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  “We have incoming,” Reagan called over. I had been talking with Joan, and my head snapped to him, seeing the worry in his gaze. I let my power out, and my heart started beating in my throat.

  “Everyone behind us,” I bellowed, feeling at least a hundred wolves that weren’t ours moments before they pulled into the drive on pack lands. I took center, the Betas fanning out on either side of me and the enforcers on either side of them. Sort of like a geese flock formation and everyone else behind us so we faced whatever was coming first.

  I was glad I still had my phone on me to call for help should we need it. Fuck if it cheated something, I wasn’t letting my people get hurt even if it screwed me later.

  When the first SUV came racing into our parking lot, I shot my power out that way, glad at least when they slammed on the brakes. The second almost crashed into them, but the procession at least stopped there.

  The door opened on the third vehicle, and a man stepped out, looking like he was used to being in charge.

  “I know him,” Nestor Martin murmured, sounding like he couldn’t place him though.

  “I am Alpha Lyon,” the guy called over. “And I’m here to invoke the Wild Salvation.”

  “Lyon with an ‘I’ or ‘Y?’” I asked, easing down like I wasn’t worried. “Are you an Alpha Lion as a wolf?” I felt his rage I would insult him or taunt him. “So is that code for invasion? Because you fucked with the wrong pack for that, buddy.”

  “Alpha Bitch, I suggest you shut that smart mouth and not make this worse on yourself, as you will be mine at the end of the night.”

  “Crazy says what now?”

  “What?” he asked on cue, growling when he got it.

  “I’m not Alpha Bitch. I’m Alpha. Sorry you were misinformed, now get the fuck off my lands,” I ordered before he could snap at me.

  He raised an eyebrow at me as he came closer; I mirrored his movements, the others staying by the vehicles to not show aggression. “Just because you were holding the pack after your mate died does not make you Alpha, but still Alpha Bitch.”

  “Fucker, you’re not hearing me. I’ve never been mated,” I yelled, my annoyance growing at him referring to me that way.

  “Prove it,” he challenged, smirking at me. “You can’t, can you?”

  “Well, we know who stole Engle’s body now,” Nestor drawled, filling in the gaps for me. “That’s how we’d prove you were never mated. I guess they took the Alpha before to throw suspicion off of them too.”

  “Did you lose Engle’s body? How crass of you as his mate,” the Alpha taunted. I went to argue, but he smirked at me. “Did he not make his intentions known he wished to make you his Alpha Bitch? He told lots of us. Even put in the paperwork with the council to name you his mate.”

  “Oh fuck no,” I snarled. “That asshole never bit me nor were we intimate. Shove your bullshit. You can’t prove anything.”

  “I don’t need to. I’ve invoked the law to reclaim you and all you have, Alpha Bitch.”

  “Does anyone know what he’s talking about?” Hagan asked, sounding panicked. Lots of everyone had no clue. “You cannot just come here and name some supposed law none of us know.”

  “Just because you’re ignorant doesn’t make the laws not laws. Isn’t that how justice and the law works, Alpha Bitch? One cannot just ignore them because they don’t know them?”

  “Cute, but you call me that one more time and I’m going to fucking beat that smirk off your face,” I sneered, holding up a hand to him when he opened his mouth. “You are not the authority on our laws though, are you? How about we talk to them?” I sent up a silent prayer she answered as I connected the call.

  “Chief Thomas, what can I do for you?” Councilwoman Haton greeted.

  “What is the Wild Salvation, and why do I have an Alpha on my lands saying he’s invoking it?”

  She was quiet a moment and then started cursing up a storm, which was never good. Not at all. “I cannot believe that is still an active law. Get me the Wild Salvation statute and see if it’s still active. I know it’s not for cats.”

  “Yes, Councilwoman,” someone in her office said.

  “What is it?” I asked, worried how deep of shit I was in. “He keeps calling me Alpha Bitch and saying Engle put through paperwork that I was his mate.”

