Page 68 of Fetch Me A Mate
"Small towns are remarkably transparent to those who know what to look for." Danarius's smile widened. "The way you positioned yourself when I arrived. The protective stance, the territorial signals. Very telling."
Rowan felt ice settle in his chest. He'd given too much away, let his wolf's instincts show too clearly.
"I protect what's mine."
"Exactly my point." Danarius opened the door, autumn air swirling into the warm lobby. "The question is, how far will you go to keep protecting it?"
"As far as necessary."
"We'll see." Danarius stepped onto the porch, then turned back with that predator's smile. "Oh, and Rowan? The inn's scheduled for a very thorough inspection next Friday. State health department, fire marshal, zoning compliance. Amazing how these things cluster together when the right paperwork gets filed."
The door closed behind him with a soft click that echoed like a gunshot.
Rowan stood frozen in the lobby, his wolf pacing frantically beneath his skin. The alpha knew. Somehow, Danarius had figured out that Diana mattered more than he let on, that she was his mate.
The knowledge would make her a target, a pressure point they could use to force his compliance.
Danarius had found his weakness, identified the one thing that could break Rowan's resolve. The alpha's parting smirk had said it all - he knew exactly what Diana meant to him.
33
DIANA
The Council summons arrived on Tuesday morning, delivered by a grim-faced courier who wouldn't meet Diana's eyes. She read it twice before the words sank in.
"Emergency review of innkeeper licensing and ownership transfer. Anonymous complaint filed regarding operational irregularities and questionable management decisions."
"What does it say?" Rowan asked, emerging from the kitchen with coffee.
Diana handed him the official paper. "Someone filed a formal complaint. The Council's calling an emergency session."
"What kind of complaint?"
"Doesn't specify. Just says 'serious concerns regarding human suitability for supernatural community leadership.'" Diana sank into the lobby chair. "After everything. After the soft reopening, the community support, the successful events."
"This is connected to yesterday's visit."
"You think your pack did this?"
"I know." Rowan crushed the paper in his fist. "This is exactly the kind of pressure tactic he uses. File anonymous complaints,trigger bureaucratic reviews, force people into impossible positions."
Diana stared at the crumpled summons. "The Council meeting's tonight."
"I'll come with you."
"No."
"Diana—"
"I said no." She stood, smoothing her skirt with hands that only trembled slightly. "This is about my fitness to run the inn. My capability as a human in a supernatural community. You being there just proves their point."
"What point?"
"That I need protection. That I can't handle things myself." Diana moved to the window, looking out at the square where people were going about their normal morning routines. "That I'm weak."
"You're not weak."
"Then let me prove it."
