Taught her better manners than that, Twyla thought. Then something about the girl’s movements made her uneasy, and she hurried to the butcher shop and stepped inside.

“. . . wasn’t paying attention and I tripped over one of the girls’ toys and dumped the lasagna on the floor. Couldn’t salvage any of it.” Sierra gave Boone Hawkgard a brittle smile. “So I need to buy another one.”

“Don’t have any more,” Boone said.

Sierra looked at the dishes of lasagna still in the case. “But . . .”

“Those are reserved.”

“But my girls and my mama won’t have anything to eat if I don’t get another one.”

“Don’t have any more,” Boone insisted. “The dishes I’ve got left are reserved.”

Twyla listened to her daughter, but she watched Vladimir—and knew by the look on his face that Sierra was lying about what had happened to the food she’d bought. Knew he’d contacted the guard at the apartment building. Could guess what had happened.

And she knew what she had to do to try to protect Bonnie and Carrie.

She slipped out of the shop and hurried to Howling Good Reads, catching Simon as he walked out the back door.

“Mr. Simon,” Twyla said, hurrying toward him. “Could I have a word with you in private?”

Some change in him, as if he sensed that being human wasn’t going to be enough. He looked toward the Liaison’s Office and raised a hand.

Meg waved at Twyla, then smiled at Simon and pointed toward the Market Square.

“Miss Meg shouldn’t be going to the Market Square just yet. And not by herself,” Twyla said.

Nathan, who had been trotting off for home, suddenly spun around and charged at Meg, backing her up against the office door.

“Hey!” she protested.

“Wait for me,” Simon called.

Meg looked at Simon, then at Nathan, and nodded.

At least Miss Meg wouldn’t get tangled up in whatever drama was going to take place.

Simon unlocked HGR’s back door and held it open for her.

Sighing, Twyla went inside.

• • •

<Vlad?> Simon called. <What’s going on in the Market Square?>

The Sanguinati had offered to pick up the dish of lasagna after Meg had invited him and Nyx to join her and Simon for dinner. Nyx didn’t usually participate in human-style meals, and Meg was excited that she had accepted the invitation.

<The Sierra tried to lie to Boone Hawkgard in order to purchase a second dish of lasagna.> Vlad paused. <The Sierra just rushed out of the shop. Lieutenant Montgomery isn’t home yet, so I expect she’ll be running to her mother for help. Anything you want me to do?>

<Pick up our meal and escort Meg home. Nathan’s got her pinned to the back door of the Liaison’s Office.>

Simon turned his attention to Miss Twyla.

“You gave Sierra a chance, and she messed up,” Miss Twyla said. “If you say that’s the end of it, then that’s the end of it.”

“What do you want me to say?” He wasn’t sure what she wanted from him.

“Among your kind, if a parent doesn’t bring home food, what happens?” she asked.

“The pups go hungry. If they’re hungry for too long, they’ll die.”

She nodded. “I know for a fact that Sierra has a little food in her apartment—some peanut butter and crackers. Maybe a bit more tucked in the cupboards. But she doesn’t have enough to make a meal, and peanut butter on crackers isn’t lasagna.”

Simon cocked his head. “You want the Sierra’s puppies to go hungry?”

“Yes. I don’t want anyone to help her this time. Not me, not you, not the neighbors who will want to help, and especially not Crispin. He’ll want to help his nieces, and Sierra knows that. As long as someone helps her girls, Sierra won’t stand up to Cyrus. I’m sure Mr. Vlad knows, as I do, that Cyrus somehow ended up with the lasagna she bought.”

“It could cause trouble if I bite Lieutenant Montgomery to stop him from helping.”

She smiled. “Hopefully Crispin is smart enough not to need a bite to see reason.” Her smile faded. “I shouldn’t have asked for help.”

“You’re part of my pack.” By accepting her choice, he’d closed that door on his own tail. Besides, this was just the kind of confrontation the Elders wanted to observe in order to see how a human like that Cyrus could cause so much trouble.

“I’ll give the lieutenant enough reasons not to help the Sierra,” he said. “You should be scarce this evening.”

“No, Mr. Simon. Sierra needs to see that not helping her isn’t your decision alone. You may dote on your young, but I bet you Wolves understand about tough love. So do I.”

Simon sighed. “The female pack will be unhappy.” And he didn’t think anyone except that Cyrus and his mate was going to enjoy the lasagna tonight.

Miss Twyla touched his arm. “I don’t think they’ll be unhappy with you.”

She walked out of Howling Good Reads. Simon waited a moment before locking up.

<Simon?> Vlad called. <Meg was starting to prickle, so I told her why there might be trouble tonight. She and Nyx decided to postpone the lasagna dinner until tomorrow. See if Tess still has anything you and Meg can eat tonight.>

<Where is Meg now?>

<She’s calling the female pack. I think most of our tenants are going to be looking for a different meal tonight.>