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The shifters slowly began to move away, still glaring at each other with barely concealed hostility. I cracked my knuckles. It seemed that every step forward brought new challenges and rifts between the packs. How could I unite them under one banner when so many were unwilling to let go of their grudges and prejudices?
As I made my way back to Tori’s tattoo parlor, my mind raced with workable solutions. There had to be a way to bring everyone together, to make them see that their survival depended on mutual cooperation and trust. What could I do to possibly achieve that? Having a shared enemy in the hunters wasn’t enough. It would take something more.
As I passed the café, I looked inside and, to my surprise, saw Christie and Martin Greenthorne sitting with a man in a suit. The anger I’d managed to tamp down rushed right back up again, and I went in before I could talk myself out of it.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but can I have a moment with the two of them?” I asked politely, masking my rage as I nodded to the human sitting across from Christie and Martin Greenthorne. He looked surprised but nodded, standing up and slipping away as I took his seat.
“Ridge,” Christie said with a venomous smile. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Cut the crap, Christie,” I snapped. “I’m done playing nice with you two. Your stirring trouble is putting all the packs at risk. If you don’t fall in line and start acting like proper members of the Northeast Pack, I’ll have no choice but to kick you out and let you deal with the hunters on your own.”
“Are you threatening us, Ridge?” Martin asked, his face a mask of controlled rage. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” I growled. “I’m not bluffing, Martin. Get your act together, or get out.”
“Fine,” he spat. “We will be on our best behavior,alpha.”
“See that you are.” I stood up to leave. “And if I hear any more talk about challenging my authority from either of you, there won’t be another warning.”
I stormed away, leaving Martin and Christie Greenthorne to stew in their humiliation. But I hadn’t gone far before their heated discussion reached my ears.
Apparently not caring who could hear her, Christie hissed, “Are you really that pathetic, Martin? Bowing down to Ridge like a spineless fool?”
“Christie, don’t start this here. We’ll talk about it at home.” Martin sounded exactly like I’d expected a browbeaten husband to sound like.
“Talk about what? How you’re willing to let him walk all over us?” Her bitterness carried across the room, striking Martin’s exposed nerves like a whip.
“Quiet down, dammit,” Martin hissed through gritted teeth, his patience wearing thin. “You think this is easy for me? But we have to pick our battles.”
“Ha, some alpha you are. More like a coward.” Christie kept on at her harried husband, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel sorry for the stupid man. This was a mess entirely of his own doing.
“Shut up, Christie,” he hissed, hoping no one would hear them. In fact, everyone in the establishment was watching.
“Or what? You’ll hit me? Go ahead, show everyone how much of a man you really are.”
I turned around and strode back to their table. This was getting out of hand, and the last thing I needed was a fight between them escalating into full-blown chaos. “Take your personal issues elsewhere,” I ordered. “Now.”
“See, Martin? Even Ridge can see how weak you are,” Christie taunted, ignoring my warning. Her eyes flashed with anger, her body trembling with barely contained rage.
“Christie, I swear to God—”
“Go on, tell me about the woman you’re sneaking around with behind my back.” She sneered.
“You crazy bitch! Like your own affairs? Remember them?”
“For fuck’s sake, both of you shut up,” I growled. The entire restaurant had gone silent, all eyes fixed on the marital spectacle unfolding before them. My grip tightened on the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white as I struggled to keep my own anger in check.
Clawson’s new deputy walked in, his eyes darting between Martin and Christie as he tried to assess the situation. Christie moved before any of us could react and threw a glass at Martin’shead. Fortunately for him, he had fast reflexes. Unfortunately for both of them, the deputy witnessed it. He moved quickly, placing a firm hand on each of their shoulders and guiding them out of the town’s diner.
“Let go of me,” Christie snarled, trying to shake off the deputy’s grip, but he held tight, his expression grim.
“Both of you need to cool off,” the deputy said firmly, leading them toward the exit. “You can spend some time in the town jail until you’re ready to act like civilized adults.”
“Ridge, you’ll pay for this humiliation,” Christie spat at me, her eyes burning with hatred. I simply glared back at her, refusing to let her threats faze me.
“Get them out of here,” I ordered, turning my back on the scene and striding away. I had enough on my plate without dealing with their petty squabbles. It was time to focus on what truly mattered.
As I walked away from the chaos at the restaurant, I clenched my jaw. The Greenthornes were a constant headache, and now they were stirring up even more trouble. Their arrest would cause problems with the shifters who had started listening to their bullshit and backing them up.
