Riley couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the monstrous mansion. He kept asking how the pack got so rich off one little spa. Dane filled him in on the pack's assets: a franchise in Marietta and another in Savannah in addition to the one in Atlanta. Everyone in the car seemed surprised by his vast knowledge of the Georgia Pack. I reminded them of his role in the Hunting Club. Riley made it a point to pay the spa a proper visit before leaving. At least one of us was thinking positive about getting through this in one piece.

Both Stephan and Aiyana were waiting for us when we pulled into the cul de sac. Everyone else went inside while my two best and dearest friends kept me company. I preferred staying in the car so that Seth couldn't accuse me of breaking any of his beloved rules. After all, Seth had allowed Dane an audience, but didn't say a word about my ban. Stephan wanted me out of the Land Rover so I could spend quality time with them. He said as long as I had a chaperone at all times, there shouldn't be any problems. I believed that crock as much as I believed in the tooth fairy. Still, he scooped me out of the SUV and carried me to the backyard.

A brutal game of football commenced between teams of five. It warmed my insides to see Adam enjoying himself for once and not worrying about stepping on anyone's toes. He gave me a wave, blond locks flapping on the breeze and blue eyes beaming. Seconds later, Jared tackled him to the ground. I laughed. Adam unglued his pretty-boy good looks from the lawn and gave Jared a nod, promising sweet revenge. The three of us sat on the patio steps watching the game from a safe distance.

"You should be here with us,” Aiyana said, leaning her head on my shoulder. “I don't have anything against that other pack. Well ... maybe Riley. I can't stand the way he stares at me with the stupid smile plastered on his face."

Giggling, I entwined my fingers with hers. “In other words, you mean it doesn't feel right having Matt here and not me. Sweetie, you have no idea what I went through the night Seth kicked me out of the house. Believe me; I miss you guys, too."

Stephan leaned closer, allowing me to sit in the nook of his arm. His satiny cheek rubbed against mine, gentle kisses pressing against my skin. His warmth pulled at my gut, pouring on my desire for being with the pack while worsening the pain of my excommunication.

"Give it time,” he said. “Maybe Seth will renege on his ban. If he does, then what happens to your Hunting Club? Will you give them up?"

"Stephan,” I said, fighting the urge to kiss him back. “I've known them for a long time. They were my family before you guys ever came into the picture. Asking me to leave them is like asking me to let go my right arm. Just because I'm with them doesn't mean I love you guys any less."

We sat there for the longest time, cheering everyone on, watching people get slammed from side to side and thrown across the lawn. The ball came in our direction and Aiyana caught it. The entire field stampeded toward us. At the last possible second, they stopped and lunged straight at me, piling kisses on top of kisses. Everyone remained careful of my foot, but that didn't mean my face and neck were off limits. Smacking kisses and loud voices drowned out all the other sounds of the backyard. Faces moved in and pushed other faces out of the way. Talk about getting love-bombed. How could they become so attached to someone so fast? Then again, who was I to throw stones? It had taken me two days to grow fond of Stephan and Aiyana. Their kisses left me laughing so hard that my ribs ached. Stephan shooed everyone away after they had their taste and sent them back to their wrestling/football game.

The backdoor opened behind us. Seth stepped onto the patio first, followed by Dane and a small entourage. Everyone seemed full of smiles ... except Seth. Gee, imagine that. His black hair remained combed back, a trimmed beard adding to his dignified posture. He swiveled his head in my direction, scrutinizing my presence. A stone cold glare fed the tension between us.

I wanted to ask he was staring at, but my mind screamed, “Shut up and ignore him.” Getting in deeper trouble wasn't worth it. Besides, I didn't know what they had worked out and could ruin anything good that came of their meeting. I assumed it had gone okay because Dane stood on the other side of him as an equal and not cowering on his knees and begging for mercy.

I brought my attention back to the game.

Seth paused a moment before going into a description of the house, the grounds, and how far the property extended into the woods.

Quentin plowed his way through the thicket of spectator legs, towing his father by the hand. The minute his eyes fell on me, he let go of Vaughn and threw himself against my back, sausage arms becoming a death grip around my neck. Tiny kisses saturated every part of my head, starting with the back and working their way around to the front. Boy, did I miss the feel of this little kid. If he didn't give me wet, juicy kisses then he slurped his tongue, wriggling it against my neck. His touch alone felt like a fist hitting me in the chest. No way in hell I'd cry and let Seth could think his punishment had worked.

Seth and Dane stepped off the patio and sauntered along the sidelines to avoid the ruffians running after Evan, who had the ball. The rest of the entourage stayed put, letting the two Pack Alphas have their privacy. I had thought their negotiations were over, but I guess they had some kinks to work out. Excluding those of the football players, all eyes remained glued to those two.

