Page 180 of Volik

Nix tugs on my hand. “Volik.”

I look down at her. “Yes, Nixy?”

The hint of censure that had been in her expression vanishes. And I wink.

I knew she liked that name.

Her scent intensifies.

She liked that wink too.

But I cannot have either of these shifters scent her arousal, so I must distract her.

“Henry, will you tell Nix about the setup here?” I watch her eyes alight with interest before I turn my attention to the dean. “She is a curious person.”

Henry chuckles. “Good trait for a journalist.”

Nix leans forward to look around me. “I have a million questions. And in case it doesn’t go without saying, this is just for my personal knowledge. When we talk to the reporter tonight, it will just be about us.”

Henry waves her off. “Of course, of course. You’re a part of this community now. The fates would not have chosen you if you didn’t fit.”

Nix squeezes my fingers as she replies quietly. “Thank you.”

Dropping her hand, I reach over, pick Nix up, take her place, then set her down so she’s between the dean and me.

Seb is on Henry’s far side, and when I look at him over the dean’s head, he lifts his hands and takes a step farther away.

He is an unmated Alt. I will not apologize for wanting him to keep his distance.

“So, what would you like to know?” Henry rubs his hands together, asking Nix.

“Everything.” Her laugh is so bright, I have to stomp down my urge to purr in response. “I didn’t even know shifters were real until… this week. So consider me completely uninformed.”

He hums. “Yes, well, that is by design. Someday we’ll make our existence known, as the vampires have, but like so many things in the human world, it’s bogged down by politics.”

“Politics… so do the different, uh, packs work like independent governments?”

“Not as strict as that makes it sound. But each pack has their own rules of engagement, you might say. Across the world, there are many. And like communities across the world, they differ. Here, we all live on pack land, and we have duties within the pack that we do as members of this family. Like Seb here.” He tips his head toward his nephew. “He works with the security team a few days a week, walking the perimeter, investigating any issues. I spend most of my weekends helping tutor the young ones, since education is my passion. Others simply choose to use their money as contribution. We don’t pay rent or have mortgages, and there is always food available in the club building, so giving money is still very useful.”

Nix sighs. “Now I have even more questions than before.”

Henry grins. “Promise I won’t be offended. Ask whatever you want.”

“If you say so.” Nix glances up at me, and I nod. “Alright.” She turns her attention back to the dean. “Are we heading to your house now?”

“Yep.”

“Okay, then I won’t ask questions about what the houses look like. But will you explain the pack land to me? And how you all live here at basically no cost?”

I listen half-heartedly as Henry explains that the land has belonged to the pack for generations. Over a million acres. Mostly wooded. Some land for farming. A handful of commercial properties for income.

Most Alts are wealthy. Some hoard. Some spend. But with enhanced senses, longer lifetimes, and the world governments under blackmail, it’s not hard for us to find and keep resources. Shifters are no exception. They just live clustered around each other, whereas druids live mostly alone. And vampires fall somewhere in between. If Vameer had not disappeared, I am certain we would live near each other, if not with each other.

“Do new houses have to be built often?”

“Every decade or so, another couple will go up. We tend to build the houses in neighborhoods of sorts, since we don’t like feeling alone. Though some pack members move away, so not every pup born will require a new home.”

“Why would they move away?”