by the Bay, then?” Max actually sounded excited and interested for a change.
“This is gonna be fun, right?” piped up Lovejoy from behind the counter. He had no customers. Either Tank at the door was scaring them off, or things really were that slow in the late afternoon at Bean There, Froth That.
“Fun for everyone but Kevin and Colin,” said Isaac.
“And Trick,” added Colin.
“Yeah, dudes, Sorry about your mom being, you know, sucky and all,” added Lovejoy.
“Family’s a bitch,” sympathized Max.
“Literally in this case.” Kevin was enough himself to crack a bad joke.
“This is so going to be fun.” Max took a long drink, blue eyes fierce with evil ideas.
“What’s the plan of attack, Alpha?” Judd looked at Alec. “We got us a meeting with the lady herself in about an hour. Not sure if the SBI will be there, or if they’re gonna make a run at Trick.”
Alec nodded. “Max, are you and Bryan okay to stay with Trick? You’re the only things the SBI really fears, plus you can certainly handle a few selkie if they come after him again. That works with your schedule, right Bryan? Your shift’s not until nine, I think.”
Bryan shook his head. “I’m off tonight.”
“We were just going to blow up some seaweed or something in the backyard. Coffee’s better here.” Max smiled in a way that suggested it wasn’t a joke. “Coffee’s always a better idea.”
“And, hopefully, less explosive,” added Bryan. “Still, I think I’d better hit the head and shift, just in case.”
Alec nodded. “Good plan.”
Bryan was only really effective as Max’s familiar when he was a wolf. Max could do some serious damage without Bryan’s assist, but he was way more accurate and powerful with a werewolf mate at his side.
Max pouted. “Aw, there goes all my scintillating conversation.”
Everyone chuckled. Bryan gave the love of his life the finger. The only one of them less chatty than Bryan was Tank.
Poor Trick took it seriously, though, because he wasn’t familiar with pack dynamics. “It’s okay, Max, I’ll talk to you when I’m not serving. Plus some of the regulars will be in after five. I know you’re not friendly with the evening crew, but a few of them are real nice. You can make new friends. It’ll be fun.” He clapped his hands.
Max looked horrified. “Please don’t bother. Seriously, Trick, please don’t.”
Colin went restless in Judd’s lap.
“Yeah, Gingersnap? You got something to add?” Colin needed to be encouraged to contribute.
“Trick, do you know your Panda Rights?”
The otter shifter nodded.
Judd figured if Trick came from a crime family, P-Rights had been drilled into him since birth. The Inis family probably had some crooked lawyer on retainer.
Colin tensed, nervous but determined. Judd gave him silent support. “Good. ‘Cause I told them Alec was your Alpha, so if the feds or the cops hound you, feel free to claim his protection and shift, okay?”
“Oh Colin, you didn’t! What a nice lie! That’s so sweet of you.” Trick looked like he was about to launch himself over the coffee table to land in Judd’s lap too and hug Colin.
Alec snorted. “Not exactly a lie, Trick. I told you you’re ours now. I protect what’s ours. I don’t know how otters handle groups, but you’re part of the San Andreas Pack as long as you need it. I’d be honored if you used me as your Alpha for the sake of protocol. We’ll get you registered and make it all legal once this mess blows over.” He showed his age by dipping his head and adding, “If you still want me for Alpha, of course.”
Trick looked genuinely confused. As if he really couldn’t understand anyone wanting to keep him around, or maybe he just didn’t know what to do when an Alpha was nice to him.
Alec continued. “Kevin and Judd, you’re already slated for the meeting with Blanc.”
Judd nodded.
“Unfortunately,” said Kevin.
“I think you should take Colin and Isaac with you.”
“What!” barked Judd. He didn’t want Colin exposed to that woman again.
Kevin seemed to feel similarly. “Surely Tank or, better, you and Isaac would be more appropriate?”
In his arms, Colin sagged.
Judd glared at Kevin. Now Colin thought his brother didn’t want him around and didn’t have faith in him as a pack mate. And after Colin had been so brave today. Judd risked a tentative rub at the small of Colin’s back.
Alec held up a hand. “This isn’t a war, enforcer, think strategically.”
There was a kind of white noise in Colin’s ears. He sat up and leaned