Claiming Her Mate by Jess Buffett Page B

him? Have you seen him?” Sage shot out of his seat, claws already flicking out.
    He rolled his eyes. “No. Do you really think I’d take my time in coming here if I had? A phone call works just as well.”
    “Then what,” Richard asked more patiently.
    “I just spoke to Olivia from downstairs. I had her looking into Bradley, asked her to see what she could find.”
    “What did she find?” Richard asked, leaning forward in his chair and resting his arms on the desk in front of him.
    “Nothing.”
    Sage frowned. “I don’t get it, wouldn’t nothing be a bad thing.”
    Evan let out a painful sigh. “If you’d let me finish, I’d tell you. Listen. There was no Bradley Nichols before he became a part of this Pride. Somehow he slipped under the radar. Whoever he is, that is not his real name.”
    “How does this help?”
    “I’ve been trying to find a connection between Bradley and the neighboring Pride. You said it yourself there had to be a connection for Bradley to be so willing to head to their side of the border. He could have gone anyway, he had the head start, yet he went there, but why?”
    “Because he was familiar with them. Maybe even a part of them. Shit,” Sage cursed up a storm. “He’s been here, right under our noses this whole time. Who knows how much he has told Aidan already.”
    “That still doesn’t explain his attack on Summer, son.” Richard had a point.
    “True, but it’s a start, right?”
    Sage nodded slowly. “You’re right.”
    Stunned that Sage had actually agreed with him, it took Evan a moment to respond. “Ah, thanks.”
    “Don’t look so surprised,” Sage laughed, grinning at him. “I’m not that much of a hardarse.”
    “Really?” he asked, unconvinced.
    "Really.” The Alpha stood, walking over to him and slapping him on the back. “I’m the Alpha, and I have to act tough, but I also caught you after having slept with my baby sister. What kind of response did you think you were going to get from me at first?”
    An honest question, and Evan felt himself finally relaxing around his mate’s older brother. “Fair enough.”
    “Well, if you two boys are done bonding...we have work to do.” Richard’s lips quirked up into a small smile as he ushered them out the door.
    Taking a few steps toward his office, he was stopped by a hand on his arm. Glancing back at Sage, he frowned. “What’s wrong?”
    The other man grimaced. “Mum is with Summer today, but until we catch this bastard, we can’t let her out of our sight.
    “I know.” Evan nodded. “I won’t.”
    Sage shrugged. “Yeah, I know. But she’s the baby.”
    He got it. Evan had been just as protective of Amber. “I get it.”
    “Yeah, I know that too.” Sage gave him a nod then left.
    Damn. Did he really just have a simple, understanding conversation with Sage Ashcroft? Maybe he should check, because hell must have frozen over.

Chapter Eight
     
    “So tell me what’s it like to be mated?” Avery inquired, studying her nails as she leaned up against one of the trees near the edge of Sage’s property.
    Summer smiled at her best friend, unable to control her blush. The woman had been prying as many details as possible out of her since she had introduced Avery to Evan at the Pride meeting. “Fantastic. I never thought I could be this happy, you know?”
    “No, not really...kinda why I was asking,” Avery drawled, rolling her eyes.
    Summer loved the woman dearly, had been friends with her since they were five, but Avery was also a smartarse.
    “Oh Lord, don’t get her started,” Chase snickered as he walked passed them. “She is hopelessly in love and all doe-eyed, and I currently suffer from Althaiophobia.”
    “Hey.” Summer stuck her tongue out at her littermate. “Watch it, doofus.”
    “Or what, brat?” Chase grinned.
    “Althop-say what?” Avery stuttered, eyeing Chase warily. “Do I even want to know?”
    “Althaiophobia. An intense fear of marshmallows.” Summer shared