Blue stepped forward, immediately catching his admiration. “Just a routine errand. We’re visiting all the Shifters in the territory, packs included, and have to complete some boring paperwork. We don’t want to take up your time or interrupt your schedule. Since Josiah’s a busy man, could we speak to the beta instead? If he can’t see us, we’ll just scratch your name off our list and be on our way.” Blue leaned on the railing and tipped her head in a beguiling manner, her gaze softening as she reeled him in with a glance. “We get inbigtrouble if we go back with blank papers, so could you help us? Pretty please?”
The black-haired man gave a tight-lipped smile and actually blushed. “Well, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. Andy’s out back, but don’t get your hopes up. He’s got certain opinions about the higher authority these days.”
“You’re a saint,” she said, turning on her heel.
As we paced off toward the side of the house, he called out, “Hey, if you’re single—”
“Thanks again!” She waved her hand while rolling her eyes at me.
“You need to teach me that trick.”
“It’s not hard,” she said, twisting a leaf off a bush. “I’ve seen you in action. You’re using your sexuality, but that’s not the key.”
“Then what is?”
“Men want to be noticed. So you notice them. And despite what they say, wolves justlovea damsel in distress.”
I snorted. “You could have just dropped your pen and bent over.”
“Then I would have had to gut him like a fish when he made a move on me.” She tossed the leaf into the grass.
Three kids zoomed by us as we neared the back of the house. The immediate surrounding area was clear of trees except two, and they each had target boards nailed to their trunks. An older woman emerged from a garden carrying a basket of tomatoes. In front of a shed, a man and woman hung sheets on a clothesline, one stretching them out while the other snapped a clothespin on the line. I searched around and noticed a slim guy smoking a cigarette on the porch steps. His skin was whiter than the sheets, so he probably spent all his time inside reading.
Yep. He looks like an Andy to me.
“Hi. You must be Andy. I’m Raven, and this is Blue. Josiah said we could stop by and ask a few questions for our census.”
He shook his head. “You’re not getting anything from me.”
“Why not?”
With the cigarette wedged between two fingers, he pointed behind us. “Becausethat’sAndy.”
We both turned.
A man who looked to be seven feet tall threw a large knife. It twirled in the air and struck the target board dead center. Andy didn’t have a shirt on, and a tribal tattoo covered his entire chest.
“Great,” I said under my breath. “Don’t they have any nerdy beta wolves? This is so stereotypical.”
When I marched toward him, Blue jerked me back.
“Don’t approach the beta. Lethimapproachyou. We’re here on business, and he might not want to cooperate. So look a little submissive.”
I gave her a hard look. “That’s not in my DNA.”
“Just play the game,” she said quietly as we neared the tree next to the one he was aiming at. “If the pack thinks their beta’s in danger, they’ll fight to kill.”
I looked at Andy’s rock-hard biceps. “Something tells me the beta can take care of himself.”
Andy yanked the knife off the target board and ambled back to his spot. He stopped midway, his back still to us. “Are you from the higher authority?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Josiah told me you were coming.” Andy glanced over his shoulder, his dirty-blond hair unkempt and his beard like a Viking’s.
“It’s just a routine visit,” I said coolly. “We’re paying a visit to all the Shifter groups in the area who’ve lost someone in the past year. They want to see if there’s some way they can help reduce unnecessary deaths. In case you need supplies or the Council needs assistance with settling pack disputes more efficiently.”
With supernatural speed, he twisted around and threw the knife. I barely had time to draw in a breath as it sliced through the air, inches from my face. I reactively winced when I heard it whistle past. Once I realized my ear was still intact, fury boiled in me like lava rising to the mouth of a volcano.
