“Tell me about it,” Christian muttered, as Lucille gave his hand a wet swipe. “Pretty sure this qualifies as harassment.”
Dave smirked, but he also took the opportunity to direct the conversation in a way that might be helpful. “It’s probably because he’s a shifter,” he said lightly.
If that resulted in their getting kicked out, so be it. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Sara simply blinked as she took in the information, no different than if he’d said they were from Oregon. “Oh, but you’re not part of the pack, are you? I haven’t seen you before, and you don’t seem—”
She cut herself off, lips pressing firmly together. Which was enough to have Dave’s curiosityraging.
Christian glanced at Dave, letting him take the lead.
“You mean the Silver Rock pack? No, we’re just passing through,” Dave said. Then he paused, unsure how to dig for more.He wasn’t built for cloak-and-dagger, especially not with a sweet couple and their annoyingly lovesick dog.
Frank had no such problems about making conversation, and once Sara had brought the drinks through and settled in an armchair, she seemed just as happy to chat. They heard about the new bakery in town, the folks on their street, potholes, road resurfacing delays, and the way the power had flickered all through July.
Frank stirred his coffee. “Used to be a little different around here. More folks in town, more to do. A bunch left when the cannery shut down and the pack changed.” He glanced at Sara. “Still, we like it here.”
“The pack changed?” Dave tried to keep his tone neutral.
“They used to be part of the community, showing up at town hall meetings, helping out with the fall festival, that kind of thing.” Frank frowned. “Not anymore. They don’t want anything to do with the rest of us these days.”
“Ever since the new leader took over,” Sara said.
“Barton?” Christian asked. He was absentmindedly stroking Lucille, who was vibrating with joy, but his voice was sharp with interest.
“Yes, that’s him. Took over about ten years ago,” Frank said.
“Sixteen,” Sara corrected. “Don’t you remember? We were at Carmen’s wedding, and by the time we got back, the cannery had posted its closing notice and West was gone. Quite the week.”
Frank laughed, eyes distant. “That’s right. Had to connect through Dallas because of that snowstorm. Ended up stuck there overnight—awful turbulence on the second leg, too. Think it was an A319. You know, those Airbus narrow-bodies? They fly like a damn soda can.”
Dave cleared his throat, gently rescuing the conversation. “So West was the old alpha?”
“Yeah. Good man,” Frank said. “Didn’t say much, but he always looked you in the eye.”
“And he simply left?”
Sara shook her head. “We don’t know the details. Folks said there was some kind of leadership challenge?
She looked questioningly at Dave, who nodded. A pack alpha could be removed by someone challenging them for the position.
“But I’m not sure it was a normal one, because the shifter government got involved and made a ruling that Barton was the new leader. The National Council,is that what it’s called?”
Dave nodded again.
“And then about half the pack was gone within a month.”
“Liesl at the library, and Trent at the garage—”
“And everything changed,” Sara said firmly, before they heard the entire catalog of old pack members from Frank. “These days, the pack keep to themselves, as if they don’t like the rest of us. Most folks are fine letting them because we don’t much like that—thatthingthey’ve got going in the old plant.”
Christian looked up from where Lucille was practically melting across his lap but said nothing.
“But not all the pack can share Barton’s attitude,” Dave said, thinking of Justin, how easygoing and friendly he was. “Right?”
Sara hesitated, then gave a small shrug. “Possibly. But if they don’t, they’re keeping it quiet.”
Frank reached for the last cookie. “Not like the old days, but I guess everything changes sooner or later. The rest of the town’s still neighborly, though, like the way you two helped with Lucille.”
