Chapter 22

TWENTY-TWO

N ash’s fingers flew across the keyboard, his eyes locked on the glowing screen as lines of code scrolled past. The first rays of dawn painted the safe house in a soft, golden light, but Nash hardly noticed. He’d been up for hours, his mind consumed with a single purpose: finding the digital breadcrumbs that would lead them to the Paranormal Dating Agency impersonator.

With a final keystroke, Nash leaned back in his chair, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. “Gotcha,” he muttered, his green eyes sparkling with satisfaction.

He’d spent the better part of the night sifting through a labyrinth of data - client lists, financial records, communication logs - anything that might shed light on their mysterious fraudster. It had been tedious work, combing through countless gigabytes of information, but Nash’s persistence had paid off.

Buried deep within the agency’s digital archives, he’d stumbled upon a series of inconsistencies. Certain IP addresses kept popping up, always linked to the most disastrous matches and the angriest clients. At first glance, they seemed random, scattered across various locations. But Nash knew better.

He’d used every trick in his extensive playbook to trace those IP addresses back to their source. It had been a challenge - whoever was behind this clearly knew their way around a computer. But they were no match for Nash Jeter.

After hours of digital sleuthing, he’d finally hit pay dirt. The trail led back to a single name: Franklin Dupont. He dug deeper, pulling up everything he could find on the man.

What he discovered made his blood boil.

Franklin Dupont was a former client of Gerri’s, a wealthy businessman with a reputation for being as charming as he was ruthless. He’d come to the Paranormal Dating Agency seeking a match, but Gerri had refused him service. The notes in his file painted a picture of a man with manipulative, aggressive tendencies - not the kind of person Gerri felt comfortable pairing with anyone.

Dupont, it seemed, had not taken the rejection well.

Nash leaned forward, his brow furrowed in concentration as he pieced together the timeline. Shortly after Gerri turned Dupont away, the first of the sabotaged matches had occurred. The frequency and severity of the incidents escalated from there, each one chipping away at the agency’s previously sterling reputation.

It was all starting to make sense. Dupont was orchestrating a campaign of revenge, deliberately undermining Gerri’s life’s work. The thought made Nash’s stomach churn with anger.

Just as he was about to dig deeper into Dupont’s digital footprint, Nash’s computer pinged with an alert. Someone was trying to hack into his system, probing for weaknesses. Nash’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Not today, buddy,” he murmured, his fingers already flying across the keys. He’d built his system himself, fortifying it with layers upon layers of security. Whoever was trying to breach his defenses was good - but Nash was better.

He traced the attempted intrusion back to its source, not surprised to find it originating from one of Dupont’s known associates. So, the man had hackers on his payroll. Interesting.

Nash made quick work of booting the would-be intruder out of his system, leaving a cheeky little message in their code as a parting gift. With that taken care of, he sat back and surveyed his findings.

It was time to loop in Rex and Kira.

He found them in the kitchen, Rex nursing a cup of coffee while Kira pored over a stack of case files. They both looked up as Nash entered, their expressions questioning.

“I found something,” Nash announced, unable to keep the excitement from his voice. “Or rather, someone. I know who’s behind the PDA attacks.”

Kira’s eyes widened, a flicker of hope sparking in their amber depths. “Who?”

“Franklin Dupont,” Nash revealed, pulling up the man’s file on his tablet and sliding it across the table. “Former client of Gerri’s. She refused to match him, and he took it...poorly.”

Rex’s jaw clenched as he scanned the information. “Refused? Why?”

“From what I can gather, the guy’s a real piece of work,” Nash explained. “Manipulative, aggressive, not the kind of person you’d want to inflict on some poor, unsuspecting shifter.”

Kira’s face hardened as she read through Dupont’s history. “So this is all some twisted form of revenge? He’s willing to destroy Gerri’s entire life’s work because she bruised his ego?”

“That’s about the size of it,” Nash confirmed grimly. “I’ve traced the sabotaged matches back to IP addresses linked to Dupont. He’s been impersonating Gerri, deliberately mismatching clients to tank her reputation.”

