Of course, it was also in these hallways that Sissy’s English teacher told her she might want to consider a job that didn’t require her to think too much. Or the time the principal called Sissy’s momma down to the school because Sissy had chased Jessie Ann Ward into the air conditioning vents where she’d gotten that scrawny little body stuck. Boy, was Momma pissed that day.

No, those were definitely not memories she needed to relive anytime soon.

The local high school was also where the town Elders met. In some of the towns, the board was made up of many breeds. Canines, cats, bears, even hyenas. But not in Smithtown. Because within the Smithtown borders, there were only canines and a few antisocial bears who lived in houses near the caves. The bears who lived in Smithtown were simply too big and mean to fuck with, especially the polars, so the wolves let them be. Town politics, however, came down to the wolves, and that’s who she’d be facing today. Her kin.

Her only problem now was that her daddy and momma weren’t around, which left this issue to the strongest.

Sissy walked into the band room—she’d only ever come to this room to make out—where the Elders waited. But not only the Elders. Her brothers were there, too, and their mates, quite a few of her cousins, and some She-wolves who’d decided not to follow her to New York.

Everyone, it seemed, except Sammy and his mate—interesting. She wondered if Sammy even knew about this meeting.

“It’s nice to see you home, Sissy Mae,” her Uncle Sirras said.

“It’s nice to be home.” Except for moments like these.

“Shame you didn’t come home alone,” Travis Ray said softly. Like always, he spoke softly and carried a big fat paw—and head.

Unlike Bobby Ray, however, Travis had never really grown into his head.

Travis’s mate, Patty Rose, stepped forward and hugged Sissy. “How are you, darlin’?” she asked in her most “I’m so sincere” voice. “Are you doing okay?”

“I’m just fine, Patty Rose,” Sissy answered back in her best “you’re such a friggin’ liar but I’m going to pretend you’re not” voice. “Thank you so much for asking.”

“So what are you going to do, Sissy Mae?”

She focused back on Travis. “About?”

“He needs to go.” Travis rarely bothered beating around the bush. He was a direct man who expected direct answers.

“I can’t do that. I promised his family he’d be safe here.”

“Doesn’t he have his own kin?” Jackie Ray demanded, sounding typically panicked. “His own Pride? What about that rich brother of his? Couldn’t he protect him?”

Ignoring Jackie like she always did, Sissy stepped closer to Travis. “They could havekilled me, too, Travis. I was right there.”

“Then maybe you should pick better friends to be spending your time with, baby sister.”

“Now, Travis Ray,” Patty gently chastised—as if she thought Sissy would believe any of it for two seconds. The She-wolf hated her. Always had, always would. “Let’s all stay friendly about this.”

“So you want us to go?” Sissy snapped, ignoring Patty. “Is that what you’re saying?”

“You don’t have to go anywhere. This is your home. And always will be.”

“Okay.”

“But this ain’t that cat’s home. So he goes.”

Sissy’s hands curled into fists at her side. “If he leaves, I go with him.” And her brother knew that about her. Knew she’d never send Mitch off on his own.

“Fine,” Travis said simply. “Then go.”

“You bastard. You’d throw me out of my own home?”

“Oh, no.” Travis took a step closer—but not too close. “You’re leaving on your own. I only threw out that cat. And that’s exactly what I’ll tell Daddy when he gets home from his big vacation.”

Angry, exasperated, and ready to kill, Sissy threw her hands up and turned to walk away. “Fine, you big-headed bastard! We’ll leave.”

“Bye. Don’t let the door hit your fat ass on the way out.”

Sissy abruptly stopped walking, and she could sense how everyone but Travis took a cautious step back. That was probably smart. Normally, a crack like that would start a brawl, but not now. Not when Sissy had to watch out for the overeating beast recuperating in her Daddy’s home.

But what stopped Sissy in her tracks was that calendar tacked to the band room wall, specifically that date marked off on it. Suddenly, that date meant more to her than it ever had before.

“Unless…” Sissy began.

“Unless what?” The pause was long and dramatic until Travis asked again, “Unless what, Sissy Mae?”

“Unless we can come to a deal.”

“Money don’t mean shit to me, Sissy, and you know it.”

“Oh, I know.” She turned around and looked at him. “But there is something that means the world to you. And Mitch can help with that. When he’s healed up a bit more, of course.”

Immediately, Travis knew what she was getting at. “You have to be kidding.”

“He’s good.”

“Bullshit. We went down this road with his brother, and you saw how well that worked out.”

“Mitch is better.”

“Yeah. Right.”

“I swear. Check online if you don’t believe me.”