"What do you think they're talking about?” I asked. My ears strained to hear their conversation, but the yelling from the football game drowned them out.

"Not sure,” Stephan said. “If I had to guess, it looks like Seth is taking him on a tour of the grounds."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you why,” Matt said, crouching behind us. He captured my arms and torso in a hug, sandwiching Quentin between us. Giggles erupted next to my ear as Matt mock growled at the little boy. “A cease-fire is in effect until this problem with Decker is resolved."

"Really?” I asked. Seth listening to someone for once? Unbelievable. Maybe that Pack Alpha thing gets you more incentives than I thought.

"He is,” Riley said. He sat down on the other side of Aiyana. “Your hubby's a great mediator. They're talking about strategies as we speak. It looks like we're all one big happy family. For a little while, anyway."

"Collaborating maybe,” Stephan said. “'One big happy family’ is stretching it. If this thing goes sour, Seth will dig a pit for the entire Hunting Club."

I had every intention of going into the woods to stake out positions and possible routes into the den. As I said, I had intentions. Too bad they weren't in accordance with my husband's or Alpha's. Matt looked me up and down and reminded me to keep my nose out of it. Dane added his wholehearted five cents by pointing out that if I couldn't go on the stakeout, then it didn't make sense to help pick out ambush sights. Let's forget about the fact that my being a sniper made me the best person for the job. My ideas didn't count for anything, because my foot had put limitations on what I could do. Go figure that logic.

I ranted and raved until I kicked the side of the concrete step with my plastic boot. My mouth clamped shut as the pain wormed its way through my toes and instep, straight up my ankle. I tried to play it off. Matt caught my facial tick and said it served me right. He pulled out his cell and called Bryce about a checkup.

As they made their way to the den, Seth concluded his talk with Dane and turned his attentions to other concerns. He approached my husband from the other side of the patio.

"I'm guessing your home is still vulnerable,” Seth said to Matt.

I kept my eyes on the game. However, my ears were less attentive as they held on to every word that passed between them.

"Decker knows where we live,” Matt replied. “He called the house twice last night and again this morning. I already told you what he said he wanted to do to my wife."

"In that case, you are more than welcome to stay here."

That part of the conversation didn't escape me. Turning slowly, I eyeballed him. Had he not been an Alpha, I would have smacked him on the spot. Too many people around and not enough time to run. Seth didn't miss a beat. He glared his beady eyes at me before turning his attention back to my husband. Matt shot a single finger in my direction, silencing me. Smart man.

Seth snorted. “However, you play a vital role in the pack and I know you wouldn't leave your mate behind. So bring whatever else you might need."

A wry laugh burst from my mouth. “You hear that, honey? You can fold me in half and pack me right next to your electric razor."

Matt threw me a cold stare.

Aiyana yanked me to my feet and shoved me inside the house. “Say one more word and I'll break more than your foot. You got free room and board, so don't screw it up."

The magnitude of Seth's asylum offer hit me when I smelled the lemon-scented polish wafting off the hardwood floors. I limped to the lounge, taking in the sight, sounds, and aroma of the house. Mental notes scribbled across my brain as my eyes scanned every inch of the room, touching every piece of furniture. I couldn't believe how much I had missed this place.

Everyone followed us into the house to set the ground rules. Dane was in charge of the operation, but Seth wanted in on all his plans and reserved the right to veto anything he didn't find acceptable. With this being a collaboration, Seth allowed Dane two more people from the Club and a few extras from the Georgia Pack to lend a hand. Being in charge of pack security and wanting to protect his family, Vaughn stepped up to the plate first. Had I not been on the injured list, Seth wouldn't have allowed Matt to volunteer in my place. It pissed me off that my husband had taken the rap for me. Matt shrugged it off, saying the Club could have gone after the Georgia Pack at any time whether we joined or not. It didn't make me feel any better knowing that I had exacerbated it. Dane agreed with Matt and all Seth did was snort before turning going back to laying out the ground rules. One of them included me being under constant surveillance in the house.

I went from needing asylum to literal house arrest. To make matters worse, Riley turned redcoat and volunteered his services for keeping an eye on me. I could see the thoughts trickling behind Seth's mind when that comment came out. It took him seconds to amend his injunction and include all members of the Hunting Club in being kept under constant surveillance. Dane elbowed Riley in the ribs. Everyone stifled their laughter. Aiyana, Stephan, and a few others agreed to share the charge of keeping me under wraps while the others staked out the woods.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that it would be a long night.