Chapter Thirty-One

**Sloan**

“*How the hell did my day go from being balls deep inside my Angel to dealing with these assholes? Again!*” Sloan thought as he sat in the Den, listening to Steven provide him with a detailed report from the packhouse sweep. He still can’t believe how ballsy they were to plant such a racy photo on the last body and outlandishly threaten Myra in the process.

He glanced over at his female sitting quietly across the room. Myra was hugging her knees, lost in her thoughts. He could sense how violated she felt because he felt it too. Someone has been spying on their private sanctum for the past month, possibly, and they were completely unaware of it. He hated that someone else was privy to hearing and seeing her cries of pleasure and were bold enough to create pictorial evidence of that fact. Said photo sat face down on the desk in front of him, and its taunting message teasing him – fueling his rage.

After Steven delivered his report, Sloan looked up at the four Shifters standing before him. He can sense their uneasiness by his anger and Sloan’s battle to keep control of his feral wolf. He gave out new orders to each of them, then turned to Leanne.

“She NEVER leaves your sight.” He ordered his most trusted senior lead security officer. He glanced at Myra again, and thankfully, she didn’t protest his demands. He noted that she was abnormally quiet since the discovery of the devices and the picture. “*What are you thinking, my sweet fiancée?*” He smirked internally.

They decided to hold off on announcing their engagement. Now wasn’t the time since her life - and their pup - was in danger, once again.

Once Steven excused himself, Leanne walked over and joined Myra while Declan made some notes.

“I can’t believe the cojones on these bastards,” Tristan snapped, voicing the elephant in the room, and he glanced at the overturned photo.

“Who exactly saw this photo?” Sloan asked darkly, tapping the document with his index finger. He saw Declan nervously shift from foot to foot while Tristan scratched the back of his neck.

“Fortunately, yet unfortunately… it was me,” Declan confessed, putting on a brave face. “While we were investigating the fourth body dump, I got a text.” He explained, pulling out his phone and tapped quickly on the screen. He placed the device on the desk and slid it over to Sloan.

**Text message** [Unknown]: Busy, busy… here’s number five (web_link)

“They texted you the coordinates to the fifth body?” He asked, handing the phone back to Declan.

“It was a mass text. All the packs and clans in the area got it; I was just lucky to get to the body first.”

“Thank you.” Sloan was grateful that only Declan saw the photo, and he was also thankful that his uncontrollable wolf was too blind with rage towards the rogues to act unjustly and challenge his life-long friend to restore honour to his female.

Declan blew out a breath of relief, and so did Tristan. His actions caused Sloan to narrow his gaze at his brother.

“Why do you seem just as relieved?”

“I… um…” Tristan stuttered. Sloan growled, and his fingers curled into a fist. “I didn’t see it if that’s what you are wondering… just the message on the back. Declan was quite persuasive that only one of us should die for viewing the contents of that photo.” Tristan further explained.

“… and seeing that you have yet to calm down means that the image depicted on that paper is bad… so I’m thankful he took a big fucking silver bullet for my well being.” Tristan finished, sighing in relief once again when Sloan’s fists uncurled.

Declan nodded to confirm Tristan’s words. He picked up his phone and silently motioned to the wall where the map was located. Sloan pressed some buttons, and the map opened up.

“Like all the time before the bodies were placed in random spots about the city,” Declan stated, pinning the new locations. He stood back, and they all stared at the screen. They hoped for a sign, for something to help crack this mystery wide-open, and put it all to rest. Once and for all.

Suddenly Myra gasped, and Sloan looked up at her. She had a shocked expression on her face as she gazed at the map.

“What is it, Angel?” He asked, looking back on the screen, trying to understand what caused such a reaction from her.

“Don’t you all see it?” She voiced, uncurling herself and walked over to the map. Everyone gathered around the map staring at it.

“Sorry, Sis… what are we supposed to be seeing?” Tristan questioned, tilting his head from side to side.

“I guess it’s my training that allows me to see past the random scribbles… Can you remove the background map but keep the pins?” Myra asked him, but her request confused him.

Instead, Declan took the initiative to fulfil her request. He returned to the keyboard, and the map disappeared with just the pins remaining. The plain background made the map look even stranger, but they still couldn’t see whatever it was Myra was seeing.

“Okay Declan,” Myra started and joined him by the keyboard. “I need you to overlay a different picture on the pins… can you pull up the emoji icons?” He nodded and did as she asked. “That one.” She pointed to the screen.

Sloan almost laughed at the dumbfounded expression on his friend’s face as he looked on the computer monitor and then the screen. Myra rejoined them, placing a comforting hand on the small of his back. He relished in the slight intimate touch. For the first time since viewing that photo, his wolf began to calm down.

Declan made the changes, and the background changed as per Myra’s request. The room grew painful silent as the image overlaid on the pins.

