When I took a seat, Anders was practically bouncing with energy.
“All right,” Anders said, “as we were saying, the Red Maw pack is an all-male pack, full of bloodthirsty fuckers who want to take us all down.”
“Hold up,” Blaise Boucher said. “Do we have any true confirmation on this? I mean, all we’ve heard is that this pack lives in the woods and may or may not be scouting our territories, but some of us live pretty far away.” He gestured to Hakeem. “You guys are an hour’s drive away.” He pointed across the room. “Devon, you’re almost equally far, but in the opposite direction.”
Devon, a bearded, tattooed man sitting with his petite brunette mate, nodded. “It’s true. All our pack lands border the forest, sure, but are they really a threat to all of us?”
“Trust us,” I said. “These people are unhinged. They want land, they want power, and they want mates. I don’t think any of your unclaimedormated women will be safe with them around.”
A fourth man rose to his feet, older than the others, looking to be closer to fifty with wisps of gray in his beard. “They can fucking well try, but I’ve got news for them. Bend Lake doesn’t take kindly to threats.”
“Easy, Patrick,” Anders said, holding a hand up to calm the man. “I think we all know what we need to do here.”
June looked uncomfortable sitting at the kitchen island, conspicuously away from Anders, and when he said these words, I couldn’t help but notice her wince.
Anders stood and leaned against the mantel of the fireplace, tucking a thumb in his belt and doing his best to look like the righteous sheriff in a gunslinger western.
“What we have here is an existential threat,” Anders said, nodding sadly to himself. “What that calls for, is an equally powerful response. Something that will strike fear into these Red Maw bastards.”
“Let’s hear what Cross has to say,” Blaise said, nodding in my direction. “He knows these guys the best.”
A shadow of irritation passed over Anders’s face. I relished it as I cleared my throat to speak.
“The Red Maw has been in that forest for the better part of my time there,” I said. “Started out as a small group of shitheads who’d been kicked out of area packs and got together to stay safe and have some form of pack life. Over the years, they’ve grown more aggressive as their numbers increased.”
“How big are they now?” Patrick asked, leaning back in his seat.
Rainier and I shared a glance while Anders’s face betrayed his barely contained rage. He didn’t like that I was taking over his meeting.
“Bigger than we thought,” I said. “They’re a true threat. They killed a pack acquaintance, and they have their sights set on us as well as you all. It’s too much for our pack to handle alone,” I admitted. “That’s why we’re here.”
A heavy silence fell over the room, then the alphas started whispering with their mates. Anders stood taller, adjusting hisshirt, and opened his mouth to speak. I couldn’t help myself. I spoke before he made a sound.
“All I want is the best for my pack and all the other packs,” I said, and from the corner of my eye, I could see a red flush creeping up Anders’s neck.
“What’s your plan?” Hakeem asked. Everyone was looking to me to answer the question, rather than Ander, who had called the meeting.
June glanced uncomfortably from the other alphas to Anders. I desperately wanted to take the reins of this meeting, but it was best not to push my luck. I could be the bigger man here.
“I think we should hear what the man who brought us all here has to say about that,” I said, gesturing toward Anders.
He quickly put a look of contrite worry on his face as the other alphas turned their attention to him. He again positioned himself like some politician about to give the speech of his life.
Rainier rolled his eyes.
Anders scanned the room. “We unite the packs. Not just an alliance, but a full and complete combining of all six packs. That’s the best course of action.”
A rumble of uneasy muttering traveled the room, but Anders went on as though he couldn’t hear them.
“Of course, as the most powerful alpha, it would obviously be best formeto be the supreme alpha of all the packs to ensure?—”
“Now wait a fucking minute,” Blaise roared, leaping to his feet. “Who the fuck saidyouwere going to be in charge?”
Devon, glared at Anders. “And who thefucksaid you were the most powerful alpha?”
“Excuse me?” Anders said, eyes going wide as he took a step toward the other man.
I tensed, ready to intercede before things got physical, but before I could even jump off the couch, June stepped between Devon and Anders, separating the men before they got to close.
