“Ally.”

“Derren.”

“I want you to stay here.”

That Beta tone made Ally bristle, as usual. “And I want Rachelle to die a slow, horrible, excruciating death—preferably soon and in full view of me. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always give us what we want.” She almost smiled at Derren’s exasperated growl.

“Miranda’s a sly, cunning bitch, Ally.”

“Of course she is. But she won’t hurt me, and you know that, so stop being so dramatic.” She cocked her head, her smile one of pity. “You know, you’d be a lot less stressed if you just accepted that I don’t need you to protect me, since I’m no damsel in distress and all.”

Derren cupped her jaw, his eyes flashing wolf as the animal wanted to make his simmering anger clear. “I know it pisses you off that I’m trying to protect you. I get it. You can protect yourself. I know that too. But, baby, there’s been a lot of danger around our pack recently, and our mating bond is only partially developed. Give me a little room to be paranoid here.”

Feeling her irritation slip away at his anxiety, Ally pressed a kiss to his chin, wanting to soothe both Derren and his wolf. “I’m glad you care so much, and I understand why you’re worried. But don’t you think I’m worried too? I know exactly how sneaky that bitch is, I know how much she wants you, and I know she thinks she’s therefore entitled to have you. But both me and my wolf need her to understand that it isn’t gonna happen.” The bitch needed to see he was mated and off-limits. “You’d do the same thing in my position.”

Unable to deny that, he ground his teeth. “I just want you safe.”

“So do I, so I’m hardly going to put myself in danger, am I?”

Derren sighed, still opposed to the idea of her accompanying him but knowing she wasn’t going to back down from this. Backing down was one thing Ally never did. That strength of will he admired and adored could also be a pain in his ass at times. “Fine. Let’s go.” His wolf raked his claws at Derren, unhappy with his capitulation even as the animal understood it.

Entering the living area of the main lodge a few minutes later, they found the Alpha pair and Eli, Roni, Marcus, and Zander scattered around the room. Miranda was lounging in an armchair, her two enforcers standing behind her. She smiled at Derren. “Glad you could join us, Derren.”

She didn’t acknowledge Ally, effectively dismissing her as unimportant—which wasn’t at all surprising. Her jealousy and contempt scalded Ally’s skin, almost causing a hiss of pain to slip through her gritted teeth. Seemingly just the mere fact that Ally breathed was enough to piss off Miranda. It was rather satisfying.

Derren led Ally to the spare spot at the end of a sofa and then stood alert beside her, his stance protective—a stance Miranda didn’t appear to like. “What’s this about?”

Nick replied, “Our neighbor says she has some info we should hear.”

Derren arched a brow. “Really?” He wouldn’t have expected Miranda, of all people, to have sought out information about Kerrie on their behalf. She wasn’t the type to give a shit about other people’s problems. Of course, it was highly likely that she wanted something in return.

“She believes you should be present for this, Derren,” added Shaya, her suspicious gaze locked on the other Alpha female. He could understand Shaya’s apprehension. There was just something not quite right here. His wolf was similarly uneasy, wanting this female away from his mate, despite his confidence that Ally could take her in a fight.

“Would you not prefer outsiders to be excluded from the conversation?” Miranda asked Shaya, shooting a meaningful—and disdainful—glance at Ally.

“Miranda, get on with it,” urged Nick, waving his hand impatiently.

Bristling, she objected, “But it’s your pack’s business and—”

“You’re trying my patience in a big way,” Nick growled. “You asked for permission to cross the border, I granted it. You asked me to summon Derren, and I have. He’s here. Now talk.”

Miranda straightened, her flawless face hardening. “As you wish. I appreciate that what happens within your pack and on your territory is of no one’s concern but your own. However, I discovered a shocking fact and felt it was something you should know. Especially since there were attacks on your pack not so long ago. As neighbors, we should always look out for each other.”

Nick narrowed his eyes. “And what is this discovery of yours?”

“You have no idea who you have in your midst. But I do.” Again Miranda fleetingly glanced at Ally. “If you knew who she was, you wouldn’t have her on your territory.”

Wait, what? That was pretty much the last thing Derren had expected her to say. No, it was something that Derren hadn’t at all expected her to say. His pacing wolf halted, peeling back his upper lip to expose his teeth and gums. Miranda was a hot button to the animal’s vicious temper.

Miranda looked at Derren, eyes diamond hard. “And you certainly wouldn’t have her in your bed if you knew the truth.”

Derren couldn’t help but growl at the insult, which made Miranda flinch in surprise. Through his mating link with Ally, he could sense that she was just as taken aback by Miranda’s words, but her expression gave nothing away.

Miranda spoke to Ally then. “When we met here, I knew I’d seen you somewhere before, but I couldn’t place you. It was only later that I remembered. You’re the Holts’ foster pup, aren’t you?” Miranda nodded a few times, an ugly smile growing with each nod. “That’s right, I know who you are.”