Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107670 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“We’re not to blame, Shay.” Nick sharply twisted her to face him. “Hector is responsible. He would have killed her eventually anyway. He doesn’t like witnesses. As soon as she knew too much, he’d have got rid of her.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Marcus asked, “So what do we do now?”
Everyone looked at Nick, who puffed out a breath. “I don’t know.”
Even before Jesse entered the main lodge, Harley knew something was wrong. His anger echoed through her, vibrating her bones. The moment he returned, he stalked straight to her and hooked an arm around her neck to pull her close. She rubbed his upper arms. “I take it things didn’t go well.”
Resting his forehead on hers, he sighed. “They went to shit.”
While Zander, Roni, and Marcus patrolled the border, Nick held a pack meeting in the living area of the main lodge and explained everything to the others. Some of the pack cried out for war on Hector. Harley didn’t believe that was the answer, but she didn’t comment. Hector didn’t have a pack, but he could hire more loners—many would do anything for a price. As such, a war would equal absolute mayhem.
Nick must have agreed with that, because he growled, “No. More. War. We’ll find another way to deal with this.”
“No disrespect, Nick,” began Eli, “but I’m not sure there is another way to deal with it. Unless you plan on giving up our territory, he’s going to send people here eventually to run us off. We’ll have no choice but to fight back. All we can do is prepare for the battle ahead.”
“How would a margay pride deal with it?” Kathy asked Harley.
The question took her by surprise. “One of us would sneak into his home and slit open his throat while he slept.”
There was total silence for a moment. Then Ally said, “You’re serious.”
Very. “Margays aren’t big on wars. We’ve never understood why wolves, hyenas, and jackals like it so much.”
“We don’t like war,” said Nick.
“Packs are constantly at war with each other,” Harley pointed out.
“Yeah,” allowed the Alpha, “but that doesn’t mean we want to be.”
Shaya leaned forward. “One of your pride would really sneak into an enemy’s home and kill them in their sleep?”
Harley nodded. “We believe it’s better to cut the cancer out of the situation than have a full-on war during which lots of people get hurt and even die.”
Everyone looked up as Zander entered, frowning.
“Everything okay?” Jesse asked him.
Zander sighed. “Something weird is going on.”
Jesse got to his feet. “Weird how?”
“There’s a van parked near the dirt road leading here. A reporter’s sitting in there, looking torn about whether or not to get out.”
“A reporter?” repeated Harley. “You mean Gabrielle Rowan?”
“Yeah,” said Zander. “Marcus is keeping an eye on her.”
Dubious, Harley asked, “You’re sure it’s Gabrielle Rowan?”
“I’ve seen her on TV a couple of times.” Zander turned to Nick. “Want me to chase her off?”
Shaya’s brows drew together. “Why would the reporter even dare to come here? She has to know she’s not in the least bit welcome.”
“I’m curious enough about that to want to talk to her,” said Nick. “Escort her through.”
Zander arched a brow. “If she resists?”
“Escort her through,” Nick repeated.
“All right.” Zander left the room.
Nick turned to Shaya. “We’ll talk to her outside; I don’t want her in here.”
“Neither do I,” said Shaya, following him outside. Harley, Jesse, Eli, Bracken, and the Beta pair went with them.
Standing on the porch, Harley spoke to Jesse. “What do you think she wants?”
He blew out a breath. “No idea.”
It wasn’t long before Harley was able to see Zander guiding a reluctant Gabrielle down the path. Her cat let loose a long, drawn-out growl and swiped her claws. When Gabrielle noticed them watching her, she lifted her chin and adopted a confident stride. Fair play to her for not showing any weakness. Eventually she came to a stop in the parking lot, looking for all the world like she’d been happily invited there.
“My enforcer tells me you were lingering outside our territory,” said Nick, his tone unwelcoming. “Why?”
“I can understand why you don’t like me much, but you’ll want to hear what I have to say,” Gabrielle told him. “Trust me on that.”
“Trust you?” echoed Jesse with a snort. He didn’t trust this female as far as he could throw her.
Gabrielle shot him a tired look. “Just hear me out.”
“Go on,” urged Nick, looking deceptively uninterested.
Gabrielle glanced at the door of the main lodge, confused. “You want to talk out here?”
“There are pups inside. I don’t have people around them who I believe could be a risk to their safety.”
“Fair enough.” Gabrielle cleared her throat. “I had a call from a she-wolf who claims to have read my article about Harley. She also claims to know you all very well.” The fox looked at Harley. “She doesn’t like you much. In fact, she was happy to share a lot about you—she didn’t even ask for anything in return.”