Rex let out a low growl, his blue eyes flashing with barely contained fury. “The PDA is more than just a business to Gerri. It’s her calling. She’s helped countless shifters find their true mates, their happily ever afters. For someone to target that, to weaponize love...” He shook his head in disgust.

Kira reached out, placing a comforting hand on Rex’s arm. The gesture seemed to calm him slightly, though the tension never quite left his powerful frame.

“So, what’s our next move?” Kira asked, turning her attention back to Nash. “How do we stop him?”

Nash grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. “We beat him at his own game. I’ve got enough digital evidence here to bury him, but we need to be smart about how we play it. If we tip our hand too soon, he might rabbit.”

Rex nodded, his tactical mind already spinning. “We need to draw him out, get him to reveal himself.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Nash agreed. “I say we set up a sting. Lure him into a match of our own making and catch him red-handed.”

Kira’s lips quirked into a devious smile. “I like the way you think, Nash Jeter. What did you have in mind?”

As Nash outlined his plan, he couldn’t help but marvel at the fierce determination etched into Kira’s features. This case had become personal for her, a quest to defend the honor of a dear friend. Nash knew that feeling well - the drive to protect those you care about, to right the wrongs done to them.

It was just one of the many things he’d come to admire about Kira. Beneath her tough, independent exterior beat a heart of pure gold. She had a strength about her, a resilience that Nash found utterly captivating.

And the fact that she’d managed to win over Rex, to break through his stoic shell and ignite a passion Nash had never seen in his alpha – that spoke volumes.

Nash had known Rex his entire life and had been by his side through thick and thin. They were more than just packmates - they were brothers in every sense of the word. Nash would lay down his life for Rex without hesitation.

But even with their unbreakable bond, there had always been a piece missing. A hollowness they both felt but never quite acknowledged. Until Kira.

From the moment they’d met her, everything had changed. It was like a switch had been flipped, a circuit completed. Suddenly, the world seemed brighter, more vibrant. Every interaction crackled with electricity, every touch ignited a fire in Nash’s veins.

He knew Rex felt it too. It was in the way his eyes followed Kira’s every move, the way his voice softened when he spoke her name. For the first time, Nash could see a future stretching out before them - not just as alpha and beta, but as a true triad. Equals in every way.

The hunt was on.

As Nash worked, an easy silence settled over the house. It wasn’t awkward or heavy but rather a comfortable quiet, the kind that exists between people who are perfectly at ease in each other’s presence.

Occasionally, Rex would wander over, looking over Nash’s shoulder at the lines of code scrolling across the screen. He didn’t understand most of it when it came to technology - but he trusted Nash implicitly.

Kira, too, seemed content to let Nash work his magic. She’d settled cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by a sea of papers and files. Every so often, she’d make a little noise of discovery, her pen scratching furiously as she connected the dots.

Nash found himself sneaking glances at her when he thought she wasn’t looking. He loved watching her like this, completely in her element. The way her brow furrowed in concentration, the way she nibbled on her lower lip when she was deep in thought...it was utterly endearing.

And the fact that she was here in their space, working alongside them like it was the most natural thing in the world, made Nash’s wolf preen with satisfaction.

They still had a long way to go. Kira was skittish, wary of letting her walls down. And Nash couldn’t blame her.

Given her past, it was a miracle she was able to trust at all. A pride that didn’t want her had truly set a bad tone for her self-esteem. But Rex wanted her. Nash wanted her.

They were determined to show her that she wasn’t alone anymore. That she had a place with him and Rex. A family.

A ping from his computer drew Nash’s attention back to the task at hand. He scanned the message, a slow smile spreading across his face.

“Well, well, well,” he murmured, drawing Kira and Rex’s attention. “Looks like our friend Dupont just made a move.”

Kira was on her feet in an instant, peering over Nash’s other shoulder. “What did he do?”

Nash pointed to a line of code, his finger tracing the path of the digital intrusion. “He tried to access Gerri’s client database again. Probably looking for his next victim.”

Rex’s eyes narrowed, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “Did he get in?”

