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 I won t say anything, Jared agreed.
Nate snorted.  I don t talk to anyone, but you have my word. It won t come from me.
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 The council didn t send us here to find out about the disturbances around town,
Gregory said.  Well, not exactly. They sent us to check up on Kelan, to find out if he s doing
his job properly and to see if his position as alpha is safe.
There was a long, pregnant pause before anyone spoke. Jared was surprised by
Gregory s statement. Kelan was a good alpha. Nearly all the wolves in town thought highly
of him.
 That s fucking bullshit! Nate roared, finally breaking the silence.
 It s okay, Kelan said.  I ve been expecting this.
Gregory pulled his eyebrows together and lifted his right hand to scratch the top of his
head.  How did you know?
 I have a friend on the council, Kelan replied.
 I don t suppose you d tell me who?
 No, sorry& can t risk anyone finding out he s been speaking to me.
Gregory s lips thinned.  I m trusting you here, Kelan. The least you could do is offer me
the same courtesy.
 Don t take it personally, Gregory, but until I know you better and know I can trust
you, it s not something I m willing to disclose.
 Fair enough. If you have a friend on the council then you know about the& trouble
that s been going on there.
 Yeah, I ve heard about it.
 What trouble? Jared asked.
Gregory met Kelan s gaze and gave a slight nod of his head. The action was barely
perceptible, but it was enough for Jared to turn to Kelan to await an explanation.
 The Supernatural Council has been in existence far longer than the human
government, Kelan said.  It was set up to keep an eye on the shifter population and to
ensure that we don t expose our secrets to humans. But there have always been those in the
council who think shifters should live their lives in the open.
Jared shook his head.  That would never work. Humans would be terrified if they
learned of our existence. It would be out and out war.
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NATE S DEPUTY Lavinia Lewis
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Kelan nodded.  Yes, and those in favour of us  coming out , as it were, have always
been in the minority, but it looks as though their numbers are increasing and some of those
people have risen to very influential positions within the council.
 What does that have to do with you? Nate asked.  Why would the council send in
members to check up on you?
 I think I can answer that, Gregory replied.  Kelan runs a tight ship here in Wolf
Creek. Any and all incidents involving shifters are dealt with quickly and there has never
been any danger of the humans that live here finding out about us.
 Until recently, Kelan amended.  Until, it seems, those members in the council that are
in favour of us living our lives in the open decided to send in more shifters
troublemakers essentially making it more difficult for me to keep order here.
 And the more difficult it is for you to keep order, the more chance there is of humans
here finding out about us, Nate said.
Jared turned to study Nate. He was practically vibrating with pent-up anger. The air
was thick with it and the current zinged through Jared, making him shiver. Nate was a
powerful wolf, that much was evident, and Jared couldn t help but be in awe of that power.
It excited him made him want things he couldn t have, however much he might wish
otherwise.
 Exactly, Kelan replied.
Nate s strong jaw clenched and fury flashed in his eyes, making the tiny hairs on the
back of Jared s neck stand to attention. The air around them crackled and almost as quickly
as the ferocity had appeared, it vanished.
When Ashton came out of the farmhouse and made his way down the steps of the
porch, Kelan and Gregory walked over to talk to him, leaving Jared alone again with Nate.
 So how s Tris 
 What s going on between you and Kelan? Jared interrupted before he could stop
himself. Jesus. What the hell was wrong with him? Jared knew logically it was none of his
business he d told Nate quite clearly how things stood between them but it seemed he
wasn t capable of rational thought, couldn t stop his mouth from saying the first damn thing
that popped into his mind. Nate drew his eyebrows together and tilted his head.
 What do you care?
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What did he care? He shouldn t care at all. But the challenge in Nate s eyes made him
square his shoulders and puff out his chest. Nate still hadn t given him a damn answer. He
shrugged.
 Kelan is mated, didn t think he d be the type to fool around, is all.
 So you re just looking out for your alpha s best interests?
Jared frowned.  Will you answer the damn question?
Nate s rich, brown eyes softened and he let out a gentle sigh. The emotion in those eyes
had Jared rooted to the spot. He couldn t have looked away if his life depended on it. Nate s
gaze held him in place and the electricity that arced between them was intense. A long
moment passed as Jared stared into Nate s eyes& lost. He d never felt so confused or so
completely helpless, and he was sure his heart had stopped beating while he waited for an
answer that had the capacity to shatter his whole world.
 There s nothing going on, Jared, Nate said. His voice was rough, thick and so full of
emotion it caused a lump to form in the back of Jared s throat.  How could you think that?
Jared tore his gaze away had to. He cleared his throat and shifted his weight onto his
other leg.  I 
 Nate? We re all done here! Kelan shouted across the yard.
Nate s shoulders slumped and he nodded his head.  Be right there!
When he turned again to meet Jared s gaze, he lifted one eyebrow, his face full of
something that looked like hope.  Jared?
 Come on, Jared said, grateful for the interruption. Another minute alone with Nate
and Jared was afraid of what he might have confessed& what he might have asked for or [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]