Oh, yeah. The all-pack get-together where she supported Seth but didn’t get close enough for anybody to smell her. Life had gotten way too weird. “I have a meeting,” she answered. “I’ll be back after lunch.”
“You do not have a meeting,” Kurt said.
“She does,” Todd muttered. “Let’s go.”
She gave him a look. “You don’t give me orders.”
He pushed away from the opposite wall. “I’m not. I follow Seth’s. We’re leaving. Now.”
Chapter21
Seth stood on his front porch with his mansion behind him. The house didn’t feel like it belonged to him, and it never would. It was half-burned out, and he had the urge to tear the rest down and start over. It wasn’t a bad idea. He’d contemplate it after he figured out his life.
At least fifty members of his pack stood in front of him on the still-damp grass. He took note of the positions of each member and who they stood next to. There was no doubt in his mind there was a coalition within the Silver Pack that was not happy with him taking over as Alpha. He clocked them almost instantly over to the right near the tree line.
There were two old-time miners that were part of the Barnby clan, as well as some of the Fulsome family. It was interesting that Claire Fulsome flanked the right side of his deck, while Todd and Jeremy flanked the left. Were Claire and her extended family having problems over her working for him? If so, he needed to speak with her. Maybe he could diffuse any issues.
Part of the grass was still red from the bloodbath of the night before, but none of the shifters standing there seemed to mind. He could sense Mia slightly behind him where he’d told her to stand. Nobody was downwind of her from that position. The wind was mild, and he’d made sure to drop pine cones everywhere, especially around the deck. It was a simple trick, but one that he’d learned young from his father.
He cleared his throat and set his stance just as the door opened behind him and Erik walked out. He knew it was his brother without looking. Even so, he glanced to make sure Emily was with him. She looked bruised, but she also looked pissed. Good, she should be. He waited until Erik and Emily both flanked Mia in a clear show of protection and support.
“The Copper Pack attacked last night, and I took care of all six of them,” Seth said mildly, seeing no reason to open the meeting with anything but the brutal truth. “Their bodies were returned to their Alpha early this morning. Any such attacks will be met with swift and brutal deaths.”
Several of the surrounding shifters nodded in agreement.
He glanced pointedly at the group standing near the far-right tree line. “It doesn’t matter which pack you’re in. If you come for me or my family, I will take you out.” Then he looked at the entire group, most of whom he’d known since he was six years old. “As for threats to any of you from outside of this pack, I will demolish those just as mercilessly.”
Erik took a step forward.
“As will my Enforcer.” Seth gestured to his brother.
There was a slight murmuring through the crowd, but Clyde Barnby spoke first. “I thought your brother was to become the Alpha of another pack.”
“He is,” Seth said, although he had no clue whether Erik would truly become the Alpha. Currently, it didn’t seem to be the path his brother should travel. Now was the time for calm. “Philip Nightsom has a lot of life left in him, and Erik doesn’t want to wait in the wings. He’ll make a good Enforcer, I guarantee you.”
Several people in the crowd nodded.
Seth let his voice raise just a fraction. “In addition, I would like to see Lost Lake inhabited by wolf shifters only.” He held up a hand as several people started to protest. “If you wish a human to be grandfathered in, contact me through my assistant.”
He gestured toward Claire. “Claire will be hiring an assistant for me, and the job has been posted if anybody’s interested. As you know, Alice recently passed on.”
It was truly a pity that Alice had died. She had been an excellent administrator for the entire pack. Yet she’d turned out to be evil and had deserved her death.
A female named June stood in the middle of the pack. She was young, in her eighties, with dark blond hair and a stocky build. “Seth, what about the two recent dead women found in our territory? We know they’re related to Mia’s case. They were just humans, but does it affect us?”
Seth nodded. “It affects us because nobody kills in our territory, for one thing. Secondly, Mia is working on the case. There are two FBI agents and some reporters in town, and I want you all to give them a wide berth.” He scanned the crowd again. “Any idea who is giving the FBI information that the former sheriff’s death wasn’t an accident?”
Nobody spoke. There were still humans in town, so it could be them, but he highly doubted it. He nodded toward Greg and Jenny Treverton, who were a fairly young couple in their sixties. “You two are listed as the witnesses to Pete’s death when he fell off the cliff. I need you to go in and speak with the FBI about what you saw.”
They both nodded. Greg was about six foot eight and a barrel of a man who did an excellent job in the mines, and his wife stayed home with their four kids but was known to be a brilliant accountant. Maybe she’d be interested in the administrator job. The kids were in school now, so it was possible. “Actually, come speak with me first,” he said. They both nodded. Good. He had to get that out of the way.
He tucked his thumbs into the pockets of his faded jeans. “I’d like all information any of you have regarding the two deaths.” It was highly unlikely that a pack member knew anything about the humans’ deaths. “My plan is to get the FBI out of here as soon as possible.” He could feel some animosity from the crowd, but he also felt acceptance and determination. That was good. He scanned again, looking for the rancor, but he only found the group to the far back.
As he wasn’t one to ever put off conflict, he directed his attention to their small group. “If any of you wants to challenge me, I would like for you to get to it within the week.”
Nobody spoke, but they did face him directly. It was true that he and Erik had killed the elder Barnby cousins, but they’d deserved it.
The wind started to pick up.
