Chapter 2

TWO

K ira drove through the dense forests that surrounded the Blood Stone Pack lands, marveling at the untouched beauty of the landscape. The isolation was both breathtaking and unnerving, a stark reminder of the pack’s fierce reputation for protecting their territory. As she navigated the winding roads of the private community, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, as if unseen eyes were tracking her every move.

The Blood Stone office building came into view, its modern design seamlessly blending with the rustic charm of the surroundings. Kira parked her car and stepped out, her senses on high alert. The crisp, clean air carried the scent of pine and secrets, and despite the apparent stillness, she knew the pack’s presence was all around her.

As Kira approached the entrance, the door burst open with a bang, the wood nearly grazing her nose. She stumbled back, her reflexes the only thing saving her from a nasty bruise. A striking woman with chiseled features and piercing green eyes stormed out, her face twisted in a snarl that would make lesser beings cower. The woman’s gaze locked onto Kira like a heat- seeking missile, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of disgust and contempt.

“A lion has no place on our land,” the woman sneered, her words dripping with venom. She stood tall, her posture rigid and unyielding as if she were a human blockade designed to keep Kira out.

Kira raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. The audacity of this woman was as amusing as it was irritating. “Is that so?” Kira drawled, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Well, I have business here, so if you’ll excuse me...”

She attempted to step around the woman, but the stubborn she-wolf was having none of it. The woman sidestepped, mirroring Kira’s movements like a twisted dance partner. Kira’s patience began to wear thin, her inner lioness growling at the blatant disrespect.

“I won’t say it again,” the woman hissed, her hand darting out to grab Kira’s arm in a vise-like grip. “Leave. Now.”

Instinct took over, and Kira reacted with lightning speed. She wrenched her arm free, the woman’s nails leaving angry red marks on her skin. In a blur of motion, Kira swept the woman’s legs out from under her, sending her tumbling to the ground in an undignified heap.

The woman let out a grunt of pain, but she was far from defeated. She rolled to her feet with the grace of a predator, her teeth bared in a feral snarl. Lunging at Kira, she unleashed a flurry of blows, her fists seeking to connect with any part of Kira’s body she could reach.

Kira dodged and weaved, her own hands striking out with precision. Nails raked across skin, leaving stinging scratches in their wake. Fists connected with jaws, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing in the air. It was a dance of dominance, a primal battle for supremacy.

The scuffle was brief but intense, both women fueled by the need to assert their power. Kira’s lioness roared within her, demanding submission from the insolent wolf. With a final, well-placed kick, Kira sent the woman sprawling once more.

Standing over her opponent, Kira felt a rush of satisfaction. She was breathing hard, her heart racing with the thrill of the fight. A few scratches adorned her skin, but they were badges of honor, proof of her victory.

The woman glared up at her, hatred burning in her eyes. “This isn’t over,” she spat, her words filled with venom.

Kira smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Oh, I think it is,” she replied, her voice dripping with condescension. “Next time, think twice before you lay a hand on me.”

With that, Kira stepped over the woman’s prone form and entered the building, her head held high. The confrontation had only served to fuel her determination. She had a job to do, and no uppity she-wolf was going to stand in her way.

As she strode through the lobby, Kira couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. If this was the welcome she received, she could only imagine what other surprises the Blood Stone Pack had in store for her. The sleek, modern interior contrasted sharply with the wildness outside. She was led to a spacious office where two men awaited her—Rex, a towering figure with broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes, and Nash, leaner with an easy smile and mischievous green eyes.

As Kira stepped into the office, the atmosphere shifted, the air becoming charged with an electric current that seemed to hum through her veins. She found herself standing before two men who couldn’t have been more different, yet each exuded a magnetism that was impossible to ignore.

“Gentlemen. I’m Kira Cress. Ms. Wilder hired me to investigate fraudulent use of her company’s image.”

“I’m Rex,” one of the men said. “He’s Nash.”

Rex, the taller of the two, commanded attention with his mere presence. His broad shoulders and chiseled features were like those of a warrior carved from stone, his piercing blue eyes holding a depth that promised both danger and passion. He radiated an alpha aura that made Kira’s lioness sit up and take notice, a primal pull that she couldn’t quite explain.

Nash, on the other hand, had a leaner build and an easy smile that hinted at a quick wit and a mischievous nature. His green eyes sparkled with intelligence, a keen intellect that Kira found herself immediately drawn to. He had an air of confidence that was different from Rex’s, more subtle but no less alluring.

Rex stared at her face. “What happened to you?”

She frowned. “I’m sorry?”

“There’s a scratch on your chin.”

She wiped at her chin and sighed. “Side effects of this job, I’m afraid.”

“You’re sure?” Rex’s gaze bore into hers and she sensed his concern. It would have been touching had she not been so turned on just by his and Nash’s presence.