Nash scoffed, shooting his alpha a playfully insulted look. “Please. Give me some credit.”

He’d fortified Gerri’s system as soon as they’d taken on the case, adding layers of encryption and security measures that would make even the most seasoned hacker weep. Franklin Dupont didn’t stand a chance.

“I redirected him to a dummy database,” Nash explained, his fingers flying over the keys as he spoke. “Fed him a bunch of fake profiles, just to see what he’d do.”

Kira let out a low whistle, her eyes wide with admiration. “You’re scary good at this, you know that?”

Nash preened under the praise, a pleased flush creeping up his neck. “All part of the service, ma’am.”

Rex clapped him on the shoulder, pride shining in his eyes. “So, what’s our next move?”

Nash’s grin turned positively wolfish. “Now? We set the trap.”

Over the next hour, they crafted their plan. Nash would create a profile for Kira on the Paranormal Dating Agency website, complete with an irresistible backstory and just enough vulnerability to catch Dupont’s eye. Then, they’d arrange a meeting, luring him out into the open where they could confront him and record his confession.

It was risky, Nash knew. Dupont was clearly a dangerous man, and there was no telling what lengths he might go to once he realized he’d been cornered.

But they were out of options. They needed hard evidence, something concrete that would stand up in court. And if that meant dangling Kira as bait...well, Nash would just have to make damn sure she was protected.

He could see the determination burning in Kira’s eyes as they finalized the details. This was personal for her, a chance to defend Gerri’s honor and put an end to Dupont’s reign of terror.

Nash knew that feeling well. He’d spent his entire life in service to his pack, using his skills to keep them safe from threats both digital and physical. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he loved.

And Kira? She was rapidly climbing to the top of that list.

As they wrapped up their planning session, Nash couldn’t resist pulling her aside.

“Hey,” he murmured, his hand finding the small of her back. “I know this is a lot. If you’re not comfortable being the bait, we can find another way.”

Kira’s eyes softened, her hand coming up to rest on Nash’s chest. “I appreciate that, Nash. But I need to do this. For Gerri, and for all the other shifters Dupont has hurt.” She growled. “Besides, this guy’s a real asshole messing with all those poor innocent people looking for a mate.”

Nash nodded, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her skin. “I get it. Just...be careful, okay? Rex and I will be right there with you, but I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.”

Kira’s breath hitched, her eyes searching Nash’s. For a moment, Nash thought she might pull away, retreat behind her walls. But instead, she leaned in, her forehead coming to rest against his.

“I’ll be careful,” she promised, determination lacing her voice. “But I hope you know that goes both ways. You and Rex...you’re important to me. More than I ever thought possible.”

Nash’s heart soared at her words, a warmth spreading through his chest. He knew how hard it was for Kira to admit her feelings, to allow herself to be vulnerable. The fact that she was trusting him, trusting them , with her heart meant everything.

“We’re not going anywhere, sweetheart,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. “You’re stuck with us whether you like it or not.”

Kira huffed out a laugh, her fingers curling into the fabric of Nash’s shirt. “Promises, promises.”

From across the room, Rex cleared his throat pointedly. Nash looked up to find his alpha watching them, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

“If you two are quite finished,” Rex drawled, his voice laced with amusement. “We have a fraudster to catch.”

Nash grinned, stepping back from Kira with a wink. “Aye, aye, boss man.”

As they gathered their gear and prepared to head out, Nash couldn’t shake the feeling that they were on the cusp of something big. Not just in terms of the case, but in terms of their future together.

For so long, he and Rex had been living half a life, waiting for the piece that would make them whole. And now with Kira by their side, Nash could see that future taking shape.

It wouldn’t be easy. They still had battles to fight, both external and internal. But Nash knew with a bone-deep certainty that it would be worth it.

Because this? This was what he’d been searching for his entire life. A love that consumed him, a connection that challenged and inspired him. A triad that would weather any storm as long as they had each other.

Together, they would bring Franklin Dupont to justice. They would clear Gerri’s name and restore the Paranormal Dating Agency to its former glory.

And they would do it as a team, a family, a pack.