“I asked you this then, and I will ask you again. Please, talk to Leon about this. There’s something going on. And it doesn’t just affect me. Isn’t it Council business when shifter activities are going to affect the human? Don’t you think she deserves a chance to protect herself too? Who knows what will happen if he goes to the extreme? I don’t trust those guys that he’s been hanging out with. You can’t possibly tell me you do, do you?”

Max never despised himself as much as he did when he felt like he was begging, but the Council always seemed to make him beg for anything of significance. It was infuriating, and it was part of why he so deeply despised the hierarchy of the pack. He didn’t want to be an alpha. He didn’t want to answer to the Council and their stupid rules. Even if it was some sort of brotherhood, it was one he could do without. He had for this long, why should he start to ascribe to it now?

“You know we only interfere when it is absolutely necessary. And if the human herself has not complained of a nuisance, there is no reason for us to suspect there is a threat. If you were concerned about this fifteen years ago, and nothing has come of it yet, why should we be concerned now? Let the human determine her own affairs. If she finds it important enough to report this shifter to us, then perhaps we will look into it.”

Max growled, enraged by the bureaucratic system that always seemed to thwart him when he needed it the most. But that was typical, wasn’t it? Everybody seemed to betray him as soon as it was the most important for him to have somebody in his corner. He shouldn’t have been surprised. And yet, somehow, he was. Maybe there was some naïve little part of him that still had faith in the shifter ideology. Maybe he really believe that if he tried hard enough, good things would happen and the Council would be on his side for once.

“Thanks for nothing, you assholes. You’re going to see that I’m right about this, and if it’s too late, I hope the consequences destroy that self-assurance.”

He cut himself off before he said anything worse, knowing that words were impossible to take back. Once the damage was done, it was done permanently.

“Watch what you say, Max, no matter how angry you may be. It is your words that determine your worth here, as much as your actions. I understand that things are difficult for you, but please, trust that, in time, they are going to come to pass in a way that is most beneficial to all of us. It may not seem like it at the time, but there is a reason for all things to happen, even on this human plane of existence. Be patient, both with yourself and the human. Even try patience with this Leon fellow. You will be glad you were able to look outside yourself and become the person you truly wish to be. When all is said and done, you should be proud of all of your actions. Do not do things that you will look back on and feel a deep sense of shame and regret about.”

Max prickled. He hated to be lectured, but he was also relieved that the elders were choosing to have some kind of mercy on him. They were using this as a teachable moment rather than an excuse to punish him. It was better than what he probably would have done if he were in their shoes. And so he simply held his tongue until he was out of the room and then got into his car and cursed, punching the steering wheel hard in exasperation. Leon and the others were planning something. He could feel it in his bones. If they were going to leave it up to him to protect Sadie, he would put his life on the line to do it. His business didn’t mean as much to him as she did. He would be willing to risk a few weeks’ worth of pay if it meant she was safe.

“Oh, hey, Max,” Leon said, approaching him from the parking lot. Max froze and gaped out the window at Leon. He was alone, or at least it appeared that way. “I was just here to tell the Council about you. Everybody here is suspicious of you, Max. We all know you have some no good reason for being back in town, and we are never going to rest until you’re gone for good.”

“I don’t really understand what the hell your problem with me is. I get that there was some kind of rivalry, but I don’t even want to be the alpha. The job is yours for the taking. Why don’t you guys just leave me alone?” Max asked, glaring at Leon.

Oh, Max,” Leon said, chuckling and shaking his head slowly. “You are actually pretty naïve, aren’t you?”

Max frowned and waited for Leon to continue. Finally, Leon grinned.

“You know, it really isn’t a good idea to talk about this right here, not with the elders within earshot. But if you really want to know more about what’s going on, then you’re going to meet me behind your shop tomorrow after dark. There will be some answers for you there, but it’s not going to be something you like.”

Leon chuckled to himself as he continued walking toward the door of the Council’s chambers.

“It’s going to be a trip, I can tell you that much.” Leon disappeared inside, and Max had to fight every impulse in his body to follow him and see what he was going to say to the Council. But Leon wasn’t what was important right now. He had to make sure Sadie was safe. Leon had said he was going to find out more about what was going on if he stepped into his trap, but there was no way he was going to be stupid enough to fall for that. And yet, he couldn’t help but wonder what the man had been talking about. What had been so important about Max that had threatened an entire group of shifters badly enough that they had driven him out of town?

He had a vague understanding, but it was something he was going to have to talk over with the one person he knew he could trust. Terry definitely wouldn’t let him down. And so, Max turned the ignition of his car and headed toward his friend’s apartment. If there was one thing he could count on, it was Terry’s loyalty. Through thick and thin, he would be there, and together, maybe they would be able to sort this mess out once and for all.

He could only hope that whatever was going on with Sadie, would be able to wait that long.