“Exactly.” Leo’s expression suggested grudging respect for the tactic, if not for the man employing it. “Cut off supplies, strangle cash flow, force businesses to close or relocate. By thetime the territorial dispute reaches formal channels, half the contested land is already abandoned.”
“The bakery uses that honey,” Cal said without thinking. His bear had made the leap before his conscious mind caught up.
Leo’s attention sharpened. “It does. Her charmed pastries require magical honey from the Ursa apiaries. Without it?—”
“Without it, she’s just another bakery.” Cal’s hands curled into fists at his sides. “No magic. No edge. No reason for customers to choose her over the chain places in the next town.”
“You seem very concerned about a woman you met once for coffee.” Beck’s tone was light, but his gaze was shrewd. “Anything you want to share with the class?”
“No.”
“Liar.” Beck grinned. “Your bear just rumbled.”
Damn it. Cal forced his animal to be quiet. “The bakery is on disputed land. The baker is part of this community. Protecting her business is protecting the town. It’s not personal.”
“Sure, it’s not.” Beck didn’t sound remotely convinced.
Theo cut in before Cal could respond. “Personal or not, you’re right. Dahlia’s bakery is a test case. If Magnus can force her out, he proves his strategy works. Other businesses will cave rather than fight.”
“Then we don’t let him force her out.” Cal’s bear growled in agreement.Protect. Keep safe. Ours.
She’s not ours.Cal argued with his own animal.We met her once. She’s a stranger.
His bear disagreed. Emphatically.
“The Torres family is the key,” Wyatt said, pulling out another map—this one showing the mountain territory in detail. “If you can convince them to maintain supply to downtown businesses, you cut off Magnus’s economic leverage.”
“They’re scared.” Cal studied the map. “Margot said they’re considering selling the apiaries altogether.”
“Then give them a reason not to.” Leo’s voice carried the confidence of a man who’d rebuilt businesses from worse foundations. “Show them you can protect them. Give them a reason to believe the sleuth is worth staying loyal to.”
“And how do I do that?”
“Be visible.” Theo’s advice was blunt. “Stop hiding in your grandfather’s cabin reviewing spreadsheets. Meet your people. Let them see you’re here and committed.”
“I’ll talk to the Torres family tomorrow.” He heard himself making the commitment before he’d consciously decided. “And I’ll visit the other sleuth members. Let them know I’m staying. For now.”
“Good.” Hux stood, stretching with feline grace. “In the meantime, we’ll keep gathering intel on Magnus’s movements. Wyatt has contacts in the Regional Council. If those surveys are fraudulent—and I’d bet money they are—we’ll find proof.”
Cal filed that away. Fraudulent surveys. A paper trail to follow. Concrete evidence, ammunition he could use.
The meeting broke up slowly. Beck clapped Cal on the shoulder as he passed—“Welcome to the pack, loosely defined. Don’t worry, we’ve got a twelve-step program for corporate refugees”—and followed Theo toward the front of the brewery. Hux departed with a politician’s handshake and a promise to “touch base” soon.
Wyatt lingered.
The panther hadn’t moved from his position by the window. His stillness was unnerving—the absolute motionlessness of a predator who’d learned that patience was its own weapon.
“Something you want to say?” Cal asked.
“I’ve been investigating. Quietly.” Wyatt finally turned, his gaze boring into Cal. “There’s an anomaly with your honey supply. I don’t have proof yet, but a pattern... it’s consistent with poisoning.”
Cal’s bear roared. He barely kept the shift from taking him right there in the brewery’s back room.
“You’re saying we are intentionally poisoning our honey?”
“No, I’m saying I have a hunch of something going on. But, like I said, I have no proof. Yet.” Wyatt was unmoved by Cal’s barely-leashed fury. “The honey the Ursa sleuth produces goes to downtown businesses. If it’s been tainted...”
Cal thought of Dahlia. Of her charmed pastries. Of the magical honey that made them special.
