Page 3 of Wicked Wolf

Quickly.

“Mating,” Kade put in, the laughter in his eyes fading, “is only a small part of the problem. When we sent Caym back to hell with the other demons, it changed the power structure within the Packs as well as outside them. The Centrals who fought against us died because they’d lost their souls to the demon. The Centrals that had hidden from the old Alphas ended up being lone wolves. They’re not truly a Pack yet because the goddess hasn’t made anyone an Alpha.”

“Then you have the Redwoods, with a hierarchy shift within the younger generation,” Gideon said. “And the Talons’ new power dynamic is only fifteen years old, and we haven’t had a mating in long enough that it’s starting to worry us.”

“Not that you’d say that to the rest of the Pack,” Mitchell mumbled.

“It’s best they don’t know,” Gideon said, the sounds of an old argument telling Gina there was more going on here than what they revealed.

Interesting.

“There aren’t any matings between our two Packs, and I know the trust isn’t fully there,” Kade put in then sighed. “I don’t know how to fix that myself. I don’t think I can.”

“You’re the Alpha,” Jasper said calmly. “If you tell them to get along with the other wolves, they will, and for the most part, they have. But it isn’t as authentic as if they find that trust on their own. We’ve let them go this long on their own, but now, I think we need to find another way to have our Packs more entwined.”

The dark-eyed wolf came forward then. “You’ve seen something,” he growled.

Dear goddess. His voice.

Her wolf perked, and she shoved her down. This wasn’t the time.

“We’ve seen…something, Quinn,” Kade answered.

Quinn. That was his name.

Sexy.

And again, so not the time.

Gideon nodded. “Something is coming. Maybe not within the next year, but soon enough that we need to work on the foundations of our bonds if we want to persevere.”

Gina sat back in her chair. She didn’t have the connection the others had. She had only the glimpse into her future that spoke of her powers as the Enforcer. One day she’d stand by her father’s side and help protect the Pack from outside forces. One day she’d gain new bonds to each wolf so she could protect them.

She’d be the first half witch, non-blood family member in the history of the Redwoods to do so.

That fact had led to tension within the Pack, but that was her problem. One she’d deal with later. Now she needed to focus on what was being said in front of her.

“So what do you propose?” Adam asked.

“We should form a council,” Gideon answered. “But not one of wolves who want too much power and won’t decide on anything but how to rise in the ranks without lifting a claw.”

“Agreed,” Kade said. “One the two Alphas will join in regularly. The council will answer to us because that is how power is handled. But the council will be focused on the Packs themselves and how they can work together.”

“We didn’t do this before because it was important to let them find their own way,” Gideon said. “But I don’t think we have that kind of time now.”

“What kind of time are you talking about?” Quinn asked.

“A year? A decade? I don’t know.” Gideon sighed. “We live so many years that time is relative. And we’re all going on a hunch right now, but the fact that we don’t have matings between us, that’s something at least.”

Gina frowned and tried to understand what they were talking about. “You both want to form a council between the two Packs. What would it entail? What kind of power would the council have if they have to answer to the Alphas? How would you choose who’s on it? What would be their goal? This is a lot of change for Packs as old as ours, so how will you make sure that those who are not chosen will not be upset enough to do something to jeopardize it?”

Again, she shut her mouth. Damn her and her questions. She looked up at Quinn, who gave her an assessing glance. He looked impressed, but the expression came and went, so she could have been imagining it.

Instead, she looked over at Gideon to find him studying her. “I see why you brought her, Kade. She asks the right questions.”

Gina held back a frown. “But do you have the answers?”

Dear God, Gina. Shut. Up.