“You’re trying my patience in a big way,” Nick growled. “You asked for permission to cross the border, I granted it. You asked me to summon Derren, and I have. He’s here. Now talk.”
Miranda straightened, her flawless face hardening. “As you wish. I appreciate that what happens within your pack and on your territory is of no one’s concern but your own. However, I discovered a shocking fact and felt it was something you should know. Especially since there were attacks on your pack not so long ago. As neighbors, we should always look out for each other.”
Nick narrowed his eyes. “And what is this discovery of yours?”
“You have no idea who you have in your midst. But I do.” Again Miranda fleetingly glanced at Ally. “If you knew who she was, you wouldn’t have her on your territory.”
Wait, what? That was pretty much the last thing Derren had expected her to say. No, it was something that Derren hadn’t at all expected her to say. His pacing wolf halted, peeling back his upper lip to expose his teeth and gums. Miranda was a hot button to the animal’s vicious temper.
Miranda looked at Derren, eyes diamond hard. “And you certainly wouldn’t have her in your bed if you knew the truth.”
Derren couldn’t help but growl at the insult, which made Miranda flinch in surprise. Through his mating link with Ally, he could sense that she was just as taken aback by Miranda’s words, but her expression gave nothing away.
Miranda spoke to Ally then. “When we met here, I knew I’d seen you somewhere before, but I couldn’t place you. It was only later that I remembered. You’re the Holts’ foster pup, aren’t you?” Miranda nodded a few times, an ugly smile growing with each nod. “That’s right, I know who you are.”
The scorn coating every word pissed off Ally’s wolf, who unsheathed her claws and took a swipe at Miranda. She wanted at the bitch who not only offended her but coveted her mate. Even though Ally didn’t think it was a bad idea at all, she didn’t give in to the urge to lunge at her. No, Ally wanted to see where the Alpha female was going with this.
When Ally gave her no reaction, Miranda turned back to Nick. “She may go by a different name, but she is—for all intents and purposes—a Holt, a Brookwell wolf. And we all know what that means. So, out of concern for your pack, I did some digging. Since becoming an adult, she’s gone from pack to pack. Most likely acting as a spy, getting inside information to pass on to her criminal family. And now she has inside information about your pack. I’m sorry to say it, to be the one to tell you, but it’s true. She’s been fooling you all.”
Miranda shot Derren a particularly sympathetic smile, though there was an element of smugness to it. And going by the expression on her face, she expected eternal gratitude from the Mercury wolves for her big reveal. Clearly she was under the impression that they now wouldn’t want Ally here.
For a moment, there was complete silence. Derren broke it, his voice dry and cold. “Are you done?”
Miranda’s face went slack. “You don’t believe me? Or perhaps you haven’t heard of the Holts, is that it?”
Shaya sighed, flicking her hand in a very regal movement. “You can go now, Miranda.”
The other Alpha female shook her head. “You don’t understand—”
“You’re right, I don’t understand,” said Shaya. “I don’t understand why you’re trying to make trouble.”
“Make trouble? That is the last thing I want. We’re neighbors, not enemies. I have no wish to change that.”
“Then why come here today?” demanded Nick, having gone from bored to angry. The male would take offense to anyone, even a close neighbor, insulting one of his wolves.
“Because the Holts cannot be trusted. Add in that she’s a Seer, and, well, this female is naturally untrustworthy.” Miranda’s distaste clawed its way down Ally’s arms. “I’m simply concerned about what this means for your pack.”
“Well, your concerns have all been noted. And dismissed.” Shaya turned to Roni, Marcus, and Zander. “Please escort our visitors to the border.”
The three Mercury enforcers rose, but Miranda didn’t move. “She could be a plant, learning your weaknesses!” Realization suddenly dawned on her. “You already knew who she was, didn’t you? Does she have you fooled into believing she’s not like the Holts?” Miranda looked to Derren. “You cannot possibly wish to have one of them in your bed!”
Before Ally could jump to her defense, Derren was talking—well, growling—with his eyes flashing wolf.
“Watch how you speak of my mate.” His sentence ended with a snap of his teeth. His wolf backed him up with a lengthy growl.
Miranda gaped. “Your mate?”
“My mate,” he confirmed proudly, possessively playing with Ally’s hair.
“You know, Miranda,” began Ally, “I don’t think you’re really in a position to judge Derren, considering you once did all you could to get into my uncle’s bed.”