Chapter 133 Rot Draws Flies

Eira didn’t answer.

By the time Alpha Sebastian recovered, Eira and Lila had reached the curb. A black Cullinan waited there with the engine running.

Alpha Killian got out, nudged Lila into the back seat, and turned to Eira."Get in."

Lila rubbed the back of her head after bumping it on the doorframe. "Seriously? I’m your sister."

"Get in," Alpha Killian repeated.

"Fine. No family drama. We unite against the common enemy." She looked at Eira. "Come on."

Eira slid into the car without looking back. She had no interest in standing on a sidewalk while Alpha Sebastian served up another round of empty promises.

"Eira!" Alpha Sebastian hurried after her.

Alpha Killian stepped between them.

"Alpha Sebastian. Have some self-respect."

Alpha Sebastian let out a bitter laugh. "That’s rich coming from you. Every time Eira and I have a disagreement, you show up like you’ve been waiting around the corner. What are you trying to do, Alpha Killian? Play the other man?"

"Relax." Alpha Killian’s eyes swept over him. "Eira doesn’t send me three hundred thousand dollars a month. She hasn’t bought me a penthouse, a million dollars’ worth of jewelry, or a two-million-dollar car."

He paused.

"So no, I’m not the other man. Don’t project your own mess onto me."

Alpha Sebastian’s mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

The money. The jewelry. The car. The penthouse.

Every gift Serena had accepted suddenly looked less like generosity and more like evidence.

Alpha Killian got back into the Cullinan and shut the door.

The SUV pulled away, leaving Alpha Sebastian alone on the curb.

He stood there for a moment before kicking a concrete planter hard enough to scatter soil across the sidewalk.

Lila leaned out the window and gave him a thumbs-up. "Very classy, Hale. Mom was wrong, though. You’re definitely capable of talking."

Alpha Killian shot her a look sharp enough to end the joke.

Lila ducked back inside.

Alpha Killian turned to Eira. "Did he put a tracker on you?"

Eira had wondered the same thing. She had left Hale Pack, blocked every number connected to it, and upgraded her security after the Sovereign Processor Initiative became public. Alpha Sebastian shouldn’t have been able to follow her.

If he had been watching her, he had made a serious mistake. She was no longer just a former Hale Pack Luna anymore. She was connected to classified federal research. The Bureau wouldn’t treat unauthorized surveillance as a private Pack dispute.

"I ran into Serena at the restaurant," Eira said. "Lila and I both saw her."

"Serena wouldn’t have told him," Alpha Killian said.

"Vincent Crawford would." Lila leaned forward from the back seat. "Your favorite legal nemesis. I told you about him."

The Reeds and Crawfords had known each other for years. Their families crossed paths at Pack functions and holiday gatherings in Washington, D.C.

Luna Seraphina had once tried to set Alpha Killian up with Lainey Crawford.

It had gone badly.

Alpha Killian had avoided Lainey Crawford, Fiona Carter, and every other eligible woman with the dedication of a man escaping a federal subpoena. He had even claimed to be blind when Lainey invited him for a walk.

Vincent had never forgiven him for embarrassing Lainey in front of both families.

Since then, the two men had traded insults at every opportunity. Their mutual friends had learned one basic rule:

Never seat Alpha Killian and Vincent together at a Pack function.

"Vincent is representing Serena now?" Alpha Killian asked. "Is that legal work, or does he just want to get into her case?"

He had never known Vincent to work for free.

Lila tilted her head. "Serena’s got game. Two men circling her at once."

"Rot attracts flies," Eira said.

The siblings turned to stare at her.

Lila grinned. "Okay. I like this version of you."

"What?" Eira glanced between them. "It’s just an old saying."

"You’ve got a sharp mouth," Alpha Killian said. "Use it more often."

"I’ll second that," Lila said.

Eira gave a small hum of agreement.

She had once loved the entire Hale Pack because she had loved Alpha Sebastian. Love me, love my people.

But after four years of being taken for granted, there was nothing left to love.

--

The Cullinan passed through the gates of Southridge Estates and stopped outside Number Nine. Eira crossed the wide front lawn and found Mrs. Jones waiting at the door with a bright smile.

"Miss Eira, welcome home."

"Mrs. Jones?" Eira unlocked the door with her fingerprint. "What are you doing here?"

Mrs. Jones folded her hands. "Alpha Killian asked me to take care of the house and make sure you’re eating properly."

Eira stared at her. "Killian sent you?"

Mrs. Jones nodded. "He said you shouldn’t have to handle everything alone while you’re working on the joint project."

That sounded exactly like something Alpha Killian would arrange without asking permission.

"I appreciate it, but I can take care of myself. You should go back."

Mrs. Jones’ smile faltered. "Please don’t send me away, Miss Eira. Alpha Killian said if I couldn’t work here, I’d lose my position with the Sterling household."

Eira frowned. "Then I’ll cover your salary."

"He’d still dismiss me. And..." Mrs. Jones hesitated, then sighed. "My mother’s in assisted living, and my son’s in college. I really need this job."

The guilt trip was almost too polished.

Then Mrs. Jones added, "Alpha Killian said he only wants you to have enough time to focus on the project. He thinks the work is important."

That part sounded sincere.

Eira studied her for a moment before stepping aside. "Fine. You can stay for now. But I don’t need a full-time babysitter."

Mrs. Jones brightened. "Of course not. Think of me as household support."

"Exactly."

"Absolutely."

The moment Eira showed her to the first-floor guest room and closed the door, Mrs. Jones pulled out her phone.

"Reporting in, Alpha. I’m officially inside."

Alpha Killian pinched the bridge of his nose on the other end of the call. "I sent you there to help her, not spy on her."

"Spy is such an ugly word. I prefer ’keep you updated.’"