Page 4 of House of Wolves

Cool. Grimm thinks we’re incapable of dealing with the Hunters on our own, so he begs some Europeans for help. I really don’t care. I just want to know what the fuck is going on. I sigh. “Which is?”

“We think the Hunters are taking young werewolf women to impregnate and make powerful Hunters. This is what the Hunters attempted in my hometown.” The crowd murmurs into panicked whispers.

I cross my arms over my chest. “Well, duh.”

“Duh?” Kilo eyes me with a strange sparkle.

I sigh. Kilo's theory about impregnation isn't entirely new. “Two years ago, the lead Hunter captured one of our own. He admitted as much to her beforeourHuman Liaison ripped his throat out.”

Kilo nods at my words. “Yes, Grimm informed me of the incident. But he also said you have had two years of peace. It’s suspicious that they’re choosing to act now.”

Cameron walks to the front. “Regardless of the timing. It’s happening, and people are getting killed. We can only hope that the other three are alive and can be rescued.” He stands beside Kilo, grabbing his shoulder in some macho man's embrace. I roll my eyes. “Thank you for coming, Kilo. We could use all the help we can get, especially from a Human Liaison who has experience ending a powerful hunter clan.”

I sigh. “Okay, cool. So now you’re here and know everything about stopping Hunters. What do you do about it?”

Kilo studies me, the curious smile not leaving his face. He steps closer, sending my annoyance off kilter. He smells of pine, and even though he’s only a fraction closer, his beauty alarms me even more. “First, we need inside information,” he says to me as if the other werewolves in the room don’t exist. “Grimm tells me you have some inside connections at the police station.”

“Yeah, I have my friend Lucy, but she just sends me reports that get passed over her desk. I doubt they’d privy her to their kidnapping plan.”

He shakes his head. “No, I’m not talking about that connection. I hear you have past relationships with some of the cops at the station. This couldn’t just be Brick who knows everything. Many cops would need to be involved.”

My cheeks heat, and I whip my attention to Grimm. I don’t care that he's my leader. Why the fuck is he spreading rumors to new people about who I fucked? And most importantly, how does he know?

Again, I remember that we’re not alone. Thirty men, women, and young adults surround us. My dentist, the grocer, and people I’ve known my whole life bore holes with their eyes into the side of my face as we stand at the front and discuss my past hook-ups.

I furrow my brow, shifting my gaze from one male to another. “Gentlemen, this hardly seems like a time to discuss my dating history.”

Grimm’s eyes widen as if suddenly realizing the contents of the conversation. “Right. I apologize.” He turns back to the crowd. “Everyone, we will end tonight's meeting so a few of us can work out the details of our next plan. What matters is that we watch out for our young women, stay in groups, and report anything suspicious. Do not panic. Do not fear. We are working on our continued safety and bringing our own home safe.”

It takes a few minutes for the crowd to disperse, chatting with others anxiously before heading to the door and cautiously slipping out. Cameron, Grimm, Kilo, and I stand at the front of the room. We don’t address each other until everyone has left. The last Were slips through the entrance and kicks the door closed behind them. I turn to the men, arms over my chest and fire behind my eyes. “So now that my dating history is out in the open, please let me know who you’d like me to sleep with so we can get more information.”

Cameron groans. “Carmen, calm down. It’s no secret that you’ve fucked around with Officer Straw and Wood.”

“It’s not a secret, but this guy has been here what, five minutes, and he already knows who I’ve slept with before I even know his name.”

Kilo bursts into laughter next to me, surprising my rage and diverting my attention from my annoying brother to the handsome newbie. He grabs Grimm’s shoulder. “I like her,” he says, pointing to me. I don’t know if I should be annoyed or flattered that he enjoys my candor. Maybe if he wasn’t so hot, it would piss me off more, but his laugh does break some of the tension.

Grimm shimmies out of Kilo’s grasp. “Carmen, I did not disclose those details to Kilo. I didn’t even know the finer workings of your relationship with the officers. All I said was that you had a friendship with the two.”

“Oh.” My face heats.Fuck. “Well, I guess we cleared the air. And yeah, if the two know anything, I could find out.” I haven’t met up with either of the men in a while, and I never feel too great about myself after seeing them, but if it’s in the name of saving young women, I’ll blow just about anyone.

Kilo puts a hand on my shoulder. I stiffen. “I’d offer to help, but it might be suspicious. I don’t want you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

My cheeks heat, and I brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “It’s fine. I’d offer to do it anyway if it wasn’t already suggested. The two are idiots. It won’t take much for me to get something out of them.”

Grimm claps his hands together. “Great, we’ll start there. Let’s meet back up after you’ve made contact. We’ll meet at the cave, say, in two days?”

We own a hidden building within a cave nearby. The Hunters know this location. We use it to house prisoners, conduct small meetings, and for training. Only the most powerful werewolves visit its location as they can handle a Hunter attack. This council building is for everyone.

“Yep,” I reply with a tight-lipped grin.

Grimm nods and shakes all three of our hands before exiting. I step closer to Cameron, whispering, “Does Red know about this?”

“Of course. I don’t keep anything from her.”

“Maybe spare her some details. I don’t want this upsetting her in her condition.”

Cameron gives an aggravated chuckle. “She’s pregnant, not dying.”

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