“*Fucking bastards!*” He growled, not believing his eyes. Most of the points lined up perfectly with the mocking smiley face emoji.

“As you can see… the first three victims and my attack were anomalies. The pattern started with the fourth victim.” Myra deciphered, pointing to the screen.

“*Because by the third victim, we started taking notice.*” Sloan thought, interpreting her words.

“How the hell did you see that?” Tristan scuffed in shock, holding up his hand to high-five Myra.

“It comes with being a teacher… the first and only time I saw this map, there was something about it… but I couldn’t put my finger on it. With these new victims, it - it just clicked.” She shrugged. Sloan wrapped his arm around her, hugging her closer o his body and placed a kiss on her forehead.

“Good job, my love.” He encouraged her while the image on the map mocked them.

“But what does it mean?” Leanne questioned, scratching her head, seemingly still confused as everyone else.

But it was Declan who sighed in frustration before answering her. “It’s nothing… just another dead end.”

Sloan hated to admit it, but Declan was right. They have been wasting their time focusing on the bodies’ locations. The rogues’ spies knew this and used it to their advantage.

“We have been chasing our tails, once again… and the fuckers have been laughing at us. Who can orchestrate something of this calibre with such accuracy?” Sloan wondered aloud, not actually soliciting an answer.

After a brief moment of silence, Tristan spoke up. “I think Elizabeth was an afterthought… because we all know she doesn’t have the brains to pull this off.”

“I believe so too… it’s someone hiding in plain sight. Has anyone recently been showing interest in these cases? Outside of the ranked members?” Sloan questioned, but they all shook their heads.

“No one… but they clearly have a death wish… placing cameras in your bedroom.” Declan tried to lighten the mood, but the offhanded comment got Sloan thinking.

“*I haven’t noticed any strange scents in our room recently.*”

“Besides the staff who changed our sheets and towels… I haven’t registered any new scents in our bedroom,” Myra confessed.

“I will start my investigation with them.” Tristan took notes on his tablet. “Rebecca, Lilly, Ashley and Bella… correct?”

Sloan nodded. Though, he knew the four female staffers for most of his life and could personally vouch for them. But someone had threatened his woman; therefore, no one was safe. Tristan left the room to start his detailed background checks while Declan gathered his notes and files. His Betas were determined to start producing results before the worst happens.

“From now on, I would prefer handling the beddings and towels in our bedroom,” Myra commanded in a no-nonsense tone which meant she wasn’t taking no for an answer.

“I wouldn’t dream of contradicting you. No one’s allowed in our room but us.” He agreed, placing a protective hand on her stomach to indicate that he included their pup. They had reached the point of no return. From this moment forward, there will be bloodshed.

“Excuse me, it’s my brother,” Leanne said, answering her phone and exited the room. Myra just nodded as she still stared at the screen. Sloan wrapped his arms around her shoulders, resting his head on top of hers, still gazing at the screen.

“Until everything’s settled… we will hold off announcing our double dose of happy news.” He said, running his hand down her arm, gripping her hand and brought up her ringed finger to his lips.

She nodded as he kissed her finger. “I agree.”

“*Time to change the mood.*” Sloan thought, “Why don’t you start looking for our replacement bed frame?”

“And tub? She teased, turning to face him. A slight smirk graced her face as she nibbled on her lower lip. He saw her eyes flash with arousal, and her signature scent floated up to him. But he didn’t want to take her in his current emotional state; he refused to hurt her.

Sloan took a deep breath, letting her mere presence continued to calm him. “You little minx… haven’t you had enough of me?” Sloan laughed, pulling both her hands onto his shoulder then wrapped his hands around her waist.

“Never.”

He chuckled and leaned down to kiss her sweetly. “Thank you for figuring out the map… we may have eventually realized it, but I’m so glad we don’t have to waste any more time on it.”

“Whoever’s the mastermind behind all this,” She started, and Sloan groaned, dropping his head on her shoulder. He failed to change the subject. “They think they’re funny… and…” she paused, causing Sloan to look at her.

“And?”

“It’s a game… in their sick and twisted way, it’s all a game.”

“Twisted and deadly… but I have no intentions of being the losing side anymore,” Sloan growled, and he felt his anger starting to rise again. Another small smile came upon Myra’s sweet face as she reached up and cupped his cheek.

“While the black eyes are doing a number on my heated hormones… I want my grey-eyed Wolfman back.” She flirted, gazing deeply into his eyes.

“I just need to calm down first, Angel… but it will be a while.” He confessed, “However, simply being in your presence is helping… you’re like a beacon of light and hope amongst all this darkness.” He whispered, bearing all his frustration and anger to her. “I love you, Myra Gallagher… I thank God every day that I’ve found, claimed and mated you.”

“I love you too, Sloan Jamison.” She whispered, tipping up onto her toes to kiss him.

