The coffee shop was so full of witnesses, Simon almost felt sorry for the Sierra. Tess’s hair was red and green coils, but he didn’t spot any threads of black. Nadine’s hair didn’t give any warning of mood, but Simon noticed that Henry stood behind the woman, ready to grab her if she tried to spring on the Sierra. Vlad was in the archway, keeping an eye on Merri Lee and the rest of the female pack. The police pack was there. So were Elliot and Miss Twyla, as well as Agent O’Sullivan. In fact, about the only humans who weren’t there to witness the Sierra’s decision were Ruthie, who was watching the human pups, Meg, and . . .

<Where is Eve Denby?> Simon asked Vlad.

<That Cyrus was feeling so poorly, Eve drove him and his mate to the Lakeside Hospital. She isn’t back yet. That Cyrus’s pups are with the rest of the human puppy pack.>

Since dumping two extra pups on Ruthie in the middle of schooltime was Vlad’s doing, Simon hoped she didn’t snarl at him about it.

The Sierra stood in the center of the room, looking small and weak. She should have been an auntie helping to raise the dominant pair’s puppies. In fact, that was how that Cyrus seemed to treat her—as someone who was expected to help him raise his pups. That would have been fine if she hadn’t had pups of her own. But even by pack standards, it wasn’t right to expect her to hunt and provide food for all of them while the other two adults did nothing understandably useful.

Simon stood in front of the Sierra. “Have you made a choice?”

The Sierra wrapped her arms around herself. “I want to keep my girls. And I don’t want to die.” The words were a pleading cry for help.

Wondering if he could mention moving her and her pups to Great Island, Simon glanced at Steve Ferryman and was surprised by the hard, grim look on the man’s face. Clearly, the Sierra wouldn’t be going to Ferryman’s Landing.

“Last chance, Sierra Montgomery,” Simon said. “If you want to keep your pups, you will stay away from that Cyrus.”

Fear. And relief. Someone besides that Cyrus had determined the Sierra’s place within a pack. Right now, she didn’t care that the decision had been made by a Wolf.

The Sierra began to cry. Miss Twyla put her arms around the other female and led her pup out of A Little Bite.

The rest of the humans slunk out of the coffee shop, except Burke and Steve Ferryman. Montgomery would have held his ground, but a look from Burke sent the lieutenant away—proof that Burke was the dominant male of the human pack.

“You wanted me to consider having Sierra Montgomery relocate to Great Island?” Steve asked.

“Yes.”

“Was that your idea?”

Simon shook his head, baffled by the scent of anger surrounding the man. “It was Meg’s.”

“Then we’ll talk to Meg.” Steve headed for the back door, then looked over his shoulder at Burke. “I understand you want to talk before I go?”

“If it’s convenient,” Burke replied, making no move to leave.

Steve looked at Simon. “I’ll meet you at the Liaison’s Office.”

Wondering where Tess and Nadine were, Simon focused on the police captain.

Burke gave him a fierce-friendly smile. “I read an article a few years ago about how hunters in some parts of the world use a tethered goat to bring predators into the open. I’m just wondering what kind of predators you’re looking to snare with bait like Cyrus Montgomery.”

Sometimes Burke was too smart. But drawing out other predators like that Jack Fillmore would be a side benefit. The Elders weren’t watching to see what other kinds of predators were drawn to that Cyrus so much as how the other humans responded to a predator who was also a bottom feeder.

“Having Cyrus here puts a strain on Monty, not to mention the strain on Twyla and Sierra,” Burke continued. “Is there a reason to do that?”

Simon considered what he could—should—say to Captain Douglas Burke, dominant male of the human pack.

“This isn’t my choice.” Before Burke could respond, Simon said, “Did you fix the door on the police station? Replace the glass that had been scored by Namid’s teeth and claws?”

Burke paled. “No. I convinced the station chief that it was a valuable reminder of why the police and local government need to work with the Lakeside Courtyard.”

“The tethered goat? Not my choice.”

“They’re here?” Burke asked.

Simon nodded.

“Does Monty know about your . . . guests?”

“None of the humans know.” Except Meg, but she’d figured it out for herself. “Captain . . . what the Elders learn from observing that Cyrus and the rest of the human pack here will affect the decisions they make about every human in Thaisia.”

“Well,” Burke said eventually. “I’ll do what I can to help Lieutenant Montgomery and his men keep things smooth.” He gestured toward the archway. “Mind if I browse while you have your meeting with Mr. Ferryman?”

“Go ahead. We have some new thrillers by terra indigene authors.” There was also a new book about the Wolf Team, but Simon didn’t think that would interest Burke. Besides, the handful of copies he’d ordered for the store were already bought, and there was a long waiting list for the copy in the Market Square library—and some of the names on the waiting list belonged to humans.

Leaving Burke to deal with Merri Lee, their teakettle-wielding exploding fluffball of an assistant manager, Simon bolted out the back door of A Little Bite and wondered what Steve Ferryman wanted to say to Meg.