“Enforcer Dominic can be quite persuasive.”
“Why? As long as they check in with the warden, there’s never been issue with them living outside the pack.”
“Look what happened to the kidnapped lone lycans.”
“An exception.” He rubbed his forehead. “Unfortunately, Randi and the other abducted lycans died in the castle bombing carried out by The Keep. It’s the unchanged ones we must guard better.”
“Agreed, but no more lone wolves. Brainwashed as wolves and…” Conan bristled. “Wolfstrom trained them and the unchanged ones to hunt, kill and eat humans. Now we have to deal with returning the unchanged ones back to being law abiding werewolves.”
“Are they back with their packs?”
“Yes. We sent a team of therapists to work with them.”
“If the Iceland and Oregon alphas can’t rehab them, I suppose they’ll be executed or given the werewolf lobotomy.” Slade frowned. “What about the humans they slaughtered? What justice will they get?”
“I know this does not rationalize murder, but according to the therapist the men they hunted were arms dealers and terrorists Wolfstrom worked with and then betrayed.”
“And if I refuse to have a pack of loners?”
King Conan rose from his throne, his fangs bared. “Banishment or perhaps a few sessions with Enforcer Dominic.”
Slade lowered his gaze and muttered, “After we ended Wolfstrom’s evil reign, you would punish me?”
“It is what I and King Frederick, your father, would have wanted. Did you not once consider being a lone wolf?”
“Yes, I wanted more adventure and had wanderlust. Now with Team Greywolf, I have that.”
“I’ll send the current wardens and a team to help set up housing for the lone wolves when they are invited to your territory.”
Invited? Yeah right. Besides, I never agreed. “I’ll discuss this with my alpha boss, Rylee, first.”
The king pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ms. Greywolf may think she is above the alpha royals and lycan law, but if she continues her rebellious behaviors, she can be replaced.”
“Lycan intelligence has been run by the Greywolf family for a century.”
He snorted. “We have run the packs for thousands of years.”
Banishment and torture might be bearable, but how could he be responsible for Rylee being fired or perhaps dismantling the LIA? Slade gritted his teeth. “Very well, sire.”
“Good, you may return to Rylee’s territory.” He smiled. “Enjoy the ball.”
Slade bowed. “Yes, my liege.”
“And Prince Slade.”
“Yes, sire?”
“My niece, Princess Wilhelmina will attend and looks forward to meeting you.”
Cricket sat in Mia’s cottage and opened the garment box. She pulled out the most glamorous silk green gown, she’d ever seen. She held it up. “Wow. Backless. So sexy. Mia, this must have cost thousands of dollars. I can’t accept this.”
Mia smiled. “Nonsense. Dominic told me to spare no expense on our brave Team Greywolf heroine.”
“Actually, I’ll be mostly in the back helping with set up.” The fundraising ball would be held in Dominic’s territory in a huge banquet tent, similar to the type built for posh weddings. Though Mia controlled the entire operation, she’d successfully, with Dominic’s influence, delegated every job to her staff. All she needed to do was supervise at leisure. Much to Cricket’s pleasure, Mia invited her to help taste test all the drink and food for the menu.
Mia frowned. “No, you’re not. You’re announcing my concert.”
She shook her head. “I’d rather face Wolfstrom all over again than watch Slade be fawned over by lusty she-wolves, including my gorgeous but mean alpha sisters.”