Page 101 of Claimed

Grey speaks next. “Me and my mate have grievances to file against her former pack. Let’s do that now, too, then. You ready to file formal complaints, Stace?”

I nod, but can’t find my voice.

“And us!” Erica adds, “Attempted murder times three, a count of kidnapping and a count of attempted kidnapping.”

“We’ll launch an investigation,” Dr. Blakely replies. “but for tonight, let’s stick to some basics.”

Mason barges in with Tyson directly behind him.

“What the fuck is goin’ on here?” Mason demands.

Tyson addresses my brother with fire in his eyes. “I can’t smell this fucker but I’m pretty sure he needs to die.”

Wyatt’s eyes harden with pure hatred at the sight of Tyson Savage. But I see something else, too. Is my brother afraid of Tyson?

“We all want a piece of this guy,” Riley adds.

“Flip you for it?” Tyson offers.

Riley laughs like it’s hilarious.

Wyatt’s eyes now bounce between them with confusion. He doesn’t understand the hierarchy here. He can’t wrap his mind around alphas working together.

“This is Wyatt Meadows,” Grey tells them. “Stacy’s brother. And I think you’re right, Ty, but Mitch disagrees.”

“Update us,” Tyson demands.

Grey tells him, “Tried to take my wife and says he’s identified Sherry Creed as his. Thing is, he took Jessica Young somewhere. She’s making the phones all go nuts, probably to alert us they’ve got her. Mitch here is suggesting we let him take Sherry and give Jessica back. Mitch says we’ve got grievances against Wyatt’s pack; he’s got some against ours. Wants us to settle those in arbitration.”

“Give us Jessica and take her, then. We’ll sort the rest of this later,” Mason says with a shrug.

“Fuck that. He’s not taking my goddamn sister!” Jase shouts. “I know she pissed you off, bro, but come on!”

“He’s lying. I’m not his mate!” Sherry protests. “Nobody’s listening to me. This is my life here!”

“There’s a solution,” Tyson offers. “Put Sherry and this assclown in a cell in the basement tonight. We find out tomorrow if he claimed her in a way that proves she’s his.”

“Wait. What? That’s barbaric!” Erica speaks up. “Women should not be treated this way.”

Riley tries to settle her down.

“Don’tEricame, there Pooky. This is bull pucky.”

“I agree!” Bailey calls out from where she stands by the door. “If a woman is repulsed by an alpha, if he’s a psychopathic criminal, he should not automatically get to take her just because he identifies her as his. She should have a choice! Don’t mistake me, Sherry. I hate your guts. And that’s on you. Because you’re a shitty person. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have rights. It doesn’t mean that just because you’re a girl you should be stuck with a psychopath.”

“These are the rules. If you have a problem with them, there’s protocol,” Dr. Blakely argues. “But as of right now, my recommendation is that we follow Tyson Savage’s suggestion. Though instead of a cell, perhaps Tyson’s cabin and have guards posted.”

“No. Not my cabin,” Tyson tells him. “That’s for pack use only.”

“I was thinking this way the lass is safe while it’s determined whether this alpha does have a legitimate claim to her,” Dr. Blakely reasons.

“The cells downstairs can be used for that,” Riley tells them. “Grey was willing to stay there with his mate when he identified her.”

“Jase, no,” Sherry cries into her brother’s shirt.

“Sherry,” a voice calls out from the crowd. “You need to go with the man that says he’s your mate. I like Tyson’s idea. Then you’re still here while we find out for certain.”

“Dad –” Jase protests and I see the man he’s speaking to, who is a large man, an older alpha with similar facial features as Jase.

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