Page 202 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“Keep me updated,” I said, turning back to the glass to watch.

“You say this man stabbed someone in the neck?” Milbanks asked. “What did he stab him with?”

“Well…” The boy shrugged awkwardly. “I didn’tseeit happen. I caught it on my phone camera. I like to take pictures of butterflies and caterpillars and stuff to show my little sister. She likes that stuff.”

Milbanks nodded. “We’ve got those pictures already. Is it this one?” he asked, sliding a set of printed photos across the table.

Billy bit his lip as he looked at the photos. “Yeah, I took those. There were a bunch of butterflies flying by, and when I took the pictures, I saw the guy jab something into that man’s neck. Then a few seconds later, he… well, he turned into a wolf. It wasn’t a shifter, though. He was screaming real bad and shaking. I’ve never seen a shifter act that way. He looked like he was dying.”

Billy’s mother rubbed his back to console him. “He’s already told you all this. It’s the third time he’s had to say it. Can we please go now?”

“I really appreciate your cooperation, ma’am,” Milbanks said. “You all are free to go, just know that we may have further questions if we get any more leads.”

“Thank you.” She sighed, then led her son out the door.

A few seconds later, Milbanks joined us. He looked annoyed that he had to deal with us.

“I figure you want to look at these,” he said, and handed the file folder to me.

As I took the folder, Langston’s phone rang, and he stepped into the corner to answer it.

I flipped open the folder and looked at the first photo. It was a simple shot of a park, with swings in the background and a small flock of five butterflies caught in mid-flight against the blue sky. Nothing there. Things got more interesting in the next photo. A young man of maybe twenty or twenty-five walked through the park, cell phone to his ear. Another photo showed a man in a hooded sweatshirt behind the first man, head down and face hidden. They were behind the flock of butterflies.

Behind me, Langston cursed. “Are you sure?”

I turned to the next photo. What I saw there had my heart lurching, and nausea pulsed through my stomach. The hooded man was right behind the first man now, his hand up, jabbing a hypodermic needle into the first man’s neck. I clenched my jaw so tight that my teeth creaked.

“Cole, Zayde managed to see who?—”

“I already know who,” I snapped as I stared down at the face of my brother. Dallas, mid-injection. Dallas, caught in the process of ruining an innocent man’s life.

I shoved the photo at Trent. My friend’s face fell, all emotion draining out of his eyes. Then, quick as lightning, anger flared in his eyes.

“That fucker,” he said.

“It’s my brother,” I said, handing the folder back to Milbanks.

“Your brother?” Milbanks said, eyebrows knitting together. “The one you were telling me and the mayor about?”

“Yeah.”

God, my brother had fallen so far. There was no denying it now. No justifications I could think of, other than him being fully on Kyle’s side. He was the enemy. This wasn’t a man who was doing what his boss wanted because he had some dirt on him or something. No. This was active participation in a fucking heinous crime.

“Does that mean you’ll handle this?” Milbanks asked. “Being a pack issue?”

My eyes snapped up to meet his. “Yes.I’llhandle it. I know you don’t want to get your precious hands dirty with shifter business.”

“Now, hang on, Cole,” Milbanks said. “This isn’t my call. This is how it’s been for centuries. You all handle your own, and we handle ours. We only cross those judicial paths when a human is attacked. I’m ready and willing to lend a hand if you need it. I already told you that, dammit.”

I exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blow up. It’s just…” I shrugged helplessly. “It’s a big deal. Knowing your own blood has done something like this.”

“I can imagine,” Milbanks said.

Could he? Probably not. Wolves were familial to a fault. It was why having a pack was so important to us. The mere thought of having to take down my brother made my wolf whine, but it had to be done. He’d left me no choice. Dallas was a danger, not only to me and my family, but to the entire pack.Hell, not only the pack but the entire town of Harbor Mills—human and shifter alike.

It was time.

Langston put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry for this, Cole. I know you wanted to believe he was doing this against his will.”

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