Conscious that everyone other than Kathy and Greta had followed him and Shaya to the front door, Nick shook his head. Nosy bastards. “If you don’t want what you say to be heard by the humans in the van across the road, you might want to talk quietly,” he told Hadley.

The Alpha ran his eyes along Nick, Shaya, and the crowd behind them. “My wolves informed me that you’ve been gathering some of your alliances together. I had nothing to do with the destruction of the salon, if it’s me you’re intending to war with.”

“I have no issues with you. I’m aware that the human extremists are responsible for what happened to the salon, but I can’t do shit about that right now.”

“But you will do something at some point,” Hadley surmised. “There are many more to their group than what you’ve seen. Although a certain number of them actively support their argument, there are still many more. If it came to a confrontation, their number will well exceed the number you have here.”

“I suspected as much.”

“Have your contacts uncovered any information about the game preserve?”

“Game preserve?” repeated Shaya.

Nick cursed silently. Now his mate was going to be extremely pissed at him for not telling her about it. Worse, he’d have to worry her with this shit. He really wanted to hit someone right now…preferably Dominic. “Not yet. You?”

“I think we’re close to locating it,” said Hadley, “but I can’t be sure. If we don’t find it before the court hearing, we could be in deep shit. Even if the extremists’ argument is ignored, this won’t end well. The extremists—particularly the ones around here—would most likely confront us.”

Nick could agree with that. “If it comes to a confrontation with the humans, I’ll be at your side.”

“As will I,” announced Derren. The rebels nodded.

“Me too.” Shaya held Nick’s gaze, letting him see just how seriously his life depended on him not arguing with her on that. She might be submissive and therefore not as physically strong as the dominant shifters around her, but she could still defend herself—particularly against humans.

Deciding he’d argue with her in private later, Nick simply kissed her temple to relax her. Hearing Roni growl beside him, he had the feeling that his sister was offering to stand with Nick in a fight. Great.

“And me,” said Trey. Tao and Dominic nodded their support.

“If Nick’s going to be there,” began Amber, “I’ll be there.” Shaya had to grit her teeth at that response, which was much like something a loyal and very close friend would say.

“And me,” said Taryn. “And, of course, Greta.” When Trey looked at her oddly, she shrugged. “What? How else am I supposed to get rid of the old crone?”

“I heard that, hussy.”

Taryn turned and called out, “Damn, Greta, did someone leave your cage open again?”

Shaking his head and wondering why the universe would insert these crazy people into his life, Nick turned his attention back to Hadley. “I’ll have Jesse call you if my contacts uncover anything.”

The Alpha advanced down the path, nodding. “Good. Likewise, if I find out anything, I’ll let you know.”

When the Sequoia wolves had driven away, Shaya turned to Nick. “Now you can explain what he meant by ‘game preserve.’”

So Nick led everyone back inside the house and begrudgingly did just that, which led to a lot of cursing and shouting—they all found the idea as repugnant as Derren and Nick did. Then, naturally, he received a lecture from Shaya for not telling her sooner. But after some apologizing, neck kissing, and soothing touches, she eventually forgave him…though she did inform him that he should think twice before keeping something from her ever again because she knew where he slept and she had a nifty bat. “I need to go for a run,” Nick then told her, winding a curl around his finger. “Come with me.”

Shaya led him to the rear of the house and outside. Reaching the small cluster of trees at the end of the backyard, she started to remove her clothes as Nick began to remove his. “See the little gap in the fence? I made that so I could go run in the little wooded area here in my wolf form.”

“You know that I’m going to chase you, don’t you?” said Nick, smirking. “I’m going to chase you, catch your ass, and mount you.”

“Not a chance,” she chuckled, now totally naked. Then she let her wolf free, enjoying the familiar pleasure/pain that came with the shift.

Nick smiled down at the graceful red wolf and went to pet her, but she bounded off into the woods—it was a challenge. He shifted seconds later and loped after her.

For hours the wolves played: chasing, ambushing, mock fighting, and jaw wrestling, making up for the time they had lost due to the behavior of their human halves. When the sky started to darken, the large gray male wolf ushered the red she-wolf through the fence where they entered.

Once they were back in their human forms and fully dressed, Nick kissed her hard and deep, leaving no doubt in her mind that he believed she was his. Patting her ass, he said, “Come on, let’s go inside. I need food. And I have to make sure Derren doesn’t cook dinner again. The guy could burn water.”

“A little like me then,” admitted Shaya as she began pulling on her clothes.

“Then it’s a good thing I can cook.” As they were walking up the path toward the house, the door opened and a familiar figure came strolling out. Nick wasn’t surprised when Shaya tensed beside him.

“Oh, hi,” said Amber with a bright smile, “I was just about to come and hunt you both down. We’ve all decided to go out for dinner.” She cocked her head as she regarded Nick. “You look a little more relaxed now.”

“You can thank Shay for that.”

Catching movement in her peripheral vision, Shaya spotted Roni sprawled on the grass by the small shed.

“Sometimes she likes to go off and be alone,” explained Amber before turning and heading back into the house.

Shaya looked up at Nick. “I’d like to talk to Roni alone for a minute.”

“She’s not being bitchy by not shifting to talk to you, Shay—”

“Hey, I know that,” she assured him. “I’d just like a minute alone with her. I know her wolf won’t understand the words, but she will.”

Shrugging, Nick said, “Sure, if that’s what you want. I’ll be inside.”