Chapter 8 · Blood Witness

"Alpha."

Rena looked up from the cabin steps. Three figures stood at the edge of the clearing—two men, one woman, all older, all wearing leather and silver like they'd walked out of a nightmare her grandmother used to tell.

Cain stepped past her. Didn't touch her. Didn't even look back.

"Mira," he said.

The woman in front had gray streaking through her dark hair and eyes that didn't blink. "We heard there was trouble last night."

"Handled."

"With her still breathing." Mira's gaze slid to Rena. "That's new."

Rena stood. Her hand went to her hip—no knife. Marcus had kept it when his people pulled back. Probably laughing about it right now.

"She's under pack protection," Cain said.

Mira smiled. It looked like a threat. "Is she."

"She is."

The taller man—scar cutting across his jaw like someone had tried to take his throat—stepped forward. "You bring a hunter into our territory, claim protection, and expect us to just *accept* that? After what happened six years ago?"

"I expect you to trust my judgment." Cain's voice dropped. Not loud. Didn't need to be.

The scarred man's mouth tightened, but he shut up.

Mira tilted her head. "Protection requires cause.