6

I waited in the hallway with my party until it was the best time to enter. I wanted roll call taken and the mundane parts handed before I made myself known. There were some nervous people who clearly wanted to warn people in the room, but a few looks from me with my badge out and they knew their asses would be grass if they got involved.

I nodded to the others when I heard the formalities were all done and they were about to move on to approving the agenda for the meeting.

Yeah, that was where I ruined their night.

"I have several things to say about your agenda tonight and an item from last meeting," I said loudly as I crashed the Sioux Falls City Council meeting.

"Rudeness isn't tolerated here, miss," one of the council members said, rage in his eyes, clearly recognizing me.

"Cute," I snickered. "Sure, now that you called me ‘miss' instead of Alpha or Chief Thomas, I'm going to let go of the crap you've been pulling. Yeah, that's how I normally work."

"I don't know what you're prattling on about, but these meetings are for residents only," a different council member said loudly. "You're not allowed to be here as—"

"Cut the shit," I drawled as I walked right towards the podium. Two different people looked to block me but thought better of it when I simply tapped my badge. "We all know that I can be here as the Alpha of the Sioux Falls pack. I hold the trust with the land no matter what you pulled last meeting to change the rules of who can attend.

"But I would have to go to court to fight what you did. Making it that it must be named title owners, not a trust or corporation which you know is how we hide our pack lands for our safety . And while we're fighting that in court, you could handle the agenda you have planned today and screw over my pack."

I reached behind me and grabbed the files from the bank representative who I'd roped into this.

"Your assumptions are your own," the first guy snapped. "We were tired of people who don't live here trying to have such a say in our city including corporations and—"

"Don't lie to a shifter," I drawled even if I couldn't sense the lie. Carter reacting as he did made it clear the guy was, and I could see him standing off to the side watching the room. "But if that was true, you would have made it so those owning vacation homes couldn't be involved. Except that would take out those fancy donors and some ranches around here, right?

"So enough. You tried your move to exclude us with the trust, but you're idiots forgetting something important. Really important." I dropped the files onto the table next to me. "I'm rich. Really, really rich. And you done did piss me off. So I bought a hundred properties. All in my name. Here are the titles. Which makes me absolutely able to be here."

It was hard not to add another insult when steam about came out of most of their ears. Like… Seriously. It was almost insulting and child's play.

Just to rub it in, I had the guy from the bank tell them it was all true, all the closings already happened, and they were at his office. My legal proxy came out already and signed it all and it was done and done.

"So all you did was bring me here in the flesh and put more of my money into Sioux Falls. Wanna guess what else I'll do if you keep playing these stupid games?" I snapped my fingers. "Actually, wait, I have more stupid prizes to award for playing stupid games."

I nodded to one of the FBI newbies who had come with to get some training. I watched as he handed out papers to each of the council members and the mayor.

"Your airport is under review by the FAA and downgraded for the moment," I told them, having a hard time not laughing at the shock and fear that immediately filled their faces. "The FBI recommended it to our federal agency after getting into the investigation on what was happening here." I smirked at them. "Never screw with the FAA. Never."

One of the councilmen broke, slamming his hands on the table and standing. "We did no such thing, and this is not your meeting to—"

"You brought me and mine into this, and now you will deal with the outcome of that," I purred. "You targeted us, and I'm over letting it go. I was polite and patient. I spoke with your law enforcement about their misunderstandings and the bullshit they were pulling.

"I made it clear that things were going to change or Sioux Falls would not like the repercussions. I warned all of you that you did not want to make an enemy of me and you would start living lawfully or I was who you would have to deal with. Unfortunately, you did not believe me. Now you will. Now you will or you will end up in handcuffs.

"Or at least out of jobs like those air traffic controllers you had in on the plot." I snorted. "Really? All you had up your sleeve was to make the planes circle around to waste fuel or hold them on the runways for hours and not let them taxi to the terminal? That was your big move?

"These are people who were driven out of their countries under the threat of death and your big move was to have them sit on private planes longer? With working AC, food, water, and nice bathrooms. So are you going to release mosquitos near our houses next? I mean, it's right up there with laughably annoying and pathetic.

"But you know who isn't laughing? Those air traffic controllers." I smirked out at them. "All those mistakes they made to screw with only my planes added up and now they're out of jobs. Hell, they won't be allowed to be crossing guards once the FAA is done with those fools. And I bet you promised them I couldn't touch them, right?

"Man, they've got to be pissed at all of you and whoever else was involved." I chuckled when hearts raced. "Oh yeah, you're all as clean as a damn porta potty. Well, I would expect some fun there because I gave them the name of an attorney and promised they'd take their case to help make a deal when they're ready to snitch."