As Kira began to explain the purpose of her visit, she found herself struggling to maintain her focus. The room seemed to crackle with tension, an instant chemistry that set her nerves on fire. It was as if an invisible force was pulling her toward these two men, a magnetic attraction that defied logic and reason.

Rex leaned forward, his gaze intense and unwavering. “So, you’re the private investigator handling the fraudulent matches,” he said, his deep voice sending shivers down Kira’s spine. “I have to say, I wasn’t expecting someone quite so... intriguing.”

Kira raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Intriguing? I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or a cause for concern.”

Nash chuckled, the sound rich and warm. “Oh, it’s definitely a compliment,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “It’s not every day we have a beautiful lioness walk into our den.”

Kira felt a flush creep up her neck, but she refused to let it show. “Flattery will get you nowhere, gentlemen,” she said, her voice firm despite the butterflies in her stomach. “I’m here strictly for business.”

Rex leaned back in his chair, a predatory smile on his face. “Of course, we wouldn’t dream of mixing business with pleasure,” he said, his tone laced with suggestion. “But you can’t blame us for appreciating the view.”

Kira’s lioness purred in approval, drawn to the alpha male’s confidence and charm. She had to remind herself that she was here for a reason, that she couldn’t let herself be distracted by the intoxicating presence of this duo.

“Let’s focus on the task at hand, shall we?” she said, trying to steer the conversation back to safer territory. “I need to know everything you can tell me about these fraudulent matches.”

Rex nodded. “We’ve had several complaints from our pack members,” he said, sliding a folder across the desk towards Kira. “We also had a mismatch of sorts.”

As Kira reached for the folder, her fingers brushed against Rex’s, and a jolt of electricity shot through her. She jerked her hand back, startled by the intensity of the sensation.

Rex’s eyes narrowed, a knowing smile on his face. “It seems our lioness is more affected by us than she’s letting on,” he said, his voice a low rumble.

Kira shot him a glare, her pride bristling at the insinuation. “I assure you, my judgment is not clouded by anything other than a desire to solve this case,” she said, her words clipped and precise.

Kira’s words hung in the air, a flimsy facade that fooled no one, least of all herself. The pull she felt toward Rex and Nash was a force of nature, a primal attraction that set her soul ablaze. It was as if every cell in her body was drawn to them, like a compass needle forever seeking true north.

Rex’s eyes glinted, a smirk playing on his lips. “You know, Kira,” he said, his voice a low, seductive rumble, “we could help you with this investigation. After all, two heads are better than one.” He paused, his gaze raking over her in a way that made her skin tingle. “Or, in this case, three.”

Nash leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk as he fixed Kira with a mischievous grin. “Rex is right,” he said, his tone light and playful. “We know this pack inside and out. We could be valuable assets to your case.” His green eyes sparkled with mirth. “And, of course, we wouldn’t mind spending more time with a stunning lioness like yourself.”

Kira’s heart skipped a beat, her mouth going dry at the blatant flirtation. She knew she should shut it down and maintain a professional distance, but the temptation was too great. “I appreciate the offer,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady. “But I wouldn’t want to impose on your time.”

Rex let out a low chuckle, the sound sending shivers down Kira’s spine. “Trust me, sweetheart, it would be our pleasure.”

The meeting continued, but Kira found it increasingly difficult to focus on the case at hand. Every glance, every accidental brush of skin against skin, sent electricity crackling through her veins. She was hyper-aware of Rex and Nash’s presence, their every move and breath seeming to fill the room.

It was like a dance, a push and pull of attraction and restraint. Kira tried to keep her composure, to maintain a semblance of professionalism, but it was a losing battle. She could feel her carefully constructed walls crumbling, her defenses unraveling thread by thread.

As the minutes ticked by, the tension grew thicker, the air heavy with unspoken desires. Kira’s lioness paced restlessly within her, urging her to give in to the primal need that consumed her. But she resisted, clinging to the last shreds of her self-control.

Finally, the meeting drew to a close, and Kira rose from her seat on shaky legs. “Thank you for your time, gentlemen,” she said, proud of how steady her voice sounded. “I’ll be in touch if I need any further assistance.”

Rex and Nash exchanged a glance, a silent communication passing between them. Fuck. What were they plotting? “We look forward to it,” Rex said, his tone laced with promise. She needed to get out of there so fast.

Kira turned to leave, but Nash’s voice stopped her. “Oh, and Kira?” he called, a teasing lilt to his words. “If you ever need a break from all that investigating, you know where to find us.”

She glanced back over her shoulder, a smirk tugging at her lips. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “But I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

With that, she strode out of the office, her heart pounding in her chest. She was playing with fire by getting involved with Rex and Nash. The real question was, did she care? She remembered her words to Maggie and wondered if her sister was psychic or something.