Prince’s eyes looked as if he were memorizing every groove on the wooden table.
“You knew about this?” I whispered to Reno. “I took Maizy for a walk this morning up the private road. Why didn’t anyone say anything?”
He rubbed the skin below his bottom lip. “We weren’t sure until last night. Even still, it’s too soon to tell what’s going on. It’s probably just a rogue looking for a pack, or maybe a Shifter who’s gone mad.”
I shook my head, horror filling me to the marrow. “Still. You should have warned us. I would have kept Maizy closer to the house.”
While my wolf had never fought, I knew I could depend on her if she had to defend herself. But I couldn’t keep a human child safe. Most Shifters wouldn’t attack women and children, but they had no qualms about humans. Maizy and her mother added an extra element of danger to our family.
Austin pushed his glass away and turned his attention to Prince. “Packmasters should put aside our personal differences for the greater good of our Breed. If you could spread the word among the other Packmasters—let them know that if the wolf belongs to any of them, we’re ready to take necessary measures to defend our land. If we catch him again, I’m authorizing my pack to take him out. Let your message be a warning, not a threat.”
Prince remained impassive, his hands in his lap. “I understand your full meaning. I’ll send out a bulletin for all the packs in our area to increase their security and alert me if there’s any suspicious activity going on. Your warning will be subtle, but it will be conveyed in a manner that won’t put you in a bad light. You have my gratitude for inviting me here this evening. I appreciate your candor and only wish more Packmasters were communicative.” He glanced up at a painting on the wall depicting an Italian vineyard. “So much has changed in my lifetime, and we still have such a long way to go.”
Austin patted the table with his hands. “Now that we have business out of the way, let’s eat.”
“Amen,” Denver grumbled, sitting up in his chair but barely hanging on to consciousness by a thread.
Prince gave a shadow of a smile. “I would be honored to feast with you. What did you order?”
“Here we go again,” Reno murmured.
***
Shortly after the meal, my stomach muscles began to clench and churn. The chicken-fried steak had been a terrible idea, but the need to show support for my Packmaster outweighed my discomfort.
Izzy had wandered over to Jericho’s side of the table and sat on his lap while he sang in a low voice, caressing her belly. Maizy wanted to sit beside Lexi, but Austin was engaged in conversations with Prince and Lorenzo, so Lexi thought she might become a distraction. That didn’t go over too well.
“I want to go home,” Maizy grumbled.
Denver was more awake now that he had steak in his belly. “And miss the chocolate pie?”
“I’m not hungry,” Maizy murmured, her sullen eyes cast downward.
Since no one could successfully switch her mood, we ignored her behavior.
April sent another text message and then set her phone down. “Trevor’s going to be in wolf form the entire time?” she asked Reno.
“That’s the deal,” he said, his sonorous voice carrying across the table. Reno usually wore long sleeves and this occasion was no different. Except this one was a nice blue button-up, which he undoubtedly chose because it was baggier and concealed his handgun better than a cotton shirt would. “If Lynn makes it home early, she’ll be alone. Trevor’s wolf is a better guard than he would be in human form.”
“I don’t know about that,” she said. “He’s a pretty tough guy.”
Reno touched his chin and a smile hovered on his lips. “Not so tough in the cereal aisle, as I recall.”
April kicked him under the table and he chuckled.
Ben kept looking at his watch and finally sprang to his feet. “Well, it’s been real. I’ve got somewhere I need to be, so I’ll catch you all on the flip side.”
“Ben, we haven’t even had dessert,” Izzy complained, looking over her shoulder at him.
Wheeler kept a dark expression on his face when he held up his hand and gave Ben the finger.
“Love you too, bro.” Ben scooted his chair in and hurried off.
Maybe Wheeler looked like he was in the wrong, but he was actually right. Ben shouldn’t have left during a family gathering, especially with two Packmasters present. He was always skipping out early and had somewhere else to be. I presumed it had to do with how he earned his money in card tournaments, and no one questioned how a man brought money into the house. Sometimes the twins could finish each other’s sentences, but animosity lurked beneath the surface.
“Ivy, are you feeling okay? You look green.” April tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear, concern brimming in her eyes.
