After reassuring their worried relatives of their safe arrival, Kelsi and Lee set up the stone wards in a rectangular configuration around their new home. Spaced approximately fifty feet apart, each ward had to be activated with a drop of blood.

"Pizza, Subway, or Korean?" Lee asked, scanning his phone.

Kelsi pressed her thumb to the last ward and stretched, feeling her bones pop. The tiny red dot on the top of the rough-hewn stone glowed white before being absorbed. Her stomach growled, but her mind was undecided. She stuck her sore thumb into her mouth, sucking it briefly to clean the blood off. "I've never had Korean before," she admitted, wiping her hand on her jeans.

"No?"

She shook her head. Although she had some idea of their cuisine thanks to Toria's love of K-dramas, the best Korean restaurants in Hecate City were beyond their budget.

"Well, why don't we rectify that," Lee said, holding out his phone. "This place in Winnemucca has great reviews."

Kelsi took the phone and flicked through the menu. She wasn't an adventurous eater, but barbecue, veggies, and rice were things she could get behind. "Sure, why not?"

The distant hum of an approaching car captured their attention. The two werewolves froze, eyes locked on the dark blue pickup as it cruised past the property. When the truck was a speck on the horizon, Kelsi loosened the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Goddess, she swore, tugging at the hem of her shirt and glancing at Lee. Her husband's mouth was a thin line of contemplation. Is this my life now? Jumping at every car, thinking a mob is coming to murder us?

A balance had to be struck somehow—and soon. She was too young to live like this. Hopefully tomorrow's town meeting yielded positive results.

"Maybe we should take my car?" she suggested. Sure, they could arrive in Winnemucca in style, or choose a more practical, understated approach. She saw no reason to flaunt their status when they were trying to win over the townsfolk.

Status, she mused. I have status now. That was going to take a while to get used to.

"I think that's a good idea," Lee agreed. "Do you want to drive or shall I?"

"I don't mind," she said. He had driven them down here, after all.

"Let's go then," Lee replied, throwing an arm over her shoulder.

The GPS guided them through downtown Silver Rush, offering the alpha and his luna a clear view of their domain. The town exuded quaint charm, though it bore the tired and worn-down look of a forgotten Hallmark movie set. On one side of the wide, dusty main road were five connected shops: a barbershop, a family-owned pharmacy, a bakery or coffee shop, the post office, and an antique store. The other side held a small grocery store and a park. The park, with its dried brown grass and weed-choked paving stones, boasted three old benches and an inoperable fountain.

Despite its rundown appearance, a dozen cars filled the grocery store parking lot, with five more parked in front of the adjacent shops.

Not completely dead, Kelsi mused as they drove past a 7/11 and a gas station before crossing the town line into Winnemucca. To her surprise, the gas price was a little lower than in Hecate City. That's a bonus.

The difference between Silver Rush and Winnemucca could not be more different, she thought as they turned onto the main drag. Clean streets, modern buildings, a profusion of newer-model cars, and a healthy population. If they were destined to live in Nevada, why didn't the goddess give Lee this town instead of Silver Rush? It was going to take decades, if not several generations, to make Silver Rush profitable.

A dozen cars sat in the parking lot of the Korean barbecue. Kelsi parked at the far end of the lot more of out habit than any concern for her old Ford Focus.

"Ah—Alpha Lee?"

Lee whipped around, putting his body between the human and Kelsi. Over Lee's shoulder, Kelsi saw the young man turn white.

"What?" Lee barked, hands curling into fists.

The man took a step back, lifting an ID hanging from a lanyard around his neck with trembling fingers. "Uh, I-I'm Nick Morris, a reporter f-for th-the Humboldt Sun?"

Kelsi felt Lee relax slightly. The alpha straightened and folded his arms. "Have you been following us, Nick?"

Color crept up the reporter's neck and bloomed over his cheeks. He coughed, then admitted sheepishly, "Yes. B-but," Nick protested, holding up both hands as Lee shifted his stance, "I only want to ask you a few questions. Then I'll be on my way. Promise."

Lee glanced back at Kelsi, raising his eyebrows. She met his gaze, puzzled. And then it dawned on her—he was seeking her counsel.

"Do it," she told him, putting her lips close to his ear. "Remember what we talked about? We have to endear ourselves to the humans."

"I thought you said they have to respect us," he replied, lips twitching.

Kelsi scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Semantics. You know what I mean."

"I do." He gave her a quick peck on the forehead, then turned to the reporter. "All right, what do you want to know?"

More color suffused the human's face as he fumbled in his pocket for his phone. "What are your first impressions of Silver Rush?"

Shit.

"You first," Lee said, stepping aside.

I hate you, she grumbled, looking down at the reporter's extended phone. Be diplomatic, she told herself, taking a deep breath. "It's different than Hecate City."

Nick's raised eyebrow made it clear that he knew the real answer. "And you, Alpha Lee?"

"There's a song my sister's been listening to recently," he began. "There's a lyric that goes, 'When the bones are good / the rest don't matter'. I see a lot of potential in Silver Rush and I want to help get it there."

Kelsi's eyebrows rose; who knew her mate was so philosophical? Apparently Nick the reporter didn't expect such eloquence from an alpha, because he murmured, "That's good. Now, we all know werewolf-controlled cities rank among the world's most profitable. However, Silver Rush's industry has been in decline for several decades. What are your plans for revitalizing it?"

"I'll be meeting with some lawyers this week to discuss that," he answered. "I also hope to get some ideas from the people at our town meeting tomorrow evening."

Nick cocked his head slightly. "Is this an open meeting?"

Lee's eyes shifted to Kelsi; she nodded. "Yes, the press is invited to attend."

"Excellent." He put his phone away and dug out a business card. "Thank you, Alpha Lee, Luna Kelsi. Here's my card. Feel free to call or email me at any time."

Kelsi reached out and took the card. "Thank you," she said, tucking it into her purse.

Nick extended his hand but quickly withdrew it when Lee refused to budge. He nodded to Kelsi and made for his car. Irritation flowed through their bond as they watched as he backed out of the parking lot and drove off.

"There's going to be a lot of that, isn't there?" Lee asked, reaching for her hand.

She squeezed back. "I think so." It wasn't going to be easy, she realized. But if she'd learned anything in the seven years of being Riley's mom, it was how to pick your battles. In the end, she was the mother and Riley was the child; if they looked at the pack structure in terms of a family, it shouldn't be too hard.

Hopefully.

Lee sighed and rolled his shoulders. "I'm hungry. Let's eat."