The agent met Brock’s challenging stare without blinking. “Yes. Our orders are to install a nano tracking device in every supernatural on the premises. Like I said, it’s the new law, and every supernatural must comply.”
Brock’s jaw twitched as pissed-off nervous flutters raced through me. This dude was talking about us like we were cattle!
“I refuse,” Brock said, his voice deadly calm.
Shit was about to hit the fan.
“If you refuse, then my orders are to proceed with force.” For the first time, Agent Maler directed his attention at me. “And who are you?” He trailed his eyes across my badge and weapon.
I held my head high. “I’m Evie Black, licensed supernatural bounty hunter. I’m here in an official capacity to make sure you adhere to the law.”
“An official capacity? Really?” He pointedly looked at the way Brock held on to me like his efforts alone could keep me safe.
“Yes,” I said, deadpan.
Fuck you, agent man.
“She’s also my fiancée,” Brock said. “Which means you keep your hands off her or you’ll have me to deal with.”
I’d never been frightened of Brock, but right then, if I were the agent, I’d be terrified. Menace dripped off of Brock’s every word.
But Agent Maler didn’t so much as wince. “I have a job to do, and I intend to do it.” He signaled for his people to move forward, and they all started to walk at once, crowding around him. Even the witches appeared to be waiting for him to give the next order.
“Listen to me very, very carefully,” Brock grit out. “I’m not going to allow you to tag everyone in my pack. There’s no way in hell. We’re not animals.”
Agent Maler opened his mouth to protest, but Brock continued before he could. “But I understand you need to follow orders, so I’ll offer you a compromise. I’ll allow you to tag me and I’ll be personally responsible for the actions of every single member of my pack. I can sign whatever papers you want legally binding me to take the fall for anything my pack members do.”
My heart was thumping somewhere up in my throat. I got that Brock trusted his wolves and had faith in them, but putting himself on the line for anything they might do … that was nuts. What if one of his wolves lost control? Even the most well behaved wolf went wild on the full moon.
“I can’t accept your offer,” Agent Maler said. “I have to tag every wolf on the property. Are there any other supernaturals on the premises? Besides your pack?”
The witches looked at me with suspicion. Brock ignored his question. “I have more than a hundred wolves in my pack. They hold important positions in the community. Most of the town don’t even know they’re supes because they appear human. If you push me on this, not only will we fight you, but I’ll order every one of my wolves to go on strike. A town like this will shut down without my wolves. I have everything from doctors and teachers to librarians and mechanics and firefighters. My wolves are hard workers, and they’re involved in almost everything that goes on in this town.”
“No one cares about what happens in a town like this,” Agent Maler said.
“I highly doubt that,” Brock said. “Especially when I have the approval of the National Werewolf Council. They’ve agreed to abide by this strike with me. How will your superiors feel about a nationwide strike by the wolves? That will mean thousands of critical employees absent from daily human life. A wolf strike will send dominoes crashing on all sides. Oh, and did I mention? I’m also friends with the vampires, the supernaturals that line your government’s politician’s pockets. They have agreed to go on strike with us. Seems to me you didn’t think this out very well.”
I wasn’t sure Croft would consider Brock a friend, but whatever. This Agent Maler needed to back the fuck off, and I could see hesitation in his face.
“With that much momentum,” Brock continued, “the entire supernatural community would go on strike in protest of these unconstitutional measures. Not to mention it would start a civil war.”
“Even the bounty hunters would,” I piped up. “And then you’d have nobody to call on to help you subdue supes.”
The lead agent huffed, frustration sweeping across his steely features. “My superiors won’t approve this. My orders are clear!”
“Your orders are bullshit. Do you want to start a war?” I asked. “Call your superiors.”
Brock nodded. “Tell them I’ll cooperate and allow them to trackme, but that’s it. If they press the issue, they’ll have a war with supes on their hands.”
The soldiers behind Agent Maler shot furtive looks between Brock, me, and their leader. Finally, Agent Maler pulled a cell phone from one of the many pockets on his fatigues. “Watch them,” he barked to his team while walking out of hearing range. Every soldier there, including the witches, moved closer, making me feel like my skin was crawling.
A couple of the witches started sniffing the air, directing pointed looks at me. I plastered what I hoped was a look of complete innocence across my face. They only narrowed their eyes at me.
Shit. Cho’s potion had better work.
Just as one of the witches was inching closer, Agent Maler returned, his phone still held to his ear. “I have to at least take down the names of everyone on the property,” he called out to Brock.
“But I’m the only one who gets tagged?” Brock asked.
