to follow a different Alpha. And…not to insult your experience, but not all Lone Wolves leave their packs because their Alpha is a narcissistic asshole.”
The darkness edging his expression drifted away with his faint grin. “True words. Alexis said the same thing. While I agree, I still want them to have a chance to succeed or be dissolved without executing them. They don’t deserve death.”
“What is the point of a law if you will not enforce it? You want to set a dangerous precedent. Say some wolf in Delta Crescent decides they would make a better Alpha, but rather than complete the challenge, they lure other wolves to follow them and establish a pack in some unclaimed land? What of Cassius’ band of thugs? He’s fended off more coups than we can probably count. What if they accomplish it? How long before we have a hundred smaller packs running amok, threatening all of us with exposure and war? Are two hundred souls worth the cost of several thousand?”
She would never allow such a threat to Delta Crescent to flourish. Mason had only been Alpha a couple of years, while she had been Alpha for over a decade and her father for several decades longer than either she or Mason had been alive. He’d taught her that to allow one person to get away with a crime out of affection or mercy offered the opportunity to others. If one were willing to accept the risk, then do so. If not, then embrace the law for what it offered—protection for all of them.
“Honestly, Sera, I don’t know. These are all issues we need to discuss. We need everyone’s viewpoints. If left to me, I would be inclined to see how she did, but it isn’t only up to me.”
“Do you trust her, this Luciana Barrows? Do you trust her?”
His lack of an answer was all she needed. Not only did they have a sixth pack, but one led by an Alpha they did not know nor have any reason to believe in.
“I should go,” he said, edging his chair back. “I promised Alexis I would be home for dinner tonight as I will likely be far too busy over the next several days.” Yes, they all would be.
“You can go after I see a picture of your daughter,” Serafina allowed him to change the subject, because like him, she had a great deal to consider.
The speed at which Mason pulled out his phone and flipped to the photos made her laugh. He was a good father and a proud one. Fifteen minutes later, she walked him to the porch. Her Hounds and Amy were already gone, having been fetched while she and Mason spoke. Only Linc remained behind. He’d completed chopping the firewood and straightened at their appearance.
“I will see you tomorrow, Mason,” she said by way of farewell, then returned to the house to allow him to confer with his wolf in private. Drawing out her phone, she dialed her brother’s number and waited for him to answer as she returned to the kitchen.
“Etienne,” she said, keeping her voice quiet. “I need you to have our investigators pull a full report on Luciana Esposito Barrows. They have all the particulars, and I want you to track down a number for Salvtore Esposito…no…get me Margo’s number. I’ll talk to her first.”
Julian would be next, but she could call him directly and she wanted Margo’s assessment. Then when the time was right, she’d meet this Luciana Barrows and make her own decisions about the would-be Alpha.
If worse came to worse, she’d deal with her privately then take the disparate wolves into Delta Crescent. Solve all their problems with one slit throat.
Chapter 6
Lincoln
M ason spent a long time inside the house, long enough for the sun to begin setting and for Thomas to make an appearance with A.J. riding shotgun. If two Hounds were traveling with Amy to the dinner, A.J. had come along to smooth the waters. With both Alphas preoccupied, the introduction and pickup went smoothly. Though he played it cool, A.J. gave him a small frown. Keeping things from his brothers was a virtual impossibility.
The darkness edging his expression drifted away with his faint grin. “True words. Alexis said the same thing. While I agree, I still want them to have a chance to succeed or be dissolved without executing them. They don’t deserve death.”
“What is the point of a law if you will not enforce it? You want to set a dangerous precedent. Say some wolf in Delta Crescent decides they would make a better Alpha, but rather than complete the challenge, they lure other wolves to follow them and establish a pack in some unclaimed land? What of Cassius’ band of thugs? He’s fended off more coups than we can probably count. What if they accomplish it? How long before we have a hundred smaller packs running amok, threatening all of us with exposure and war? Are two hundred souls worth the cost of several thousand?”
She would never allow such a threat to Delta Crescent to flourish. Mason had only been Alpha a couple of years, while she had been Alpha for over a decade and her father for several decades longer than either she or Mason had been alive. He’d taught her that to allow one person to get away with a crime out of affection or mercy offered the opportunity to others. If one were willing to accept the risk, then do so. If not, then embrace the law for what it offered—protection for all of them.
“Honestly, Sera, I don’t know. These are all issues we need to discuss. We need everyone’s viewpoints. If left to me, I would be inclined to see how she did, but it isn’t only up to me.”
“Do you trust her, this Luciana Barrows? Do you trust her?”
His lack of an answer was all she needed. Not only did they have a sixth pack, but one led by an Alpha they did not know nor have any reason to believe in.
“I should go,” he said, edging his chair back. “I promised Alexis I would be home for dinner tonight as I will likely be far too busy over the next several days.” Yes, they all would be.
“You can go after I see a picture of your daughter,” Serafina allowed him to change the subject, because like him, she had a great deal to consider.
The speed at which Mason pulled out his phone and flipped to the photos made her laugh. He was a good father and a proud one. Fifteen minutes later, she walked him to the porch. Her Hounds and Amy were already gone, having been fetched while she and Mason spoke. Only Linc remained behind. He’d completed chopping the firewood and straightened at their appearance.
“I will see you tomorrow, Mason,” she said by way of farewell, then returned to the house to allow him to confer with his wolf in private. Drawing out her phone, she dialed her brother’s number and waited for him to answer as she returned to the kitchen.
“Etienne,” she said, keeping her voice quiet. “I need you to have our investigators pull a full report on Luciana Esposito Barrows. They have all the particulars, and I want you to track down a number for Salvtore Esposito…no…get me Margo’s number. I’ll talk to her first.”
Julian would be next, but she could call him directly and she wanted Margo’s assessment. Then when the time was right, she’d meet this Luciana Barrows and make her own decisions about the would-be Alpha.
If worse came to worse, she’d deal with her privately then take the disparate wolves into Delta Crescent. Solve all their problems with one slit throat.
Chapter 6
Lincoln
M ason spent a long time inside the house, long enough for the sun to begin setting and for Thomas to make an appearance with A.J. riding shotgun. If two Hounds were traveling with Amy to the dinner, A.J. had come along to smooth the waters. With both Alphas preoccupied, the introduction and pickup went smoothly. Though he played it cool, A.J. gave him a small frown. Keeping things from his brothers was a virtual impossibility.
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