Carter snickered when they got even more riled up.

I smirked as I glanced around. "Because they always snitch. They're hanging strong now hoping you have power to do anything, but we know you don't. They broke major rules, and you don't have any pull with the FAA. Not when this much heat is on it and all the eyes I've brought with the FBI. But a few months of not being able to find work and pay their bills and—"

"You cannot use your badge for your personal gripes and—"

I snorted. "Personal? My whole job is to keep supes safe from this type of bigotry and harassment , sir. And I have people I answer to as well. The FAA doesn't just do a division chief a favor and put an airport on notice because a plane was delayed. You didn't even try to hide your crap. And this is completely my job.

"More than that, you came after me . So don't lecture me about making things personal. You don't like supes. You're on camera and recorded as hating us. You would risk the progress and help we would bring Sioux Falls because you hate us animals! You're so damn corrupt you set this all up to rezone pack-owned properties to kick them out of their homes, farms, and businesses.

"You don't even care what that could do for the economy or banks that hold those mortgages—any of it. You are using your position for personal, and I am using mine to hold you accountable which is my actual job. Yours is supposed to be protecting and helping all of the residents of Sioux Falls, not just the human ones."

I nodded to the newbie and he handed out more papers.

"You will dismiss this list of ordinance items on the agenda. Normally, I would let this play out and arrest you after, but I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that you missed the fact they were all submitted and applied for by people who don't own the fucking property which is against the city rules!

"Because my pack doesn't deserve to handle the fallout of all of this. Not for the minor slaps on the wrist you'd get for first-time charges and the nightmare it would be for a whole city council and mayor to be put into jail." I nodded when they glanced at each other. "Because I do care about all of Sioux Falls, and that would be chaos."

More like I was luring them into a false sense of security while investigating all of their corrupt asses now that they'd made such a bold move. This was something stupid and little… But bold .

Meaning they'd done a lot worse to become this confident and blatant.

My favorite type of criminal.

"Ignoring you changed the rules last meeting so you thought I couldn't attend and object and none of my wolves would come here on camera to dox themselves and put a face with what they own, dismiss it and I'll let it slide. We'll slap the wrists of the bigots who filed the applications to change them."

I slowly smiled at one councilman like the cat that ate the canary… Because it was mostly him. Him and one corrupt deputy he had in his pocket.

Still, the mayor quickly agreed and made the motion to deny the applications with an apology for the mistake, accepting responsibility for the mismanagement of paperwork. The others hurried to approve the measure, quick to save their own asses.

The mayor cleared his throat. "Glad we were able to clear this up and finish your business here with us today. Now if you'll excuse us—"

"No, our business here is far from done," I chuckled darkly. "I'm too busy to come all this way for one city council meeting to block one of the stupidest plans I've ever come across in my career." I did my best to swallow a laugh when steam practically came out of all of their ears again. "Why are you getting so offended? I didn't say it was your plan."

"Just wear a sign saying you're guilty as you're on live TV," Carter muttered, shaking his head. "Seriously. And they thought they could outsmart you?"

Glad someone had faith in my intelligence.

"And before you tell me this isn't the forum for what I'm about to speak on next, I'm not an idiot, and I've reviewed the recordings of previous meetings and agendas. This is exactly the place. My only rudeness is that I didn't get on the agenda first. Oddly enough, I wasn't allowed and was blocked when I shouldn't have been as Alpha of the pack here.

"It's actually explicitly illegal to pull that crap." I smirked at the mayor. "I expect someone's ass held to the fire for that. I've spent over a year filing requests and following the rules before we got to this point." He gave a swift nod and I glanced around, deciding to gloat a bit. "I might not be able to take you all down for this, but I'll make it clear you can't protect your pawns.

"No one in their right mind will be willing to help you hurt supes after I'm done. They will see that you will hang them out to dry and let them take the fall just like corrupt people committing crimes always do. So I apologize for not having all of this on the agenda, but it's past time there's a come-to-Jesus moment with the good people of Sioux Falls."

While I'd been talking, my people had set up behind me. The presentation was loaded and I gave the other camera guy a look.

"Don't pull anything if you like your job and don't want to upset me," I warned him as I tapped my badge. I waited until he nodded, one of our guys even checking the live TV coverage and everything was in the correct spot. "Now, someone is going to speak for me because I'm not involved in all of the numbers and figures. But it's the same as me speaking."

