A scrawny piece of ass?”

Nick’s eyes went that otherworldly blue and a deep growl trickled from his lips. The hair on the back of Tracy’s neck rose and she grabbed his hand. “She’s goading you,” Tracy murmured.

“She should be aware that I have no patience left in this matter. She should be aware that people with a modicum of intelligence and craft can look into bank accounts and see some very irregular things. She should be aware thatshehas betrayed this Pack and with the aid of her mate, a man I used to be proud to call Alpha and brother.” Nick’s voice had gone emotionless again. He was almost a different man like this. A machine. A big f**king scary bad wolf who was interested in the truth and nothing more.

“What did you say?” Josh demanded.

“Nick?” Their mother looked at him, confused.

“I think Ben and Sarah should tell you all what they’ve been up to.”

Ben had the good grace to look ashamed but Sarah’s face was an angry mask. “I don’t need to defend myself against stupid accusations. Jealous accusations. She wants to be Alpha, Nick, and you’re handing

it to her!”

Nick looked at her and shook his head. “Ben? Come on, just admit it. It has to be wearing on you. I can’t believe you’d get behind this purely for profit. Be a leader, own up to what you did.” Nick’s eyes held a light of tenderness.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Nick. I think Sarah is right and Tracy has turned you against your own family. It breaks my heart but I fear I’m going to have to sever your ties to Pacific.”

Several gasps filled the room and Tracy wanted to leap over there and punch Ben Lawrence in the nose.

Arrogant, lying ass**le! How dare they call her mate a liar! She felt how it tore him up inside to deal with this betrayal.

Bending, Nick opened the case at his feet and tossed a file to Josh. “It’s all there. Sarah and Ben have been using the Pack to launder cash for the Pellini Group. This has been going on for nearly a year.”

Despite the appearance of a lack of emotion, Tracy felt his inner turmoil. She and Gabe both moved a bit closer to him, trying to lend him some comfort with their presence.

The Fourth, who had been solidly on Ben’s side, and the Fifth moved in close to Josh to look at the papers while Ben and Nick’s parents stared, shocked, at Sarah and Ben.

Sarah jumped up and tried to grab the paperwork but Ben intercepted her and yanked her down beside him.

After a few minutes of silent reading, the others all looked up to stare in disbelief at their Alpha pair.

Nick sat, solid and unmoving. His muscles were tight and his jaw was clenched. Tracy ached for him and caught Gabe’s eye and saw he was worried too. But she knew if she touched him or tried to overtly comfort him it would weaken his position. Right then he was the face of justice for the Pack. It was his job as Enforcer to see that right was done.

“Ben, I think it’s time you told the truth. Why would you do this? You’ve endangered us all with your association with the Pellini Group. You’ve betrayed your position as Alpha. Your job is to protect this Pack but you’ve turned your back, abandoned your responsibilities to your wolves.” Nick stood and took the papers back and looked at Ben and Sarah, waiting.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about! It’s all lies!” Sarah jumped at Tracy, who stood and moved to the side, knocking her fist into Sarah’s temple.

“Stand down!” Ben stood, screaming. Nick pushed him back into his chair.

“You stand down, Ben. Be a f**king man! Own this or I’ll have to end it my way.”

Tracy’s foot was on Sarah’s throat. “Don’t even think of getting up. Iwillchallenge you, and you and I both know how that’ll end up.”

“Okay! Just let her go, damn it. I’ll tell you everything.”

Tracy looked back at Nick, who waited a long moment before nodding shortly. She removed her foot but growled, “Don’t piss me off any more tonight, Sarah. Now go sit the f**k down.”

“How dare you?” Sarah spat as she started to stand.

“Sarah, for god’s sake, shut up!” Ben thundered and they all turned to look at him in surprise. “You’re making this worse.” Chastened and a bit shocked, she went to him and sat down at his side.

“Sarah was in trouble with work. She’d overextended herself and had used client money in a way she wasn’t supposed to.” He told them of the dance she’d done, shuffling money around until she was facing jail and had no choice but to go to Pellini. He’d been looking through the Pack statement three months back and had gotten the shock of his life. When he confronted her, the whole story spilled out.

“I was trying to find a way out of this mess but you mated with the one family Pellini hates more than any other! Don’t you see, it’s her, it’s Tracy. She’s the problem. If she hadn’t come along we’d still be friends. We’d still be a family.” Sarah’s voice was a whine by that point and Tracy ached to knock the shit out of her.

“This is all you!” Nick screamed so loud that Tracy jumped and Ben’s nose started to bleed. “You’ve done this to our family. You’ve betrayed us all with your f**king greed. Damn you! You’ve ruined my brother. You’ve betrayed all the feelings I ever had for you. You’ve turned him into something that disgusts me. He’s turned his back on what is right for you and youdareto blame Tracy? Do you have any idea the situation you’ve placed me in?”