Chapter 3

THREE

R ex Stone reclined in his office chair, his thoughts consumed by the captivating lioness he’d met earlier. Kira’s fiery spirit and quick wit had left an indelible mark on his mind, her amber eyes flickering with intelligence and a hint of mischief. The connection between them had been instant, electric—a recognition of something profound and inevitable.

His wolf stirred within him, urging him to claim her, to make her theirs. Rex’s lips curved into a smile as he pictured Kira by his side, her strength and determination a perfect match for his own. She was their mate; he felt it in his bones.

But as the image of Kira solidified in his mind, so did the realization of the risks she faced daily. As a private investigator, she willingly threw herself into danger, chasing down leads and confronting threats head-on. Rex’s jaw clenched at the thought of harm coming to her. It was his duty as an alpha, and now as her potential mate, to protect her—whether she liked it or not.

A knock at the door pulled Rex from his musings. “Come in,” he called, straightening in his chair.

Nash strode into the office, a knowing grin on his face. “Thinking about our little lioness again?”

Rex chuckled. “Am I that transparent?”

“Only to me,” Nash replied, dropping into the chair across from Rex’s desk. “So, what’s the plan? How do we win over our feisty feline?”

Rex leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “We need to show her that we’re not just interested in her for the case. We need to romance her, make her see that we’re the perfect mates for her. She doesn’t seem like your typical feline or even shifter. I scented human in her.”

Nash nodded. “I like the way you think. Good cop, bad cop style?”

“More like alpha and charmer,” Rex corrected with a smirk. “I’ll take the lead, show her the benefits of being with a strong, decisive alpha. You work your magic, make her laugh, and show her the softer side of our triad.”

“I can do that,” Nash said, his grin widening. “What’s our first move, boss?”

Rex leaned back, a confident smile playing on his lips. “I’m going to take her out, someplace nice. Show her a good time. I’ve got those VIP tickets to the Super Bowl in a few weeks. I’m thinking a weekend getaway, just the two of us.”

Nash whistled appreciatively. “Pulling out the big guns, I see. But what about something sooner? We can’t let her slip away.”

“I’ve got that covered too,” Rex assured him. “How about a local date first, something to break the ice and get her comfortable with the idea of us?”

“Smart,” Nash agreed. “Before you get to working on that, I’m going to do some research, see what our girl likes. The more we know, the better our chances of winning her over.”

With that, Nash pulled out his laptop and began typing away, his brow furrowed in concentration. Rex watched him work, marveling at his best friend’s dedication and ingenuity. Nash’s skills had gotten them out of more than a few tight spots over the years, and Rex knew he’d be invaluable in their pursuit of Kira.

Minutes ticked by, punctuated only by the clacking of Nash’s keyboard. Suddenly, Nash let out a low chuckle, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Well, well, well. Our little lioness has a wild streak.”

Rex raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“She’s gone skydiving, Rex. Multiple times.”

A slow grin spread across Rex’s face. “Brave and adventurous. I like it. I think I already know what our first date will be.”

“That’s not all,” Nash continued, his excitement growing. “She likes the same country singer I do. And guess who’s performing in town next week?”

Rex’s grin widened. “Looks like you’ve got your first date lined up.”

But Nash’s next discovery had them both raising their eyebrows in surprise. “Taylor Swift? Really?”

Rex barked out a laugh. “I never would have guessed.”

“Oh, the possibilities,” Nash mused, his mind undoubtedly whirling with ideas.

As their laughter subsided, Rex’s expression sobered. “All joking aside, we need to get her to accept us, Nash. Not just for us, but for the pack.”

Nash met his gaze, his own humor fading into understanding. “I know. With her by our side, we’ll be unstoppable. The triad will bring stability and strength to the pack like never before.”

Rex nodded, the weight of his responsibility as alpha settling on his shoulders. “Exactly. We can’t afford to fail, not in this.”

“We won’t,” Nash assured him, his voice firm with conviction. “She’s our mate, Rex. We’ll do whatever it takes to win her over and make her ours.”

Rex stood, his tall frame exuding confidence and determination. “Damn right, we will.”

He clapped Nash on the shoulder, a silent acknowledgment of their shared resolve. Together, they would face the challenge of courting Kira, breaking down her walls and showing her the depth of their devotion. And when the dust settled, they would emerge stronger than ever, a united front against any obstacle that dared stand in their way.

