WolfM

In the Pit River Pack, if you're name was McKinney, you've likely fled the territory before vengeful members who saw Dorian's videos made you one with the earth. I doubt the McKinney family would ever think they could retake the pack. Those days are long gone after how they were exposed. It could be that the survivors of the family, as they watch their fortunes vanish from places they thought were well stashed, might way if they can't have it, let's burn it all down. I've got the best readers since you keep me smiling. Stuff like this is the best payment I can think of for writing.

Thank you, Albert. If it was an attempt to get Ethan and Aiden to the territory for a possible coup, it would have alerted them to the danger and had their security bubble increased. So I agree that it isn't a coup. Next Monday isn't that far off.

There will probably always be some supporters of the McKinney family in the pack. The territory is vast with a good size population for a wolf pack. Like with previous changes in leadership, someone will miss the good old days and the people who helped them out. They may see advantages to the new administration and not want to leave, but filter information to friends that fled. It's the second time in under a year there's been attempts on the beta's lives. They have the body of the assassin, so they can run that through the lycan database to get some information. Speculation like this and the possibilities you mention are what make writing a joy for me. Thank you, mtn.

I'm smiling big at the singsony voice. From my understanding, heart surgery on a human is rarely under two hours, so while agonizingly long for people who rarely need to see a doctor, the fact it's still going is a good sign. They haven't come out to say he died on the table. At least not yet. 😈 There was likely a lot happening on the flight and preparations going on with people under Trevor's level. Aiden, Ethan, and the rest of the crew would have known Trevor would step into the leadership position and perhaps were trying to avoid distractions for him.

You've right. An attack like this is near impossible to defend against. Unless you cut the leadership off from having access to the people they serve and then you've succeeded in your attack through another method. A lone wolf attack, pun intended, on a suicide mission is not easy to prevent. Trevor carefully listened to each person, accessed the situation, asked where other's in leadership were such as the enforcer, and determined how he could best help. His focus became the pack's stability, Thad's survival, and Wade's comfort. Though he didn't need to ask, requesting Sarah sit with Wade when he couldn't let him know his friend was cared for at that moment.

That's a fun thought

I'd give him about a 50/50 chance, but I'm evil that way. 😈😇

Trevor is showing his true self, isn't he, weinerdog? What is the usual objective for something like this? The families finances are being decimated even as they try to hide their stolen wealth. Desperate act?

Thank you, Raven

“Hey, it’s Skyler.” He held the phone to his ear. “I’m in Lassen Park with Trevor and a buddy. We just left the Bumpass Trail parking lot.” His hand motions indicated he wanted the person on the other end of the phone to get to the point. “Right after I saw the text we started for home. It’s probably going to take a half hour to get to the park exit and another forty-five minutes after that to reach you guys.” One hand rose to rub his temple. “No, my phone was on mute while we hiked. You told me

Thank you, Straycat. A lot of thought went into each gift they received. The ties to Egyptian mythology as the origin of the wolves and several other shifters and the various cultures around the world that have icons of human/animal hybrids made it fun research for me. As far as that dragon in Scotland, an innkeeper's got to keep tourists coming somehow. And who doesn't like a wee swim in a chilly loch?

Thank you, Straycat. Not even Ethan has enough energy for what would be required on that last sentence. Plus he'd just feel icky after touching all those particular people.

This comment make me happy, Straycat. Thank you. I enjoy the bigger, seemingly more important stuff, but it's the little things in the chapter that make me smile the most while writing. I know the readers catch them, but it's not what is typically responded to.

Anything's possible in one of my stories, so you've got a 50/50 chance of that being yes. lol

Thank you, Straycat. As for Ethan, you have no idea.

I had a feeling this would be your reaction to the playroom, Straycat. Aiden likes to make sure his mate's happy and knows how much Ethan likes those seasoned jocks. While my husband loves being tied to a St. Andrews Cross, for me, I prefer it on the Scottish flag. A little WS never hurt anyone. It can be a form of submission, but with these two, it tends to be another sign of mutual love.

Thank you, Kikiadaab. Trevor bottomed for Randy in the void between chapters 10 and 11, so sadly no details other than he was a little sore, but so was Randy. I've hinted in previous books that kind of stuff happens regardless of which body people are in. I doubt it would be too far out there for him or Skyler.

My in-laws are all republicans, but I blame it on environment more than anything. Still, they're willing to listen to opposing views and will vote for who they feel will be best in the job regardless of party. In the area they live, it could be detrimental to their livelihood if they left the party. Regardless of how the party views people like us, my husband's family is very pro gay. I usually joke about them being arch repubs, but they're moderate and in a way are like CJ: fiscally conservative, yet socially liberal.