  “It is an old, old law that was meant to save an Alpha’s mate, and thus, a powerful female that would most likely die with their mate. It was also a way to show either the new Alpha could hold the pack or if another Alpha would immediately invade, they did it without bloodshed, claiming the old Alpha Bitch and taking control peacefully.”

  “Um, except to that woman? Hi, mating against her will, like a fucking prize?” I snapped, my tone less than friendly.

  “As I said, old law. There are rules though. He—”

  “Hey, I was never Alpha Bitch, remember? You guys agreed to my bid to take over the pack as Alpha. I—”

  “You did not fight your way up which would leave the trail of evidence. You had them submit like they were if you were Engle’s mate. You told me his body was taken. We now know why so you couldn’t prove you weren’t his mate. You are in a fucked position, Seraphine, if this is still an active law with the wolves. Why is it always the fucking wolves?”

  “If you figure that out, let me know. What are these other rules?”

  “He has to be an Alpha near your lands, a pack that would be influenced by a change in leadership.”

  “Why fucking wait until… I had Alena or Eva or someone always here or close. It’s a full moon only thing, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Asshole.”

  “Yes, obviously,” she drawled.

  “Where are you from?” I called over, knowing she would hear the answer.

  “Milwaukee.”

  “Fuck,” she hissed. “He was to let the other Alphas know before he could invoke it.”

  I repeated her statement, and he smirked at me. “I got a lot of voicemails. Guess they didn’t want to come.”

  “Let me guess, there’s no like twenty-four hour rule, just he has to invite them like as he’s pulling onto my lands shit, right?” I rubbed my forehead as I asked, feeling the migraine coming on.

  “Basically.”

  “Councilwoman, it is an active law,” the guy informed us.

  “Warn the wolf elder his ass is grass the moment I get off this call,” she snapped. “That fucking son of a—”

  “He may need to get in line behind Eva and Alena,” I cut in. “You know what they said.”

  “Yes, but the law is the law, and they could not change the outcome. I cannot just nullify this law.” I heard a thump, guessing someone was setting down a big book in front of her. “He called it while it was an active law.”

  “Fine, but tomorrow or whatever this law goes away or we’re going to have a serious problem, as you’re talking about forced mating and rape and theft and—”

  “I know that,” she snapped. “The law was meant to save an Alpha Mate who was going to die. I believe there are lots of American laws you uphold that get bastardized as well.”

  “Fine, what are these rules?”

  There was a pause. “Put me on speaker.”

  “We can both hear you,” I confirmed after I did it.

  “Alpha Lyon, the rules are clear that you are not to kill or maul any who stand in your way. You may incapacitate only or lives are forfeit. Do you and those you brought with you understand that?”

  “Yes, Councilwoman, we know the law intimately,” he chuckled, smiling brightly. “Let’s start, shall we?”

  “Fuck and you,” I snapped. “I don’t know this bullshit, so chill the fuck out. I’ll beat your ass in a bit.” I let out a huff. “What is this actual law? What is this?”

  “It’s a hunt for you,” she answered bluntly. “All those who would claim you fight for you. It’s like a big bar brawl, and at the end if he and his people can get through the people who would defend
you, stand in their way—either to claim you themselves or now just to defend you—he gets you as his mate.”

  “But I’m the more powerful wolf,” I argued. “Virgil said if two Alphas mate, the more powerful one wins.”

  “That is if you can prove you are Alpha. You can’t.” She sighed when I growled. “I will fucking burn whatever bullshit the wolf elder has that Engle supposedly filed, but at this very moment, you cannot prove it and he invoked this on an active law.”

  “Fine, fine, but we’re going to have a nice meeting later to go over any other old, old laws that need to go the way of the dodo.” I heard her mutter something in agreement under her breath, along with promising to gut the wolf elder who was a councilman. I had another thought as I took stock of all the wolves I felt not ours. “There is no way Milwaukee has hundreds of wolves like this.”

  “No, but we’re allowed to bring family,” he chuckled.

  “Right, in the by blood or bloodline or any other fucking way I’m sure you’re bending that rule?” I sighed when he just smiled at me. “Is he right?”

