Page 51 of Crossed Fates

I merely smiled, not committing to a damn thing.Because I still don’t care, right?

Alaric set a mug on the counter for me. “Any cream or sugar?”

“None,” I replied. I needed it black and heavenly today. Or this afternoon. Or was it early evening? I glanced out the windows of his living room and frowned.Maybe early evening, then. Rather than overanalyze it, I walked over to the counter, prepared to take my coffee and leave.

But Hawk had other plans for me.

“I’m sorry for what I said to you yesterday,” he said, his tone solemn. “I shouldn’t have implied that you weren’t welcome in Tyler’s house. There’s no excuse for it. You’re Alaric’s fated mate, which makes you pack, even if you’re from another realm.”

I swallowed.Operation Do Not Care is failing. I repeat, Operation Do Not Care is failing.

I tried to smile, to accept his apology and move on, but one look at the grieving alpha had me parking my butt on the stool beside him with a demure nod. “It’s okay. Yesterday was… stressful for all of us.” I crossed my legs and did my best to keep the shirt covering all my intimate bits.Really should have worn the sweatpants, Makayla.Jealousy is green, not naked.

Hawk looked meaningfully at his son. “Ric, why don’t you run home and get some clothes from your mom? She’s about the same size as Makayla, so it’ll be a good fit.”

Alaric stared at him for a long moment, then sighed. “All right.”

I glanced between them, somewhat amused by the subtle alpha dominance undertones of their little exchange. Alaric wanted to refuse, probably because his father had issued it like a command. But he wouldn’t because he clearly respected and deferred to the older alpha.

And yet, I sensed that his wolf would win in a fight.

Had it been this way between Alaric and Tyler, too? An obvious victor, yet Alaric had always submitted out of respect and love for his family?

“I’ll be back,” Alaric said, walking toward the door in a pair of jeans and nothing else.

I admired his ass on the way. Because I could. Because I wanted to. Because those jeans were tight and practically molded to his backside. And because…mmm.

I distracted myself with some coffee but noticed Hawk’s amused glance. He’d totally caught me ogling his son. If he expected an apology, he’d be waiting for a while. Besides, he was a big part of the reason for Alaric’s looks. He’d clearly given his son the sculpted cheekbones, pretty blue eyes, and chiseled jaw structure. The fitted sweater and jeans suggested they shared a similar physique, too. His hair was a bit lighter than Alaric’s darker strands, but overall, they very much resembled each other.

Like father, like son.

Something that became increasingly evident as Hawk studied me with a shrewdness that rivaled Alaric’s.

“I’m going to need more coffee before the questions start,” I said, moving off the stool to top up my mug.

Hawk chuckled. “About the realms? Nah. I don’t have any questions. Although, I’m sure Nathan is worried about his missing packmate.”

I froze with my hand on the handle of the coffee maker.Alaric must have told him about my job,I realized, relaxing a fraction. “Uh, Nathan’s used to me wandering off.”

“Sounds like me with Alaric,” Hawk replied, watching me as I poured more steaming liquid into my mug. I turned toward him and topped him up as well, then returned to my stool. “Although, E.V.I.E. is a bit different from KBO Consulting.”

Okay,thatdetail was something I hadn’t told Alaric. I looked sharply at Hawk. “How do you know that?”

Rather than answer me, he pushed a set of files toward me. “I brought this over for Alaric to review. It’s some details on the poisoning cases from the other packs. I assume you’ll be working together on this?”

I studied his features. They gave nothing away. And the look in his eyes told me he wouldn’t tell me anything, either.

My jaw ticked.

He just took a long sip of his coffee, saying nothing and everything at the same time.

This was no ordinary alpha. But I should have anticipated that with him being Alaric’s father.

How does he know about KBO?I wondered, unable to stop myself from replaying his statement on repeat in my mind.

“Do you know Nathan?” I demanded. Nathan knew about the alternate realms, but he’d never mentioned knowing the Silver Lake Alpha.

“Let’s just say we share a mutual friend.” He slid the folders closer. “I’ve already skimmed a lot of the details. Nothing jumped out at me as important, but maybe you’ll notice something I didn’t. There are some surveillance images of the lunch, too. I suggest you and Alaric review all of it for clues that the others may have missed.” He finished his coffee and stood to stretch. “Alaric said you were taken by the hybrid and overheard a conversation. Anything else important that I should know?”