Page 64 of The Patron Saint of Timber Hollow

The layout conveniently means there is no need to ask hotel staff to let us in or anything like that. I don't know how Jay discovered which room is theirs, and I don't think I care.

In sync, the five of us all open the doors to the vehicles and exit. As much as I would prefer to clutch Jay's hand in mine while this confrontation happens, I know that it will do nothing other than aggravate Ethan, which is the exactoppositeof what we need. So, instead, I just shove my hands in my back pockets as we walk towards the room door with the number six stamped in black. Jay and Nero march confidently towards the door while Saint and Date act as their shadows, with me bringing up the rear.

I need to be here, but suddenly, I'm worried that my mere presence will be the spark that lights the fuse.

Fuck.

My wolf whines, golden eyes flashing in the dark confines of my soul.

Nero raises his fist and knocks on the door.Thump thump thump.

Saint's shoulders straighten, and Dante's knuckles pop one by one in quick succession.

None other than Stephen White himself answers the hotel door, eyebrows lowered. "Yes?"

"Stephen White?" Nero asks, the envelope containing the documents they drew up earlier clutched in hand.

"Who's asking?"

"Nero Cicero, Attorney for the Timber Hollow conservation agency. We have proof you have been illegally hunting on protected lands. Additionally, entrance to our protected forests is by permit only."

"Mr Cicero, I can assure you we have done no such things."

Nero nods, and around Saint's side, I see him shuffle through a few papers, pulling a printed copy of the picture I saw on Ethan's social media.

"Mr. White, can you identify the persons in this photograph?" Nero asks calmly.

"Yes, obviously, that is me. My sons. What of it?"

"Thank you for that confirmation. This photograph was taken on protected lands. See this tower here in the background? That is our radio tower that monitors tagged wildlife in the area. Mr. White, you were trespassing and poaching on protected lands, and we have irrefutable proof."

"Who cares about a little dumb coyote?" Ethan says from just inside the doorframe, snatching the photograph from Nero, crumpling it, and tossing the paper to the floor behind him.

"Respectfully, Mr. White, we do," Nero answers simply.

Stephen doesn't immediately answer, but then Ethan says, "What is this dipshit doing here?" Gesturing towards Jay.

My Alpha smiles; I can barely see the edges of his grin before he smugly says, "Jay Temple, Mayor of Timber Hollow, nice to see you again."

I nearly laugh but manage to keep the sound locked behind my teeth.

"The proceedings to take this matter to court are in these documents," Nero says, handing Stephen the envelope.

"And if we would prefer to keep this situation quiet?" Stephen asks, looking over our group again.

"Leave now within the next five hours. We have notified other wildlife protection agencies in the area, and they know of your presence. Lingering will force our hand. You will be expelled with force if spotted within our protected areas again."

"And if we leave now, no one will have to know about our misstep onto… protected lands?" Stephen's purposeful pause sends my gut rippling.

He knows. He knows. He knows.My wolf cries, and I press myself closer to Saint, drinking in his presence.

Unfortunately, it draws Ethan's attention, who says, "What isshedoing here?"

"I'm just a concerned party," I answer, stepping out from behind Saint.

"So you're still stalking my socials, huh? Gotta know what I'm doing at all times, don't you? Miss your rich fiance?" Ethan croons, making my lip curl in disgust.

"I followed a hunch when bodies started piling up, you idiot," I reply, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms.