Free Pack Daughter by Crissy Smith Page B

admitted. “I really do.”
    He father beamed down at her. “I’m so happy! I am happy, right?”
    She laughed. “Yes, yes, you’re happy, Dad.”
    He hugged her tight again. They let go of each other and her dad walked over to Mike. He held out his hand. When Mike accepted the handshake, her dad murmured, “Just take care of my girl.”
    Mike smiled. “I will.”
    That taken care of, her dad turned back into the Alpha. “We have a lot to discuss.”
    Everyone took a seat—her dad behind the desk, Eric and Kenny in the two chairs in front of him, and Becca and Mike side by side on the couch.
    Eric updated everyone on the fire to her cottage. Mike shared his concern about someone in the Pack hiding Owen. And Kenny informed them that the cabin the humans were staying in was still under surveillance and they hadn’t moved. Also there was no sign of Owen near there.
    “The humans may not be involved,” Eric noted.
    Mike shook his head. “With the timing of them showing up and what has been overheard, I can’t see them not being involved.”
    Kenny nodded. “I agree with Mike.”
    Her dad leant back in his chair. “I want Owen found. Let’s keep an eye on the humans but Owen is our priority. I don’t know if he knew whether or not Becca was home but…” He shook his head.
    Becca shivered just thinking of the possibility that she could have been home alone.
    “I saw him at the diner last night,” Mike mentioned.
    “I don’t remember seeing him,” Kenny said with a frown. “Damn, that makes me think he did believe Becca was home. And maybe you were with her.”
    “Seems you may be making someone nervous,” Eric added.
    “Yeah,” Mike agreed.
    “Send out the men to look for Owen. I want him located today. I need to call the council and give them an update. Becca, we have to go through the cottage today.”
    Everyone nodded.
    Mike’s cell phone rang and he looked at the screen. He nodded towards her dad. “I need to take this.”
    Her dad waved him off. “Go ahead.”
    Mike walked out of the room and Becca couldn’t help but let her gaze follow him. Once he’d walked out of the door, she looked back around and saw the three men watching her with amusement.
    “Oh, shut up,” she said with a laugh that broke the tension the previous conversation had brought to the room.
    Mike answered Brandon’s call as he stepped into the hallway. “Hello.”
    “Hey, man,” Brandon Stratton’s voice came through. “I got your message. I did a search on your guy. He doesn’t have a criminal background but I expected that since he’s a cop. But I did find something interesting.”
    “What?” Mike asked, excited at the chance of having a lead.
    “He was raised by a human mother. Didn’t join a Pack until he was in his mid-twenties. Five years ago in fact,” Brandon told him.
    “Well, that’s different,” Mike observed. It was rare for a child shifter to grow up outside a Pack. He had met shifters who had gone Rogue once they were adults but it was unusual for a child to be without Pack. They needed the security and closeness other shifters offered while going through puberty.
    “Yeah,” Brandon agreed. “I did a search on the rest of the family. Seems like Owen’s mom and dad were never married. Can’t find much more on the dad other than a name on a birth certificate. It’s like he just disappeared.”
    Mike hummed. Interesting .
    “The mom, however, did marry when Owen was five. Had two more children over the years,” Brandon provided. “But here is where it gets really interesting.”
    Mike leaned against the wall of the hallway. Becca and Kenny walked out of the office and she stopped next to him. He pulled her close to his side. “Go on.”
    “Owen’s step-father is Dan Carter,” Brandon announced.
    “Carter? The preacher?” Mike asked, shocked. Becca stiffened beside him and Kenny frowned.
    “Yes, that Carter,” Brandon confirmed. “So if Owen is involved you can almost be