Julian winced. That was probably the worst thing Gabe could have said. Glory took a deep breath as if to yell, but instead wound up in a long, painful sounding coughing fit. She was instantly surrounded as everyone but Julian tried to soothe her. He hadn’t seen so much guilt in the room since his mother caught him and his friends covered in Christmas cookie crumbs two hours before the relatives were due. All of them were talking at once so none of it made any sense. It got so loud that only Julian noticed when the front door opened again. A massive, scowling redhead and a dainty, China doll blonde stopped and stared at the chaos before the blonde reached into her purse and pulled out—

Ancestors have mercy that was loud. But effective. All of the Pumas stopped and stared at the smiling woman holding the air horn. The redhead shook his head like a dog in the rain. “I hate it when she does that.”

The blonde, who just had to be Belinda “Belle” Lowell, shook the air horn enticingly at the Curana. “Come on, you know you want one.”

Max scowled at the gleam in his mate’s eye. “Don’t even think about it, Emma.”

“But Max, it’s so shiny.” Emma pouted up at her mate and batted her ridiculously thick lashes.

“Emma.”

“Fine.”

Out of the corner of his eye Julian saw the Poconos Pack Luna make the universal sign for call me.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Rick Lowell picked up his mate like she weighed less than a kitten. “Let Max keep the illusion he runs things around here.”

The Pumas laughed at Belle’s indolent grin, easing the tension left over from Gabe’s earlier remark. Soon everyone was settled with pizza and drinks, some on the floor, some nudging at Julian until he sat upright. Cyn sat at his feet, her back resting comfortably against his legs. Next to him sat Belle, her mate on the floor between her legs. She leaned down every now and then and fed him bites of her pizza, never once breaking the stream of gossip between her and Emma. Their favorite topic seemed to be two men named Ben and Dave who were planning a commitment ceremony sometime around Christmas. Apparently, Dave had sent Emma some images of drag queens in wedding dresses. He wanted her opinion on which one she thought would look best on him.

Belle didn’t even laugh. Hell, she had a favorite, and planned to tell Dave so when she got home.

Once everyone was done eating, Max rose to his feet, ready to begin the meeting. “Thank you for coming, everyone. I think we all know why we’re here.”

Rick held up a hand. “I’m extending an invitation to Tabby, Alex and their friends to come up to the Lodge until the shooter is caught.”

Julian blinked in surprise. He hadn’t been expecting that maneuver from the Wolf alpha. “How will we be safer up there than we are here?” If Rick could guarantee Cyn’s safety, her furry butt was going up that mountain whether she liked it or not.

“Don’t even think about it, Super Bear.” Cyn glowered up at him, which looked really odd, considering she had to do it upside down. “They need me to catch this son of a bitch.”

“Unfortunately, I think she’s right.” The few times in the past when Julian had met with Adrian Giordano the man had seemed easy-going. He looked anything but as he sat forward on the coffee table and leaned his elbows on his knees. He was trading stare for stare with Cyn, but the Marshall wasn’t backing down. “Since you’re the one he’s targeting, I think he’ll just follow you.” He nodded to Julian, the concern in his expression newly overshadowed by sheer determination. “I’m sorry, but the only way I can see to catch him is to use your mate as bait.”

“Unfortunately, I agree.” A man Julian had never met before held out his hand. “Ted Pedroza, the Poconos Pack Second, here to keep my alphas out of trouble.” Ted laughed out loud as Rick snorted in amusement. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too.” Ted had super-short, nearly black hair, eyes so dark Julian couldn’t make out the pupils, and the warm skin tone of someone of Latino origin.

“If you don’t mind my asking, how long has your mate been living here?”

Julian wasn’t fooled for a moment by Ted’s easy smile and relaxed stance. To be a Marshall’s Second you had to be one hell of a fighter. “Not very long at all. Why?”

“There’s no scent marking around your place.”

Everyone stared at Ted, confused. Everyone except Rick and Tabby.

Rick turned his piercing, pale blue gaze on Tabby. “He’s right. You check for scent marking as soon as you get home.”

Tabby nodded as if she understood exactly what he was talking about.

Emma’s hand rose in the air. “Um, for those of us of the non-canine persuasion, can you explain that please?”

“Dogs mark their territory.” Belle yawned daintily behind her hand.

“I’m not a dog.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Fido.” Belle patted her husband’s chest, laughing when he growled. “From what you say, he’s been watching them, kind of stalking them.”

“That means he’s going to be feeling territorial.” Tabby was practically curled around Alex, but her worried gaze was glued to Cyn. “He’ll have marked the places we tend to hang out, like Living Art and the apartment.”

“And your new house,” Cyn snarled. “I’ve just about had it with this fucker.”

“You’ve gone through your first change?” Cyn nodded, and Max sighed in relief. “Good. That means we’re not throwing you defenseless to the wolves.”

“Did she tell you what she turns into?” Gabe’s grin was viciously pleased.

“I thought she’d be a Spirit Bear, like Julian.”

“It doesn’t quite work that way.” Julian tugged on his braid, unsure how to inform the Halle Alpha that he had a Kodiak living in his territory.

“I’m a Kodiak.” Cyn shrugged. “It’s a Bear thing. You wouldn’t understand.”

Alex didn’t quite manage to muffle his laugh. Tabby didn’t bother trying.

“Oh.” Max blinked, his expression blank. “That’s… Large.”

“And mean.” Gabe rubbed his hands together gleefully.

Adrian was staring at Cyn with an expression of unholy delight. His wide, evil smile reminded Julian of the Grinch. “Can I watch you turn that bastard into furry origami?”

This had the potential to become a nightmare. Cyn might be big for a Bear, but a bullet would still kill her. “I think we need to worry more about how we’re going to keep her safe.” Julian winced as he tugged a little too hard on his braid, his nerves getting the better of him.

“We’ll have people watching her around the clock. Living Art is going to remain closed in order to protect its clientele.”

Cyn couldn’t hide her unhappiness over Gabe’s pronouncement. She was itching to get back to work, but she had to agree with the Hunter. She was just too vulnerable when she was in Living Art. He just hoped they could resolve this swiftly. She ran the risk of losing her business entirely the longer she stayed closed.

“Julian, until you’re stronger, you’ll have to trust us to protect your mate.” Adrian’s gaze was sympathetic but uncompromising. “This man is guilty of murder and attempted murder. We need to catch his ass before anyone else gets hurt.”

“Are we so certain it’s a man?” Sheri’s hand was clenched so hard it was white knuckled.

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” Adrian immediately reached for his mate and pulled her close. “Sheri was the victim of a stalker attack.”

Sheri patted Adrian’s knee. “I’m all right, I promise.”

“It’s definitely a man, Sheri.” Sarah stole Gabe’s drink and took a sip. “I could feel his rage at missing his target.”

“Is he sane?”

Sarah wiggled her hand in a so-so motion. “That depends on your definition of sane, Max. What I sensed was anger, and lots of it. But it didn’t feel manic, if that makes any sense.”

“The real question is, why is he doing it?” Adrian stared at Tabby as if she had a red targeting dot on her forehead. “Why is he focusing on the three of you?”