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‘Which way?’
I answered grimly, ‘That Larsden was a total asshole.’
Chapter 40
I was alone in my office when a timid knock sounded. Greg was running security checks with Jacob to make sure no one had been up to mischief during our brief absence. He was also checking that the Domini mole hadn’t seen fit to plant bugs, though I was still hoping that the Domini presence had left when the Council did. Ever the optimist.
‘Come in,’ I called.
Thea Frost opened the door. Her red hair was tied in a simple plait and she was dressed in clothes that weren’t ripped and threadbare. Her shoulders were so curved that her collarbone looked concave. She had come a long way since she’d arrived at my door, partly due to my pack accepting her, but also because she’d finally been reunited with her wolf, Sophie. It was that which had ultimately put her at the top of my suspect list. Larsden hadn’t had any defensive wounds, he hadn’t expected his killer to be able to harm him, and Thea had appeared as defenceless as a worm. Later that night we’d seen Thea on the CCTV footage trotting in on four legs. It was rare for her to shift, even rarer for her to walk as a wolf around the mansion. I’d been focussed on finding the thief of Larsden’s laptop at the time, but when I’d had time to stew on it, Thea’s appearance as a wolf had been a huge red flag.
When I’d dug into Larsden’s character, I found that he had a reputation as a lady’s man, one who didn’t take no for an answer. Finley’s comments about Ava and Abigail cemented my suspicions especially because one of them looked so much like Larsden that the resemblance could only be genetic.
Then there was the fact that Larsden had been found so far out on my grounds where my pack knew there were no cameras; it was where they went when they wanted privacy. I guessed that Thea had gone out there for some fresh air and peace. Predator that he was, Larsden had followed her.
The lack of defensive wounds on him suggested that he hadn’t had the chance to defend himself. He’d been shocked by her shift because Thea hadn’t been able to shift before I’d had firm words with Sophie. Larsden would have known Ace Frost from their time together on the Council, and no doubt Ace had complained about his defective, shifter-less, sister.
I would bet good money that Larsden had followed Thea looking for another notch on his belt, willing or not. He had thought her defenceless and, boy, had she shown him that she wasn’t. When he’d pressed his advances, Thea (and Sophie) had ended him, quite appropriately in my view. Panicking, and not knowing that I would completely approve, she’d grabbed Archie and they’d concocted their tale of walking together and stumbling upon his body.
That was why Thea had been in a fresh set of clothes that night; she had shifted back and lost the jeans she’d been wearing during the day. After her panic shift, she’d had to pad into the mansion on four feet and get to her room where she’d pulled on a dress. I’d seen her on the CCTV footage, but at them time I hadn’t connected the dots; I’d just been happy to see her and Sophie getting on so well.
It was also why Thea had given Archie the side eye when we’d come back; she was wondering if I’d uncovered anything but Archie had reassured her that I hadn’t.
I could understand Thea’s decision not to come to me because she didn’t know me well and she’d come from a totally different pack environment, but Archie not coming to me stung. I’d trusted him enough to take him with me to claim a freaking talking crown and he hadn’t trusted me at all in return. Yes, it hurt.
Thea sat in the chair and looked at me primly. ‘My Queen,’ she greeted me.
‘Thea. Thank you for coming.’ I steepled my hands and looked at her over the top of my fingers.
Be direct, Esme advised. She is used to duplicity. She will be less braced for the truth.
She had a point. ‘You killed Scott Larsden.’ I made it a statement. Thea swallowed hard and looked at me in panic, but no protests or denials fell from her lips. ‘Tell me,’ I ordered.
Her bottom lip trembled then suddenly her eyes flashed golden as Sophie took over. ‘He attacked us,’ she snarled. ‘He wanted to mate. We said no but he laughed at us and said that freaks like us didn’t get to say no.’ She met my gaze with hard eyes. ‘I told him no in the only way a bastard like him would understand – I ripped out his throat. Please don’t punish Thea for my actions.’
I looked at her, bemused. ‘Why would I punish either of you? You defended yourself against unwanted advances, and self-defence is always valid. If he hadn’t touched you, he wouldn’t be dead. As far as I’m concerned, the matter is closed.’
Thea’s eyes flashed blue. ‘But … he was a Council member. He was a powerful man.’
‘He was soon to be an ex-Council member. He sold details of lone wolves to the highest bidder at the black tourneys. The lones were captured and forced to fight to the death. All you did was speed up the inevitable. If you hadn’t killed him, Esme and I would have.’
‘Oh my God.’ The rigidity left Thea’s body and she collapsed into her chair. ‘I’ve been in pieces – I’ve been so scared – and you’re not even mad?’
‘Not in the slightest,’ I said cheerfully. ‘I wish that you’d come forward and told me the truth, but I know that your trust is hard won and we’re not there yet.’
‘I’m sorry,’ she said in a small voice. ‘Archie did say we should tell you but I … I was scared.’
‘It is understandable. But please know that if anything like this ever happens again, I will kill the bastard for you.’
The girl dissolved into tears. I manoeuvred around the table, rubbed her back and passed her a tissue as she fought to get herself under control. ‘Thank you, alpha,’ she said finally. ‘There won’t be any consequences?’
I shook my head. ‘None. And no one except for Greg and I will know it was you that got rid of Larsden, though you may share it with whomever you feel inclined. Now,’ I fixed her with a slightly sterner look, ‘get Archie for me, will you?’
Chapter 41
Archie came before me, clearly forewarned and forearmed. He shut the door, strode forward and sank to his knees. ‘Oh, get up,’ I said irritably. ‘I can’t see you from behind this ridiculously huge desk.’
‘As you wish, my Queen.’ He stood up then sank instead onto the guest chair opposite me. He kept his head bowed and everything about him signalled contrition.
