SURROGATE FOR THE ALPHA
"Every advisory committee, every legal registry, anyone who's ever been photographed at a pack function in the last decade."
She nods, already typing, and the search takes longer than any of us have patience for tonight, the household settling into a tense, watchful quiet while the software churns through thousands of images.
Ashley leans into my side while we wait, her hand finding mine, and I press a kiss to her temple, needing the small comfort of her presence as much as she needs mine after everything tonight's dinner cost her.
Sienna's sharp intake of breath breaks it entirely.
"Liam." Her voice comes out strange, tight. "The search found a match."