The office was thick with the scent of fresh parchment and Alec's expensive cigars. Christian stood near the tall windows, watching Miguel give his report about strange activity within their borders. He stayed unnaturally still, betraying nothing of his mood.
"Hyenas, you say?" he muttered, eyes fixed on the darkening forest. "You're sure it was them?"
Miguel nodded sharply. "Our scouts spotted them along the eastern perimeter. Can't mistake that stink."
Christian's lips tightened. Those damn hyenas again. "Clyde and Sherry," he said, turning to Alec. "They're testing us, pushing to see how much we'll take."
Alec's expression hardened. Christian had told him about what happened at the library. "I won't have them on my land. What do you think, Jaime?"
Jaime's steady gaze flicked to Chr