Great chapter. It's easy to picture the Obama's at this dinner and being so relaxed with this group of friends. You create a wonderful environment here with amusing dialogue, and likely a little girl who pouted if the stairway photos prevented her from showing Michelle her room. The ending gave me a chill the same as the first couple times I read this. Kind of amusing to me we both ended a chapter this week with a similar cliffhanger.

Thank you, Straycat. It's fun when people get the sci-fi references I put in. It gave something to build Aiden's talk with Jean-Pierre around. I'm much more of a modern BSG viewer. The original is fun for a campy, low budget show. It would have been cool if it had run longer. Sadly, I don't think anyone ever picked up the line from Dr. No. “Rise and shine. Can’t have our guests sleeping away the day.” The female’s voice had the same joyful ring Mary’s did in the morning.

Thank you, Straycat. Don't piss off the little guy who can burst into flames or turn everything to ice. I'm glad you found this too.

I'll check that out. I may tease about delays in a chapter getting posted, but since the story is complete and fully edited before I post the first chapter, there's rarely a week it isn't out on Monday.

You make some extremely valid points, Mtn_top. This is why I enjoy the interaction with readers so much. It makes me think more about the world I write and how it compares to the real world. The first book I used mostly fictional locations. Since then, I've placed my characters in real places which calls for more reality. When I was first writing that reply I'd included, situations like prison rape are reportedly far fewer than people believe and depends on reporting from inmates and oversight of facilities. It got deleted as I rewrote what I wanted to say and wasn't added back, likely because I forgot. In a lot of cases, the concept people tend to have of prison sex or rape is more based on what they watch in porn. It does happen, but I don't know the statistics. Something else I started to add and removed was as a survivor of gang rapes, a part of me wishes the people who do that would end up having that done to them in prison. Ultimately it wouldn't make me feel better or change what happened, so is it worth wanting that? Is it worth wanting Rick to suffer or learn from his mistake. I'd prefer he learn and grow. I made a couple references to Council prisons in RWTP. Robert was sent to one in chapter 15, I think, after his attack on Ethan. During the alpha conference I randomly picked Reindeer Station on the Mackenzie River in the far north of Canada's NW Territory. There are sparse communities along the river all the way to the Beaufort Sea. I never really pictured it as something big like a supermax and most any prison run by the Lycan Council would have been smaller, more easy to hide as something else . Animals know how to blend with their surroundings. Packs and the Council operate much as a corporation, so an LLC or other entity purchasing land well away from anything for exploratory mining or some such purpose would give cover and activities for what inmates they did have. I also see them as holding dozens of inmates instead of hundreds, Shifters who broke human laws would end up in a regular prison like anyone else. They'd probably form into the various gangs that make up those facilities for mutual protection or just to be with their own kind. There would still be a good chance regardless of which type of prison Rick ended up in, if he was around larger, stronger, more experienced wolves, or just shifters for that matter, he might be claimed unless he could prove his dominance to them. Essentially what Brandon lived from his emergence as a wolf to when he found the pack that became his home. Even with the North American Council rebuilding itself, and I agree they'd try to focus on rehab and education, there's still a primal factor to overcome.

That particular punishment fitting the crime sounds all well and fine in porn. If Rick did end up in that situation, he'd either come out of prison with a desire to never return, or be more hardened and hateful and destine to be a repeat offender. Of course there is a chance if he was closeted, it could open doors he otherwise wouldn't have considered.

Thank you, Raven. Yeah, sadly that needs to happen for the story to work it's way to where I want to go. It also wouldn't have made sense having Skyler say he had to cancel getting the other two in bed with him without throwing some kind of bone out as to why. Randy and Skyler would have likely jumped each other on the drive, but Trevor would have been pissed as he tried to find someplace to pull over and join in. Two guys from the same town that hook up with guys on the dl find out about either other through a mutual friend. Their options for fun and friendship just increased. Randy's known Seth as long as he's known Cassidy in all likelihood. With him being into guys and now knowing Seth's gay and was attacked for that reason, his concern is genuine. His friendship with Trevor and Sky gives him people he can be around if other friendships take a hit. Since Skyler's a hunter and close to the betas, any wolves seeing him protect Seth would stay well clear if they had any negative opinions of gays. Rick targeted someone for being gay. Probably no different that someone randomly punching a stranger for wearing a pride shirt. Michael targeted people he wanted to have sex with, as a show of dominance or just because he was a slut. He also went after Ethan for having the man he thought should belong to him. I kind of like being called a sadistic author.