* * *

Hours later, Sloan sat stewing in his Den. They haven’t come up with anything new, and his mood was still foul. Furthermore, Myra was still in heat, but his anger was still uncontrolled, and he wished to protect her from himself. He linked with Leanne, asking her to keep Myra distracted and possibly away from him.

With the help of the ranked members present in the house, they cleaned up their bedroom, and Tristan stopped what he was doing to personally re-check for any new devices. Myra, unfortunately, didn’t feel comfortable staying in their room. Sloan suggested that she hung out in the Common Rooms while busying herself with some online shopping. They needed to replace all that they have damaged during their heated weekend.

The look on her face, when he handed her a black Amex Centurion card with her name on it and instructed her that it was limitless, was priceless. She tried giving it back to him, stating that she had her own credit card and money; he only chuckled. He had to remind her that she was now an Omega, and it was an emergency card for her to use when making large purchases for their home. Eventually, she will need to start using it when planning their wedding, though he sensed she wasn’t comfortable. He reassured her that he knew she didn’t want to be a kept woman, and he wouldn’t ask that of her.

“*It’s one of the things he loved about her… she doesn’t care about the status or money… just him and well being of the pack.*”

She proved to be his perfect Angel and Pack Omega when she made snacks for the team guarding the house and lunch for himself and her. Sloan wasn’t allowing anyone back into the packhouse until Tristan cleared them. He warned that he and Myra were still indisposed; therefore, the packhouse was still out of bounds.

He also updated the other Alphas and the Elders about their discoveries. He warned them about potential spies within their numbers and to be mindful about the scope of the information they’ve been relaying to their members.

His fingers tapped impatiently on the desk. He left the map open to remind him of his failure to catch the murderous bastards and the different innocent victims who paid the price. He even propped up the photo against the monitor before him. His anger started to boil at the thought of someone voyeuring on their intimate moments in bed. Worse yet, they didn’t know how long they were being spied on.

“*May I enter?*” Tristan’s voice echoed in his head.

Sloan reached over and put the photo, image side, down on his desk. “*Come.*”

His brother walked in, in his usual way, with his face buried in his tablet. However, Sloan noticed he wasn’t his technical teasing self. That, in itself, showed the severity of their current situation.

“I just popped into the Common Rooms before coming here; should we be worried as to why Myra and Leanne are measuring out the bar top?”

Sloan snorted at the memory, his first time knotting, and it was glorious. “Let’s not discuss the why… Anything new?”

Tristan arched a curious eyebrow and gave Sloan a knowing smirk. “Interesting and no, nothing new. Your bedroom staffers have all checked out.” Tristan cocked his hip to partially sit on Sloan’s desk, placing the tablet on his lap.

“As I knew they would… but I’ll have a chat with them upon their return to the house.”

“However, I took the initiative and a page from the rogues’ techniques and installed some new cameras,” Tristan smirked.

Sloan facepalmed himself for not coming up with the idea sooner. “That’s fucking brilliant; where did you put them?”

Tristan double tapped on the tablet’s screen and passed the device to Sloan. He soon realized it was his tablet, and an application already opened up on its screen.

“Spy cameras are so easy to get with the right Declan connections.” Tristan beamed.

Sloan ignored his cockiness and looked at the eight-grid layout displayed on the screen. He saw new camera feeds that were set up on both ends of the hallway outside their bedroom, the back and front door, Common Rooms, the hallway outside the Den and the service entrance. Sloan’s eyes focused on the Common Rooms grid, smiling lovingly at Myra laughing with Leanne.

“Where exactly did you put them?”

“Above the door frames… tiny buggers, besides us, no one would know they’re there.” He pulled out a small case from his pocket and placed it on the desk before Sloan. Sloan picked it up and opened it. Tristan was right; the remaining device looked like a black sesame seed.

“It’s amazing what people can do with technology.”

“Declan encrypted them and helped with setting them up around the house.”

“Finally, some good news for the day.” Sloan sighed in relief.

“It’s not the only good news, huh?”

Sloan glanced up at his brother and chuckled. “*Of course, he knows the significance of the ring.*” Sloan rubbed the back of his neck, genuinely smiling since Myra left the room. “You had me wondering where you went.”

“Huh?”

“You being serious, it isn’t a great look on you.” Sloan teased, and Tristan arched an eyebrow at him.

“Hello, I make everything look good,” Tristan snapped his fingers in Sloan’s face. “So, congratulations?”

“We’re holding off announcing it because I’m not sure how it will be received.”

Tristan tilted his head to the side, confused. “Dude, everyone will be over the moon.”

“I know, but Myra’s already in danger… this type of news can make her an even bigger target.”

“Shit, you’re right… well, since I’m the first to know, congratulations!” Tristan cheered as he rounded the desk and pulled Sloan to his feet, giving him a big hug.

“Thanks, bro… but technically, you’re the second person to know… I needed to ask her first,” Sloan chuckled.