Being back in Calina Falls gives me a buzz. Somehow, the air smells fresher, the atmosphere is livelier, and the sun is just a hint brighter. Mrs. Candler's wave from behind the window as we stroll by her store tears at a couple of my heartstrings; I missed the town and all my friends more than I could've ever imagined.

Don't cry, Raelyn. It won't change anything.

The office of Eric's father is just three doors down from the bookstore, but I manage to pull myself together before I step into the building. While we wait for the elevator, the atmosphere is pressing. The eyes of my companions drill into the side of my skull as if there is nothing else to look at. The air in the elevator is equally tense. Lance's nose flares with every huff while Dante's stare is still glued to my temple. Only the Alpha is focused on the rising numbers on the display that signal our ascent. On the fourth floor, the elevator stops with a jerk, a clear ping chiming over the grinding of the sliding doors.

Leading our little group down the corridor, I already have my finger on the bell button under the sign Peter Evans, Esquire when the door swings back. A small yelp escapes as I come face to face with Eric.

"Oh my god, Raelyn."

Before I can mutter a word, he pulls me into a tight hug. His aftershave reminds me of old times and a few butterflies twirl in my stomach. Heat crawls up my neck as he brushes a kiss on my cheek before inspecting me from top to bottom with his hands cupped around my shoulders.

"How have you been? Megan said you moved away in January. Why didn't you say something when I was home over Christmas?"

I clear my throat to regain control over my failing voice. "I—I got married."

Eric's jaw drops. "You're kidding, right?"

"No." I clear my throat again. My gaze flicks to Dante, whose eyes are almost black. He's struggling to control his wolf. "This is my husband, Dante McNamara."

"Husband, wow. I didn't expect that." Eric's smile is crooked and he extends his hand. "What's up, bruh?"

Dante stares at Eric's hand as if it were poisonous without saying a word.

"And this is my father-in-law, Al—I mean, Nigel McNamara." My face burns hot as I try to get over the awkward hump. "And Lance Ward, a friend of the family."

This time, Eric's acknowledgement is reduced to a small wave.

"And this is Eric, my friend from high school."

The sudden palpable testosterone turns into explosive tension as everyone forces fake smiles on their lips.

"Well, I have to run. Catch you later?"

"I'd like that."

Dante slides his arm around my waist. "We already have plans for the rest of the day, so I'm afraid that won't be possible." Claws dig deep into my skin, warning me to stay quiet.

"Then maybe some other time." Eric's smile has chilled by a few nuances. "Take care, Raelyn. Oh, and I love your hair."

I choke out a "thanks" before Dante forces me into the office. His claws are still hooked into my hip; when he pulls me against his chest, I hiss in pain. Breath heated, his lips are right on my ear.

"You'd better pray we don't run into him again, or I'm going to tear his motherfucking throat out."

Before I get a chance to reply, Mr. Evans walks into the reception area. He meets my gaze and his smile fades. "Is everything okay in here?"

"Yes, fine." I shoot Dante a nasty look and he finally releases me. My hip throbs; I can only hope that the blood doesn't seep through the fabric of my skirt or Mr. Evans will probably call the police.

Again, I make introductions before we follow him into the conference room. He offers us coffee which the Alpha declines on behalf of the group. Before Lance can move the plate with the cookies out of the way, I manage to grab an Oreo and nibble contently. My focus shifts to the conversation. Dante is still in an awful mood, his glare stuck on the branches of a huge cedar tree outside the window.

Mr. Evans scans the paperwork Jos got from the sheriff. "What you have here is called an Eminent Domain suit. What that means is that the petitioner claims that your land will serve for the greater good of the town if you were evicted. If you lose in court, you will still receive just compensation in the form of the assessed market value and relocation costs if you have occupied dwellings on the land."

"But what are our chances of winning?" the Alpha asks.

"Usually, not good. If the petitioners can prove that the town significantly benefits from the seizure, the courts will usually rule in their favor. There are exceptions, of course. Are there historic landmarks on the site?"

"No. My family uses the land mostly for hunting."

"The petition states that you have plenty of other land that could be used for that purpose."

"That might be true, but we are a self-sufficient community and dependent on every acre."

"Quite frankly, Mr. McNamara, that might be a tough argument to sell under the circumstances."

"What about wildlife?" I lower my gaze when Dante snaps his head around.

"No one asked for your opinion, Raelyn."

"But Raelyn made an excellent point. If you could prove that the land is a breeding ground for certain wildlife species, you might be able to make this go away."

The Alpha rubs his chin in thought. "What type of wildlife would qualify?"

"I can get you a list—but it has to be one that's endangered."

"Like wolves?"

This time, my interjection is met by murderous glares from both the Alpha and Lance.

Mr. Evans nods. "If those are gray wolves, they would certainly qualify. Do you know if any roam this particular land?"

"We might've encountered a few." The Alpha is still glaring at me, though a shade friendlier.

"But you're not hunting those, right? Because that would be illegal."

The Alpha tears his gaze away from my face and focuses back on Mr. Evans. "No, we never hunt wolves. They are a precious species."

"Well, protecting endangered wildlife might be your only feasible defense. You will need to have this verified by an independent expert the courts will appoint, but that will be later down the line. The first step is to file a timely response to the petition and then you'll get a court date. If you want to hire me to represent you, I need a three-thousand-dollar retainer upfront."

"Money is not an issue if we get to keep the land."

"There are never any guarantees, but if a gray wolf pack is truly living on the property, you have very good chances of winning."