“You dating Alison now?” Three asked doubtfully.
“No!” both Niko and Feral snapped.
Three raised an eyebrow. “Then why were you there?”
“She’s Feral’s,” Titus said, standing quietly off to the side, but close enough he could see all the maps and documents spread out across the table.
“Then why was Niko over there?” Three asked.
“None ya!” Niko insisted. “None of ya damn business! And why does it matter to you? You got Findley,” Niko said.
“Because she’s alone. And she’s nice. And she’s a friend of Findley’s,” Three said.
Niko glared at him. “None ya!” Then he looked at Jack. “I’m here. Why am I here? It’s early, I still haven’t slept.”
Jack all but snarled at him. “Do not even start with not sleeping and being inconvenienced to be here after you woke my ass up, my whole family up, before dawn this morning.”
Niko’s whole expression changed. “Forgot about that. Never mind.”
“Yeah, never mind,” Jack snapped. “Anyway, we’re going over some preliminary plans and maps of the area in and around the Gamieyon Pride lands, and discussing the situation withSteve. He’s going back with the Variant, as are some of our males. Stand here and listen like you care,” Jack said.
“I do care,” Niko said, all trace of humor or insincerity gone.
All of the Variant were laser-focused, zeroed in on the maps spread out on the table, each asking questions, pointing out landmarks as Steve described the orientation of the buildings on the Gamieyon property.
“Do you know where the attack originated?” Savage asked.
“No. By the time we realized they were there, they were on top of us from all directions,” Steve said. “And that’s saying something. We were always on patrol, always on alert.”
“They were obviously well organized, expecting to have to avoid your patrols,” Frenzy said.
“I say we go in the same way,” Savage said. “Small groups from all directions, moving silently, ready to fire at anything that moves.
“What if there are survivors?” Storm asked.
Frenzy swung his attention to Steve. “Do you think there are any?”
“Anything is possible, but I’d be very surprised. These people weren’t trying to get us to surrender, they were there to slaughter. The only reason I’m not lying in the sun with them is that Alpha Grail taxed me with getting his family, and any others that managed to escape, here safely.”
“Are there more males with you that might be willing to go in with us as part of a team? If we split into small groups, maybe three or four, one of you with each of us, at least we’d know if anyone we happen to encounter is a survivor of your Pride so they don’t get shot,” Frenzy asked.
“Hold on…” Steve got up and walked over to the front door. He let loose a loud, piercing series of whistles, then closed the door and went back to his place at the table. “They’ll be here shortly. I’m sure most will want to be a part of it.”
“How many males are you sending with us?” Frenzy asked, focusing on Jack.
“How many you want?” Jack asked.
“Whoever wants to be included,” Frenzy said. “Honestly, I’m not expecting any kind of confrontation, much less a battle. It’s just a recon mission, but we’re going in prepared just in case.”
“Rance, Dane, Slade, Tate, and Noah are going with you,” Jack said.
“Glad to hear you’re taking my advice,” Steve said.
“About?” Frenzy asked.
“Staying here,” Jack answered.
“He’s right. Stay here, stay alert. Protect home at all costs. In fact, we could leave a few of our people here,” Frenzy said, looking around at the Variant teams he’d brought.