  “Yes, unfortunately.” I heard rustling. “Take me off speaker.” I did and heard her swallow loudly. “You won’t like how this ends, Seraphine.”

  “No shit,” I snarled.

  “No, I mean to win you have to kill him. It’s never been done, but you cannot let him leave alive after doing this. You cannot or you will be invaded tomorrow. I would bet he’s putting all his chips in on this because you didn’t kill Engle normally. He probably thinks you don’t have it in you.”

  Fuck. “Fine. What else?”

  “You can call those who would defend you,” she murmured. “I would not call Vlad, as he’s not as friendly as you thought, but you have other friends.”

  “Spell it out for me please,” I grumbled, rubbing my forehead again.

  “Your lovers. Any you’ve claimed or sirened. Any who are under pack protection are eligible. Any alliances that can get there fast. Alpha Simone. Anyone who would defend you. Not kill—though your side can without penalty—but you need more people for the melee.”

  “That’s a big favor to ask,” I worried, looking over my shoulder and realizing I couldn’t ask people that.

  “Put one of your lovers on the damn phone then,” she growled. “They would ask it. Hell, ask your pack if they’re willing to fight to not have this guy take over, take you over.”

  I wasn’t sure I could, so I handed the phone to Reagan.

  “Councilwoman?” he asked.

  “She won’t ask people to fight for her,” she explained. “And that is what needs to happen. Call the fairies, call the cats, call the hawks, call everyone who can get there and fast because he won’t wait. The more bodies in the way, the more chances no one gets seriously hurt.”

  “Why would you not ask that?” Reagan whispered, his eyes wide.

  “Because everyone could get hurt ,” I answered.

  “Alpha, we will fight for you,” Gayle yelled from the back. “No way we’re letting some asshole like him claim you like a fucking possession after all you did, after you freed us .”

  “It’s not fair to ask you that,” I worried, my heart racing.

  “You didn’t, we just offered,” Joan chuckled, stretching out her arms.

  “Give me back to her and call everyone you can,” the councilwoman ordered. “Not Vlad.”

  “Right, don’t involve other vamps in shifter stuff,” Reagan agreed as he handed me back the phone. He gave me a gentle kiss. “I have no problem asking everyone to hold up their end of treaties and being friends, and later I might spank you for not being willing to do the same.”

  “Can’t I just shoot them?” I checked, sighing when I got a lot of “no’s.”

  Fuck a duck. Just fuck all the fucking ducks.

  “Quit stalling and just submit,” Alpha Lyon growled.

  “Asshole, I wouldn’t submit even if I had to fuck all you up on my own,” I drawled. “And we’re allowed more people too.”

  “Only locals, and none will come for a wolf fight,” he snapped.

  “Oh, you know Chicagoans so well?” I snorted. “Yeah, not if that’s your answer.”

  “The bears are in,” Nestor Martin announced. “They were all together even and on their way.”

  I nodded that I heard him and went back to my call. “So how does this work, they stand on one side, me as the prize on the other, and there’s war in the middle like the olden days?”

  “Pretty much,” she sighed. “Think of it as football. Your side lines up to block you, and they knock down as many as they can to keep them from subduing you for their Alpha, or it should be Alphas so it’s a huge clusterfuck then.”

  “Guess I should have accepted Virgil’s courting me,” I drawled.

  “That really wouldn’t have helped.” There was another pause while my Betas called people. “It’s a rite only a witch or warlock can invoke so there’s magic.”

  “You got a witch?”

  “Two,” he called back, still with that smirk. Fuck, I might not even mind killing him.

  “What happens when I win?” I asked, smirking right back.

  “You take Milwaukee,” she chuckled. “The Alpha who didn’t want to be Alpha becomes Alpha of two major Midwest cities.”

  I shrugged like it was no big. “I like Milwaukee. Almost went there for college. I could take over there too. Put someone in under my umbrella.”

  Alpha Lyon snorted.

  “I called Havers, he’s on his way,” Hagan informed me.

  I spun around to him, fully losing my cool. “Why the fuck would you call him? He’ll get dead!”

