Free No Quarter by Anita Cox Page A

me!” She pulled at Nala’s hand, trying to release the tension on her neck.
    Colin’s warm hand rested between her shoulder blades. “I think you made your point.”
    “That thing is a Gnome and a pack mate. It looks nothing like a rat. Apologize to Maxine or I’ll crush your windpipe.” A loud growl bubbled in her chest.
    “I’m so sorry,” Maxine yelled. “I didn’t mean to startle her. Please, Miss Nala, I’m okay.”
    Releasing her grip she stepped back. Stephany coughed as she slid down the truck, rubbing her neck.
    Maxine lifted her arms, stretching so that the little box was near the truck window. “This is to say we’re sorry. We really must have failed getting to know you for you to dislike us so much. I wish we could have been friends.”
    Fighting the urge to pick up the little Gnome and squeeze her in a bear hug, she smiled and took a knee. “That’s very generous of you.”
    Richard snagged the box and threw it at Trina, who gasped when she opened it to see a large ruby ring. “Oh my. It’s beautiful.” She smacked Richard with the back of her hand and proceeded to cry.
    Turning to Colin, she set her jaw. “Get that filth,” she tossed her head back toward Stephany, “off my lawn.”
    She stormed off toward the house, seething. How could anyone be so fucking rude? It touched her heart that the Gnomes, even after being dismissed by Richard and Trina, still wanted to give a peace offering…to show their good nature. Lower Lycans? She could only guess whatever classified someone as a lower Lycan, meant that they were not treated as well as the rest. What did ‘lower’ infer? Low quality? Lesser bloodline? It sickened her, the thought of two pack mates leaving to go to that.
    Reaching the forest edge, she stopped, closing her eyes. The collective…that was her concern. She couldn’t worry too much about two pack mates that refused to cohabitate with the others. When Grace proposed integration, Nala agreed with the best of intentions—to protect them as well as elevate their pack’s diversity. She wanted to be a leader in the new paradigm. But her decision forced out two pack mates that may have otherwise lived the rest of their lives as part of the Belfast pack without incident.
    Top that off with the assault on the Beta’s wife of what was certain to be a rival pack, and she had a mess on her hands. Stephany had no pride. She’d run back to Scottsboro insisting someone come for her head…only hours after she finally bonded with her mate.
    The Gnomes weren’t guests any longer. Not only were they not a burden, they flourished into peaceful assets among their Lycan counterparts. They had huge hearts for tiny creatures, often foregoing sleep so new mothers could rest, working extra hours helping the farmers, so that they could be with their family. They made do with what they had, never complaining or asking for a thing. Their only request was to live above ground in actual homes and to be part of a community. Who could begrudge them of that? Who could think that these wonderful little people should freeze to death because a small fire would draw the attention of the humans?
    She needed to talk to her King and Queen for guidance. She’d place the call after dinner. She’d gone this far on her own, but with integration, she needed direction. Any Alpha would have the same questions, the same challenges and the same concerns. The fact that she was a female Alpha shouldn’t matter. Smart Alpha’s often seek counsel from elders…this should be no different. So why did she feel like a failure?
    Because Scottsboro wouldn’t stay in the past. Because Mr. Kincade would be coming for her, of this, there was no question in her mind.
     

Chapter Seven
     
    The next morning before breakfast, Nala spoke with Colin and he agreed to return to McGovern University and talk with Roman and Grace. He made mention of checking in on Wendy while they were there.
    Dressing for comfort, she felt she’d