He was saved from having to comment by the loud knock on the passenger side window next to Cage. They both jumped, the tension in the SUV sky-high because panthers did not like being snuck up on.
Kade thought they were losing their touch until he saw who it was.
Cage immediately let out a bark of laughter and pushed the button on his window. “Who let you out of Alliance headquarters?”
“Morning, kids.” Anthony Rossi leaned down and rested his arms on the window, looking into the vehicle. He was dressed up in one of the fancy designer suits he wore for business meetings, but it didn’t hide that he was built like a seven-foot-tall house. His short hair, a strange blend of dark browns and hints of red, was pushed away from his face and neatly styled, making him look extra intimidating and professional. “Jordon told me you two were out here.”
“We’re feeling so special right now.” Kade snorted and took another bite of his hamburger patty. “Got tired of making the wolves restless and decided to stalk some poor, unsuspecting panthers instead. I get it.”
“Pretty much.” Anthony glanced at Cage’s pile of buns and cheese. His light eyes flashed with disgust. “I see you’re both still quirky.”
“Hey, man, that’s his breakfast,” Kade assured him. “Did they freak when you walked into Desmon’s office?”
“I don’t think they were expecting a tiger,” Anthony offered very diplomatically. “But they should have. The Alpha Council is leveling some pretty hard charges against some of my former agents. I didn’t mention it to the investigation team that I was coming. I like the element of surprise.”
“I told you, fucking wolf shenanigans,” Cage growled with a look to Kade before he turned back to the window. “This is all bullshit, Anthony. Those Goodwin motherfuckers attacked Nightwind’s females and cubs on Nightwind land. Why are they after us?”
“Well, the issue landed in my inbox because you four were listed in the complaint, and I have you monitored, considering what you’ve been up to since you left the agency. I got clearance from the Cat High Council to come. We don’t just throw our own to the wolves—even if you are quirky. If these Goodwin wolves are going to accuse cats in their complaints, then they are going to be dealing with big cat representation.”
“Very big cat representation,” Kade added as he took another bite. “How did the Alliance wolves take the news that you were going to be stepping all over their investigation?”
“Not well.” Anthony was quiet for a moment as he watched Kade and Cage eat their breakfast. “I don’t know why the Alpha Council is so interested in what’s happening with a group of rural pack wolves. Who gives a shit if they have territory wars? That’s all pack wolves do—all the time. It’s their thing. The only part that’s weird is you four and the fact that the Alpha Council cares so much about what Nightwind is doing. I don’t know who your buddy Desmon Nightwind pissed off at headquarters, but they are after this pack. Great choice, by the way. There are hundreds of rural packs out there doing this stuff every day, and no one in the Alliance cares. You picked the one pack under the microscope.” He gave them a sidelong look. “How long have you been here?”
Cage shrugged. “A few days.”
“Sounds about right.” Anthony sighed. “Maybe just find a new pack and save me the headache.”
Kade leaned forward and gave him a look. “‘Cause there are tons of packs who want four panther-wolf mutts, nine abused werewolf females who need protection, four cubs, and one very nervous pantheress.”
“How’s Patina?” Anthony asked, sounding genuinely interested.
“She’s out of trees and in skin more than she used to be.” Kade shrugged. “I’d say that’s an improvement.”
“Does she like it here?”
“Yeah,” Cage answered after a moment. “Look at the size of the trees out here. She’s in heaven. I know this is wolf country, but it’s a fucking dream for cats.”
“Yeah, it is nice,” Anthony agreed. “I’m jealous, but what’s the trade-off?”
“You know, the Nightwinds are pretty cool,” Cage argued with Anthony. “They treat women right and don’t give a shit about Jordon, Kade, and me being panthers in shifted form. They’re the most on-point wolf pack I’ve ever met.”
“And they’re buying us houses,” Kade added, happy they changed the subject. “Even better, they’re going to help us protect the cubs and females. Maybe they’ll find nice mates. The Nightwinds are land-rich and have a surplus of male wolves. We’re tired, Anthony. Being on our own is hell. We never get to let our guard down. We haven’t relaxed since what happened with the Gunnings pack, and we keep finding all these abused females. There’s only four of us to protect them.”
Anthony sighed and ran a hand through his uniquely streaked hair. “Look, what happened with Gunnings was hell. I still feel guilty sending you out on that assignment. If you all had been home—”
“You couldn’t know,” Cage reminded him. “Cord and Jordon don’t blame you. We don’t either.”
“Unfortunately, I have my own moral compass that has nothing to do with your opinions. And if you four have decided to stay with this pack, then I guess the Nightwinds have an unexpected ally. I don’t like dealing with pack wolves, but I owe you that much.” Anthony seemed a little unsure but then observed, “They do have three full-grown alpha males living in this pack, running things together. They’re all in there. I’ve never in my life seen that. Jordon says they get along.”
“They do.” Kade was surprised by that too. “I told you, they’re kinda weird for wolves. I like it.”
“Quirky,” Anthony supplied with a smile.
“Very.” Cage laughed. “Our human friend Shawna is mated to Jazz, the second in command. She’s the reason we got the invite.”
Anthony arched a surprised eyebrow. “Is she still human?”
“Nah, man. He changed her right after the territory fight the other night. They’re supposed to be on their honeymoon, not dealing with this bullshit,” Kade explained, then quickly ate his last hamburger patty. “Okay, let’s do this meeting.”
“Yeah, now I’m looking forward to it.” Cage gathered up the garbage, stuffing it into the fast-food bag. “How fast were they on their phones to headquarters when you walked in?”
“Two seconds, easy,” Anthony confirmed his suspicions. “Those Alliance investigators looked ill when I walked in. They were not planning on AIA putting eyes and ears on their issues.”
“Yeah, that does smell bad,” Kade agreed.
Kade and his brothers were spies for the Alliance Intelligence Agency before tragedy turned them into drifters, stuck living on the road for the past five years, the guilt of what happened to the women in their family nearly eating them alive. Their parents were both dead, and they had very little family. To survive, they turned into mercenaries for hire if it was the right cause, which usually ended with them picking up one or two lost, victimized females with every job—until now.