Tobi leaned over his shoulder to peek at the screen. "Cool. We can start tomorrow night then. Probably just two nights to complete the installation."
Aleksei's expression remained impassive, but Tyr caught the slight nod of approval. The ancient warrior always appreciated efficiency.
"We've also completed the assessment of the wolf shifters' pack house," Tobi added. He pulled up the schematics on his phone, expanding the display so the others could see. "It's going to be complex. The house itself is massive—ten bedrooms, five full bathrooms, four half-baths, and four separate entrances. And dozens of windows. And that's just the house. The property extends over five acres, heavily wooded, with multiple outbuildings and natural blind spots."
"While the alpha, Joe, and his wife are the only permanent residents, the pack house serves as both guest house and community center for the wolves," Tyr explained, scrolling through his digital notes. "Joe explained that pack members who need temporary housing stay there, and they frequently host visiting wolf shifters, as well as social gatherings for the pack."
Antonio's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Difficult to secure."
"Precisely," Tyr agreed. "We'll need a multilayered approach—perimeter sensors around the property boundaries, focused surveillance on the approaches to the house, and a more comprehensive system for the house itself."
"The wolves won't appreciate excessive monitoring inside their den," Antonio observed, his voice carrying centuries of diplomatic experience.
"No," Tyr acknowledged. "We've discussed this with Joe. The internal systems will focus on entry points rather than living spaces. Privacy is a priority."
Dimitri tilted his head slightly, his desert-dark eyes thoughtful. "Are any of the wolf shifters planning to come out publicly?"
Tyr watched as Antonio shook his head, the movement almost imperceptible. "No. Lord Damien and the wolf alpha have agreed that having the Maine Coon shifters as the public face of the community is strategically sound. The wolves will remain in the background for now."
"Actually," Tobi interjected, his voice uncharacteristically measured for once, "there's a connection we should be aware of." He glanced at Tyr, who nodded encouragingly. "Layla, the caracal shifter who's temporarily staying at the pack house with her young son, is the sister of Tamera Kazakis."
"Ah, yes," Dimitri nodded in recognition. "The woman who was rescued from Morocco."
"Exactly," Tobi confirmed. "And Tamera is married to Kester Kazakis, who's definitely public as the owner of the Greek restaurant."
Antonio frowned slightly, seeing the security implications immediately. "So while the wolves themselves aren't coming out, their pack house is housing someone with a direct connection to one of our public shifters."
"Which makes the pack house a potential target through association," Aleksei concluded, his military mind instantly grasping the strategic vulnerability. "Any threat researching the Kazakis family could discover that connection."
"Joe mentioned they've been keeping Layla's presence quiet," Tyr added. "She's not a Kazakis, and she's still adjusting to life outside the compound where she was held. But in today's world of social media and surveillance..."
"One photo, one mention online," Antonio nodded, "and the connection becomes clear."
"We'll need to upgrade the pack house security to highest priority," Aleksei decided. "Especially with a child involved."
Tyr nodded in agreement, his mind already calculating how they would redistribute their limited resources. "The electronic security systems will help, but with a property that size..."
"The pack house presents unique challenges," Antonio said thoughtfully. "Unlike the clinic or restaurant, it's a residence, and on a massive wooded property. Furthermore, due to it's nature as a pack house, people other than those residing there are in and out at all hours."
"We need boots on the ground," Tobi finished his thought, as he often did. "Or wings in the air."
Aleksei's gaze turned calculating. "You're suggesting a permanent night watch at the pack house?"
"Yes," Tyr backed up his brother, straightening under the ancient warrior's scrutiny. "At least one vampire on patrol from sunset to sunrise. The property has excellent vantage points for aerial surveillance. We could maintain a perimeter watch without intruding on the wolves' privacy."
Antonio's fingers tapped a contemplative rhythm against his thigh. "With only four of us currently available, a permanent night watch would stretch our resources very thin."
"True," Tyr acknowledged. "But once the reinforcements arrive next week, we'll have more flexibility in our rotation."
"The pack house has both tactical and symbolic value," Dimitri added, his voice carrying the quiet authority of centuries. "It's the heart of the wolf community. An attack there would be devastating to morale throughout the shifter population."
Aleksei inclined his head fractionally at Dimitri's assessment. "Certainly the children must be protected at all costs. The shifter communities place great value on their young ones. As they should."
"The young ones also represent our future cooperation," Antonio observed in his quiet manner. "The next generation who might grow up seeing vampires as allies rather than enemies."
Tyr felt a surge of protectiveness at the thought of the small caracal cub he'd glimpsed playing in the pack house yard two nights ago. The boy couldn't have been more than five or six, his laughter carrying across the property as he chased fireflies in the twilight.
"Until our numbers increase, perhaps we could coordinate with the Djinn," Tyr suggested. "They don't require sleep as we do. If they could provide additional coverage during critical hours..."
