Page 83 of Fighting Furry

“You'll be dead before you step foot on my property.”

“I'm a trained fighter, Darius. And now I've got the strength, speed, and cunning of a wolf. I will rip you apart and dance in your blood.”

Desiree shuddered and Shelly slapped a hand to her mouth like she might be sick.

“One more thing,” I said, when Darius didn't answer. “Tell the council they only get one chance.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked.

“They only get one chance to make a first impression with the humans. They can do it on their terms, and come out as the nice, sensible protectors of wolves and humans, or I can out them as the killers they are. You choose.”

“Fuck you,” he said. “Do you have any idea what I've done to protect this secret? And you think you can waltz in and destroy all my hard work, my sacrifices, to save a wolf who broke our laws, who deserves punishment?”

“Considering he broke your laws because he was protecting himself from vampires you were secretly assisting to overthrow us, I'd say his need for punishment is not at all clear cut.”

“You have no idea—”

“Call me,” I said. “If I get to you before I've gotten a call from you, I'm doing this my way.”

I hung up and looked at Desiree. “Has Max found out where they're holding Axel?”

“They've got him in Mule Creek,” she said. “In the jail.”

They wanted to kill him in front of his own pack, probably to remind them what would happen to them if they didn't submit to the vamps. I used her phone to call my agent back. “What did they say?” I asked.

“Darling,” she said, “it's the middle of the night and it's only been ten minutes.”

“And I know how bad they want to be the ones to get this reality show deal with me. What did they say?”

“They're working on it. They want to help you, darling, but they aren't magicians.”

I'd never pulled the diva card. I'd always been understanding and kind to agents and managers, coaches and staff, but I didn't have time to waste on understanding and kindness. “Tell them to have a camera crew in Aspens Whiten by eight AM this morning. If they can't do it, offer the reality show deal to someone who can. If there's no one to meet me in Aspens Whiten at eight, I'm out. There won't be a reality show, not with anyone.” And that would hurt her bottom line, because if I did a reality show, she'd get a cut.

“I'll try, darling.”

“Do more than try,” I said. “Make it happen. If you don't, Axel is dead.”

I hung up and looked at Desiree and Shelly. “I'm going back to Mule Creek to confront Darius and the council. This could go awesome, or it could go really, really bad. You don't have to come with me.”

“Are you kidding?” Desiree asked. “That council killed my husband. I'd love to see them get taken down a peg or six.”

I looked at Shelly. “I love you, babe,” she said. “But this isn't my fight.”

She was right and I didn't begrudge her choice for a moment. “Want me to get you a cab to the airport?”

“Naw,” she said. “Ally is flying in tonight and we're going to have a mini vacation in the city.”

“You so deserve it, sweetie,” I said. “I'm glad you're taking some time off.”

She hugged and kissed me. “You be careful and let me know once everything's over and you're safe.”

***

I paced the sidewalk in front of the courthouse in Aspens Whiten. The camera crew was late. “Sweetie,” Desiree said. “Sit. They'll be here.”

“How can you be so sure?” I couldn't stop pacing, my feet carrying me even as I slowed to look for the lie in Desiree's expression.

“Because they'd be idiots not to,” she said. “This reality show would be huge for them. I mean I'd watch it and I don't even like werewolves.”

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