“Yes, I’m Reno Smith. Why?”
Reno stared in surprise at the contingent that stood at his door. Why were four women and a baby knocking on his door at midnight? Was this some kind of joke? He peered into the hall expecting to see a group of Enforcers laughing their asses off.
Nope. No one was there.
“We need a place to stay and Damien recommended you.”
“Damien?” Okay, this had to be some kind of elaborate prank. The kid hadn’t pulled one of these in years but—
“I’m Melody Greene, Ryne Taylor’s mate, and this is Jenna Lewis, Tessa Lobero, and Lucy Chalmers with her son Caleb.”
“Ryne Taylor?” It all began to make sense. Taylor was that friend of Damien’s, the Alpha who had inadvertently become involved in the stolen security codes case.
Melody Greene brushed past him and the rest of the women followed. “We’ve been travelling for hours and when we finally arrived here, the motel had given our rooms to someone else! I wasn’t sure what to do, but I remembered Damien mentioning you had an apartment in the area, so I called him. He gave me your address.”
“Sure. Come on in,” he muttered as he shut the door and followed them to his living room. It was a small apartment and seemed even smaller with all the extra people. “I…uh…don’t have any spare rooms.”
“That’s okay,” Melody spoke while looking around. She poked her head into his bedroom. “Two of us can use the bed. There’s the sofa and the recliner.”
“It really is kind of you to offer your apartment.” The woman with the baby smiled at him. She had amazing blue eyes. “Your friend Damien said you loved company.”
“Yeah, right.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Listen…”
The baby started to whimper and all the women seemed to spring into action, one looking for a place to change diapers and another was inquiring about breastfeeding or heating a bottle. The young woman—Tessa?—began to place cushions on the floor saying they’d suffice as a crib.
He shook his head. He liked women. He even liked babies, but this was a bit much. Damien would have a lot to answer for next time they spoke. In the meantime…
He cleared his throat. “You ladies make yourselves at home. I’m…er…just going to grab a few things and crash at a friend’s place.” He hoped there was a spare bed at the barracks.
“Aren’t you just the sweetest man in the world, offering us your home like this.” The woman with the blue eyes placed her hand on his arm and smiled at him.
“Um…yeah.” He noticed how the thin wire frame of her glasses matched the colour of her eyes. Damn, she was beautiful. If he wasn’t head over heels in love with Brandi… He gave his head a shake and realized she was still talking.
“Now you be sure to get here in plenty of time for breakfast in the morning. We’ll whip you up something extra special before you take us to where the High Council will be meeting.”
What? They were going to High Council?
“It’s a surprise, so don’t tell Ryne, please.” Melody Greene handed him his coat.
Before he knew it, he found himself ushered out of his apartment and standing in the hallway, car keys in hand.
“What just happened?”
You were scammed by a bunch of females. His wolf smirked.
“I wasn’t. I was…” His voice trailed off.
Scammed. His wolf chuckled, turned in a circle then settled down to sleep.
Lucy pressed close to Mel as they walked down a hall within Lycan Link headquarters. It was a lot like any other corporate headquarters she supposed; modern with neutral coloured walls, fluorescent lights, cubicles and computers. There was even the occasional sickly plant propped in corners and a few paintings hung on the walls trying and yet failing to create atmosphere. Private offices lined the hallway and she caught glimpses of meeting rooms with long tables and projection screens. People sat at desks working on computers or talking on phones, while others walked down the halls carrying file folders or gathered around break stations drinking coffee. Yep, it was like most office buildings, except it was situated inside an enormous fenced compound in the middle of nowhere, and most of the building was underground beneath a fake organization called the International Center for the Study of Cryptozoological Phenomena. Just a minor difference, nothing to be concerned about.
They’d passed through layers of security to get this far and Mr. Smith had muttered the whole time about pulling strings and his ass being in a sling. Now that they were inside, his mood had improved; not to the level that it had been during breakfast when he’d inhaled the meal they’d prepared as promised, but at least he wasn’t scowling. Melody didn’t seem to notice but there was an aura about the man that made everyone they passed step out of his way. She was still surprised they’d been able to hustle him out of his apartment last night.
