Page 32 of Shifter Situations

“Would you like a cookie, kind sir?”

I took a deep breath, scrubbing my beard with both hands. “I have never wanted to… I don’t know if I want to choke you or spank you right now.”

York smirked at me. “I could have told you that trip wasn’t gonna go the way you thought it was.”

“I am never going grocery shopping with her again; I can assure you of that,” I stated, snatching a Devil-made cookie off the coffee table as I fell into an armchair.

“But this is good. I thought you said you couldn’t cook?”

“I can’t cook in a kitchen, but I could survive if I were stranded,” she admitted with a shrug. “Training and all that shit.”

7

Novak

Thursday, June 4th

Mid Morning

A few hours after the sun had risen, there was a knock at the door of the old cabin. Palmer and Vaughn were still sleeping, but the rest of us were draped over the living room furniture.

Trouble shushed the guys as we listened to the visitors’ thoughts. We'd been expecting this since we got to the pack’s property, but I dreaded opening that fucking door.

My mate didn’t feel the same reservations that I did. She didn’t pick her head up out of Briggs’ lap, nor did she remove her feet from York’s hands. She waved like she was swatting a fly, and the front door flung itself against the wall.

Charlie King stood on the threshold, sticking his foot out to keep the door from slamming shut. Two shifters in uniforms stood behind him. He motioned for them to wait outside and strolled in like it was a great fucking day.

I didn't have to be a mind reader to know what was going on.

They were here to arrest me.

“Good morning,” Charlie sang as he leaned against the wall.

His eyebrows bounced as he made faces at Sloane, and I tried to stay out of their mental conversation. York and Briggs began talking about a hiking trail as Charlie’s eyes landed on me.

Trouble’s voice filled my mind as amusement flowed through our bond. “He wasn’t listening. Say it again, Dad.”

The bright green eyes of his wolf stared me down, his mental voice gravelly as he repeated, “The pack officers are here to talk to you, but I’ve requested the interview be held at the lodge.

“I have a treaty with the House of Vampyre, and Sloane has just made it clear that both of you intend to uphold that. Since you are the Coven Master of Vampyre, the shifters have to play by a different set of rules.”

Nodding at the Supreme Alpha, I replied, “I’m well aware of the treaty and the laws in place. Unless it’s changed in the last six months or so? Boring dribble, but Blaire and I are both fluent in the ins and outs.”

He nodded, fighting a smile. “I said the same thing to Nate when he wrote it. Maybe you two can simplify it and get rid of his Victorian language.”

Aloud, he said, “I need all of you to meet me at the lodge in twenty minutes. Franklin dropped the video footage off last night, and that’s been reviewed. It’s clear that none of you were here, but they still have a few questions.”

I didn’t even know what I’d been accused of yet, and I wasn’t so sure that Charlie did either. Which was strange, considering he was in charge.

Reaching out, my mental presence brushed against Blaire’s mind.

The more my bond with Sloane grew, the easier hearing thoughts became. Not that it had been hard before, it just felt different, like everything was suddenly at my fingertips the moment it crossed my mind.

But I was always careful with my sister. I understood Trouble’s issues with other people’s privacy. I didn’t want to hear everything that filled Blaire’s thoughts, especially with whatever could be going on over there.

Something was going on between Jack, Grim, and her. I didn’t want to know, though. That was a line I never wanted to cross. Walking in on her a couple of weeks ago was enough damage to last me a lifetime.

“We’ve got to meet with officers at the pack lodge in twenty minutes. Can you get dressed, please?”