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Normally I'd keep joking, but my gaze drifts toward the kitchen window. Beyond the glass, I can see part of the shed roof where Peter is, and the humor disappears.

"Well, we've got a little problem in Montana."

The amusement leaves Gidge's voice instantly.

"What kind of problem?"

"The kind that's your problem now. too."

A pause follows.

"How? I've never even been to Montana."

"Yeah," I say quietly. "But one of your prospects apparently has."

The room goes still.

"What prospect?"

"Peter."

Silence.

"What did Peter do?"

I lean back against the couch and close my eyes briefly.

"He stalked me. Sent me photographs. Showed up at the ranch today. Grabbed me in the barn, then challenged my alphas."

The silence somehow gets worse.

"Your what?"

I can't help smiling.

"My alphas."

Another pause.

"Your alphas?"

"Yup."

Across the room, Tripp suddenly finds the ceiling fascinating, while Clint pretends he's doing something important with a coffee mug. Briggs doesn't even bother pretending not to listen.

"Hunter accidentally dropped me off at my scent matches' ranch."

"You're kidding."

"I’m not. I lost my blockers somewhere between Virginia and Montana. Called you and Hunter for help. Nobody answered."

"Autumn..."

"You have an excuse. Hunter doesn't."

"He was on club business," a deep voice comes from the phone.

Gears.