“I’d like to apologize, Coya,” he suddenly said.
Anya blinked back at him in surprise.
“For what?”
“You could have told Del-Rey that I had allowed Sofia into his room while he was healing. We would have fought. Fighting the alpha isn’t always wise.” His lips quirked as though amused by some thought.
She inhaled slowly. “Crying to Del-Rey would have accomplished very little in a meaningful way,” she finally said. “This is something you and I need to discuss.”
Arrogance was a natural part of him, and Anya was smart enough, intuitive enough, to know that, coya or not, she wouldn’t be ordering him to do anything.
“I agree.” Brim nodded. “It’s nothing you have to worry about happening again. I promise you.”
She tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes on him. “Why did it happen to begin with?”
His lips quirked. “Something or someone needed to piss you off enough to take what was yours. I convinced Del-Rey to give her asylum to achieve that end.”
Surprise, surprise. Another Coyote Breed manipulating her. She was going to get pissed off over this soon.
“Brim, I would hate to ever have to consider you my enemy,” she finally said quietly, staring back at him with somber determination. “But manipulate me again, in any matter, and that’s the path we’ll take. Do we understand each other?”
A hint of surprise filled his eyes. “You’re not going to throw anything at me then?”
She shook her head, a smile trying to tug at her lips. “I reserve that for your alpha alone.”
He nodded slowly. “Understood, Coya. No further manipulations.”
“And when you find yourself in mating heat, watch out for me,” she informed him in all seriousness. “Ashley and I have a plan. We’re going to show you how to manipulate properly. Doesn’t that suck for you?”
A hint of worry touched his gaze as he grimaced tightly. “I think I’d prefer to fight the alpha.”
“Too bad. I like getting even much better.” She moved behind her desk then. “I’d like your estimation of Sofia. A risk estimate.”
His brows arched as he eased toward the chairs that sat in front of her desk and sat down. “In what way?”
“The attacks began when she arrived. I knew Sofia in the labs; my first thought is that she’s not behind them. But I’d like to know what you think.”
He was thoughtful for long moments. “I’m not ruling anyone out. I’m investigating the attack on you and your bodyguards while in the mountains, as well as the attack in town. It’s clear we have a leak. I’m just not convinced Sofia is that leak.”
“Because she helped you over the years?”
“That,” he agreed, “but there’s more to it. Sofia has always worked hard toward the rescues and used her position in the Council’s lower ranks to the utmost advantage. I can’t see her betraying us now.”
“Even if she’s losing something she may have believed was hers?”
“The alpha?” Brim asked, shaking his head. “She’s always known better. There was nothing serious on either end when it came to them. They’re friends.”
Anya nodded. “Do you have any ideas why Del-Rey has suddenly been targeted?”
“Strength,” Brim stated. “Our team has been investigating those drugs, and someone could have learned of that investigation or what we found. It could also be something as simple as an attempt to weaken Haven. We’ve made a difference in their security. We’ve also been establishing a minor presence in town. Our men go to the bars there, while the Wolves pretty much stay more to their own packs. I’m looking into several areas.”
“Any headway?”
“You would have been one of the first to know if I had anything yet,” he promised her. “We brought in Coley’s daughter last night and should be requestioning him within a day or so. Hopefully we’ll have more then.”
Anya nodded again. “I appreciate you sharing this information with me.”
“Did you ask Del-Rey?” he asked her then. “I’m sure he would keep you apprised of the investigation if you asked him.”