Page 56 (2/2)

“You see that?” he said, nodding toward them

“Yeah They just keeping an eye on us or do they want to make trouble?”

“You want to find out?”

“I kind of do,” I said, and we started toward them

They’d put themselves upwind so we’d be sure to catch their scents: n—not part of our pack He was a big, burly Latino; she was young and an over her jeans and blouse When we approached within speaking distance, they lowered their gazes She started fidgeting, shuffling her feet—pacing, almost

“You must be Andy and Michelle,” I said

She blushed and saze to us for brief one sub—they were the alphas of the Phoenix pack, strong and doe ahead to warn the, and could we please have per as we needed for the funeral? They’d sent a welcoe back I wasn’t sure we’d even meet them while ere here, or if they’d keep their distance

“Thanks,” Ben said “For letting us pass through I hope it hasn’t caused any trouble”

“Oh, no,” Andy said “I hope you haven’t had any trouble You haven’t, have you? You have everything you need? Is there anything else we can do for you? A place to run, maybe?”

“No,” Ben said “Full moon’s not for another week, fortunately”

“Ah, good,” Michelle said “I randmother”

My polite s awfully stiff “Thanks We’d probably better get back to it We’ll let you knoe need anything Really” I started backing away slowly

“It’s niceyou,” Michelle said She was so earnest I could al “I mean—you’re not really e expected”

“What did you expect?” I said

She ducked her gaze “Well, you both look so friendly I guess we expected you to be…”

“Tougher Tougher looking,” Andy finished His smile appeared as strained as my own felt “Given some of the stories we’ve heard”

“Ah,” I said “I think soerate”

“Even so It’s still pretty impressive”

I shuddered to think Exactly what did I look like from the outside, anyway? I was just a talk radio host A olf talk radio host who’d publically declared war on a shadowy vahty, then

“Thanks again,” Ben said “We’ll be out of your territory in a couple of days”

Their sood-bye and walked back to the cars

I frowned “They’ve been keeping an eye on us the whole time we’ve been here, haven’t they? Just to ht”

“Seems likely” His smile was amused, his hands shoved in the pockets of his suit jacket I was a little offended that he wasn’t more worried, or at least insulted