“Hi y’all. I’m Sophia. What can I call you two?” I layer on my accent, letting the honey drip from my words.

Neither man looks up from the table. “Answer her,” comes from Masen like a deadly threat.

“I’m Jeff Harper. Honestly, I had no idea he wasn’t telling the truth,” He rushes out. He can’t be more than twenty-one, twenty-two at the most.

“My name is Rob Gillissie.” His voice is flat. He’s scared but trying to hide it.

“Well guys, this here is my Masen. He’s the Alpha of the Northern Territories and my Mate. He’s really upset about the way your friends treated me at the mall, but he’s enraged with what happened at my house. Y’all didn’t have anything to do with that, now, did you?”

They both look properly chagrined. Rob speaks up. “No, we were not involved in that, but we do know what you’re talking about.” He sounds ashamed.

“Well, that’s good to hear. Now, we would like you to tell us any and everything you think we should know, and if we have any questions, we’ll ask ‘em. That sound okay to you guys?” I’m trying to make it sound like they have an option, we all know they don’t.

“How about you start with who told you I was their Mate?” As the words leave my lips, Masen’s body leans over the table, and he growls menacingly. Both men scoot their chairs back quickly, and their eyes dart to me like I’m going to save them. I rub Masen’s back, encouraging him to calm down.

Jeff begins. “His name is William. He’s been telling everyone that will listen that his Mate was kidnapped right after he found her,” he looks up, judging Masen’s demeanor before continuing, “He didn’t tell us who had her just that anyone who finds her will get a reward. He claims to be building a pack just outside of Marshall and wants anyone looking for a better life to join him.”

“Both of you know that the Northern Territories already have a pack. Why would you believe him?” Masen questions.

Rob meets his eyes. “He said he had the Alpha’s backing, that your pack was becoming too large.” He sounds mystified at his own response. “It all seemed so convincing at the time. He’s telling everyone exactly what we want to hear. We followed him from our pack in Tennessee.” He shakes his head. “I was never once suspicious. He’s had the same story for the two months we’ve been with him. A few days ago, he started talking about his Mate. He met her in Marshall, and when he went to her house to bring her back with him, she had disappeared. He said someone took her before he made it there. It didn’t make much sense at the time, but he had every male follow him to her house and scent her so we could find her.” He looks down at the table clearly not wanting to say the next part. “I only know about what happened after because I overheard his Beta and two others talking about it last night. That’s why we didn’t call him right away when we saw you two” —his face gets a little red— “She was… very willing to be near you. She didn’t seem, forced.” Masen’s hand smacks the table, and the two men and I jump at the loud noise.