Page 75 of It All Started with a Bite

“Helen,” Victoria said frostily.

“Victoria,” the woman greeted with equal iciness.

“That’s Helen Sheridan,” Pearl murmured with an annoyed flick of her tail.

Seemed I was right about her being a Karen. I was dying to know what the story was between those two but was conscious I was attracting curious stares. The elderly werewolves were studying me with varying degrees of interest.

“Well?” Helen demanded haughtily. “Is she going to say anything?”

She was looking at me like I was dirt under her Jimmy Choos. I narrowed my eyes a fraction.

Bo stamped his paws indignantly. “I don’t like her.”

Helen’s gaze shifted. She stared down her nose at my dog.

“Who is this flea-infested creature?”

Pearl spoke before I could tell the Karen wannabe where she could shove that question.

“The canine is under my protection,” she stated, her voice dripping with scorn. “He is an honorary member of our pack. Any disrespect toward him will be construed as a challenge to the Hawthornes.”

“Furball,” Bo keened gratefully. He attempted to lick Pearl and got booped on the nose. “Ouch.”

Helen decided to pretend she hadn’t just insulted my dog.

“Is your new luna mute, Victoria?” she said irritably. “Or is she just stupid?”

The thin thread of my patience snapped with a sound I suspected the others heard. I felt my nails lengthen as I lowered my brows at the werewolf socialite.

“How about you and I step outside?—”

Victoria cut off my low growl.

“Is this how our Council treats a new luna?” she said in a steely voice. “And one belonging to the most powerful pack in Amberford, no less?”

Helen bristled. “Who said the Hawthornes are the most power?—”

“Helen,” a voice said quietly.

24

Smoke and Mirrors

My head snappedto the right. A woman with dark eyes and silver-speckled dark hair was watching me with an unreadable expression, her teacup poised perfectly in her manicured hands.

I hadn’t noticed her when I’d walked into the room. From the way Bo’s ears flattened briefly, neither had he. Which was odd, considering the subtle hostility I could feel radiating off her.

Helen backed down grudgingly at the stranger’s tone.

Victoria addressed the dark-haired woman in a polite voice. “Priscilla, I’m glad to see your health has improved enough for you to attend the Council meetings again.”

“Thank you,” Priscilla said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m pleased to see you too, old friend.”

Her emphasis on the word “friend” wasn’t lost on anyone. Several of the elderly werewolves exchanged troubled glances.

I now understood what Victoria had meant when she’d said the Council was a flock of vultures.

Victoria ignored the tension in the room and addressed her peers. “Everyone, I would like to formally introduce the Hawthorne luna. This is Abigail West, Samuel’s mate. And this is her dog, Bo.”

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