Page 17 of Bitter Discord

“Not with today’s events.” He didn’t need Shamus in the middle of the Ranger and Dirk situation yet. He knew the rules and helped enforce them, which was what Heath needed right now. “I wanted to talk to you both about tomorrow. Zuri, daughter of Hasan, will be introduced at the pack meeting, and I need everyone on their best behavior. We’re going to divide the pack. Landon needs to be on top of Fenris. Between you two and me, we’ll divide the rest of the pack to keep an eye on them. That way, there’s no confusion.”

Ranger’s eyes lit up, and Heath smiled.

Yeah, you’ll have a job.

“Teagan, Arlo, and Benjamin are yours, Ranger,” Heath started. “They’re the lowest of the pack in terms of power, and you are the lowest of the leadership,” Heath said quickly, explaining his choice as he looked at Ranger, who was finally moving to sit next to Shamus on the other side of the desk. His eyes were bright with a confidence boost. Not only was it a job, it was also a job befitting the position he’d held.

Heath was glad he’d made the right choice.

“I understand.” Ranger put his cane over his lap, his left prosthetic stretching out. “Do you mind if I leave this thing home tomorrow?” He used his knuckles on the artificial leg. “It’ll slow me down more than help. Plus, Changing would be a bitch if I need to.”

“Whatever you need to do the job,” Heath said, shrugging. “So long as your doctor is okay with it.”

“He’ll be fine,” Ranger promised, and Heath caught no lie.

“Good. Shamus, you’ll get your kids, Rosalyn, and Piper.”

“Roselyn is going to whoop my ass from here to Dallas one day, but I can handle her tomorrow,” Shamus said, grinning. Heath couldn’t resist a chuckle.

“That leaves you with Carlos and Jenny,” Ranger pointed out.

“It does, and they’ll behave because I have to play politics.” Carlos and Jenny were a dangerous pair, hovering right under his new inner circle. He relied on the loyalty he demanded from them for taking them into this pack to keep them in line.

“Not just politics,” Shamus said, snorting. “Good luck kissing future in-law ass, Alpha. I promise I won’t judge you for it.”

Ranger’s eyes went wide.

“Much… I won’t judge you much,” Shamus corrected.

Heath sighed, but he kept smiling because it was in good fun. He was going to take the fun where he could get it.

Tomorrow would be the beginning of a very long week.

7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Sunday came too fast. I was packed and ready to stay at the Dallas mansion for the week, my two suitcases and toiletries piled in the living room for me to get later. Holding my keys, I was trapped in my fiancé’s arms.

“Drive safe,” Heath murmured as he kissed my forehead, holding me tight against him, making it clear he wasn’t ready to let me leave.

“I’ll be on high alert the entire time to make sure no one tries to assassinate me between my territory and the airport,” I promised. “It might be detrimental to my driving, but I’m sturdy. I’ve survived a couple of nasty car accidents.”

His expression told me he didn’t appreciate my humor today.

“Heath, I leave my territory on a semi-frequent basis, and no one has tried to kill me yet. I’ll be fine,” I said, touching his chest. “Many of those trips have been without you or Landon.” Sometimes, I ran errands in the city with one or both of them, but more often than not, I handled drives to the city on my own. I was a grown woman who could do those things.

“What if the other werecats have started showing up?” he asked earnestly.

“Then I’ll say hello and keep moving. Dallas might be mine politically, but it’s not myterritory,which is an important distinction. They’re allowed to go in and out of the city as they please. If they’re already in Texas without me knowing, I’m more worried about them heading here while I’m not around, but that’s not a new worry, Heath. It’s just a more likely situation when there’s going to be so many of them here.Yoube careful. The alarm system will be turned off.” Me being the metaphorical alarm system. Sadly, territory magic didn’t work when a werecat wasn’t in their territory. Once I left, I was broken from the connection and flying blind, like normal people.

“The pack will be heavily armed all week, and no one will be going anywhere alone. Pairs for the stronger werewolves, groups of three or four for the others. People are taking the whole week off to support each other. If we catch the scent of a werecat who isn’t you, we’ll be ready with silver.We’llbe fine.”

“Stop worrying about each other. You’ll both be fine, or you’ll both get hurt by the end of the week. If it’s the latter… you two bond over severe bodily harm and danger. It’ll strengthen your eventual marriage,” Landon said, shaking his head behind his father. “We’ll go over the security stuff again when she’s with her sister, Pa. Let her head out, so she’s not late.”

“I guess it’s that time,” Heath said, sighing heavily. “Please drive safe.”

I kissed him once, waved at Landon, then Dirk and Carey behind him. Escaping to the garage, I got in my car and on the road.

---