The halls were growing busier and she began to notice people staring at her and Jenna, giving them assessing looks.
“It’s because they can scent that we’re human and humans rarely get this far inside the building. I’ve only been here twice and never this deep,” Jenna explained before lifting her chin and returning the looks with a hard one of her own. “The most important thing is to be confident and act like you belong.”
That was easier said than done. The idea that she was surrounded by people who could turn into animals at any moment was unnerving. She held Caleb closer and walked a bit faster to keep up with Mr. Smith’s long strides.
At least the stares usually melted into smiles when people saw Caleb. Apparently, a baby was as big of a rarity as humans were within the organization. As they stood in yet another elevator, several people were making silly faces at Caleb. He gurgled in response and a wave of soft laughter filled the small space. It helped her relax and she managed her own smile.
“Okay, we’re outside the chamber where the case is being heard.” Reno led the way from the elevator and stopped outside a set of double doors. “We’ll slip into the back row of seats. High Council has no sense of humour, so be on your best behaviour.” He cracked the door open and peeked inside. “Shit, the room is full of reporters.”
Reporters? She hadn’t thought of Lycans having their own newspaper or television channel. Maybe it was e-news?
He rubbed the back of his neck. “This isn’t good. We’ll need to lay low. Follow me but stay quiet and keep your head down. We don’t want to attract attention.”
They slipped into the room and sat in the back as instructed and she immediately began to look around hoping to find Armand and Daniel. Neither was present but there were empty seats at the front which she assumed were reserved for them.
“High Council will sit there.” Mr. Smith explained in a low voice as he pointed to a long table at the front. “The counsel representing Lycan Link and bringing the charges before High Council will sit on the right. Armand and Daniel will be on the left with their counsel. They’ll come through that door where the Enforcers are standing.”
She located the guards, or Enforcers as he called them, and nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Smith.”
“Call me Reno. And don’t worry. Machado is good.”
“You know him?” She took her eyes from the front to glance his way.
“Yeah, he was assigned to me once. And before you ask, it was a long time ago when I was a cocky kid.”
“Hey, it’s Reno Smith!” Someone walked by and gave Reno a playful nudge. “In trouble again? I thought you had that rogue side under control.”
“Not funny.” He slunk down in his seat and scowled. After a pause he leaned closer to her and whispered, “He was joking.”
“Right.” Lucy nodded but began to wonder as others started to turn around to stare in their direction. She wasn’t sure if they were looking at her or Reno, but she did hear his name murmured several times.
She reached over and patted his leg. “It’s okay. I know what it’s like to have a certain reputation. Just hold your head high; no one knows your real story but you.”
He looked at her for a moment and then chuckled. Before he could reply, there was movement near the front of the room. The door Reno had previously pointed out opened. It seemed the trial was about to begin.
Armand sat listening to Counsel Machado discuss the trial that would begin in a short while.
“The trial should go in your favour,” Machado said.
“Should?”
“There’s never a guarantee. In theory, High Council is impartial, but I’ll be honest with you. Lycan Link has been in turmoil since the director unexpectedly quit. A lot of irregularities have been uncovered and the Council might use your case to try to show the population that they’re still in control of the situation.”
“Thanks for being honest.” He nodded, outwardly calm but inwardly concerned. “If the trial doesn’t go in our favour, what will happen?”
“I’ll file a protest on your behalf, however in the mean time, you could be put in detention.”
His hands tightened into fists below the cover of the table that separated them.
Being locked up would be worse than living in a city. His bear paced restlessly.
He agreed. A bear lived up to its responsibilities, accepted the consequences for its actions, but he had done nothing wrong. And Lycan law, technically, did not apply to him. Should he be found guilty, the urge to escape would be hard to resist.
“…bear community?”
“Pardon?” He’d been lost in his thoughts and missed what Machado had said.
“I asked if there was anyone in the bear community who could speak on your behalf if the ruling is unfavourable?”
He considered the option, then shook his head. “No. Ursas are not as organized as Lycans. There are fewer of us and we operate as loosely associated families or clans.”
