Shaya nodded. “Kathy, take the pups upstairs. Zander, get me my shotgun.”

Jesse massaged Harley’s palm with his thumb as he spoke to her. “I’ll be back soon. Wait here for me.” He braced himself for her to insist on returning to their lodge. After all, she wouldn’t find it much fun being here without his support, especially given the drivel she’d had to listen to from Nat and Kathy.

Harley saluted him. “Be careful.”

“Good girl,” he whispered, wondering if he’d ever be able to anticipate her reactions.

The picture of menace, Nick said, “Let’s get this done.”

As they left the lodge, the Beta pair flanked Nick while the others stayed at the rear. No one said a word as they headed for the border. When they came close, Jesse, Roni, and Marcus melted away to guard the others without being seen.

Jesse took a position beside a thick oak; he had a perfect view of Hector, standing not far from a blue BMW. With his navy, tailored suit, analog watch, and confident posture, the tall male was the epitome of a professional businessman. Two hefty males flanked him. Jesse guessed they were shifters but couldn’t be sure. Apparently Hector had brought some muscle for protection.

When the four Mercury wolves finally came to a halt just a few feet short of the border, Hector gave them a winning smile. “Nick, how are you this morning?”

“What do you want?”

Hector’s affable smile faltered at Nick’s curtness. “Should I conclude that you still don’t wish to sell?”

“Yes, you should.”

“Come now,” said Hector. “You don’t want a hotel next door. Having a pack living right next to my hotel would attract the sort of guests I do not want—particularly humans who like to study the way of shifters, comparing them to animals and making documentaries about their findings. They would watch you like hawks.”

Well, they knew that—it was just one of the reasons they were so opposed to the hotel.

“It would be inconvenient for all of us,” added Hector.

“You should have thought of that before you bought the land.”

“I did consider it, but this is such a perfect location for a holiday resort,” said Hector. “Your land was once owned by humans who rented the lodge.”

He was right. In fact, Shaya and her father went on many hunting trips there when she was growing up, which was why Nick had bought it.

“It’s a place that humans and shifters alike would appreciate,” Hector continued. “There are locations all over California that would suit the needs of your pack. I am offering you a figure that is more than double what the land is worth. You could use that money to procure vaster territory.”

“You’re not fucking hearing me,” growled Nick. “We’re not selling.”

Hector’s smile lost its openness. “That’s a shame. A real shame.”

“No, it’s not.”

Hector’s eyes hardened. “I want this territory, Nick.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what you want.”

“No, you really don’t, do you?” And that seemed to surprise Hector. “You spent a good portion of your youth in juvie, didn’t you, Nick?”

Jesse blinked. What the fuck did that have to do with anything?

“I heard it was where you met the wolf who is now your Beta.” Hector slid his gaze to the male in question. “Derren, isn’t it? You were found guilty of raping a human girl.”

Ally’s chin lifted. “He was recently exonerated.”

“Oh yes, so I heard. It’s a shame that the Seer who falsely accused you wasn’t around to witness the wrong made right, Derren. From what else I heard, he was presumed dead . . . although a body has never been found.”

A sick feeling slithered into Jesse’s stomach.

“Have you ever been to New Orleans, Derren?” Hector asked casually.

“No, I haven’t,” replied Derren, tone emotionless.

“Odd.” Hector rubbed his chin. “I was under the impression that you, your Alpha, and another wolf you met in juvie—Cain Holt—once went there, searching for the Seer. I believe his name was Neil something-or-other. It was around that time that Neil disappeared. But then, people often disappear in the swamps, don’t they?”

“This meeting is over,” said Nick.

“I’m going to reach for something in my jacket,” Hector quickly said. He pulled out a brown letter sized envelope. “Here. Open it.”

Nick didn’t take it. “Not interested in anything you have to show me.”

“You’ll want to see this. Derren will most certainly wish to.”

Derren pursed his lips. “Can’t say I do.”

“Then perhaps I should hand these testimonies to someone who would find them rather interesting.”

Ally exchanged a meaningful look with Derren. Whatever she’d sensed from Hector worried her.

“There are three testimonies inside,” said Hector, throwing the envelope at Nick’s feet. “One from a barman who can identity the three of you asking about the Seer—I believe Neil worked alongside the barman. The second testimony is from Neil’s neighbor, who swears he saw three males dragging the Seer out of the house and shoving him into a rental van. And the third comes from a swamp guide who witnessed three men dumping a corpse into the swamp. He wasn’t able to identify them, as he was too far away at the time, but he could give their height and build.”