Page 85 of Rhett
A smattering of the crowd clapped and whistled.
Quinn continued. “I own all the land in this town except for what my family bestowed upon a select few residents as a gift and what we’ve sold outright. Gertrude and Shane are not on that property-owner list.”
I grinned when I saw the thunderous expressions on Gertrude’s and Shane’s faces.
“There are also stipulations in all my property contracts which state I have the right to take back any land sold or given if I fucking feel like it.” Quinn eyed Gertrude and Shane. “Now I tried to play nice with you two because back in the day, your kin were close with mine. But I’ve had enough of your shit. This power battle that you two are trying to wage with me is futile. You own nothing in the Ridge. So you either get your shit together and play nice with the others, or get the fuck out of town.”
Some of the audience whooped, whistled, and clapped.
Dean’s mate, Agnes, stood. “Alpha, if I may, I’d like to say something.”
Quinn nodded.
“Sam killed my mate and some of his kin,” Agnes said. “And he would have killed me too if I hadn’t run like Dean told me to. Dean gave up his life for me.” Her voice broke, but she continued. “Y’all didn’t see the madness in Sam’s eyes. I did. He’s feral, and he must be put down like the rabid wolf he is. Given what I saw that night he attacked us, I believe Sam killed Henry. Sam’s a stone-cold killer. And you prejudiced motherfuckers are turning a blind eye to the truth. Nova did not kill Henry.”
After Agnes’s speech, I could feel and see that the majority of the audience wasn’t as convinced of Nova’s guilt.
“But evidence is evidence, and that Hunter is guilty,” Josie claimed, staring directly at me with a smirk.
“Well, I’m going to find Sam and bring his ass to justice,” I vowed.
Shane waved a hand in dismissal. “Good luck with that.”
The crowd cackled and whispered among themselves.
I wasn’t going to waste my time trying to convince them that I’d do what I’d just promised. I was military through and through, and I’d never failed a mission, especially not with so much on the line—my mate’s life.
“Well then, Protector,” Gertrude said, strutting out to stand before the audience. “According to Others law, you have forty-eight hours to do so.” She turned, giving Quinn and me a look that radiated superiority. “After that, justice will be served to your Hunter.”
Some erupted with clapping, hooting, and cheering.
The door to the hall banged open. Heads swiveled to the location of the commotion. A tall muscular man with waist-length matted hair and a bushy, unkempt beard stood on the threshold, wearing dingy pants, an animal pelt for his shirt, and no shoes.
“Who’s that?” someone shouted.
“He smells familiar,” another person said.
Quinn and I leaped off the stage to head off trouble from the mysterious man as he lumbered into the hall to a wave of gasps, loud whispers, and stares.
“I’ve got information for the alpha and the sheriff,” the man said in a gravelly voice.
Quinn tilted his head as if recognizing the man. “Clancy?”
“Yes,” he acknowledged.
My eyes narrowed. Clancy was Quinn’s childhood friend and former military like us. Clancy had it all until he caught the feral sickness. Now he was on the Shifter Council’s most wanted list.
CHAPTER22
RHETT
After the town hall meeting, I gathered supplies into several backpacks, stowing them in my cruiser. We decided to leave Mack, Emmett, and Brody back at the station to keep watch.
Quinn, Clancy, Jasper, and I piled into my cruiser. And once I pulled away, Quinn said, “Clancy, I saw the video footage of you assaulting your victims. Why’d you do it?”
There was a beat of silence, and for a moment, I thought Clancy wasn’t going to answer. Then he suddenly said, “That night I was running through the forest.” He cleared his throat. “The feral sickness had me in its grip something fierce then, and one thing led to another. Somehow, I found myself in the human world. I was going to head back to the Ridge when I saw two shifters attacking a hybrid female. Something snapped inside me, and I attacked her assailants, and I don’t regret it.”
“What?” Quinn barked. “Shifters? A hybrid? That’s not the Shifter Council’s story. They said both men and the female were human. That your attack was unprovoked.”