“There is a royal Ursa lineage.”
“Bears don’t flaunt power or position.”
“Really? Hmm…” Machado waited a beat then stood up and pushed in his chair. “Very well, it’s time for us to go then.”
He followed the counsel out the door then stood with an Enforcer on each side of him while Machado went to speak to Daniel. Holding back a sigh of frustration, he shifted his weight from one foot to the other wishing he could do something to alleviate his pent-up energy. The tiny room he’d spent the last two days in had felt like a cage with minimal room to move about, stodgy food and a bed that was too small to sleep on even if he had been able to relax enough to rest. Combine that with the suit Machado had arranged for him to wear and he was feeling decidedly uncomfortable and out of sorts.
There was the sound of a keypad being used and then Daniel appeared at his side, freed from the cell he’d been in. Armand gave him a nod while taking in his appearance. Daniel looked as if his stay had been equally taxing; lines of strain showed on his face and the uncharacteristic stubble gave a scruffy, hard edge to his appearance. He wondered if Daniel would keep the look if…when…they got out of this place.
A nudge from the guards had him moving, traversing a maze of passageways that must lead to the chambers where the Lycan hierarchy judged its cases. As they walked, images of Lucy kept teasing his brain and he hoped she was safe, that this debacle would not touch her or their son.
Beside him, Daniel was looking around, clearly on edge. Hopefully, he wouldn’t do something foolish. He gave Daniel a warning look.
Lucy, our mate… His bear was muttering, shuffling its feet. She is near, her scent…
It was wishful thinking on the bear’s part and he shook his head, trying to clear his mind. He needed to remain focused and listen carefully to the proceedings. Staring at the ground, he took a deep, calming breath.
They stopped walking and Ryne appeared at their side, having successfully argued it was his right as Daniel’s Alpha to be present at the defendants’ table. They exchanged glances but didn’t speak as they watched the guards speak into an intercom.
The door before them opened and they stepped into the room. Armand froze in the doorway, the sounds and scents of a multitude of Lycans hitting him; but that wasn’t what had him pausing. His head snapped up. Lucy’s scent filled his lungs, so pure and real he knew it couldn’t be due to his bear’s imagination. She was here…but that was impossible. Wasn’t it? He searched the gallery, scanning the rows of spectators until he noticed a group seated at the very rear of the room.
“Lucy?”
“Tessa?”
“Melody?”
Ryne and Daniel spoke in unison with him. Melody, Tessa, Jenna, Lucy and even Caleb were at the back of the room! He stepped towards them but the Enforcers who had been accompanying them blocked his way.
“That’s far enough. Take your seats.”
About to ignore the Enforcers’ warning, he felt Machado tugging at his sleeve. “Mr. St. John, please do as you are told and sit down.”
“Did you send for her?” He glared at the counsel. “I told you she was not to be involved.”
“And I followed your instructions, Mr. St. John. Her appearance here is not my doing despite the fact I believe she could help your case. Now please, take you seat!”
He did as instructed, though not before giving Lucy one last look. She was pale and Caleb was rubbing his eyes. Wasn’t that a sign the child was tired? They shouldn’t be here. A low growl escaped him and Ryne gave him a kick under the table.
“Get yourself under control, Armand,” Ryne whispered to him. “The last thing we need is for you to make a scene.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded.
On the other side of table, Machado was giving Daniel similar instructions.
“What are they doing here?” He whispered the words to Ryne.
“Hell if I know.” Ryne shot a look over his shoulder. “I left specific instructions—”
“All rise.” Somewhere in the room, a clerk spoke and everyone stood, ending the murmur of conversation that had filled the room.
The members of High Council filed in. They were mostly Elders, their white hair and lined faces evidence of their years of experience. Once they were seated, everyone else sat and the clerk began to read the charges.
“In the case of Lycan Link versus Armand St. John, an Ursa, and Daniel Scott Phillips-Rhodes, a Lycan and a member of the Stump River pack; Lycan Link brings these men before High Council under the charges of espionage, theft of classified information, treason, disobeying the direct orders of a Lycan Link operative, endangerment of the security of all Lycans and being members of a subversive group known as the Federation for Shifter Equality or the FSE.”
