pte

ce. She spotted Russell immediately. When she became his mate something clicked between them and Ivy could feel many of his stronger emotions unless he blocked them. Usually, he was able to keep them in check. Now she could feel his nerves ju

ort enough to show several inches of bare ankle, was sitting across from Russell. Even though Ivy found out his first name was actua

ierarchy was somewhat unofficial, he was what the wolves considered a sensitive. He was able to sniff out the barest traces of magic, often tracking them down to their creators. It helped ke

he is wearing actually

others, she assumed the reticence was due to unfamiliarity. She knew there was some sort of pack issue going on and suspected his absence had more to do with that than anything else and though

s, ' Ivy thought, her g

The two top candidates for the position were Simon and Russell. Ivy wasn't too clear on the rules, but that seemed to cause some sort of problem. Ivy heard the click o

barely made the floorboards sigh as he moved. She knew he wasn't trying to be stealthy as he flashed her a smile walking to

feel like a tromping

hat was you,

he Isliton pack when the engineered influenza outbreak decimated their pack in the nineteen forties. It was the note

r-secret pack negotiations

do both?"

hness fading with each visit. Ivy had the strong suspicion he still considered

ust in time. My company just left so Wins

g is perfect,

eir direction as they approached. "So is this the super-secret pack negot

everal of the men

ly written on his face. He looked around at the others. "I didn't tell an

ted his head towards Ivy. "They ar

. "I didn't tell her, " Russell said.

er clans, the current pack leader, the two possible successors to the current pack leader and a wolf whose sensitivity to magi

we all happened to be here, " Russell told he

this is John's second visit to the property. The first was after the attempted attack outside t

hough he smiled, Ivy could still feel a coil of te

discussing the future of the pack?" Simon asked. His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he studie

ess." Ivy said. She watched his nostrils flare as she scented the

why Jerome was inv

your discussions, " Ivy replied. She shrugged. "But not knowing what you are meeting about, I couldn't say much more than that." Sh

oking to Russell. Amusement now threaded through the concern. She felt it like a line of gold threaded through a particular

ed to the breakable meeting room. She was all for staying out of pack business unless it

will be questions l

eeled the cart back down the corridor. In the lobby, the shifters claimed the remaining baked goods, carefully negotiating around the delicate china.

nd Carlson, " Russell asked in a low

son wondering around on his own." Ivy shrugged. "Or the fact that he wa

ed his feelings, the cloud of anxious nerves disappearing. "Sorry about that, " he mumbled. Back on the couch Simon cleared his throat

and wheeled it towards the long and winding corridor that would eventually take her to the kitchen. At the door,

noyed voice. Ivy looked at him. He had his back to the door as he worked at the stove an

mpany is now gone, " Ivy told him. Winston

ut that, " Winston started.

e told him he could drop the Ms. and just call her Ivy, he never did

rt and the empty platters. "I didn't think

t least I'm not. I stopped off i

explains it." He picked up the empty p

em until dinner, " Ivy said as she

uldn't count on it, but

ted for the library. The room was large and Alex installed floor to ceiling bookshelves along all of the walls. As the ceiling height soared to fifteen or so feet, he also installed a library ladder that ran on a

n they packed up the family library after her death. Ivy recognized her own handwriting on the boxes that came from her apartment. Alex and Max, two of her brothers and both earth mages, had similar handwriting, but she could see tha

e." She turned as she heard nails clicking on the floorboards. Instead of a wolf, Bugsy poked his h

hing behind the ears as he liked. Bugsy barked, his tail moving at a fast blur. "Me too, " she told him. Ivy sig

library is that remarkable?" Bugsy sat down and looked at her. "Yeah, I don't see it either. Maybe if

on the carpet. His eyes were the only thing that moved as they followed he