Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 83

“Look, I’ll have it sorted. I just need time,” he insists, but time is a luxury neither of us can afford. He has had too many

extensions.

“Understand this, Rhett,” I lean forward, the camera capturing the intensity in my eyes. “You need to settle your debt with the Alpha and the council. No money, no alliance. And without the alliance…” I let the implication hang between us, a heavyweight neither of us wants to carry.

“If you step over those borders without the appropriate paperwork, the council will not intervene if Jefferson decides to attack. Until you pay the council fines, I cannot reestablish your pack for business in the neighboring cities; by not paying your fees and fines, it put him out, and you both nearly lost those import contracts. Jefferson wants me to cut you out now. His company is capable of handling the imports alone.”

“That is my pack’s main source of income running those docks,” he argues.

“I know, which is why the council gave you the extension in the first place.” I remind him.

“Listen, Soren,” Rhett begins, his voice steady despite the clear signs of strain.

“I was close to settling things with the council. We had an arrangement in place, or so I thought.” He pauses, frustration etched into the lines of his face. “But it fell through; I lost the initial down payment.”

Chapter 83

288 Vouchers

that you offered up a pack member to settle a debt. What do you take me for? I am not running a brothel or interested in having any werewolves on staff,” I remind him. I lean back in my chair,

the debt owed to you, which I can’t pay without the licensing and contracts

I muse aloud, concealing my surprise. “Well, that’s one less worry on our kingdom’s ledger. Pay the council downpayment

his face. “You said you need the licenses and contracts opened to earn money, so how have you come across the down payment?” I ask him.

gave it to us as a wedding gift,” Rhett says, and

scrutinize Rhett’s expression, looking for any sign he understands the gravity of his situation. “And

in his seat, the image flickering for a moment as his connection

been so many complications.” He hesitates, then exhales deeply. “The money you lent me was stolen. By

My brow arches in suspicion. Thievery within a pack is a betrayal of the highest order. “Do you need help locating

flash of pride or perhaps stubbornness crossing his features. “No, I have it under control. I just need to find the person responsible first, which was the second deal I offered Alpha Jefferson; our pack issue is

one.”

arrangement. “And what exactly did you agree