“Why do you think Miranda’s come?” asked Caleb.

Shaya shrugged. “Guess we’ll soon find out.”

“How did she become a lone Alpha female?” Ally asked Shaya.

“She rose to the position when her boyfriend was made Alpha male, even though they hadn’t imprinted. But then her boyfriend met a mysterious death. Plenty of guys have attempted to get close enough to her to become Alpha male, but none of them have stuck around long.” Shaya fought a smile as she added, “She’s also quite the cougar, goes for guys who are at least a decade younger. She has a thing for Derren.”

“She has a thing for Betas,” he corrected. “Males who she thinks aren’t interested in being Alpha and won’t threaten her position of lone ruler but are also strong enough to appeal to her.”

Neither Ally nor her wolf liked the idea of anyone but her finding Derren appealing.

“Do you think you could try not irritating her for once?” Kathy asked her daughter. “Since she’s our neighbor and all.”

“Only if she leaves Derren alone,” said Roni, who was leaning into Marcus. “It’s just creepy watching a woman who’s at least a decade older than him eyeing him like he’s candy. It’s one thing if an older female likes a younger male—I can accept that and I won’t judge it. But it’s another thing altogether if she’s some kind of predatory seductress that preys on younger guys and wants them wrapped around her little finger.”

Yeah, Ally didn’t think she was going to like this woman at all.

“Besides,” added Roni, “it’s always her who starts it.”

Marcus began massaging his mate’s hand. “That’s because she feels threatened by your level of dominance, sweetheart.” Roni was very dominant—so much so that she could quite easily be an Alpha of her own pack if she wished to be. The same could be said of her mate. He was charming and seemed very laid-back, but Ally could sense that there was a dark and dangerous side to him lurking beneath all that charm.

Shaya sighed. “Let’s hope Miranda doesn’t stick around long.”

Derren did his best not to stiffen as Miranda and two of her enforcers entered the living area a few minutes later. Honestly, he didn’t understand why he was suddenly so tense. She’d been on his territory a number of times, and although he’d been irritated by her presence, he’d never felt . . . threatened.

“Miranda, what a surprise,” drawled Shaya, her smile deceptively pleasant, gesturing for the female to sit on the sofa opposite of her. Miranda’s enforcers stood behind her, on guard. To Ally’s annoyance, there was no denying that the Alpha female was beautiful with her flawless face and wicked curves. She’d gone a bit heavy on the eye makeup, though; she looked like a damn panda.

“Shaya, it’s always a pleasure,” replied the brunette. She swept her gaze around the room, offering a smile of greeting to everyone. Once that gaze landed on Roni, it hardened. “Still a tomboy, I see.”

Roni cocked her head. “Did you know that a certain study found that seventy-nine percent of mascara contained staph infection? Just watch out for impetigo, food poisoning, boils, and cellulitis—they’re some of the symptoms.”

“Roni.” Marcus’s admonishment was amused as opposed to stern.

She blinked innocently. “What? What did I say?” The female enforcer often spouted out useless and totally random facts to either repel or irritate people. It actually worked. Like now with Miranda, people regarded Roni as if she was weird or annoying and so, as such, not worth talking to.

Moving her attention from Roni, Miranda then spotted Derren. She gave him her usual wide, sultry smile—an invitation that he had never responded to. “Derren.” There was both delight and enticement in the sensual purr. “How nice to see you.”

Derren would bet she wouldn’t be so interested if he weren’t a Beta. She knew the effect she had on males; she relished it, used it, and believed it gave her some dominion over men. Derren wasn’t so easily led. Beautiful or not, she held no appeal at all for him. She was sly, manipulative, egocentric, and liked to lead men around on a leash—as if that in itself was a symbol of power. He had no intention of being on anyone’s leash. He again ignored the invitation in her smile but, being civil, tipped his chin at her and her enforcers in greeting.

“Why are you here?” asked Nick abruptly. Trust him to cut right through any small talk.

Miranda chuckled. “I find that I like your directness, Nick. As for why I’ve come . . . I wanted to know if you’ve had any luck in tracking the foxes who fired the grenade on your territory. I’ve had some of my own men attempt to find them—I don’t allow intruders on my territory, least of all to attack my neighbors. But we haven’t been able to track them.”

“Neither have we,” admitted Shaya.

“It seems so strange. I would have thought that if a grouping of foxes had a grudge against you, they would have challenged you by now.”

But this wasn’t about grudges or challengers, it was about cashing in on a bounty, so the situation was very different. Derren didn’t say that aloud, though.

“Have there been any further attacks?”

Shaya shook her head, clearly intending to ignore Miranda’s attempt to fish for information. “None.”

Miranda shrugged. “Perhaps it was a few drifters acting alone.”