Page 107 of Wolf Roulette

Dang.Mind-speak had distance limits.

Sascha met my gaze. “You’d like to redefine the borders of Timber to allow for the construction of an airport. We don’t see how this would benefit us, but the pack would need a copy of the tribe’s contract with the council before considering anything.”

He was such a bullshitter. Then again, I’d known he’d spin these negotiations to pack favour—it’s not like the head team knew about the whole mating situation.

I jotted that down. “The tribe can provide the final contract for the pack prior to signing. We agree that no further amendments will be made after the fact.”

All six of the wolves were scowling.

Wow…or had I missed the mark on the pack’s reaction? I expected them to be overjoyed at this news. “The main points from the contract for your consideration are that Deception Valley Exports will have exclusivity on air transportation for imports and exports.

Grim stared down his nose at me. “Why would we ever agree to that?”

“You’ll have the option to contract us for the movement of resources. However, keep in mind that we will move off the roads—completely, in time—leaving that niche to you. Our service will not be accessible to you for the importation of grid equipment, of course.”

“Of course,” Mandy muttered.

“What type of feeswill be involved in the pack contracting space? I assume they’ll be extortionate.” Sascha crossed his arms.

Mmm,tight T-shirt. “Stanley, would you agree that fees can be negotiated in advance of signing the contract?”

The man on my left grunted. “Accounting for inflation, then yes, we can set the fees.”

Sascha tilted his head. “The pack won’t agree to anything other than fair fees. That is a make or break clause for us.”

Sure it was.

Half of my team entered this meeting adamant the Luthers would never agree to an airport. I inhaled their shock and excitement at his words.

Wade spoke, “The pack would have complete access to passenger seats.”

“And free travel,” Sascha replied.

I laughed shortly. “The Ni Tiaki are paying for more than half of the airport, Mr Greyson, and even we won’t travel for free.”

He smirked. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Miss Thana. Your airport relies on this strip of land in Timber.”

Maybe it was a good thing we weren’t face to face. Because incoming lie. “Incorrect. While experts agreed that particular site is the best, there are other places outside of Grids that could be developed at a higher cost.” I sighed. “Higher construction costs would unfortunately be passed onto our customers in the form of steeper fees. Business is business, you understand.”

I doubted anyone without werewolf eyes noticed his lips twitch.

I continued. “Ifthe pack wishes to press free travel, then the tribe would need to run numbers to see how many seats could be put aside each week for your travel. A restriction would be introduced where there would otherwise be no restriction.”

Maybe that would help to reassure the pack that there wouldn’t be a mass exodus to find mates.

Leroy shot me a look. “Timber is in our possession. The airport you’re requesting to build will take 150 acres of our product away.”

I didn’t miss his use of the wordrequesting.Alpha brat. “The Ni Tiaki are willing to gift tribal land to the timber mill trust.”

“A hundred and fifty acres of tribal land?” Sascha’s focus sharpened.

Roderick cut in. “The wood contained in the gifted land will be of far greater value than what’s currently being milled.”

There’s no way I’d gift virgin forest to the mill, but once upon a time Timber was bigger. The last time Victratum restarted, the parameters of the grid shrunk. The trees we intended to give back were now fifty years old, but not hundreds and thousands of years old like the rest.

“Pascal,” I murmured. “Please send the land map through.”

We waited as the six Luthers studied the boundaries.

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