Chapter 8

EIGHT

N ash drummed his fingers on the table, his phone pressed to his ear as he waited for Kira to pick up. He glanced at the computer screen in front of him, the lines of code blurring together as his mind wandered to the lioness shifter who had captured his and Rex’s attention.

“Hello?” Kira’s voice crackled through the speaker, snapping Nash out of his reverie.

“Hey, Kira,” he said, leaning back in his chair with a grin. “It’s Nash. I was wondering if you could use some help with your investigation.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Nash could almost picture Kira’s brow furrowing in confusion. “Help? What kind of help?”

“Well, I happen to be pretty handy with a computer,” Nash said, his fingers already flying across the keyboard as he spoke. “I could dig up some information on potential suspects, maybe see if there are any patterns or connections we’re missing.”

Kira hesitated for a moment, and Nash held his breath, hoping she would agree. Finally, she sighed. “Oh, all right, Nash. I could use an extra set of eyes on this case. When can you come over?”

Nash pumped his fist in victory, a smile spreading across his face. “How about now? I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Kira laughed, the sound sending a thrill down Nash’s spine. “Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”

Nash hung up the phone and grabbed his jacket, his heart racing with excitement. He had been looking for an excuse to spend more time with Kira, and now he had the perfect opportunity. On his way to her apartment, he made a quick stop at Kira’s favorite bakery, picking up an assortment of pastries and coffee as a surprise.

Twenty minutes later, he was standing outside Kira’s apartment, a box of still-warm pastries in one hand and a tray of coffee in the other. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, suddenly nervous. Before he could second-guess himself any further, the door swung open, revealing a slightly disheveled Kira. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and she wore a pair of yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt that hung off one shoulder. Nash’s mouth went dry at the sight of her, his brain short-circuiting for a moment.

“Nash, hey,” Kira said, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the coffee and pastries. “What’s all this?”

Nash grinned, holding out the box like a peace offering. “I thought I’d surprise you with some treats from your favorite bakery,” he said.

“But how did you know my favorite bakery?”

He laughed. “I’m a computer geek. Information is what I do. And when it comes to you, I want to know everything.”

Kira’s face lit up, a wide smile spreading across her face. “You’re a little bit of a flirt, aren’t you?”

“Only if you like it.”

She giggled. “I do. Nash, this is so thoughtful of you. Now get inside so we can eat.”

Nash stepped into Kira’s apartment, his senses immediately assaulted by her scent, a tantalizing mixture of vanilla and cinnamon that made his heart race. He let his eyes roam over the cozy living room in the daytime light, taking in the plush couch with its colorful throw pillows and the bookshelves overflowing with mystery novels and true crime books.

“I see you’re a woman after my own heart,” he said with a grin, nodding toward the bookshelves. “Rex always teases me about my love for a good mystery.”

Kira laughed, the sound sending a shiver down Nash’s spine. “What can I say? I like to keep my mind sharp. Never know when I might need to solve a case on my own.”

They made their way to the kitchen where Kira had already cleared off the table and laid out the case files in neat stacks. Nash set down the box of pastries and the coffee, his mouth watering at the scent of freshly baked croissants and cinnamon rolls.

“I hope you’re hungry,” he said, opening the box with a flourish. “I might have gone a little overboard at the bakery.”

Kira’s eyes widened as she took in the assortment of sweets, her hand reaching out to snag a chocolate croissant. “Nash, this is amazing. You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

Nash shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “It was no trouble at all. I just wanted to make sure we had plenty of fuel for the long day ahead.”

They settled in at the table, their knees brushing under the table as they spread out the notes and started discussing the details. Nash found himself getting lost in the sound of Kira’s voice, the way her brow furrowed in concentration as she pored over the evidence.

“So, tell me,” Kira said, looking up from a file with a curious expression. “What’s it like being Rex’s beta? I can’t imagine having that kind of responsibility on top of everything else.”

Nash leaned back in his chair, a fond smile spreading across his face. “Rex and I are birthday twins, born on the same day, down to the minute,” he explained, a fond smile on his face. “It created this incredible bond between us. As an alpha by birthright, Rex automatically became my alpha, and I became his beta. It’s a connection that runs deep, almost like we’re two halves of the same whole.”

Kira listened intently, her eyes widening with understanding. “That’s amazing, Nash. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have a bond like that with someone.”

Nash nodded, his heart swelling with pride. “It’s pretty special. But it’s not just about being his beta. Rex is my best friend, my brother in every way that matters. We’ve always had each other’s backs, no matter what.”

Kira’s expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. “That’s really special, Nash. I can tell how much you care about each other.”

Nash felt his heart swell with pride, a warmth spreading through his chest. “Rex is my best friend. I would do anything for him, and I know he would do the same for me.”

She licked her lips and met his gaze. “And you two share women?”

A grin spread over his lips. He wondered how long it would take her to ask. “We have in the past. But our mate is an automatic.”

She frowned. “What does that mean.”

“Rex and I are born of a triad pack. It means the alpha set is comprised of an alpha, a beta, and our female mate who bridges the connection to close our triad and make us the perfect unit.”

“So your mate…you’d share her?”

“Yes.”

