Page 98 of What a Wolf Demands

Confusion crossed Thibeaux’s face. Likely, he was trying to figure out if Max had insulted him. After a second, he drew himself up. “You’re supposed to be impartial, yet your Beta is sleeping with the accused.”

Lily stiffened.

Dom turned in his seat so he could capture Thibeaux’s gaze.

The other wolf kept his eyes on Max, but a rapid pulse fluttered in his neck and a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. He reached up and wiped it away.

“Perhaps you didn’t hear me,” Max told him. “I said relevant.”

Thibeaux’s expression turned stubborn. “I think it’s pretty relevant. How can you claim to be neutral when your second-in-command is crawling in and out of her bed? His judgment is compromised, which means yours is, too.”

Damn. Thibeaux wasn’t wrong. On the contrary, he made a good point.

Max spoke. “You make a good point.”

Thibeaux stood taller.

“However,” Max said, “this case doesn’t turn on my judgment alone.” He motioned at someone or something behind the chairs. “I’ve asked another Alpha to help us.”

A murmur went through those assembled as the male from the back of the room walked forward. Dom had been so worried about Lily he’d forgotten about the mysterious wolf and his mischievous smile.

He wasn’t smiling now. His face was expressionless as he walked to the front of the room and stood next to Thibeaux.

“Mind if I sit?” he asked, his voice deep and even.

Thibeaux just stared, his jaw slack. Then he seemed to rouse himself. “I don’t recognize you. What pack are you from?”

“I’m a new Alpha,” the man said. “Just took over. Same as you, eh?”

The “eh” made Dom’s ears perk up. That was a distinctly Canadian inflection. Max’s territory was called “New York,” but it extended far north across the border. Half the pack members peppered their speech with the popular slang word, which had an almost endless array of meanings.

Thibeaux frowned.

“That’s settled,” Max said with a businesslike air. “Duncan?”

Duncan took his cue. “Please, gentlemen, be seated. It’s much easier for me to concentrate that way.” He didn’t wait for the wolves to sit. He just looked at Lily and smiled. “Now, Ms. Agincourt, I’m going to ask you yes or no questions, okay?”

Lily gave him a solemn nod. “Okay.”

The strange wolf sat and crossed one leg over the other, revealing socks embroidered with tiny dragons.

Thibeaux seemed to realize he was the only one left standing, because his cheeks reddened, and he sank back into his chair. He was still confused—and suspicious—but he wasn’t savvy enough to know he’d been outmaneuvered.

Just what was Max playing at? Dom knew every Alpha in the country. He’d met all sixty of them.

This new wolf wasn’t one of them.

Duncan’s voice drew his attention. “Did you kill Charlie LaFont?”

Lily’s response was clear as a bell. “No, I did not.”

All eyes shot to Duncan.

He’d closed his eyes, his arms folded across his chest. A little frown played between his brows.

Dom’s anxiety spiked. Something was wrong . . .

Duncan opened his eyes. “That’s weird,” he said, almost to himself.

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