Chapter 46

"If you tear up this meeting room, I'm putting you all in the pound," Dr. Callaway said, her arms crossed over her chest, most of her disapproval aimed at Ryker. He held up his hands and then put them on the table, trying to give off nondestructive vibes.

"Thanks again for letting us use the space, Marnie," Malcolm said. "We'll take care of it."

"It's not a problem. It's in all of our best interests if there's not some kind of werewolf war going on around here. Wolves running around create problems." She shot Ryker another glance. Apparently she still remembered that one time he and Charlie and Hannah had ripped up her flower beds when they had raced through her yard back when they were thirteen and just getting used to shifting.

"None of us want a battle," Malcolm said firmly, "Or at least our pack doesn't."

"If you could get Hayes Duncan to see it that way too, I would appreciate it." She sighed and reached up a hand to press against the bridge of her nose.

"That's what the meeting is for."

"And if this doesn't work, we'll figure out something," Ryker said. There was more threat in his voice than he meant to show, and Dr. Callaway made an exasperated sound.

"Peacefully!" she said.

"Yeah."

"Ryker..."

Ryker looked at her, and she looked at him, but she must've known she wasn't going to win a staring contest with an alpha. She sighed and looked at Malcolm instead.

"We'll be fine," Malcolm promised. "Just see that-"

"Hayes knows the rules too," she said, lips thin with frustration. Her usually perfectly kept blond bob looked a little windblown, or as if she'd run her hand through it multiple times today. Ryker was pretty sure she wasn't so thrilled at the idea of two packs who attended her college possibly going to war. Dr. Callaway glanced down as her phone buzzed. "They actually just arrived. One moment and I'll be back with them."

As her heels clicked away, Ryker glanced at his dad, tension returning to his muscles rapidly. The idiot was here.

"Son," Malcolm warned.

"Not you too," Ryker growled. "I'm under control." And he was. Maybe he wouldn't have been before Jo, but he had to think about her now too. A war between werewolf packs would put Jo in a dangerous place as his mate. He didn't want that, no matter how much Duncan was pissing him off right now.

"So the little pup came to the Alpha meeting too?"

Ryker growled in warning as his eyes met Duncan's calculating brown ones. What a moronic insult. He was bigger than Duncan. He didn't move though, all too aware of his Dad's warning glare.

"And the big bad Alpha Duncan brought his bodyguard," Ryker said, forcing an amused smile on his face as he eyed Jake. The guy that had tried to touch Lexi. Apparently Duncan was trying to rile him up.

And that was the reminder Ryker needed to take a deep breath. If that was what Duncan was trying to do, he couldn't give him that satisfaction.

"Never know when a Monroe could go rogue," Duncan said coolly, taking a seat across from them at the table.

Before Ryker could retort, Malcolm leaned forward. "By all reports, it's your pack that's going rogue, Duncan," Malcolm said, frowning at the young Alpha. "At least, I have to assume that's what's happening since otherwise some of your pack members' actions on my territory could be considered acts of war."

Duncan drummed his fingers on the table. "Or they're just claiming to be part of my pack," Duncan said dismissively. "You know we always have a few rogues wandering around these mountains."

"Rogues who seem to have a lot of inside pack knowledge," Ryker said darkly, leaning back so he could grip the armrests of his chair. And hopefully not break them.

"Whether they're members of your pack or not, my other concern is what you said to my daughter-in-law recently," Malcolm said, keeping his tone even. "There was no mistaking your identity. Aaliyah knows who you are."

"It wasn't a threat," Duncan said, shrugging his shoulders. Then he smiled a little. "Actually, it was more an invitation than anything. She's always welcome to join my pack. I know your son is a doctor, we could always use one of those too."

Now Malcolm was growling. Understandable. Directly recruiting an alpha's son--while it wasn't against the treaty, it was certainly an insult to the Alpha.

"I'm not sure how you could convince anyone to join that little group you call a pack," Ryker said with a sharp, forced grin. He tried to tap into how Brett might handle this situation: less punching, more talking. Maybe some antagonizing. "Much less my brother and his mate."

Duncan's gaze shot toward him. "We're not so small. Not anymore."

