Justice clenched his fists. Why couldn’t his life just be simple and easy? Gone were the days where all the AZ had to do was make ceremonial visits and ensure he had a productive, working pack to help him with his duties. It seemed Justice stayed on the road, correcting problems that his enforcers or pack leaders couldn’t. They all knew – even the council – that their way of life would change, evolve, once humans discovered their existence, but none of them thought it would get as bad as the government was threatening. They were talking of not only registering all shifters, but also asking for volunteers so they could research shifter anatomy in labs.
So far, all of Justice’s meetings with various pack alphas had come to the same conclusion. Punish the offenders and make an example so the others will fall in line. If order’s restored, then the government might pull back. Justice didn’t like the idea of ruling with an iron fist. However, desperate times called for desperate measures. Why were his wolves out of control? More importantly, why were they so adamant about fighting vampires in public? Justice knew if he didn’t get the violence contained, then the government would be back to pushing for a national shifter registry. One that wouldn’t be monitored by shifters anymore. Justice would stripped of his title and banished if he allowed the federal government to take the packs.
Justice got on the spacious RV and graciously took the large mug of coffee his sister made for him. His pack looked tired and worn. Hell, so did he, but this wasn’t anything he couldn’t push through. It was in his nature, in his bloodline, to never break. He loved his shifters too much not to give them his all. Despite his lack of rest over the last few days and the fatigue doing its damnedest to settle into his spirit, Justice walked tall, with his shoulders back and his eyes focused. His heart ached for his weary team. They’d probably just settled into good sleep themselves before having to get back up. At least his whole pack didn’t have to come, only Justice’s betas and two enforcers. As he walked by, he reached out and touched them before he took his seat.
Justice was an amazing man. Strong and solid. His wolf an unstoppable force, more powerful than anything he’d encountered… or so he believed. He prayed he’d be strong enough to defend against a rebellion. Because that’s where this all might be headed. This new feud he was rushing off to handle had happened right here in Carson City – where anyone in a one hundred mile radius could feel the presence of the Alpha Zenith. Yet, the shifters still created a disruption. Were they trying to get Justice’s attention, or were they actually trying to start a war with the vampires again, after all these years of relative peace? He couldn’t let that happen. Then, out of nowhere, Justice had an idea.
“Hey. What do you guys think of this?” Justice turned from the comfortable position on the couch that he’d taken for the twenty-minute drive downtown to the police headquarters. “None of us really know what’s going on with the shifters and vampires in the city, but there’s a consensus on both sides by superiors to quickly quiet all this noise down. The vampire council can’t be pleased with all this negative publicity, either.”
“So, what are you suggesting, Justice?” Mac asked.
“I’m proposing that the authority figures of both shifters and vampires show a united front and rule by example. We keep saying we should make an example out of them, punish the offenders severely, but have we given our adolescent pups a good example to follow? Have any of us shown them how they’re to interact with vampires? No. Instead we stay away and put up this species barrier, then expect our kids to know how to behave when they encounter others not like them.”
“I understand what you’re saying, brother, but shifters and vampires don’t have much in common. We’re not meant to be friends. Neither are the hyena and the lion. The shifters and vampires are fighting because it’s natural, Justice. However, I believe this feud is territorial.” Taleb nodded like he was one hundred percent sure.
“Oh hell,” Alek mumbled.
The drama made more sense now, and so did his plan. When Justice spoke, he didn’t pose it as a question. He was letting them know what was about to happen, so be prepared.
“I’m going to meet with the Vampire King.”
“Chief Jonson, I can understand your situation, but keeping my shifters locked up in cages is really not a good idea.” Justice continued to try to reason with the stubborn, overworked, under-paid official, but he wasn’t budging.
“Are you threatening me?” The older man sat forward, his bushy gray and black eyebrows going down in a dramatic frown.