  “Put her on speaker,” he said, not flinching at my anger. I sighed and did what he said, wondering if the confusion was half of the torture. “Councilwoman, I contacted Division Chief Brian Havers to come be the eyes of the council, as he has worked in conjunction with our council before. If this was a rule for any other species, Chief Thomas would be who you called to check into this, correct?”

  “Yes, I’ll allow it,” she decreed after a moment. “Given the statute is being bastardized, as I’m receiving word that other Alphas have been calling in to warn us of what’s going on from the messages they received moments before Alpha Sera’s call, I am not confident this will be a fair hunt. I give my permission that Chief Havers is allowed to shoot anyone he deems cheating including Alpha Lyon.”

  “That’s fine, I don’t need to cheat,” he chuckled, shrugging. “Let your human lover see you lose and submit to a real man. The fact you have a human lover disgusts me with how weak you are.”

  “I’m strong enough to be able to control myself as new and not risk a human,” I shot right back. “And you better kill me, mother fucker, because if you don’t, I will gut you in your sleep.”

  “That’s not allowed,” Councilwoman Haton interjected.

  I snorted. “Like I care. Neither is rape and forced mating. He claims me against my will, this bullshit law or not, I will absolutely handle it as I would if any other asshole raped and claimed me.” I looked at Hagan. “Call Alena. Tell her to keep the boys there until she gets word this is over and this law is gone.”

  “The rabbits would become mine,” Alpha Lyon argued. “And I’ve got buyers lined up for them.”

  “Fuck and you,” I snarled, having a hard time not tearing out his throat. “I’m a Dorcus, officially adopted, and I adopted the boys. We have dual citizenship. If I die, the boys go to my family. Nice. Fucking. Try. But I will get that contact later on who would buy shifters because that’s illegal by our own laws.”

  “I didn’t hear him say it,” Councilwoman Haton murmured. She sighed when I growled. What was the point of being on speaker if she didn’t catch it all?

  “Anything else I can do or what would help?” I asked once I had her off speaker.

  “Nothing,” she admitted. “Hagan’s move was smart. Other than that, there’s not much to do. It’s meant to be a clusterfuck melee of
the strongest gets the prize of a powerful female and the pack. I cannot believe this is still a law. I thought we addressed all the stupid wolf shit like this.”

  “Apparently not, and this brings up a summit of Alphas I was planning on proposing so we all start getting on the same page and banding together instead of fighting amongst ourselves. Fuck, the humans want to freeze us out and fire us? Screw them, we work together and make our own jobs. Everyone is not playing by the same rules, and that has to change.”

  “Agreed. I will bring it up. It is a good idea,” she admitted. “Good luck, and I will wait for the news you’re now Alpha of Chicago and Milwaukee. Please do not let me receive other news.”

  “No offense, but disappointing you isn’t big on my worries list,” I drawled.

  “And Alena wants to speak with the councilwoman immediately,” Hagan told me so she’d hear, his eyes dancing with victory.

  “I might just send the wolf elder to her to do with as she wants,” she grumbled before we hung up.

  “Can we get on with this already?” Alpha Lyon demanded. “I have a lot of hours I want to play with my new mate in every way possible. Oh, and you’ll be quitting your job, Alpha Bitch. A real woman serves her husband and the children you will give us, not another master.”

  Hagan was the only reason I didn’t go right for that asshole and tear out his throat. Actually both the twins had to hold me back.

  “You will die tonight, so run your fucking mouth and realize you were the stupid one here.” I turned away, needing to get my anger under control as emotions made people stupid, which was why he was pushing every button. “Think he’d change his mind if he knew I was infertile?”

  “No,” Hagan and Reagan said together.

  Yeah, me neither.

  “Simone closed the club, and everyone is on the way,” Theon told me. I nodded, knowing it wasn’t that bad since we’d decided the club was paranormals only during the full moon. We weren’t even having the restaurant open those days because we were all shifters and it wasn’t smart nor probably safe to risk it.

  The bears showed up first, and Nestor went over to them and explained what was going on, waving me off as I objected to the younger ones getting involved.