“And you guys don’t have a problem with this? You’re not jealous of each other?”

“No. We have been raised to understand that as a triad, sharing is natural and expected. We would encourage each other to make sure our mate is satisfied in every way possible.”

She cleared her throat and her eyes widened. “Every way?”

“Every. Way. Possible.” He grinned. “But that also means I can only give her what I can and Rex can only give what he can. We’re going to make sure we give our mate the best of ourselves in our own way.”

She took a sip of her coffee. “Sounds like a great deal.”

As they talked, Nash found himself opening up to Kira in a way he rarely did with anyone else. He told her about growing up in the pack, about the mischief he and Rex used to get into as pups. He even shared some of his more embarrassing moments, like the time he got his head stuck in a fence trying to impress a girl.

Kira laughed, her hand clutching her stomach. “Oh my god, Nash. I can’t believe you did that!”

Nash grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “In my defense, I was only twelve. And the girl was really cute.”

Then they turned their attention back to the case, going over the information Nash had gathered and trying to piece together the clues. Nash couldn’t help but marvel at Kira’s brilliance, the way her mind worked to connect the dots and see patterns others might miss.

“I think we might be onto something here,” Kira said, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she pointed to a name on one of the files. “I see a few names here that look promising.”

Nash leaned in closer, his shoulder brushing against Kira’s as he studied the file. “You might be right. Let me see what I can dig up on them.”

He pulled out his laptop and started typing furiously, his fingers flying over the keys as he searched for any information he could find on Franklin Dupont. Kira watched him work, her eyes wide with admiration.

“You really are a tech wizard, aren’t you?” she said, a hint of awe in her voice.

Nash grinned, his chest puffing up with pride. “I do my best. And it helps to have a secret weapon.”

Kira raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Oh? And what might that be?”

Nash leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Rex’s mom. She’s the best hacker I know. Taught me everything about computers.”

Kira’s eyes widened, a surprised laugh escaping her lips. “No way. Rex’s mom is a hacker?”

Nash nodded. “Yep. And let me tell you, that woman is a force to be reckoned with. I once saw her take down a corrupt corporation’s entire network with nothing but a cell phone and a bag of gummy bears.”

Kira shook her head, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Remind me never to get on her bad side.”

As the sun began to set outside the window, Nash and Kira finally took a step back from the case, their minds buzzing with new leads and theories. Nash stretched his arms above his head, his muscles aching from hours of sitting hunched over the files.

“I don’t know about you, but I could use some fresh air,” he said. “What do you say we take a break and go for a walk? I know a great spot in the park where we can clear our heads and recharge.”

Kira hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking to the pile of files still scattered across the table. But the temptation of a break and some fresh air was too much to resist.

“All right,” she said. “But only if you promise to buy me a hot dog. I’m starving.”

Nash grinned. “Deal. Ice cream sounds like a good idea too.”

Kira laughed, shaking her head in amusement. “You’re on, Mr. Jeter. Let’s go.”

They walked to a nearby park, the cool breeze ruffling their hair and the leaves crunching beneath their feet. When they reached a secluded spot beneath a large oak tree, Kira’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a picnic blanket spread out with a variety of lunch items.

“Nash, what is all this?” she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

Nash shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. “I wanted to do something special for you to thank you for letting me be a part of this case. The bakery may have had a hand in setting this up.”

“May have?” she said. “With all you bought this morning, I can see why they’d do about anything for you.”

They sat on the blanket, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and casting a warm glow over everything. As they ate, the conversation shifted to more personal topics, their laughter ringing out through the quiet park.

Nash found himself lost in Kira’s eyes, in the way her smile made his heart race and his palms sweat. He knew in that moment that he would do anything to keep her safe and make her happy.

Nash loved the way Kira’s cheeks flushed when he complimented her, the way her eyes sparkled with mischief when she teased him back.

When it was time to head back, Nash walked Kira to her door. Normally, he’d take things easy, but he really wanted to kiss her. He pulled her in for a soft, lingering kiss, his lips brushing against hers with a tender promise of things to come. He didn’t want to push it but he wanted Kira. She was so sexy and beautiful. He could eat her up from head to toe.

“Kira, I don’t know how I’m going to focus on work the rest of the day,” he told her with a groan. “You taste amazing.”

She brushed her lips over his and sighed. “You do too.”

“How about we do something fun? There’s a fair a town over this weekend. Wanna go?”

She grinned. “I’ve got a date with Rex tomorrow. Are you asking me out on a date too?”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “Maybe I am, little cat. Maybe I am.”

“If that’s the case, yes. I’d love to go to the fair with you, Mr. Jeter.”

“Great. I’ll set it up and text you later.”

He gave her another kiss, this one lingering longer to soak in her taste. His wolf wanted their mate and Nash did too.

Kira nodded, her eyes shining with a mixture of desire and affection.

As Nash walked away, he couldn’t help but reflect on the day’s events, his mind replaying every moment he had spent with Kira. He knew in his heart that she was the one, the missing piece that he and Rex had been searching for all their lives.

And he was determined to prove it to her, to show her that, together, they could build something beautiful and lasting. With Kira by their side, anything was possible, and Nash couldn’t wait to see what the future held for their triad.