Free Tales Of The Sazi 05 - Moon's Fury by C.t. Adams . Cathy Clamp Page A

murder.”
    A light dawned in Adam's head. "Okay, so let's go a different route. I'm just here visiting Will, but suddenly am swept away—seeing a place that can still be saved. A place where I can make a difference and help it not become Franklin Street." Lucas and Will both smiled, but Cara looked uncertain, so he added in total seriousness, "You wouldn't want to see the beat where I work. It'd make you welcome the San Antonio gangs into town." She looked startled when both Will and Lucas nodded in agreement. He was getting into the idea of going undercover again. It had been a long time. "Okay, yeah. I can do that. But—" He shook his head and grimaced a bit. "That might be too much of a stretch for Vivian. She's not that good an actress, and no matter how much money she gives the theater guild she never will be.”
    He noticed a confusing mix of scents from the sheriff and turned to see her staring at the side of his face with near sadness, mixed with anger. She shifted her eyes when they met briefly and smelled suddenly embarrassed. He'd thought it was just that she didn't like the plan, but could it be she was jealous? That's sure what it smelled like. But he hadn't considered whether she was attached, either. He hadn't noticed a ring, and now her hand was tucked underneath her arm. Would it piss him off to find out she was married? He realized with surprise that it just might.
    "She doesn't need to be," Lucas said with a serious expression. "She's going back to Minneapolis with me in a few days …whether or not she realizes it. I don't know her very well, but I know her type. She couldn't exist in a small town any more than a wolf could live underwater. No, we want Ms. Carmichael to act just exactly as we know she will. While you're waxing ecstatic about the town, she'll be making snide remarks and being a general pain. By comparison, you'll be a breath of fresh air to those who love living here and, at worst, you'll be looked at as naive by those who feel they're trapped. That's all fine.”
    Cara cleared her throat and raised a finger. His eyes dropped automatically, before he could even register the motion in his brain. No ring. "But won't people ask questions when she moves back down here— especially if she made rude comments?”
    Adam shook his head, possibly too vigorously. "She won't be moving back down here. I decided that when I learned on the way down she was trying to push her way in as alpha female. I told her in no uncertain terms that there was already an alpha female. I won't stand for any power plays. Besides, after meeting you I know me and my pack members will be in good hands."
    Lucas and cloudsfall wore the same startled expression that was probably on her own face. "You heard right," he continued with a single nod, "I don't plan to be the alpha male down here. But if you're in need of a second, I'm your man.”
    Lucas sighed. "I figured you'd probably say that, Adam, but I'd ask you to reconsider. Your people are going to need both an alpha female and an alpha male for a time. If you later want to step down, that's fine. But Cara might not survive leadership challenges from some of the Minnesota pack, so
    —" She felt her eyes widen at that but she didn't comment as he closed his mouth suddenly and pursed his lips. She didn't know much about timber wolves, but a lesser wolf could take her out? That was a little scary.
    Then he started to tap one finger in the air. "Actually, you know what? I'll need to check with Charles for verification, but I think there's precedent to make some temporary changes to the rules down here. When the bears moved out of Bavaria to join the Siberian group early in the last century, there was so much infighting that the council set up a no-death period. No challenges …leadership, mating, or otherwise would be to the death, until the people became properly integrated and every challenge had to have a Wolven official present, just to be certain there were no…