The scorn coating every word pissed off Ally’s wolf, who unsheathed her claws and took a swipe at Miranda. She wanted at the bitch who not only offended her but coveted her mate. Even though Ally didn’t think it was a bad idea at all, she didn’t give in to the urge to lunge at her. No, Ally wanted to see where the Alpha female was going with this.

When Ally gave her no reaction, Miranda turned back to Nick. “She may go by a different name, but she is—for all intents and purposes—a Holt, a Brookwell wolf. And we all know what that means. So, out of concern for your pack, I did some digging. Since becoming an adult, she’s gone from pack to pack. Most likely acting as a spy, getting inside information to pass on to her criminal family. And now she has inside information about your pack. I’m sorry to say it, to be the one to tell you, but it’s true. She’s been fooling you all.”

Miranda shot Derren a particularly sympathetic smile, though there was an element of smugness to it. And going by the expression on her face, she expected eternal gratitude from the Mercury wolves for her big reveal. Clearly she was under the impression that they now wouldn’t want Ally here.

For a moment, there was complete silence. Derren broke it, his voice dry and cold. “Are you done?”

Miranda’s face went slack. “You don’t believe me? Or perhaps you haven’t heard of the Holts, is that it?”

Shaya sighed, flicking her hand in a very regal movement. “You can go now, Miranda.”

The other Alpha female shook her head. “You don’t understand—”

“You’re right, I don’t understand,” said Shaya. “I don’t understand why you’re trying to make trouble.”

“Make trouble? That is the last thing I want. We’re neighbors, not enemies. I have no wish to change that.”

“Then why come here today?” demanded Nick, having gone from bored to angry. The male would take offense to anyone, even a close neighbor, insulting one of his wolves.

“Because the Holts cannot be trusted. Add in that she’s a Seer, and, well, this female is naturally untrustworthy.” Miranda’s distaste clawed its way down Ally’s arms. “I’m simply concerned about what this means for your pack.”

“Well, your concerns have all been noted. And dismissed.” Shaya turned to Roni, Marcus, and Zander. “Please escort our visitors to the border.”

The three Mercury enforcers rose, but Miranda didn’t move. “She could be a plant, learning your weaknesses!” Realization suddenly dawned on her. “You already knew who she was, didn’t you? Does she have you fooled into believing she’s not like the Holts?” Miranda looked to Derren. “You cannot possibly wish to have one of them in your bed!”

Before Ally could jump to her defense, Derren was talking—well, growling—with his eyes flashing wolf.

“Watch how you speak of my mate.” His sentence ended with a snap of his teeth. His wolf backed him up with a lengthy growl.

Miranda gaped. “Your mate?”

“My mate,” he confirmed proudly, possessively playing with Ally’s hair.

“You know, Miranda,” began Ally, “I don’t think you’re really in a position to judge Derren, considering you once did all you could to get into my uncle’s bed.”

A smile curved Shaya’s mouth. “Really?”

Ally nodded. “Dan told me.” Dan was the playboy of the family, and a guy known for having no standards whatsoever when it came to women. But he turned Miranda down, recognizing her for the twisted puppeteer of males that she was. The female retaliated by spreading false, insulting rumors about him.

“You think I wanted Dan?” Miranda scoffed. “It was the other way around. I have more pride than to jump into the bed of a Holt.”

“Insulting my family really isn’t wise. Unless, of course, you’re trying to goad me into challenging you. I guess dueling with you could be fun.” Ally’s wolf seriously loved that idea.

Miranda laughed. “I’m an Alpha. You’re a Beta.”

“Do you have a point?”

“I can easily take you,” sneered Miranda.

“You could if you were a born alpha. But you’re not. I’d wipe the floor with you, and we both know it.”

Miranda’s eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?”

“I don’t make threats. They’re boring. I’m stating a fact. If you wish to challenge my belief, feel free to do so.” Ally felt Derren tense beside her, and she understood that he wouldn’t want her fighting with anyone whether he believed she could take them or not. Even though his unnecessary protectiveness annoyed her, it was nice to have someone who cared so much.

“You’d love that, wouldn’t you? You’d love it if I challenged you here and now. Because then I’d have made an enemy of my closest neighbor.” She shook her finger. “I’m not falling for that.”

“Nice way to save face.”

Roni nodded at Ally. “It is, isn’t it?”

Casting a withering glance at Ally, Miranda turned her attention to Derren. “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you? You’ve sentenced your entire pack to death. Once the Holts’ enemies realize their foster pup is here, they’ll come for her. They’ll use her against them—and if that means fighting their way through all of you to reach her, that’s exactly what they’ll do.”