Page 29 of Rumble of the Crumble

Maximus glanced at the stalk. “When Amell took charge of the pride after getting rid of the old alpha, he decided he had rights to all the land the pride lived on. All of it belonged to my family—belongs to me—”

“Are you rich?” Tim blinked owlishly at him.

“He is,” Gordon answered, laughing at the comical expression the stalks were wearing.

“I suppose. Amell continues to work to steal it all from me and the pride.”

“How so?” Glass asked, leaning against Apollo, rubbing at his round belly.

“My family leased the land they owned to the pride centuries ago. From generation to generation, they continue to live on the land with a fairly loose agreement. Basically, everyone paid a nominal fee yearly for the right to live on the land. Up until a few years ago, it went into a couple of different bank accounts set up in my name by my father, so I’d be independent of the pride. He could see what others couldn’t.” His voice became choked, and Tim laid his head against his arm.

All his family were dead.

We were his family.

I walked to him and patted his arm, trying to offer support, knowing how hard this was because he’d left his home to protect me.

“I left to protect us all,” he directed at me. “Problem was, I didn’t have time to access all my bank accounts and get all my money transferred out. I’ve contacted the bank, but Amell has a hold over everyone on pride land, so no one will give me what I’m entitled to. He’s been getting the pride to give him the money instead of letting it go into the account. In fact, if Greg is telling the truth, then Amell is claiming all the land as his and feels he’s entitled to what’s in the bank accounts, too. He’s been trying toget access to my accounts, but he can only do that if I’m dead, under pride law.”

Tim gasped, clutching his parcel tighter, his head firing up so he could look at Maximus. “Why didn’t you tell me!”

“Because I was hoping to avoid this. The house fire means we are out of options because the deeds to the land were in the house.”

“Have you checked?” Red asked.

Maximus frowned. “No, with all the damage and the fire department banning us from going in until they make sure the structure is safe, I didn’t think to ask them to check,” he answered.

“How much money do you have?” Glass questioned absently.

“More than god, I’m told.” Maximus said it so casually that the stalks laughed, clearly not getting he was serious.

Maximus was loaded. It was how we’d afforded to move and not have to find jobs. He was a very generous alpha to his pride.

You’re my family.

I know.

“You’re rich,” Tim squealed a second later, clearly figuring out he was serious.

“We’re rich, my stalk. And when we sort out the Amell issue, I’ll use some of the money from the other accounts to build several homes on our land, so we are all together once more.”

I wasn’t sure that was what everyone wanted anymore, not now that we had all found our mates. Goliath most definitely wouldn’t want to be crowded, I knew that much. Butch wasn’t a shared house type, either. I kept that thought to myself.

What the fuck!

The words rang around my brain and my pulse went from steady to crazy as I leapt up.

What is it?I shouted at Butch. I waited a second, everyone watching me.Butch, answer me?

Amell, he’s here. I need you.

“What!” I screeched, eyes wheeling, looking for Amell.

Maximus was staring at me. “What am I missing?”

“Butch, he says Amell is here?”

Red shrieked and clung to Gordon.

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