Page 76 of Wild Wolf Betrothal

“No way. I didn’t think that she had the capacity to cry,” Ethan said. “I didn’t think that she could feel anything but hatred, derision, and arrogance.”

“Apparently, she does,” Brent said.

“I would almost feel sorry for her, but I know what kind of person she is. I know the kind of hell that she put Jamie through, just to try to make Jamie leave town so that Alexis could have Luke,” Dillon said.

Ethan explained, “Alexis tried to force Clara to fire Jamie and tried to force Jamie’s landlord to evict her. That way, Jamie wouldn’t have a job or a place to stay and would have to leave town.”

“That was diabolical,” Micah said.

“Jamie is a sweet woman and didn’t deserve that kind of treatment from anyone,” Ethan said.

“I don’t guess anyone does,” Dillon observed.

Brent checked his watch and said, “Well, guys, I’ve got to get to work.”

“Be safe,” Dillon cautioned. “Any sign at all that they know and you high tail it out of there.”

“I will,” Brent promised. “I place great value on my own hide.”

“He has put himself in a dangerous situation, hasn’t he?” Micah asked.

“It is a little precarious. There have been a couple of close calls, but so far, he’s been able to maintain his cover. The Faisons talk about their business in front of him like he is invisible. He brings a lot of valuable information to the rest of us,” Dillon said. “He’s been working there forever, so he’s a fixture.”

“I hope for his sake that they don’t find out,” Micah said. “I hope that the other shifters decide that it just isn’t worth coming to Ivy Springs and go in other directions. I can’t imagine that there are hundreds of hunters out in the world, so that several could just pour into this town.”

“I honestly don’t know. To us, it seems like there is a hunter cornucopia, where hunters keep pouring out and invading the area,” Ethan said.

“I’m sorry if our actions make things worse for you guys. That wasn’t our intent.”

“I know,” Dillon said. “It’s just fortunate that you were forewarned, so you knew what to expect when they confronted you.”

Micah nodded in agreement.

“I can’t imagine how terrifying it has been for tourists shifting on the mountain.”

“We wish that we had a way of letting them know it’s dangerous. However, there is no such thing as a shifter newsletter where we can send out the information to all the shifters in the country,” Dillon joked.

Then, he turned to Ethan and said, “Hey. That would be a great project for you.”

Ethan shook his head vigorously and held up his hands in mock horror.

“Not on your life.”

A couple of people came in the store, so Micah left. He thought about visiting Lucy, but the café seemed to be busy, too.

Micah looked around the town. Just like the store fronts, the town had a nice façade. It was in a beautiful area and tourists flocked to it. But behind the façades was a darkness that Micah wanted no part of. He made up his mind. He was going to talk to Lucy and ask her to be his mate. Regardless of her answer, though, he was going home.

Just then, his phone vibrated.

“Dean, what’s up?”

“Bored. You.”

“The same.”

“I’ll buy the first round,” Dean said. “Do you want to meet at that club?”

“Sure.”

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