Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

MARKO

One thing I hate about being a business owner is that when there is a council meeting Harris and I must attend. All business owners have to. It’s in the town’s bylaws, and since we own the Drunken Rabbit bar on the pack’s behalf, here we are. I got a call early this morning for an emergency meeting. This meant Harris and I had to get Reggie, our backup bartender and packmate, to watch the bar tonight. At least it’s not a weekend. That would have pissed me off.

We walk in and stand at the back near the door so the minute we can bolt, we will be the first ones out. Most of the council work 9-5 jobs. The bar doesn’t. We open at 4 and leave around 4 in the morning. Finally the meeting starts. It seems Doc’s niece is the reason we are here. I listen to the mumbo-jumbo not giving a shit until I hear the word HUMAN. In my opinion, we have enough of them here. We don't need any more.

Charlie, I believe her name is, continues. “I'm requesting permission because she's human.”

“Absolutely not!” I practically yell, standing to my full height.

“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,” she says after throwing daggers at me with her eyes. “Caitronia has known about shifters her whole life. Her grandmother is a shifter and we've been best friends since birth. She’s known my secret since we were children, and she's never betrayed it. She would keep the town's secret as well.”

“I agree with Marko. How do we know she can really be trusted? Miss Reid is new to town,” Harris speaks up next.

“I disagree,” Rhys says. “Miss Reid is being truthful. We would all smell it if she was lying.”

He is right. There would be a foul odor in the air.

“Besides, we've spent some time talking to Miss Reid. She doesn't come across as dishonest,” Riley put in and Linc and Pierce agreed.

“Tell us a bit about Miss McConnell,” the elder leader said.

So she does, and I check out again pulling my phone out, I look through the pictures until I find her. Mandy, the reason Harris and I dislike humans. We dated her for five years only to learn she was a spy. She was sent by the US government to gather information on us. Harris and I fell hard and when we learned it was all a lie we swore to never get close to a human again. As well as stop new ones from coming here. Sure, when Mandy left her mind was scrambled by the town mage so our secret is still safe. However, the old adage applies. Fool me once shame on you… There wont be a twice.

Snapping out of my head just in time to hear, “We have taken what each of you have said into consideration and come to a decision. We formally invite Caitronia McConnell to Grimsby.”

Charlie got her way for fuck's sake. “Thank you. You won't regret this decision.”

“Council is dismissed,” the elder replies and Harris and I are first ones out.

“She’s a doc and a vet, maybe she won’t be so bad, and after all her grandma is shifter, so...” I shut him up with a low warning growl. My wolf ain’t happy either. He wanted to bond with that traitor Mandy.

“I’m going for a run. I'll be at the bar in a bit. If I don't, my wolf will be a bear the rest of the night.”

Once at his truck, I throw my clothes in the bed and give myself over to the change and let my red wolf free. I don’t give two fucks that the parking lot is packed. Once on four paws, we head for Rocking Creek, our favorite hunting grounds. I need blood and a good hunt or this human might end up prey when she arrives, doctor or not.