Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,204

wasn't going to worry about it until we knew Elena was fine," Ian was explaining to the others.

"But foxes?" Lane asked.

"Oh, that's not the most shocking," Ian told him. "Ashley said there was a tiger family. Fucking cats wanting to live in Wolf's Run!"

"How would that even work?" Pax wanted to know.

Ian just laughed. "No idea. It's never been done before. Tigers, panthers, and bears are notoriously solitary. Lions live in prides, foxes have whatever they call their groups."

"What about Jesse?" Trent asked. "He's not a wolf."

"He's an African Wild Dog," Ian said. "Still a canine, which means he's still close enough to accept our pack hierarchy. I'm just not sure these other shifters would accept our current structure."

"Well you've wanted to make a zoo, of sorts," Seth reminded him. "All shifters are safe inside these walls."

Ian sighed. "Eventually," he said. "I had no idea it would happen this fast, but that video? The ordeal on the news? And even worse, the fact that a human stepped up and debunked a video of what we all know is a standard form change? Every shifter who saw that now knows that Wolf's Run is not run by humans, and they're calling. They're asking for sanctuary."

"So give it to them," Lane said. "We wanted to make something different, didn't we?"

"The problem," Pax pointed out, "is the Hidden Forest pack. As soon as we start leasing again, Damon will try to slip some of his pack members in here as spies."

"Let him," Trent countered. "What can they do? Ian's never been challenged. The pack approves of him."

"They might not if we start bringing in cats and foxes," Ian pointed out. "But I'm not worried about Damon. He's a dick who thinks attacking everyone makes him impressive. Yes, he's big, and he's a strong alpha, but not a smart one. My bigger concern is how to make so many different species work together." He paused. "Elena would know."

"Maybe Gabby has an idea," Lane offered. "I mean, she's going to be your heir, so why not ask her?"

"Yeah, I can ask her in the morning," Ian decided. "Oh, and get this."

There was a long pause. Almost long enough for me to doze back off, and then Seth laughed. "She wants to make a human her beta?"

"Well, if we're talking about adding other species, it does set a good precedent," Trent pointed out.

Pax just grunted. "Bears don't follow rules, and the cats would be obstinate just because they could. Tigers and lions? Really?"

"Really," Ian said. "Guys, we were lucky. Our parents had money and prestige. That kept us safe, but look at how Kim and David lived before they got here. Do you honestly think it's any easier for shifters who don't have packs? They're out there in the middle of humans, on their own. How can we turn them away?"

"We can't," Seth said. "So why don't you just tell Ashley to interview them?"

Ian laughed once. "Because I want to know what Elena thinks. I..." He paused. "Guys, it took three alphas to force her to shift. She's not some submissive little wolf."

"She's also not an alpha," Trent said.

Ian made a noise that sounded ambiguous. "I'm not so sure. She's like Gabby, not quite what I'd expected. It almost feels like she submits because she wants to, not because she has to. Look, we all know she's smart, and beautiful and - "

"Good in bed," Pax teased.

"That," Ian agreed. "but also intuitive and considerate. There's something about her that we all found appealing. I want to say she's perfect, but I know that's my own opinion. She's not. She overthinks and second-guesses herself, and all those normal things we all do, but somehow she still feels so easy to talk to and like she'll have the answers."

"Charismatic?" Lane offered.

"She's got her shit together," Trent said. "I mean, that was the first thing I thought about her. This woman takes care of things, and we've all seen it. Sure, she gets stressed about it, but she always finds a way to make it happen."

"Which is why I want her to help with this," Ian said. "She's a wolf now. She's our mate. That means she's my equal. My responsibility is to protect our pack, but that's not all Wolf's Run needs. Ashley handles the business side of things, but there's that intangible bit that's always taken for granted. The thing that makes a community into something more than people living beside each other. That's what Elena does.