That was stretching things a little.
The wolves thought I was important. And I wasn’t an idiot—they did a lot for me. But I was a hunter. While they might call me Pack, they didn’t treat me like a wolf.
I’m not going to volunteer that little factoid, though.
“The Northern Lakes Pack are all Hunter Sabre has in terms of family,” Gigi said. “And to hunters—like werewolves—family matters. It is natural she’d seek to defend them from Hunter Fletching’s vile accusations, and according to the law, in attacking him she meted out hunter justice on a fight between two hunters.”
Woah. Maybe she really did apprentice with a fae—because that was some stunning word manipulation.
Amos stood up and ripped his hat off. “This is ridiculous! Arbiter Tanaka, you can’t possibly believe her! Hunter Sabre can’t consider a Pack of werewolves family—she’s a hunter!”
Arbiter Tanaka carefully placed his glasses back on, tapping his frames so the lenses grew slightly tinted—alchemist work, likely. “It seems not everyone shares your views, Hunter Fletching. Given the support the Pack gives her, and her status as adoptee, I agree with Hunter Quillon’s defense. According to the Hunter Code, Hunter Sabre has done nothing wrong. This incident is dismissed from Curia Cloisters attention as it was handled according to hunter law.”
“But—that!” Amos growled and briefly crushed his hat in his hands.
He turned, and I thought he’d bring his anger out on me—surprisingly, it was Greyson he turned to. “One day Sabre will leave your Pack, and then it’ll be open season on you lot!”
Greyson narrowed his eyes. “Careful, Hunter Fletching.” His voice was so low I swear I could feel it vibrate in my chest. “One might think you don’t actually care about the investigation you were charged with, and are only looking to undermine my Pack.”
Amos swaggered up to him, a sneer curling his upper lip. “You’d be wrong about that. My hunters have been researching wolfsbane—do you know what we discovered? Used in small doses, it increases a werewolf’s strength and stamina, as well as their predator drive, without entirely making them wild so they retain a shred of their selves.”
Greyson shifted his weight so he appeared relaxed. “Congratulations. How does this evidence relate to the case?”
“It relates because we know from hair samples that the Low Marsh wolf had been taking these low doses for months, before the buildup became too much and he went wild. We interviewed the Low Marsh Alpha, who admitted the wolf had recently moved up in the Pack due to his increased strength. And isn’t it remarkable that all of this just so happens to be on the edges of the Northern Lakes Pack territory—which has the greatest ratio of wolves with Alpha-like strength in the entire Midwest!” Amos squashed his hat back on his head as he glared up at Greyson.
Greyson twitched his eyebrows. “So you’re using the excuse of a case in an attempt to investigate my Pack? Your theatrics are unnecessary. Anyone from my Pack would submit a sample to prove we don’t resort to dirty potions created by a race that is hated even after being eradicated.” He turned away from Amos. “They’d be especially glad to, considering it would keep you from wasting time on your crackpot theories instead of actually attempting to solve the case you were sent to investigate.”
Gigi cleared her throat, getting my attention, then tipped her head at the doorway before she charged off.
I reluctantly followed her.
“Oh, my investigations are linked to this case!” Amos snarled. “We’ll prove the Low Marsh wolf’s supplier was your Pack, Alpha Greyson. Mark my words!”
“Hunter Fletching,” Arbiter Tanaka interrupted in biting tones. “I would appreciate if you uttered your theatrics elsewhere. I have more incidents to review—leave!”
“Yes, Arbiter Tanaka,” Amos sneered. He stalked down the aisle, elbowing past Gigi and me.
His face was carved with anger, but he didn’t even glance at me as he stormed out of the room.
Amos didn’t turn me punching him into a big deal because he was trying to punish me. He thought he could use me to get to Greyson. I was still just bait—more proof he’s a terrible investigator, given that Greyson didn’t do a thing except drive me here. Though he was a convenient prop for Gigi, too.
I shook my head as Gigi and I slipped out of the room.
Why is Amos out to get the Northern Lakes Pack? He seems pretty upset by the power they’ve amassed. But why? It doesn’t affect us hunters.
Gigi didn’t stop outside the door, she led me all the way down the stairs and outside the Curia Cloisters building before she let it rip.
“We won!” Gigi brandished her briefcase in the air. “You didn’t even get a warning—everything went perfectly! And did you see Fletching’s face? It shriveled up like a mushy potato! Oh, that was gorgeous—and so much fun!”
Gigi slapped her thigh as she leaned against what I hoped was her car—a shiny silver Audi.
“Thanks for the help, Gigi,” I said. “I know I was just facing a fine, but I really appreciate that you came all the way here from Minnesota to help me.”
Gigi sobered up immediately. “Of course,” she said. “We Quillons owe it to you. Fletching obviously had a plan. I’m glad we could thwart him.” She narrowed her eyes, and that sharp edge she’d had reappeared. “If he bothers you at all, let me know. We’ll throw the Hunter Code at him until he’s so strung up in red tape he can’t move.”
“I don’t think he’s really targeting me.” I tugged on my suitcoat—which felt stuffy and hot now that we were outside under the summer sun. It was still just morning, but Magiford got humid fast in the summer.
“He’s not,” Greyson said.
I carefully turned on my heels to face him—I’d thought for sure he’d turned off when Gigi led me outside. “Yeah, it seems like he’s after the Pack. Do you know why?”
Greyson shook his head. “He’s known for being generally disagreeable to work with among us werewolves. But I haven’t ever heard of him specifically targeting a Pack like this.”
“Yeah, he was pushing your wolves pretty hardcore according to the testimony.” Gigi opened the back seat of the Audi and tossed her briefcase inside. “It’s strange. You’d better be careful.”
“But the Northern Lakes Pack isn’t involved in anything to do with wolfsbane,” I said. “None of the wolves would ever take something so horrible—particularly given what it stands for.”
“Maybe they wouldn’t in the Northern Lakes Pack,” Gigi said. “But there’s no way the Low Marsh wolf was the only one taking it. Northern, rural Wisconsin is not a hotbed for producing magical drugs, and he couldn’t have stumbled on it if Amos is right and he took it over a long period of time.”