"That's not what I've heard," Malcolm said smoothly, having regained control over his emotions. "Lost a few people after your dad died, didn't you?" He crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes knowing. "Didn't want to follow you, I'm guessing."

"Wolves can smell weakness," Ryker added.

Duncan shifted, his face blank for a moment. Ryker could tell he was struggling to not react. Beside him, Jake was glaring like he would like to jump across the table and rip their throats out. Touchy subject.

"I'm surprised anyone stayed with you after your mate died then," Duncan said coolly, "What with their broken leader and all."

The wooden arms of the chair cracked under Ryker's grip. "Don't bring my mom into this."

"Then don't talk about my father," Duncan replied with more bite than normal.

"Boys," Malcolm said, his voice like thunder rumbling. "Let's focus on the problem at hand." He pointed at Duncan. "You're causing problems in our territory, and we want that to stop. We can do it by threat, or you can agree to back off."

"Or I can deny that I'm doing anything," Duncan said, holding up his hands. "It's common knowledge that most of the territory rules are outdated. No one really expects anyone else to stay off their land."

"Normally, I'd agree," Malcolm said, "You crossed the line and started harassing my pack members and their families."

And he'd scared Jo. He had threatened her.

"I still question what exactly you call harassing," Duncan said. "I haven't hurt anyone. Just invited to Aaliyah to my pack and showed interest in Jo, who isn't even a werewolf." He leaned forward, a light in his eyes. "Although I could see why you'd be so concerned about my interest if she was your, I don't know, mate?"

It was all Ryker could do not to growl, although he was pretty sure his eyes changed with anger. He could feel his dad's grip on his arm, warning him to stay put. Maybe this was the whole purpose behind everything Duncan had done. He was still trying to figure out who Jo was to Ryker. What concerned Ryker most was what would happen when Duncan did confirm his suspicions, because it was inevitable that he'd eventually find out.

"Be that as it may," Malcolm cut in. "Obviously relations between our packs are tense right now. So how about we agree to stay off each others' territory until tensions cool?" He frowned at Duncan. "And no recruitment," he added sternly.

Duncan straightened, a growl edging his voice now. "And how are you going to determine recruitment, exactly? What if a werewolf wants to join me of their own free will? You seriously won't let them leave?"

"If what I hear is right, I certainly know you need to strengthen your numbers, Duncan," Malcolm said. "Your dad retained a lot of wolves through brute strength, and a lot of them took the opportunity to leave when he died. Or they left because they didn't like how you ran things differently." He shook his head. "But as you pointed out, my pack is just stabilizing again. So not from my pack."

Right. Ryker nodded, forcing himself to release the grip he had on the chair, and internally wincing at the cracks that appeared once he removed his hands. He was going to owe the college some new chairs.

Duncan folded his arms across his chest, the blank expression and cool tone back. "You're really going to force someone to stay with you if they want to leave?"

"I don't have many who want to leave," Malcolm rumbled. "But if you really have someone wanting to join, then you speak to me or you speak to them in neutral territory. I don't want to hear of you having conversations with my wolves in my woods."

Technically this didn't protect Jo yet, but if Ryker stayed near her, he could prevent anything major from happening. But he also wanted to make sure they were clear with Duncan.

"You or anyone from your pack," he added.

Duncan shook his head, snorting. "A number of my pack attend this college. Some of them date members of your pack. I'll restrict myself, because I don't give a damn to be honest, but I'm not putting that kind of restriction on the rest of the pack." His focused his gaze on Malcolm. "You and I both know that would cause me to lose more of my pack."

To Ryker's disbelief, Malcolm seemed to actually be considering Duncan's request as he rubbed his chin in thought. "We could see how it goes," Malcolm said after a moment. "If you staying out of my territory is enough, then we'll leave it alone. If we continue to have problems though, the next time you and I speak, I won't be as friendly or willing to compromise." The last word was accompanied by a warning growl, a promised threat from one Alpha to another.

"Are we agreed, then?" Duncan asked.

"We'll send someone with our final word."

And while this might mean a temporary peace between the two packs, based on the burning look in Duncan's eyes, Ryker had a feeling it wouldn't last long.