she’d been locked in jail. Here she sat, in a chair in her father’s living room, free to leave at any time. If she focused, she could still smell the fresh, outdoor air coming in through the windows, and the pungent animal smell of her father’s game trophies. Red dirt clung to Neil’s skin from the last time he’d played ball, the blend on the Billings diamond subtly different from the one in Missoula. Juli’s shoulders relaxed as she reminded herself this was just a little waiting. Full-moon exemption was coming up. Soon now. More than halfway there.
She returned her attention to Heather’s voice. “We find that Darrow Gunby’s decision to pass the rank of alpha down to his daughter, Juli Gunby, while unusual, is proper, legal, and binding. Furthermore—”
“What?” Neil roared up out of his chair. “Are you insane?” His chin had been smooth at the beginning of the meeting, but now he looked like he hadn’t shaved for days. He breathed raggedly, obviously holding his human form by a thread.
Juli could not help savoring the scent of him, stronger now that his inner wolf had risen. It called to the complementary part of Juli, and she yearned to answer. She feared she might follow Neil into instability. Juli pulled her awareness back from him as much as she could manage. In her head, she reached for her multiplication tables.
“She doesn’t even know the names of everyone in the pack!” Neil’s voice wavered barely on the human side of a howl. He stabbed a finger at Juli.
Heather Compton cleared her throat. “Perhaps you could help her with that. Miss Gunby indicated she’d be willing to keep you on in the capacity of beta. Our records show you acquitted yourself well in that role with her father.”
“She’ll be nice enough to let me stay on as beta, huh?” Neil’s fingers flexed, and Juli knew claws would erupt from them a moment before they did. Neil groaned, apparently still in enough of his right mind to know he shouldn’t be shifting now. Clearly, he couldn’t stop himself. The skin of his hands darkened, then abruptly became furry. His fingers lengthened, and his hair grew shaggy. The stitching of his ever-present baseball jersey protested.
Heather gave a subtle gesture, and the two investigators on either side of her stood. One reached for the dart gun at his hip.
“Wait!” Juli said, her voice ringing with command. “Since you’ve upheld my position as alpha of this pack, I have the right to discipline him myself. You step in only if my authority does not hold.”
Heather dipped her head in agreement, a very slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The two standing investigators remained perfectly still, fixed on Neil with the utter focus of well-trained hunting dogs. “I’m pleased to see you so prepared to fulfill the duties of your new role,” Heather said. “See that you address this matter adequately.”
Juli could not resist answering with a smile. She didn’t like the idea of having to punish Neil, but she enjoyed receiving Heather’s respect. Making eye contact with him, she willed him to accept her authority just this once, to calm down for now so the Lewistown investigators would leave them alone. Neil responded by retaking his seat, shedding fur from his body and falling to the carpet around him with a light patter. Relief flooded Juli’s body, and the tension in the room began to fade.
Then the investigator to Heather’s left scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to Neil. He glanced at it and exploded, maintaining human form this time, but still wildly angry. “A citation?”
“For unauthorized shifting,” Heather returned placidly.
Juli’s eyes widened. “I thought we just agreed...”
“You saved him from tranquilization and arrest. Be grateful we were lenient.”
“There are no humans here!” Muscles corded in Neil’s neck. “We’re in the living room of a private home!”
Dangerous interest sharpened Heather’s face.
She returned her attention to Heather’s voice. “We find that Darrow Gunby’s decision to pass the rank of alpha down to his daughter, Juli Gunby, while unusual, is proper, legal, and binding. Furthermore—”
“What?” Neil roared up out of his chair. “Are you insane?” His chin had been smooth at the beginning of the meeting, but now he looked like he hadn’t shaved for days. He breathed raggedly, obviously holding his human form by a thread.
Juli could not help savoring the scent of him, stronger now that his inner wolf had risen. It called to the complementary part of Juli, and she yearned to answer. She feared she might follow Neil into instability. Juli pulled her awareness back from him as much as she could manage. In her head, she reached for her multiplication tables.
“She doesn’t even know the names of everyone in the pack!” Neil’s voice wavered barely on the human side of a howl. He stabbed a finger at Juli.
Heather Compton cleared her throat. “Perhaps you could help her with that. Miss Gunby indicated she’d be willing to keep you on in the capacity of beta. Our records show you acquitted yourself well in that role with her father.”
“She’ll be nice enough to let me stay on as beta, huh?” Neil’s fingers flexed, and Juli knew claws would erupt from them a moment before they did. Neil groaned, apparently still in enough of his right mind to know he shouldn’t be shifting now. Clearly, he couldn’t stop himself. The skin of his hands darkened, then abruptly became furry. His fingers lengthened, and his hair grew shaggy. The stitching of his ever-present baseball jersey protested.
Heather gave a subtle gesture, and the two investigators on either side of her stood. One reached for the dart gun at his hip.
“Wait!” Juli said, her voice ringing with command. “Since you’ve upheld my position as alpha of this pack, I have the right to discipline him myself. You step in only if my authority does not hold.”
Heather dipped her head in agreement, a very slight smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The two standing investigators remained perfectly still, fixed on Neil with the utter focus of well-trained hunting dogs. “I’m pleased to see you so prepared to fulfill the duties of your new role,” Heather said. “See that you address this matter adequately.”
Juli could not resist answering with a smile. She didn’t like the idea of having to punish Neil, but she enjoyed receiving Heather’s respect. Making eye contact with him, she willed him to accept her authority just this once, to calm down for now so the Lewistown investigators would leave them alone. Neil responded by retaking his seat, shedding fur from his body and falling to the carpet around him with a light patter. Relief flooded Juli’s body, and the tension in the room began to fade.
Then the investigator to Heather’s left scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to Neil. He glanced at it and exploded, maintaining human form this time, but still wildly angry. “A citation?”
“For unauthorized shifting,” Heather returned placidly.
Juli’s eyes widened. “I thought we just agreed...”
“You saved him from tranquilization and arrest. Be grateful we were lenient.”
“There are no humans here!” Muscles corded in Neil’s neck. “We’re in the living room of a private home!”
Dangerous interest sharpened Heather’s face.
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