Natalie ate her breakfast by herself, barely tasting her food and scanning through Yvette’s phone. She didn’t find anything unusual. Or actually, something very unusual—no phone number for Mr. Mysterious, the sexy guy who’d seduced her friend into disappearing.

And that was really weird.

The text history had been wiped clean. Even the texts to her own phone were totally gone.

And now Luca had freaked out on her. His face had gone deathly pale under his tan and he’d stared at the TV like he’d seen a ghost. Then, when his phone had buzzed, he’d been gone like a shot.

She didn’t even think he’d heard her tell him that, as much as she liked him, she needed more information and he’d better cough it up. He’d just up and left, leaving her confused about everything.

And now her time here in Wolf’s Peak was getting short. She only had today left before she had to head back to her job on Monday.

She paid the bill, drained the last of her coffee from her cup, and left the restaurant. It was time to pay another visit to the ranch. This time, she was going through the front entrance. And this time, she wasn’t leaving until she had answers.

***

LUCA PUSHED INTO THE filled row of seats and found an empty chair next to Rico and Gabe. They nodded at him. “Hey, Weylyn.” But then their focus went straight back to the stage, where Chief Wendy Howler and the entire thirteen-woman Pack Council sat on chairs, ready to address the room.

He took off his hat and placed it in his lap, hoping he’d get a little air that way.

The room was packed. There were so many people in attendance they’d had to shift locations from enforcer headquarters to the main ranch house. With this many alphas in the room, tempers were hot and the room was even hotter. He shifted from side to side on the hard plastic chair, trying to find a comfortable position, and ran a finger along his too-tight collar. He never wore a tie and it was damned uncomfortable, but for this meeting, he’d been informed—no jeans. Jacket and tie required.

“Settle down, people, before we have to make you settle.” The chief’s growl was generally worse than her bite, but Luca had been on the receiving end of Wendy Howler’s temper once or twice, and he didn’t want to be there again. Neither did anyone else on the force.

The room quieted down.

“That’s better. Now that you’re all settled, I’d like to introduce our pack leader, Anna Truewater. Ms Truewater, they’re all yours.”

Everyone clapped for the tiny older woman with a gray bun. Dressed in a pale purple dress and looking like someone’s grandma, you’d never guess that this was the most powerful woman in Windy Gap, the lady who ran the pack with an iron fist and sharp teeth.

Luca glanced around the room while the council head ran through her list of thank yous. Brandon Bertolf was nowhere to be seen. But this was the second briefing, and being an officer he was likely in the first batch. Luca settled back in his chair, relieved he didn’t have to deal with the sergeant at the same time as he tried to get his brain wrapped around what was happening.

And something big was happening.

He’d never seen the entire force gathered together like this. Mostly men and a few women, all in their dress best. Even without the officers who’d attended the first meeting, it was an impressive sight.

The room went dead silent as the councilwoman spoke. “I know there’s been a lot of confusion about today’s news, but first of all I want you to know—the council is aware of what is going on and we have it under control. Up until now, we’ve been keeping this information confined to only a select few ‘need to know’ people.”

There was another rise of sound as her words sunk in.

“Quiet!” Chief Howler stood up, not sitting down and her glare targeting one after another of the troublemakers, until the room was again calm.

Ms. Truewater nodded at her, and started again. “Thank you, Chief. Given today’s broadcast, you are all now ‘need to know’. So, here it is.” She exchanged glances with Chief Howler before looking back at the room. “The CDC does have some mis-information about Lycanthroism, but as far as we can tell, that’s all it is, incorrect or incomplete information. They are using the scientific name pack elders gave it a hundred and fifty years ago. And they understand it has something to do with wolves. But really, that’s all they have. What you may have heard on the broadcast is exactly the information they are dealing with. Someone saw a victim of Lycanthroism act like a wolf. As you all know, this is what happens in the early stages of infection, when the virus takes over the body and is remaking the person into a shifter.”

The room erupted into noise, questions.

“Silence!” Wendy Howler pounded a gavel onto the podium. “Let the councilwoman finish speaking.”

The room quieted down, but not without some pushing and shoving in the back. Someone was escorted out.

“The good news is that, according to our source, they have not been able to get their hands on anyone who actually has manifested the virus. They are going by hearsay. And that is a very good thing for us. This means that all we need to do is keep anyone who has the live virus away from the CDC. And as you know the only times that we get the virus are at adolescence—when the spelltalkers at our boarding schools administer it through carefully controlled circumstances to our pack youth. And when someone is going through the mating fever. Which, since we mate for life, is only once in a while.”

“So, what does this mean to you as enforcers? It means that you need to be aware of your friends and family who are entering relationships and make sure they are not running wild in the human population. Keep a careful eye out for anyone exhibiting signs of the fever. As enforcers, you are called out frequently by our pack members in the community for assistance during these times and are uniquely positioned to help us keep these individuals away from the public.”

Luca glanced around. Overall, the enforcers seemed to be taking the news calmly.

“Just be aware. Let your superiors know of anything important. And do not, under any circumstances, talk to anyone who might be asking questions.” She paused, making eye contact around the room. Luca ducked his eyes, not wanting her to see the guilt in his expression. “We don’t expect to be targeted by the press. After all, they have no idea we exist. But all it will take is one person getting suspicious and all our efforts to be hidden in plain sight will have failed.”

Hands shot up, but Luca wasn’t paying any attention. His stomach twisted.

Natalie had made it clear she would be shining attention on the pack to solve Yvette’s disappearance. This was the worst time to have any attention on Windy Gap. Especially the discovery of a murder scene on pack property.

He wanted to protect her, wanted to help her, but now, everything she wanted conflicted with what was best for the pack. He had to find a way to keep her quiet. And he had a sick feeling he knew what must have happened to Yvette.

His stomach churning, he slumped in his chair, letting the rush of questions and answers flow over him, unheard.

She must have seen someone shift, someone who knew about the CDC and the pack exposure. And that meant that someone on the council, or someone close to the council, had killed her and covered it up. He had no idea what to do next or who he could trust. He couldn’t expose Natalie to murder.

On the other hand, he had a responsibility to protect the pack from exposure.