Overwhelmingly Precious [Werewolves of Hanson Mall 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Cara Adams

people in the room seemed underweight to Keelan. Not that he expected them to be obese or anything, but wolves were naturally muscular with large appetites because they expended a lot of energy in their daily lives. Everyone in this room looked as if they’d been on a diet for too long and were overdue for a decent meal.
    Keelan brushed his thoughts aside. It was none of his business what these people ate. He was here to support Quintana.
    “Quintana,” said the Alpha.
    Quintana went over to him and shook his hand, then turned and said, “Alpha, may I introduce Wynn Evans, Georgia Edwards, and Keelan Griffith from the Hanson Mall pack.”
    “Tell me about the genealogical project,” ordered the Alpha.
    Keelan tuned out as Wynn explained about what he and Georgia were doing. Keelan thought it was strange that the Alpha hadn’t given them his own name, or the names of anyone else in the room. Of course, many Alphas were simply called “Alpha,” but that wasn’t an excuse for not introducing anyone else. It’d be very interesting to see if the Alpha permitted his people to participate in the project.
    “Will you pay us to give you this information?”
    Keelan had to force himself not to show surprise at the question, but Wynn answered smoothly. “No, sir, no one has been paid to be interviewed, but we are careful to talk to people out of work hours so they aren’t losing any income by helping us.”
    “If we aren’t getting any money out of this, why should we help?”
    This time it was Georgia who answered. “Werewolves will disappear within a couple of generations at the present rate of lack of females. It’s in every werewolf’s interest to find out if there is a solution to the problem.”
    “That’s just nonsense. Some of my men have found a mate in another pack. Just because my pack has very few females, and apparently yours does as well, that doesn’t mean wolves will die out. There’ll be werewolf women somewhere else to mate.”
    “No, sir, there aren’t. There’s a worldwide shortage of werewolf females. Actually all shape-shifters are breeding fewer females unless they mate with a human. The only solution that has been found so far is for male wolves to mate human females. They then seem to give birth to some girls once more,” said Wynn.
    Keelan found himself glancing at Quintana. Her face was bland but her shoulders were tense. Of course, both her parents were human, but she was descended from wolves as well.
    “I call bullshit on that. I expect you’re all really working for the CIA, or the IRS, or some government agency wanting to pry into our lives. Well it’s not going to happen. You can go right back where you came from,” said the Alpha.
    “We have nothing to do with the government. We work only for the werewolf community. You’re welcome to check with the Supreme Alpha of North America. He has given his support to this project,” said Wynn.
    “As if he’d listen to me,” scoffed the Alpha.
    “I can assure you Mr. Vukic will take your call.” Georgia pulled her business card out of her pocket and wrote on the back of it. “My number is on the front of the card and the Supreme’s is on the back. Thank you for allowing us to visit you today.”
    Keelan followed Wynn, Georgia, and Quintana out of the house and back to the car. This time, when they got to the gate, he climbed out to open and close it. Only when they were several miles down the road did he turn to Quintana and ask, “What the fuck is biting the Alpha? And why is everyone so thin?”

Chapter Four
     
    “Yeah, I’d like to know that as well,” said Georgia.
    Quintana sighed and turned side-on in her seat so she could look at Keelan beside her and Wynn and Georgia in the front seat of the SUV.
    “You need to remember I left the farm when I was a teenager, and of course a kid sees things differently from an adult. But my feeling has been for a long time that there are far too many people living there for