A flush of heat swept over my body and I nodded. If I left early, someone would have to drive me, and that would look even worse than Ben trotting off. Shifters could heal injuries, but sometimes stomachaches just had to run their course. I normally preferred light foods or vegetables, so the heavy gravy and meat were sitting inside me like a brick. Waves of pain had me wringing my napkin in my lap.
“I have to say, Cole, this was a good year,” Lorenzo said admiringly, holding the half-empty bottle of wine in front of his face. Austin and Prince had shared the bottle with him or else Lorenzo would have looked like a lush. The ropes of muscle on his arms tightened, and my goodness, they were sculpted and firm. Lorenzo was built like a man should be, and I hated my traitorous eyes for lingering on him longer than they should have.
“Ooo, I want cheesecake!” Lexi said excitedly. “Let’s order every flavor they have and pass them around the table instead of doing individual slices.”
Austin grinned and shook his head. “Whatever you want, Lexi.”
Ladybug was his nickname for her, but I noticed he wasn’t using it in front of the Packmasters.
I touched my hot cheek and suddenly felt light-headed. A short sip of cold water seemed to abate the miserable feeling coming over me. At least temporarily.
Denver had his right elbow on the table with his chin tucked in the palm of his hand. His eyes were heavy-lidded, a man satisfied after a hearty meal.
Maizy stood up from her chair.
“Sweetie, where are you going?” April asked.
“Home!”
She stomped off and bumped into a man briskly walking by. He gripped her arm and leaned down to look at her.
“Whose human is this?” His voice was layered with disgust, and Maizy shrank back with a look of fright on her face. “Humans aren’t allowed in here. Get the manager!”
Heads slowly turned.
Denver had risen from his chair, his knuckles white as they pressed against the table. His entire body was practically vibrating. “My advice is you better take your goddamn hands off her.”
The man lifted her arm even higher, and by that point, Prince had risen from the table along with Austin. “If I let her go, she’ll scurry off like a cockroach and infest the place.”
Without warning, Denver shifted into his wolf in a flash of magic. His wolf was grey and white, like a sled dog but much larger. He was halfway on the table and exploded into action, leaping through the open gap between Jericho and April.
“Oh, shit. It’s on now,” Wheeler said, tossing his napkin on the table.
Two glasses crashed to the floor and a ferocious snarl escaped as he lunged at the man. People in the restaurant merely turned around to watch, some laughing and whispering to one another.
The man let go of Maizy and threw his hands out, gripping Denver’s throat before he locked onto his jugular.
Fear gripped my spine, and I hoped this didn’t end with casualties. At the very least, we could be blacklisted and not allowed to return to the restaurant. But if the violence escalated and someone got hurt…
“Denver!” Austin shouted. “
Submit
.”
Wheeler stirred his finger in his glass, pushing the ice in circles. “Go out to eat with the family, they said. It’ll be
fun
, they said.”
Denver’s wolf was one of the most violent wolves I’d ever known. While he would normally submit to Austin with reluctance, this was another matter entirely. He was Maizy’s watchdog and would fight to the death to protect her.
Blood streaked the man’s arm as Denver latched on, tugging hard.
“Goddammit, don’t make me shift in here!” the man said, punching Denver’s wolf in the face. “You don’t want to see what the fuck I am.”
“A goat?” Wheeler suggested. “Waiter, I’ve changed my order!”
A few chuckles rose from spectators. The manager approached, fire burning in his eyes at the calamity unfolding in his restaurant.
“Denver…” Austin reached out.
April’s breath caught and Reno stood up. Everyone knew this could end badly. Denver’s wolf had blood in his mouth and if he showed disobedience toward his Packmaster in front of others, Austin would be forced to take action.
“Denny, let him go!” Maizy said, her little brow furrowing as she scolded him. She bravely went up and wrapped her arms around him, clutching his soft neck.
Denver’s wolf began to calm, letting out a few stray growls before releasing his hold.
The man angrily snatched a cloth napkin off someone’s table and held it to his bleeding arm. “You should learn to control your mutt,” he bit out.
Austin took a step forward, and his voice became low and dangerous. “You had it coming when you put your finger on my packmate.”
