Conversation abruptly ceased. Analie’s bones creaked with tension as she turned her head to stare in wide-eyed shock at Christoph.
“Take her,” he said again, clenching his hands. “Just for now. I outrank her, so what I say here goes. I’ll work something out with the rest of the pack and we’ll figure out something else we can give you to replace her. Maybe in a few days. Okay?”
Royce smirked, inclining his head as Analie made an incoherent sound of mixed terror and anger. “I’ll consider renegotiating if the new offer is reasonable.”
Christoph’s breath whooshed out in relief, while the others seemed mildly irritated at this diversion from the business they’d originally come for.
All except for Analie. She was quietly, rapidly backpedaling in the hope that no one would notice she was gone until it was too late.
“Before we bother with examining the girl—” and here Analie froze, realizing her escape attempt must have been detected by Royce “—I offer this for your consideration. Not just one, but both representatives of the Goliath pack have flaunted their differences as Others before human witnesses without thought for consequence or the overall good of our community. They’ve proven to be of violent temperament. I imagine any of my lesser kin, and perhaps even the local Weres, might be endangered by their presence. I recommend disallowing the Goliath pack to expand into our city. If the Ravenwoods are of a mind, perhaps they may be willing to share some portion of the wilds in the Catskills. Otherwise, I would say these Weres are too dangerous to be allowed a foothold in more heavily populated areas.”
Christoph’s mouth dropped open as the others started nodding, particularly Nathan, who scowled at the mention of sharing part of his pack’s territory upstate. “You have a point, Alec. I agree. I see no reason to open our doors to more trouble. I’m not willing to put my pack members in danger for the sake of an alliance.”
“Yeah. I hate to say it, but I’m with the vampire on this one,” Chaz said, folding his muscular arms. “Most of the time, I don’t really care one way or the other, but we can’t have more scuffles like this out in the open.”
Rohrik shook his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “I see no other way. I received no reassurances from the Goliath alpha that this sort of thing wouldn’t happen again after the fight at the store. We might have been able to overlook it if it had been an isolated incident, but it is inexcusable that violence would be done in public on the way to this very meeting.”
“Granted, I may be somewhat prejudiced in this, but I’d like to think that my reasoning is sound,” Royce said.
The pack leaders nodded. Christoph was barely restraining himself from making a third attack on the silver-tongued vamp.
Rohrik continued, his low voice tinged with worry as he addressed Christoph. “We’d achieved a balance with the humans here which took us almost a decade to build. Now there’s a chance that balance is shattered, and we are the ones who will be stuck rebuilding the pieces. I’m sorry, but I also agree with Alec, and won’t support any move by the Goliath pack into New York at this time.”
Christoph made a little choking noise in his throat. He had completely, epically failed his entire mission for coming to New York.
Oh, God. The Goliath alpha was going to come out of solitude to kill him.
Rohrik turned to Christoph. “You or another representative can return to New York to continue negotiations with Alec, if you choose. Analie, or anyone you send in her place, will not be harmed by any of the New York packs. If one of your pack members needs to come to New York on business, it must be cleared and approved by majority in advance by the alphas for the Moonwalkers, Ravenwoods, and Sunstrikers. Otherwise, the Goliath pack is barred from entry into New York State.” Rohrik said. “God, I hate this lawyer-speak. Does that about sum it up?”
“Yes, I think that covers it,” Chaz said, bored. “If that’s all, I’m going home to get some sleep. I’ve got work tomorrow.”
“Yeah, agreed,” Nathan said, giving a parting nod of deference to everyone before padding across the grass toward the street. Chaz gave a wave goodbye and was soon lost to the shadows.
“Analie, go with Alec,” Rohrik said.
He frowned slightly as he watched her, concerned at her