Rex’s office door closed behind Nash with a soft click, leaving him alone once more. But instead of the pensive silence from before, the room now buzzed with anticipation, with the thrill of the hunt ahead.

He crossed to the window, looking out over the sprawling expanse of the Blood Stone Pack’s territory. The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It was a breathtaking sight, one that never failed to fill Rex with a sense of pride and purpose.

His pack was his life, his reason for being. Every decision he made, every action he took, was for their benefit and protection. And now, with Kira’s arrival, he had the chance to make them even stronger.

Rex’s mind drifted back to their meeting, to the way Kira had stood her ground against him despite her obvious attraction. She was a force to be reckoned with, a woman who knew her own mind and wasn’t afraid to speak it. The thought sent a thrill down his spine.

He could picture her there, standing beside him, her hand in his as they looked out over their domain. She would be a magnificent alpha female, a leader in her own right. Together, they would guide the Blood Stone Pack to new heights of prosperity and power.

But first, he had to win her trust, to convince her that her place was with him and Nash. It wouldn’t be easy—Kira had walls a mile high, and a stubborn streak to match. But Rex had never backed down from a challenge, and he wasn’t about to start now.

With newfound determination, Rex turned from the window and strode back to his desk. He had work to do, plans to make. The game was on, and he played to win.

As he sat and began rifling through the papers on his desk, a sudden thought struck him, bringing a sly smile to his lips. Maybe, just maybe, he could use Kira’s love of Taylor Swift to his advantage.

He chuckled to himself as he picked up his phone, already dialing the number of his contact at the city’s largest event venue. A few calls and a couple of favors called in, and he just might be able to pull off the ultimate romantic gesture.

The line connected, and Rex put on his most charming voice. “Hey, Marcus! It’s Rex Stone. Listen, I need a favor...”

As he spoke, Rex could feel the pieces falling into place. Kira wouldn’t know what hit her. Between his grand gestures and Nash’s thoughtful touches, they would show her exactly what it meant to be loved by not one, but two devoted mates.

But first, he had a lioness to woo, and a pack to lead. And if there was one thing Rex Stone knew how to do, it was rise to a challenge.

Rex felt the corners of his mouth lift as his mind filled with images of the adventures ahead. Skydiving with Kira, watching her face light up with exhilaration as they jumped from the plane, hand in hand. And, of course, dancing in the front row of a Taylor Swift concert, watching Kira lose herself in the music, her eyes shining with joy.

It was a far cry from his usual alpha male persona, but for Kira, he’d gladly shake it off and embrace his inner Swiftie. Anything to see that radiant smile directed his way.

The image of Kira’s smile sent warmth blooming through his chest, chasing away the lingering tension of the day. She was a rare find, a woman who could match him in strength and determination, but who also had a tender heart and a zest for life. He couldn’t wait to unravel her secrets, to discover all the little quirks and qualities that made her uniquely Kira.

His phone rang and he picked it up.

“Hi, Father,” he said, the lightness of his conversation with Nash replaced by the usual alpha command he carried like a shield.

“Your mother and I are waiting on you for dinner.”

He glanced at his watch. Fuck. He’d gotten himself worked up with thoughts of Kira and plans of romancing her. His bi-weekly dinner with his parents slipped his mind.

“I won’t be able to make it tonight. I got caught up in the office.” It wasn’t a lie. He was still at the office.

“I understand, son.” His father’s voice lightened. One thing his father was okay with was being a workaholic. He still worked on his own side project now that he was a retired alpha much more than he spent time with his mother. Good thing his mother had Kyle, the third in his parents’ triad and his father’s beta who gave his mother the connection his father failed to.

Rex clenched his jaw as he thought about that. He was determined not to be like his father. To be committed to his mate and make the effort to be involved in his mate’s life and in their relationship. Unlike other triads, Rex and Nash got along great. Not only were they birth bonded, they were best friends.

Rex and Nash understood their individual and joint roles in their pack. Like every beta part of an alpha triad, Nash was sterile and unable to have his own children, which meant the alpha line would be the only one growing through the triad. Rex hated that Nash couldn’t have kids and had always felt bad about that.

He knew Nash had grown up used to the idea he could not have kids, but Rex loved Nash like a brother and knew he would make a great dad. Good thing he’d be part of Rex’s kids’ lives so he could be as involved as any other father.