I stepped aside and let the fairy we'd borrowed from Laila's court to handle this part take over. He was well-spoken and charismatic. He was going to talk economics and boring numbers but would make them sound fascinating. He was one of their spokespeople and handled PR a lot, so some might even recognize him.

He talked for the next five minutes about the economics of the areas I'd been involved in, starting with Memphis. People tried to bury that too much, but Memphis's economy was doing better after I'd fought all the corruption there. Not a ton, but it was very noticeable in the area of the pack.

One pack couldn't help a city as big as Memphis.

He showed the same in Chicago. Milwaukee. Grand Rapids. Even NYC.

I thanked him when he was done and looked right at the camera. "I don't have an economics degree and even I find a lot of that tedious when I'm directly involved. The bottom line is if you stop fighting us, we're an asset. When we're accepted we thrive, and as all of you know, when one part thrives, it spreads.

"Just like when one part gets rotted, that spreads. I'm asking that you stop treating us like the rotted part you need to get rid of. We're not, and we've done nothing for you to have that opinion or treat us that way." I gestured towards the council. "We've done nothing to be treated this way. Most of my wolves were born here. They've lived here all of their lives and some very long lives.

"They don't have any warrants, have served their country, and tried to help their community. Would help their community if they're allowed . Just give us a damn chance. Grand Rapids is better for it. So is Milwaukee. We shop your businesses and buy your food. And most importantly, there has not been one real instance of a member of this pack hurting a human here.

"It's all crap. Even I heard the rumors that the pack was out of hand and practically mob-like with the residents. It was all crap." I shot a dirty look at one of the reasons for that, but he practically flipped me off with his eyes. "I became Alpha because the pack was mistreated here and they were desperate.

"They were so buried in bigotry and corruption by the people who were supposed to protect them that when I was abducted they came to take my pack and leave here. That was how desperate they were." It was good the humans couldn't tell a lie like we could because I was full of shit and my nose might grow soon. "But taking that risk came with a cost and they lost.

"So the pack became mine. Remember that the next time you're looking for someone to blame that I'm here and forcing people to follow the laws and treat supes fairly. The bigots who live here did this. The ones who harass the supes in Sioux Falls went too far and brought me here, the loudmouth blonde from Chicago apparently you all hate."

I shrugged as if to say I didn't give a shit.

"I'm here, and it's my job to protect supes. I do my job well, so if you don't like it, you can leave." I snorted. "I don't know where you'll go that will allow you to behave as some of you have in the US. You'd probably have to leave the country to be honest. And if you have to go to those lengths just to keep hating people you don't even know personally—you think you're on the good side?

"That's really what you want to teach your kids? You think you have a moral stand to take with whatever god you believe in? It didn't work for the churches in Memphis. It won't work here. And just so we're clear on that, the FBI is setting up a remote office here to handle all the issues we keep finding. So I suggest you understand this is real before you end up in prison.

"I signed up for the job of protecting my people when I took over the pack in Chicago. I knew this fight could mean my death, but I've always been willing to pay that price. I still am. Know that if you think to brush this off or I'm just being a loudmouth again. Instead, listen to what is coming out of my mouth, and let's all work towards a prosperous Sioux Falls.

"That's what we're offering and what we can bring to the table." I gestured to the folders with all the titles. "These are houses supes will now live at. That's a hundred more families that will live among you. We pay our taxes. We fix up our houses. We take care of them and the neighborhood. Start giving us a chance—a real chance and you'll like what you find."

"Are you done?" one of the councilmen demanded.

"One last thing," I said as if he hadn't spoken. "Some of you hate us because you are scared of us. I would be too if I watched some of the news and that was all I knew. None of them are supes. They don't know about us. They don't have access to the FBI records like I do as they throw out statistics and more.

"I heard some crap that last year there was a 33% rise in supes infecting humans from the year before. I have no idea where they got that from. I couldn't even get some sort of number like that as an Alpha who talks to my council and as a division chief of the law enforcement agency policing supes. We have no numbers like that at all.

"That's like throwing out how many people hurt their knee and head last year from falling down the stairs. It's crazy specific and not all reported. It doesn't have to be. It's not like a gunshot wound. So that number is crap. It's really crap when it comes to my wolves ." I gave them a moment with that. "Since I have taken over, we've had one. One accidental infection. One .

"I took over Chicago a few years ago. Other packs since. That's thousands and thousands of wolves, more prey shifters we protect. I know there were none in Chicago from any shifter in those years because I talk with those leaders weekly. We work together, and we tell each other any problems. There was one accidental scratching in another group in those years .

"And luckily, they weren't infected. Before someone blames the guy, he was being mugged and got scared. Yeah, don't mug shifters and you won't risk being scratched. How about just don't mug anyone?" I rolled my eyes as if to say that would never happen.

