Popping the cork from a bottle of champagne, Lee smiled at the gathering of friends and devoted members of his clan. Some of his family were also there, and he’d dodged them, running and playing, as he brought the drinks to the outside patio table.

“Let me help, Lee,” Laura offered.

“Thanks, sis.”

Stopping in her tracks to avoid crashing into a giggling toddler who was chasing her big brother, Imogen said, “I’ve got the O.J.”

After pouring the drinks, Lee passed them around and lifted his into the air. Everyone joined him in the toast.

“Cheers!”

As he took a sip, his cellphone rang.

He withdrew it from his pocket, looked at the number, and said, “I need to take this. I’ll be back. Keep the party going while I’m gone.” He stepped into the living room of his home, his bare feet sinking into the lush carpet. “Hello?”

“Lee, this is Blaine. Can you speak freely?”

Closing the sliding glass door behind him, he said, “Of course. What’s up?”

“I’m calling on behalf of The Directive.”

“Really?”

“Well, kind of.”

“Uh-huh?”

“There’s something strange going on with the precinct in District 7. That’s where you live, right?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“My friend Gunner was framed for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s been in a cell for the past six months. I was only recently able to get him out of there.”

“How’d you manage that?”

“Appealed to the top.”

“Magno?”

“Next best thing, Jana.”

Lee paused in thought and said, “If you were able to sway her, it must be serious.”

“It is. Very.” A beat passed. “I don’t like doing this over the phone. When and where can we meet?”

“Why not my place? Come join us for brunch, and then we can discuss whatever you need me to do.”

“Perfect.”

Lee gave Blaine his address and then ended the call.

What could possibly be going on right under my nose involving The Directive without my knowing about it?

He started chewing his fingernails, as he thought about any rumors that were circulating. Most of what he heard about was clan issues and not much outside of that. Of course, he was a newly initiated alpha, and gaining the trust of other leaders in the area had been impossible, since he’d been banished from his lands by some of his own people.

As he pondered that, Imogen came rushing through the back door, over to where he was.

Reaching out and hugging him, she said, “I gotta go! Sorry!”

“Why? What happened?”

“One of Ms. Garner’s friends called me for an emergency appointment!”

“What’s so important that a grooming can’t wait?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not asking. She said she’d pay triple, so I’m taking it!” Cocking her head to the side, she said, “Wait. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. You, go ahead.”

“Are you sure? You’re biting your nails. You only do that when you’re worried about something.”

“I’ve got a meeting in a while. Probably nothing.”

“I’ll call you later, then, Alpha?”

He smiled, unspoken assurance that he could handle whatever it was.

“Okay. You’d better get going. Drive safe!”

“I will!”

As Imogen dashed away to her car, Lee watched, hoping that what he’d told her was correct and that there wasn’t anything bad and dangerous looming. But when The Directive was involved, it was certain to be serious.

Distracted as he was, he hadn’t noticed that his other guests took their leave when Imogen did. His glass of champagne remained on the table untouched.

When the chimes of his doorbell rang, Lee’s head jerked up to see that the grandfather clock across the hall read an hour later than the last time he looked at it.

“On my way!”

When Lee opened the door, he saw Blaine standing there with his briefcase in his hand. His suit was disheveled, with buttons fastened in the wrong spots, leaving his lapel at an odd angle. His eyes were bloodshot, and his breaths were labored with fatigue.

“Alpha,” Blaine said.

“Pffft. You’re one, too. Just come in. Maybe take a nap.”

Blaine crossed the threshold and said, “You’re going to have to learn the old ways of our forefathers, Lee. How they ruled with their beast more than man. Most shifters still respect tradition more than your generation’s leniency and acceptance of certain things that have never been considered suitable in our world, as well as your rejection of others they deem fit.”

“I know that’s how they think, but that’s not me. I’m not wired like that. Times are changing, and they should.”

“You’d better own them quick if you want to return as the leader of your pack and retain the position.”

“Why? What’ve you heard?”

“Rumblings of an unexpected, inexperienced alpha with no support system, ready to party but with no serious commitment.”

Lee padded into the living room and dropped onto the couch.

“Well, they’re wrong! I am the true alpha of my clan, and I’m not changing a damn thing about myself. They can learn to deal with me. Not the other way around. And what am I supposed to do for a beta? Choosing one is a big decision, especially when a large contingent in the pack would rather see me dead!”

“Yes, but it’s one that you should’ve figured out by now, who’s loyal and who’s not.”

“I do know. I’m trying to keep them safe with my absence.”

Sighing and running his fingers through his hair, Lee motioned to a chaise.

“Tell me what’s going on with your friend.”

“Like I told you on the phone, Gunner was incarcerated on false charges. He was picked up after he was found with dozens of dead shifter bodies. The floor was coated with ash, so we can assume vampires were murdered as well. Someone testified that he’d found Gunner after he made his last kill. In actuality, Gunner was following up on some information he’d gleaned during his investigation. Unfortunately, the judge in the case weighed the facts before him and concluded that Gunner was to blame. He was sentenced to 500 years behind bars.”

Hearing that, Lee shook his head.

“And you’re certain that your friend isn’t guilty?”

“I did some digging and found that Gunner’s accuser has disappeared... like off the entire planet. I can’t locate him anywhere. So, I can only assume—”

“Somebody got rid of him to clean up loose ends.”

“Precisely.”

“So, where do I come in?”

“We need someone inside the District 7 offices. I spoke to Jana, and she has agreed to install you in one of the lower-level positions, where you would have access to records and, perhaps more importantly, the goings on in there.”

“What about my responsibilities to the pack?”

“The ones who kicked their alpha out? I doubt you’re doing much for them now. Are you?” Blaine paused, waiting for a response from Lee that didn’t come. “I shared with Jana the circumstances of your banishment. She’s going to assume leadership, and she’s currently in transit to your headquarters. You can bet that by the time we’re done with our investigation, you’ll be in your rightful place.”

“Wow. You must’ve been sure I’d agree to this.”

“Why wouldn’t you? With Jana, the second hand to Magno himself, backing your position over the clan, who could challenge you in the future?”

“When you put it that way….”

“Yes?”

“When do I start?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Good thing I picked up my dry cleaning yesterday.” Blaine opened his mouth to speak and then closed it. “What?” Lee asked.

“We have a month to get some dirt on these guys.”

“I can creep around in the shadows with the best of them.”

“I was going to suggest something different.”

“Go ahead.”

“Intensify your mannerisms and be as friendly and as outgoing as you can.”

“Seriously?”

“Absolutely. They’ll run in the opposite direction when they see you coming their way. You know how those guys are. The prejudice runs deep. And if someone finds you where you’re not supposed to be... you had no idea. Just ask if they could point you in the right direction.”

“Am I going to report to anyone in the office?”

“No.”

“So, I’m just supposed to act like I should be there, working on something, but nobody knows what it is? That’s a bit suspicious.”

“They’re being told that you’re performing the annual inventory of The Directive’s office furniture, etc. That will allow you access to every spot in the building. I’m betting they’ll give you a wide berth, allowing you to focus on whatever it is they’re actually doing.”

“What do you think it is?”

“We believe they’re attempting a coup.”

“Against Magno?”

“Indeed.”

“I’ll be sure to not make any friends, since they’ll be dead soon.”

“If they’re lucky.”