"If you don't want me to throw you and your mom out of this pack, boy, you'll do what I tell you. Break. It. Off. You have one week."
I glare, but lift my chin to show my throat, which he still has in a choke hold. It's a sign of submission. One I have to offer.
He squeezes harder, cutting off my air. I refuse to struggle or show signs of stress-I just glare into his yellow eyes.
Fucker.
"I won't let you ruin her," he repeats, then abruptly releases me and gets up. He climbs in his car and drives away without another backward glance.
I walk inside and hold my mom, who's trembling and crying. "It's all right, Mom." I speak against her hair. "You don't need to worry about it. I already broke up with her."
Present
SHERIDAN
THE PACK CLUBHOUSE-AKA Garrett's nightclub Eclipse-is wall-to-wall stuffed with leather-clad wolves. I sneak in the back, ignoring ugly looks and burrowing deep into Trey's jacket. I'd hoped the Tucson wolves had mostly forgiven me for what I'd done to them twelve years ago. Guess I was wrong.
"Why is she here?" one grumbles to his friends. Another shakes his head, looking straight at me, not bothering to hide his disgust. "Sad to see a wolf act like a rat."
Wolf Ridge basically shot itself in the foot kicking out Garrett, Trey and Jared, because nearly every young virile wolf in our generation and after followed them to Tucson. That's part of the reason I'm so high up in the pack-a female. Fifteen years ago it would've been unheard of. It should be Garrett poised to take the helm of Wolf Ridge Brewing, and of the pack.
I raise my chin and push to the front so I can see. My cousin Garrett stands on the stage, fingers hooked into his belt loops. Tank, the pack second, stands a little behind him to the right, massive arms folded across his chest. Neither look happy.
"Quiet down," Garrett says, and everyone settles. He doesn't shout, but he doesn't have to. His voice is infused with command. "We're here to talk about the events at the shifter fight club and the proposed treaty between us and the leeches."
"Burn 'em down," someone shouts, and a few more voices rumble approval.
"Shut up," Tank growls, and silence falls again.
Garrett continues, "The fact is, we had an agreement, and a few days later, they broke it."
"Not formally," Jared comments. He's right next to the platform, a boot propped on it. "We don't know which leech was behind the dead body."
"No, we don't," Garrett admits. "But we know it was a vampire. Whether or not Frangelico sanctioned the kill, it happened after the treaty, and on the premises of a shifter owned business. While we don't claim that part of town formally as our territory, Trey and Jared are our brothers. We have their back."
"Thanks, boss," Jared mutters.
Garrett nods. "Like it or not, we gotta do something." He glances at Tank, who steps forward and jerks his chin at the audience. "Floor's open," he announces. "Say your piece. Keep it civil or I'll throw you out."
Immediately, a rough looking wolf speaks up, "I say war. We take them out." A few rumbles of approval and Jared shakes his head.
"War means deaths and collateral damage. Last thing we want are vampires going after innocents."
"They already are," a dissenter points out, and everyone agrees.
Jared raises his voice, stepping onto the platform. "A few years ago I might be into fighting until death and glory. But now I have a mate. If there's a way to make this treaty work, I say we do it."
"But the vampires broke the treaty," the rough looking wolf says.
"Not Frangelico," I call out, pushing forward. "I met with him and I don't think he's behind it."
"Remind me how you're part of this, traitor?" someone mutters.
I whirl, teeth bared, but Garrett barks, "Sheridan, up here. Now."
Tucking my head a little, I obey. My cousin looks pissed.
"You met with Frangelico, right? What was his reaction?"
"He's not happy about this body, either." He seemed more unhappy about his orders being disobeyed than the actual death, but I leave that part out. "I think one of his lieutenants, might be acting without his permission. Just a gut feeling," I hasten to explain. "Nero has, um, a thing for me. He's been willing to stir up trouble." A glance around the room tells me the wolves don't believe me, and why should they? I'm an outsider who betrayed them once before. "Trey," I blurt before I can stop myself. Garrett raises a brow and I wish I could rewind and erase. Trey doesn't deserve to get dragged into this.
"What about Trey?" Garrett prods.
Darn. "Trey was with me. He can tell you more."
Garrett raises his voice. "Where's Trey?"
"Here," a rough voice makes my heart leap. Trey's tall form shoulders through the crowd. When he steps on the platform, the light hits his bruised face and a few shifters gasp.
"What happened?" Garrett growls.
"Had a little disagreement with a leech, so I fought him." Trey's expression is unrepentant.
"Got to be some real damage if it's still showing," Tank points out, and Trey shrugs.
"Let me get this straight," Garrett frowns. "You fought a vampire?"
"Not a vampire. One of his seconds. Frangelico doesn't let his leeches fight. But what Sheridan says sounds about right." My heart quickens at Trey backing me up, only to realize he hasn't once looked at me. "I think one or a few of Frangelico's lieutenants are rogue."
"If that's the case, Frangelico should want to know who broke the treaty as much as we do," Tank says.
"Wolves and the leech king on the same side?" Garrett sounds doubtful, but shrugs.
More wolves start shouting out their opinions, and jostling each other. Someone pushes against me, and I push back, fighting to stay on my feet.
"Enough," Tank roars. Garrett holds up his hand for silence and gets it immediately.