The manager apologized profusely to the offended man. “Sir, I’ll have a table reserved for you on your next visit. Everything on the house.”
He shook his head and glared at Austin. “
He’ll
be picking up my tab. Be sure to give me his name so I can bill him for my suit.”
“Forgive me. His party will be banned from coming back.”
“That’s bullshit,” Austin growled. “If you have a problem with my wolf’s actions, then you take it out on
him
. Don’t even think about blacklisting my pack or my guests. I’ll take this to the higher authority.”
Denver moved between Maizy and the man like a wall of fur and fangs, still protecting her. She held the scruff of his neck, staring at the manager. “That man tried to hurt me, and Denny didn’t do anything wrong.”
The man with the bleeding arm flicked his stony eyes at the manager. “Since when do you let humans in here?”
The manager wiped the sweat off his balding head and looked between everyone.
Prince intervened. “I’m afraid the little one is right. Regardless of what Breed she is, a man should never put his hands on a woman, let alone a child. I think we can agree it escalated too far, but if that wolf is her watchdog, then he is entitled to protect the child if someone is threatening her safety. Little one, show him your arm.”
There were a few faded red marks where the man had grabbed her. She let her arm slap against her side, still gripping Denver’s fur with her right hand.
The manager looked at the bleeding man. “Sir, if this is true, then I’ll take care of your bill this evening but rescind my invitation for a free meal. If you wish to pursue this further, you can go through the Council. I don’t allow shifting in my restaurant, but I also don’t allow anyone here to feel threatened, including children.” He looked at Austin and sensed the power behind the three Packmasters. “Please take your wolf out, and I’ll bring you the bill. Perhaps it would be best if we all parted ways and cooled off. Don’t you agree?”
Austin sighed dramatically. “Boys, let’s head out.”
Everyone rose from the table and gathered their things. The man stormed toward the bathroom, and the manager focused his attention on other customers who looked ready to walk out.
“Maizy, do you think you can get Denver outside and put him in the back of the truck?” Austin asked, eyeing the wolf skeptically.
“C’mon, Denny.” Maizy walked proudly through that room, ignoring those who looked upon her with disdain because she was a human.
Austin snapped his fingers. “Reno, I want you and April to give them a ride. Put Denver in the back of the truck, and I want you to sit with him.”
I tossed Denver’s clothes at Reno. “See if you can get him to shift. He might get spooked and run away. Then you’ll be chasing him all over the city.”
Reno snatched up the jeans from the table. “I’m going to make him shift in the back of the truck
without
his clothes and take the scenic route. How ’bout that?”
“We’re short a car because of Ben,” April said, nibbling on her lip. “Wheeler, you’ll have to ride in the back with Reno. Ivy, you’re up front with me.”
Jericho and Izzy left to ride in Austin’s car, so Lexi grabbed her purse and took off behind them. Austin lingered by Prince, speaking with him privately.
I hadn’t moved from my spot at the table. “I think I might stay here a while.”
A few heads turned.
“What’s wrong?” April slung her purse over her shoulder and looked at Reno. “Go start up the truck, sweetie. I’ll be right there.”
When April sat on my left, I turned to speak with her privately. “I’m not feeling well. The truck is so bumpy, and the food didn’t agree with me. I’m afraid I’ll get sick during the drive, so maybe I’ll just sit here until I feel better. Then I can call a cab, or maybe someone can come get me.”
“We can’t just leave you here,” she said in disbelief.
“Is there a problem?”
We both looked up at Lorenzo, who stood on the opposite side of the table, his strong arms folded. Everyone else had gone.
“She’s not feeling good.”
I wanted to die from embarrassment. In her defense, April was human, and humans didn’t come with filters. She hadn’t learned all the nuances between packs, and I didn’t like appearing weak around a Packmaster. Especially Lorenzo, and I wasn’t sure why. The last time I’d met him, he almost beat a man. I’ve always believed violence should be a last resort, not a first.
He laughed richly. “So the chicken-fried steak with a gravy boat didn’t settle well, I take it?”
I lifted my chin proudly. “You shouldn’t laugh at someone’s pain.”
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “I’ll drive her home,” he offered.