I could hope.

"Our one infection of all of my people—she's a kid. Sixteen." I swallowed loudly. "She went out on her own after just getting her license and stopped at a gas station. She wanted to be normal and stop for a damn Slurpee on the way to her friend's house to show that she passed her license test. And three men in their forties thought it acceptable to harass her because she's a wolf.

"They cornered her and started groping her while others in the gas station watched and a few egged them on. No one helped. No one said, ‘Don't touch the underage girl even if she's a werewolf.' Right there in a busy gas station right after most got off work and stopped in on their way home. They just watched as a man in his forties grabbed the breast of a sixteen-year-old girl.

"She told them to stop. Begged them to leave her alone, but they laughed and told her to shut up or they'd rape her. Her wolf came out to protect her and that people reacted to, threatening to shoot her and put her down like a dog. Not the public sexual assault of a minor. She used her strength to get free and cut two of them up, one becoming a wolf in the process.

"They deserved much, much worse, and if any of you say otherwise, look at the women in your life and say that to them directly. Go tell your daughters, sisters, mothers, and loved ones that what happened to that girl is okay. Justify it because she's not human and tell me you're on the side of right or have a soul."

"Is she okay?" a woman asked from behind me.

I flinched, having forgotten we had a whole audience and others waiting to speak. I turned and looked at her. "No, no, she's not. She's a mess. It was the first time her parents let her drive alone because they were too scared she could be hurt. The monsters knew she was a wolf from some event at school and targeted her because of that.

"Now she's too scared to get back behind the wheel, go to that school, or even leave her house." I nodded when tears filled that woman's eyes. "We're getting her help. She's also torn up that she infected someone. Even if it was in self-defense, she never wanted to take that choice away from someone.

"She never wanted someone to struggle the way her grandpa did. So she's a mess, but we're—she's getting help. We have a trauma counselor working with her, and arresting the monsters helped. Her parents are a mess for letting her go out alone to do something completely normal because being a wolf is what's dangerous, not us."

"I hope she recovers, and I'll pray for those parents. I can't even think of what I would do if that happened to one of my babies," she rasped, shaking her head. "And as a mother, I thank you for what you did for that mother the other night." She chuckled when I simply blinked at her. "It's been all over the news, Chief Thomas."

"She's normally buried under too much work or crap like this council to have time to get much praise," Carter told her. He smiled when I glanced at him. "That mother you saved has been all over the news praising you for saving her baby and helping her. She said you were like a shoeless angel swooping in to rescue them."

"Running in heels is still uncomfortable as a werewolf," I muttered as if it explained it all. "No, I haven't seen that, but I'm glad they're doing okay." I thanked the woman for her kind words before focusing back on the council and the mayor. "That is the type of hate you spread with your authority to try and screw over supes.

"You have no reason to hate us. None of us have hurt you. I can understand being afraid because something happened or you witnessed something, but you are spreading hate because you're hateful. Well, I can't make you be good people and look into your hearts and ask why you're like that. But I can make you follow the law. And I will. That's a promise."

"One smart people listen to," Carter chuckled. "But a few here won't. They're not worried or hesitant. They're full of rage and revenge."

"We don't need to hear from one of her many, many lovers on top of everything else we're enduring here," one of the councilmen that hadn't spoken yet bit out.

"The hypocrisy never stops," I chuckled darkly, meeting his pissed-off gaze. "I'm not being judged by a man with a child from a woman that he paid to be quiet and his wife doesn't know about. I've never cheated. Not once. So you may judge my love life, but those in my life don't because I respect them more than the woman you made vows to before your god."

He snapped. I saw him fucking snap before he slammed his hand down and stood. "You have no proof and are a whore who—"

"I'm FBI. I don't guess. I don't open my damn mouth without proof." I smirked at him. "Your wife has the proof now too. Baby mama wasn't the only affair either. Yeah, you should lecture no one on their personal life ever."

He exploded, the amount of bile that came out of his mouth ridiculous, and even the other council members looked disgusted. He had to be removed from the room while screaming that he would kill me and hang my fur on the wall like the animal I was.

"Yeah, yeah, I saw that in Memphis," I grumbled. "Hopefully, that same level isn't going on here because the people doing that didn't survive going up against me." I looked at the mayor. "Now my business is done with this meeting."

He ground his jaw. "But certainly not with this council."

I snickered. "It's so much more fun to fight when the other side isn't all idiots. No, not done with you guys or Sioux Falls. Not when my people are here and having problems."