Page 80 of Wolf Roulette

My brows shot up. “Really?”

She cracked a grin that reminded me of her son. “Really. Due to the demands on your time here, we essentially run the council in your stead, but you’re the mayor of Deception Valley.”

What the hell? Seriously?

“I read the quarterly report. Everything is operating smoothly.” I’d never met anyone outside of the pack who had a bad thing to say about the tribe. The council kept the public parts of this valley in great nick.

“As you probably saw, most of the gathered taxes go into road maintenance. The terrain doesn’t make repairs easy or cheap.”

I opened the report and studied the printed pictures of the council. Margaret Frey was on there, too, which was ideal. I’d met two of the other stewards. None of the locals rang a bell. “What are the council members like to work with?”

“The team fits well together. There hasn’t been a new face there since the passing of Ted Harrington, a local who sat on the council for thirty years, so we’ve known each other a while.”

That could prove to be a good or bad thing.

She hesitated. “It’s your right to join the council, and your presence would be welcomed, I assure you. Is there a specific reason you wish to join?”

Yes. I’d like to help our enemy out.

I closed the report. “I believe we’re limiting the reaches of our businesses. There are projects that could be introduced and developed to aid us in Grids, and the valley would prosper as a result too.”

“Like?”

Might as well test out the reaction. “This valley’s weakness and strength is our remoteness from other towns and cities. People pay more for the quality of our resources but exporting to surrounding areas takes up valuable human resources. Not only that, I’d guess our trucks ruin the roads far more readily than car traffic. In Grids, we’re often restricted by what equipment can be delivered in a short timeframe. We need to stop relying on roads alone. I believe an airport would benefit the tribe greatly. In exports, with imports, and to bring more business to our region.”

Her eyes rounded. “An airport?”

“Correct.”

She blinked. “An airport helps us, but it would also help the Luthers. They could also bring in equipment and export goods.”

“The tribe can’t take the risk of funding this alone and I’m guessing the council won’t want that either. We go in together. As a term of the final agreement, Deception Valley Exports would exclusively manage exports and imports via air. The public will have access via our company, but the pack will be forced to continue using roads and trucks for Valley Trade Services—or pay us for use of cargo space.”

Honestly though, there would always be a market for offering land transportation at a lower cost. The pack could navigate the change. The tribe and pack would just fulfil different niches.

Chantel smiled. “It’s ballsy.”

“Luthers and tribe alike would have access to the passenger seats,” I said in a casual tone, grateful she couldn’t hear my heartbeat. “The public may suspect anything else.”

I held my breath.

Chantel nodded. “There’s no harm in that. The environmental impact would need to be assessed per the ideals of our tribe, but council decisions don’t count toward Grids. The pack couldn’t come after us. Terrie, one of the public council members, brings up an airport each year. Herc always shut it down.”

Probably because he’d observed the wolf population decreasing and suspected they weren’t just leaving. “When’s the next council meeting?”

“Next Monday. If you’re serious about this, you’ll need to put forward a thorough proposal.”

Crap.In what time?

“Knowing how busy you are, I’d like to offer the services of our tribe council members to take on the task.”

I blew out a breath. “Honestly, I’d have no idea where to start, but are you sure that won’t overload the five of you?”

“I have a feeling that the other Ni Tiaki council members will be as excited as I am, and we’re old hands at proposals. As I said, Terrie submits an airport proposal each year, and I’m certain she’ll happily work with us on it too.”

I walked around the desk. “Thank you so much, Chantel. I’d still like to be as active in the proposal as possible. Perhaps we could all meet each afternoon at 2:00 p.m. to discuss details? I’d really like to present this next Monday.”

She smiled warmly. “We’ll see it done, Head Steward.”

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