explain how you know the Ruperts sent her?”
“When I sat next to her, I was close enough to get a good whiff and I scented Junior. It was faint, but there. And since he doesn’t even hiccup without his father’s permission, I’m assuming Alpha Jackson’s behind whatever they’ve cooked up.”
“Huh.”
“Yeah.”
Footsteps sounded on the porch.
“Steve’s back,” Keith said.
“Alpha Berger?” Steve said. “Why’s the door open?”
“Claire forgot to close it on her mad dash out of town,” Keith said.
