Page 19 of Homecoming

“Uh, no. No, we’re not into that shit,” Digby snarls.

“Oh… Oh really?” Mikah frowns. “Well, Ezra was always extremely interested. It’s good stuff. Direct from our supplier in Mexico—we don’t deal in that new-fangled synthetic stuff—this is organically grown. Gotta think of the environment these days,” he smiles. “You know, I heard Isaac’s cousin, Hector, he works as head of security in the big city and he has a lot of contacts. Distribution won’t be a problem. Hey Isaac, that’s what you said, right? That Hector is head of security at that club? Well anyway… I could get him to call you? Or maybe I should just go up to the big house and speak to whoever’s in charge now. See if he has a different take on the situation?”

“You’re already speaking to him.” Darius’ voice remains calm but direct.

“What?” Mikah laughs. “Oh, now you’rebein’realfreakin’funny. No, seriously, let me go speak to the pack leader. I mean, I can see things around here these days have gotten very inclusive. I mean… a vampanda rangersharin’the same space with wolves at a wolf commune…” he laughs. “That’s funny as fuck, right? But so very modern and diverse.”

“Get the hell out,” Darius demands aggressively.

“No. I told you I wanna speak to the pack leader first.You arehonor bound to take any guests to greet a pack leader. I know you can’t have stopped that courtesy?”

“I told you, you’ve already spoken to him and he’s telling you to get the fuck out.” Darius snaps back, his purple eyes glower bright with rage. “Turn around and get out of here before you regret it.”

Luna steps up and snaps back ferociously—Darius immediately strokes her head, trying to calm her without a word. “I wouldn’t piss her off. She has pups and believe me, you don’t want to get on the wrong side of her. Now you should go, before I don’t hold her back.”

“What the hell is this sorcery?” Seth looks around at the rest of the team. “You’re just gonna stand there and let this asshole vamp call the shots? What the fuck… What kinda wolf pack are you?”

Mikah spits the tobacco from his mouth and stares at Darius. He holds up a hand, gesturing Seth to silence. “I don’t know what’s beengoin’on here, but like I said, we don’t want no trouble. All we want is a place to stay for acouplanights and rest up. You’re welcome to come join us… sink some beers, sing some songs. We could even tell some tales of old. I know some really good ones,” he smiles as he stares Darius in the eyes. “You know, I remember you… You’re that wolf leader that got turned—the one that was here before Ezra. Yeah, I don’t forget much. I was younger and the details are a little fuzzy around the edges, but from what I recall… didn’t Ezra take your pack from you? Oh yeah… yeah, I remember that story now. Well, looks like you got it back… and now Ezra’s dead.”

“Wait, you’ve been here before?” Digby frowns.

“I told you, we come to the land every two decades, the condition of the land lease stating we have to inhabit the ground—signed in blood by my father. I have the original copy here if you wanna see it? It a big fancy document. Has a wax seal andeverythin’,” he laughs.

“So why don’t you just keep going and inhabit the land you own?” Digby steps closer to the other side of the large silver wolf.

“Ahhh, see… that’s where we got a bit of a problem. I forgot we can’t get up there for a few more days. I let the cable company—internetsomethin’like that—dig up the highway. They paid a fine price to lay some fancysmancycable under the ground. But they shut off the road to traffic while they do it. So that’s why we’re here. I remembered wolf folks were always so welcoming, but I guess that’scuzthey didn’t fear hyenas or shifters back in the day. But it seems this pack’s gone softlettin’a rejected wolf take over.”

“A rejected wolf didn’t take over,” Digby snarls. “For your information, I’m the pack leader and what I say goes. Now, I asked you to leave… so leave!”

“Ohc’monman, what are you so worried about? You think we’re gonna steal your wolf women?” he sniggers. “Don’t make me laugh. Hey boys…” he turns around and faces the rest of his clan, “seems us hyenas put the fear of the bear into wolves these days.Whad’yaknow, if my father was alive, he’d die laughing.” Mikah smiles with a mocking laugh as he throws more chewing tobacco into his mouth and fixes a gaze on Digby.

“We’re not afraid of you. We’re not afraid of any damn thing and I’ll prove it.”

Digby’s lip curls menacingly and Zak steps closer—he’s careful to keep himselfprotectivelybetween the gang and QT. “You heard what he said. We’re not afraid offuckin’hyenas.”

“Then let us camp out here. We got hooty liquor—bet you’ve not tasted that before? It’s homemade and real strong—it’ll put hairs on your chest,” he laughs. “Ohc’mon, you got my word…” Mikah places his hand on the scorched brand on his flesh. “I’ll take the rap for anyone who stepsouttaline. My word is my bond. We’re hungry and tired, that’s all.”

Digby sighs loudly, “Okay… I can’t see any harm in it. You can stay. It’s just a couple of nights until the highway opens.”

Darius hisses under his breath as he listens to the low, deep growling snarls coming from Luna. “You know Diggs, she is not happy about this. And I gotta say, I’m not so sure it’s such a great idea either.”

“She’ll be fine. She’s just being overprotective. Trust me, Kat’ll understand. I’ll talk to her later.”

“Well, you better damn well hope she does because this is on your head.” Darius takes a breath, and his purple eyes focus on Mikah. “He’s pack leader: if he says you can stay, you can stay. But only until the road opens. And I’m warning you, any trouble or anyone as much as steps out of line,Iwill be the one coming for you.”

“Wouldn’t expectnothin’less,” Mikah smiles. “Okay boys, looks like we’re being wolves for the night. So where do you want us?”

A loud chorus of howls fills the early eveningairand Darius rubs his hand over his head. Already apprehensive, he looks down as Luna snaps indignantly. Digby watches her and for a moment he notices her green eyes fixed intently on him, but in a flash of shimmering silver, she turns and is gone.

“Shit!” Digby takes a breath as he quickly unbuttons his shirt and hands it to Zak. “Here, take my clothes and the truck back to the house. I need to go after her.Fuck… I didn’t realize how pissed off she really was.”

“I did tell you she wasn’t happy,” Darius smiles, watching as a naked Digby hands Zak his pants.

“Oh fuck you, Mr. know-it-all. Zak, keep an eye on them fuckers. Ifanythin’goesmissin’, you tell me. Hyenas are likefuckin’magpies.”

“Alrightc’mon…” Zak calls behind him, “follow me. I’ll show you where you can pitch up.”

“Is she always the pissy type? The temperamental… high maintenance kind… Sure, I get that.” Mikah steps up next to Darius. “Hyenawomen are just the same. Myol’lady—back home—yeah, she gets like that when the moon’s full. There just ain’t noreasonin’with her when she’sbein’like that. It’s hormones. When they have pups, it makes them go all crazy. Your wolf boyneedsgo buy her something—something expensive. Yeah, that usually works.Cuzhe's gonna have a lot of groveling to do to fix that. She sure is one helluva goodlookin'wolf though. I’ve not seen a Luna like her in a long, long time.”

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