James scoffed. “Do you actually believe he cares about the human world? He’s an alpha, Joey. His only care is his pack.” His steady eyes met mine. “I don’t know how the hell you got under her skin, but I know you’re manipulating her. You and your kind are using her to get to us.”
I chuckled. “That’s fucking pathetic. I don’t need Joanna to rip your throats.”
The hunters tensed, their hands reaching for their weapons. Joanna stepped between us, her hands up. “Enough. Both of you.”
James looked at Joanna with a furrowed brow. “Joey… you know I only want what’s best for you. What Toya would have wanted for you.”
Joanna’s expression hardened at the sound of her sister’s name. “Don’t bring Toya into this, James.”
James sighed, pinching his nose bridge before glaring at me. “Know this, dog. If you hurt her, if you betray us, I will kill you.”
I rolled my eyes. “If I betray you, we’re as good as dead. Each and every one of us in this room.”
Joanna gestured to the empty seats. “Please, let’s sit and talk.” She attempted to pull a chair out with one hand.
James’s eyes narrowed as I rushed to Joanna’s side, helping her with the chair. “What happened to you?” he demanded, his voice sharp with concern but his gaze edged with accusation.
Joanna sighed, lowering herself into the seat. “I got hurt during an attack. Thankfully, Marcus’s pack healer patched me up, so it’s nothing to worry about.”
James’s gaze snapped to me, his eyes hard. “How exactly did you get hurt, Joey?”
I growled, his implication perfectly clear. “She was injured saving one of my wolves from a member of the uprising. Not that we owe you any explanation.”
Malik, who had been silent until now, leaned forward in his seat, his eyes on Joanna. “Is that true, Joey? You got hurt saving awerewolf?” His tone was dripping with disbelief.
Joanna met his gaze with a blank stare. “Yes, it’s true.”
Malik smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Always the hero, aren’t you, babe? But this time, you’re playing with wolves, Little Red. You sure you can handle that?”
Joanna’s eyes narrowed, her hands clenching into fists. “I can handle whoever I need to, Malik. You, of all people, should know that.”
Malik chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves. “Oh, I know you can handle a lot, Joey. But this? This is fucking crazy.”
“Whatever,” Joanna snapped. “James, why the hell is he here?”
James shrugged, but his eyes never left my hand on Joanna’s shoulder. “Because he’s one of the best.”
Rebecca, the other female hunter in the group, spoke up. “Joey’s right, y’all. We need to focus.” Shelooked at me, her eyes assessing. “What do you know about the uprising?”
I faced her, appreciating her straightforwardness. “We know that Thomas, one of our elders, is involved. Apparently, he’s been rallying support for them. Like the others, he believes werewolves should rule over humans.”
Jeffrey, the last hunter, nodded. “That aligns with our intel. There’s been chatter among the rogue factions about a major power shift. They’re planning something big, something that will entice the werewolves into the open and challenge human authority.”
Joanna shifted in her seat. “Is there any lead on the mole in the Bureau?” She waited a moment, but when no one answered, she slammed her uninjured hand down on the table. “James.”
James’s gaze bounced from me to the warriors at my side. His face was set in a deep frown. He didn’t want to share information after all.
“The mole has been neutralized, apparently, and the contents of the treaty are safe,” James finally disclosed. “But the whispers of an uprising have failed to quiet down among the monsters.” He crossed hisarms. “So, how do you plan on stopping them, Joey? You and your new… allies?”
If I was naïve enough to be unsure, the way he said“allies”made it clear what he thought of our partnership. The old man would’ve had a heart attack if he knew Joanna was bound to me by blood.
Joanna ignored his tone. “We have a lead on Thomas’s location. Marcus can track him. If we can capture him, we can interrogate him, find out their plans, and stop them before they act.”
Malik snorted. “And what makes you think he’ll talk? From what I’ve heard, these rogues are fucking fanatics.”
“Oh, he’ll talk.” I exchanged a loaded smile with Jerome, who loomed silently by the door. “They always do.”
Malik’s smirk faded as he saw the truth in our eyes.
