Page 55 of The Mating Need
He searched her expression. This wasn’t good. “I wish you would have told me yesterday it wasPerry.”
“I wanted to, but you said you and the security team combed over every inch of those woods near the wolf pack and saw and sensed nothing. And then Aiden sent another team and still they found nothing. I was afraid you wouldn’t believeme.”
Face palm. “Don’t you know by now you can trustme?”
Her mouth trembled. “I’msorry.”
“Tell me everything.Now.”
Aiden stood at the far end of the stage, talking with Darius and Dale as the crowd settled into theirseats.
When she finished talking, Troy struggled to curb his worry and anger. “You should have told me instead of zapping them with magick, Jenny. You could have been hurt stumbling onto something likethat.”
“There wasn’t any time. They looked ready to attack the wolfpack!”
“You know how fast I can run. I would have been there. He could have shot you,Jenny.”
“I need to tell Aiden what Isaw.”
Troy shook his head. “Tell Aiden after the meeting. We can see him in private. There’ll be questions and you’ll be in the hot seat. They may not believeyou.”
Even he had a hard time believing her. Something akin to demons on the Mitchell Ranch? Or witches? Aiden and several others were powerful Lupines. Their magick was strong enough to keep evilaway.
Then the alpha started speaking and everyone hushed, Jennyincluded.
“I called this meeting to address a serious matter on the ranch. There are two professors at Beth’s college who wish to study the Timber Wolf pack on our land. One, Carson, was already granted access and has been studying them for a while without any interference. The other, Perry, wishes to do his own studies. I need to findout…”
“There is no need to find out anything.” Jenny stood, stared at the alpha. “I told you Perry isdangerous.”
Several low growls. Troygroaned.
Aiden stood calmly before them, not angry she’d had the balls to do so. He simplywaited.
Jenny told them what she’d seen by the Timberline pack, leaving out the part about her magick turning Perry’s rifle red hot and the Skins resembling witches or demons. Gasps sounded among the audience. The Mitchell pack was protective of the wild wolves living on theirland.
But Dale, sitting near Aiden, frowned. “Impossible. Perry and any other Skins could not access our land without us lifting the warding. I made certain to ward that land again yesterday after you told Aiden that Skins had been there. It must have been Professor Chance you saw from a distance. The only Skin allowed through the magick barrier is Professor Chance. In addition, if Chance carried any kind of weapon, he could not access that land near thepack.”
“I’m telling you, Perry and his little cult were there and Perry had agun.”
They didn’t believe her. Dismay filled Troy as doubting looks were cast her way. Jenny was new, and they didn’t know or trusther.
Aiden held up a hand. “Quiet. Dale, go to the Timberline pack and take two men with you. Check it out again. If what Jenny says is true, there will be evidence of tire tracks on the accessroad.”
The meeting continued on with routine matters about the cattle herd, moving them to the summer pasture, and cutting back on trail rides for Skins. Aiden’s cell phone buzzed. He answeredit.
“Right. Okay. Thanks.” The alpha pocketed the phone, looking directly at Jenny. “That was Dale. Just like last night, the only tire tracks were from Professor Chance’s Jeep. That’s it. No one else wasthere.”
Troy’s stomach clenched. No one would believe her now, even if hedid.
Her jaw dropped. “But I saw them! I know they intended harm to thepack!”
“The pack’s fine,” Aiden said, his expression guarded. “Skins can’t erase their tire tracks bymagick.”
“Unless Perry isn’t human,” Jenny shot out. “And those with him are either witches or demons. One had glowing redeyes.”
Silence descended over the crowd. This wasn’t going to be good. More than anything, Troy wanted to pick up Jenny and carry her out of there. Protect her, because the crowd was lookingangrier.
Jenny pressed on. “Perry is evil. I saw a death head skull beneath his skin. He is not human, but darkness itself, summoned from the underworld to infiltrate this ranch and destroy all of you because you are powerfulLupines.”