There was a soft murmur through the room and then one of the members of High Council, the one who sat in the centre seat, tapped his gavel. When the room was quiet, he looked towards the defendants’ table.
“Counsel Machado, how do your clients plead?”
Machado stood. “They plead not guilty on all charges, Mr. Speaker.”
“Very well.” The Speaker turned towards the table on the right. “Counsel McGuire, please present your evidence against the accused.”
A woman in a neat suit stood. Her expression was calm, her voice confident. Not a strand of her strawberry blond hair was out of place as she moved across the front of the room, presenting documents to the Speaker and stating her facts. Never once did she glance at him or Daniel. She was discussing them as if they weren’t even in the room!
Armand scowled as he listened to the supposed evidence, that he’d had two copies of the codes on USB, that Soldoti had to ask more than once for him to hand over the second one, that Daniel had been caught several times trying to hack into Lycan Link’s system. The list continued and with each point, he clenched his jaw even tighter.
He knew there were reasonable explanations for each point, but would it be enough? Finally, it was Machado’s turn.
“Mr. Speaker, honoured members of High Council, Lycan Link has presented an extensive and I admit rather convincing argument against these men. However, each and every claim can be refuted when the whole story is told rather than select pieces that suit one’s purpose.”
Counsel McGuire scowled at the last comment.
The Speaker nodded. “Proceed.”
“To begin with, I’d like to point out that Lycan Link does not have anyone named Soldoti in its employ. A simple request sent to Lycan Link’s payroll department easily verified the fact.” He cast a meaningful look at Counsel McGuire before handing over a thick file to the clerk who passed it to the Speaker.
The Elders that comprised High Council looked at each other and Armand sat up straighter. This was news to him.
Machado continued. “That being the case, I fail to see how Mr. St. John can be charged with disobeying the order of a Lycan Link operative when the man named isn’t even in Lycan Link’s employ. From what I can determine, Soldoti was mentioned in a cursory way in Agent Tinley’s report but beyond that, the man doesn’t seem to exist.”
A titter ran through the room and the Speaker tapped his gavel again before looking at the other members of High Council. They all nodded.
“We are in agreement. That charge will be stricken from the record.”
Armand began to relax, his faith in the Lycan High Council growing.
Machado nodded. “As for the charge that Daniel Scott Phillips-Rhodes has repeatedly attempted to hack Lycan Link’s security system, I’d like to present a copy of his bank records and also this log of the discretionary funds for Lycan Link’s IT department. You’ll notice the highlighted dates and monetary amounts. They are a perfect match. Bradley Owens, the head of the department, often hires the accused for short-term contract work. Mr. Phillips-Rhodes’ task is to test the system by attempting to break in.”
“We would like to see those records, please.” The Speaker extended his hand and the documents were passed over. There was a pause in the proceedings as the members of High Council checked the records and conferred in hushed tones. Eventually the Speaker tapped his gavel yet again. “We agree Mr. Phillips-Rhodes was employed to test the system.”
Counsel McGuire stood. “We concede the accused has been employed by our organization for brief periods, however this does not exclude the possibility that there were also times he accessed the system of his own volition in order to copy sensitive information; information he then passed on to members of the FSE.” She took her seat, a hint of smugness about her before it faded into her usual impassive countenance.
Machado countered her claim. “If he’s working with the FSE, then why would he help Mr. St. John access the data on the flash drive, share it with his Alpha, Ryne Taylor and then help submit a report to Lycan Link warning of the leak?”
“He was covering his own tracks.” McGuire rose to her feet. “He never expected to be asked to help access the information he himself placed on the flash drive. To refuse would have been suspicious.”
The confidence Armand had been feeling moments early began to fail. A glance at Ryne and Daniel’s grim expressions showed they felt the same. They’d been chosen as scapegoats and McGuire was determined to hammer the nails into their coffins. His gut twisted. This was not going to go well.