have found werecats are growing hostile if they enter their territories to talk.”
“I can admit, werecats are upset with the sudden attention they’re getting, and a werewolf should never enter a werecat’s territory without permission,” I added for him. “I understand you wolves want allies and a better relationship, and what I did in Dallas was…”
“Impressive,” Heath filled in for me. “Who wouldn’t want a werecat defending their family now?”
“Yes, and who would care if those werecats die for it? We’re a small species, and we’re defensive because of it,” I reminded him, trying for diplomatic instead of cranky. “So, when two werecats show up dead—”
“You looked at the closest wolf pack because of our history,” Geoffrey said, cutting me off. “I understand.” He rubbed his face, looking over to his windows, staring over the water. “Gaia and Titan weren’t friends, but they weren’t enemies either. They allowed werewolves to camp in the park if it wasn’t during a full moon. When I said we were having problems with them? Four of our wolves went out on a week-long trip, trying to get out of the city for a little while. They never came back.”
“How long ago?” Heath asked sharply.
“A month ago. We contacted a park ranger who often carries messages back and forth between me and the cats, but the ranger couldn’t find or get ahold of them. We…thought they might have killed our werewolves for some slight.” He sighed heavily. “When did Gaia and Titan show up dead?”
“Nearly two weeks ago,” I answered. Fuck. Now it wasn’t just two dead werecats, but four possible dead wolves as well. Unless the pack was playing me, but I didn’t think so. Geoffrey looked like death warmed over, and I couldn’t smell a lie in his words. “Did you or any of your pack have any idea of their deaths? Or maybe help kill them?”
“Not that I know of, and I’m the Alpha. I’ll begin an investigation immediately. Gaia and Titan were…fine. We never had problems with them until this.” He nodded over my head, and I heard footsteps. I’d known Ryan was standing behind me the entire time, choosing to ignore him. The pack was trying to be safe, and I was an immediate threat to that. “Call my inner circle in for an immediate meeting. Let word out to the pack that they will all report to me within twenty-four hours or be hunted down. Their choice.”
“Yes, sir.” A door closed across the room.
“Thank you,” I offered him sincerely. I could see, smell, and hear how genuine he was.
“If any of our wolves killed your werecats, they’ll be dealt with. Swiftly,” he growled. “Have no fear on that front. The last thing anyone wants is another war. I’ll say it now. I was scared when your…father stood in front of the Tribunal and threatened to make everyone public. Afterward, there was some talk about killing him and his children for doing it. A war is the same problem—revealing those who don’t want to be revealed.”
“You’re already out, though,” I pointed out. “Would it really upset you?”
“If, say, vampires were revealed, imagine the public outcry. Or the fae who in some of their cultures are gods. Werewolves, we can blend, act human because most of us once were human, and if we’re not perfect, we’re wolves. We’re the progenitor to man’s best friend,” Heath explained. “But the repercussions of the fear humans have for others would rub off on us. We’re still trying to settle in our new place in the world, and we had to go public because it was too hard to hide anymore. Our numbers were too strong, and being revealed without a plan would have gotten us killed.”
“So, if a bad apple is revealed in another species, everyone freaks out and kills everyone,” I inferred. “Hence, why Emma was just an upstart wolf to the public and not a half-witch mad for power.”
“Exactly,” Heath said, nodding. “Honestly, Hasan was right about werecats. You protect humans by our own laws. You would come out strong and on their side, at least in the beginning.”
“Until they have no one else to shovel their fear on,” Geoffrey mumbled. “That was the fatal flaw with his bluff.”
“It wasn’t a bluff,” I whispered, looking down. “He would have done it for me. Just like he would kill everyone who might have a hand in the death of any of his children. He would start another war if he had to. If