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relentlessly until you fold—or die. You don’t have much of a choice when it comes down to it. You either fold and he takes your women, or you fight it out and he won’t stop coming until he takes your females. It’s all to get the female wolves. They are breeding them in New Mexico. It’s their solution to the lady problems we have,” Quinn explained.
    Marcus gritted his teeth as anger surged through him. “I see.”
    “Try to resist him if you can. The way he treats his females is horrendous. I know you were kind of sweet on the alpha’s daughter. What was her name again?”
    “Emily,” Marcus breathed. All this was a gimmick and Emmett was walking them right into it. Knowingly or not.

Chapter Five
    E mily gnawed on her fingernails as she peeked out the window. Lighting flashed in the distance, and a large splat of water landed on the windowpane. The weather matched her mood. Any second now, the car carrying Fernando Juarez would be making its way down the drive. Her life was going to change, whether she wanted it to or not.
    Marcus isn’t going to let that happen! He’ll figure something out—we’ll figure this out.
    She stiffened, hearing the crunch of tires of the gravel drive before the car came into view. Emily closed her eyes and sighed, willing this all to be some horrible nightmare. She opened her eyes praying for sunny skies, but was met with rain.
    Thunder rolled overhead as a bright burst of light flickered. A silver car emerged from the trees and she leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the occupants. The hairs on her arm raised and a chill shot down her spine.
    Emily jumped as a light knock sounded on her door. She spun around and met Daniel’s eyes as he shoved the door open.
    “Dad wants you downstairs now.”
    Emily huffed, crossed her arms over her chest, and marched forward.
    “Remember to behave, Em,” he warned. “This is important.”
    “So is my life,” she mumbled under her breath.
    “So is our pack. It’s not just your hide on the line. You don’t know what is going on out there. The Gulf Packs aren’t to be trifled with. If you speak out of turn, Marcus will die and you’ll wish for death. Please, Em.”
    “How can you be okay with all this?” Emily demanded, studying her older brother. They’d never been close, but he’d always helped her when she needed it.
    Something flickered over Daniel’s face and he looked away. “Dad’s waiting for us.”
    Her heart clenched painfully; he wasn’t going to help her. At least there was still her mother—hopefully.
    Emily gulped as her father’s gaze fell on her. Refusing to meet his eyes, she turned her attention to her mother and instantly felt her body begin to relax.
    Claire McKinley gave her a warm smile, her hazel eyes expressing several emotions as she reached her hand out and took Emily’s in her own. “You look beautiful.”
    “Thanks,” she replied, looking down at her floral sundress.
    Claire pushed the hair out of Emily’s face and tucked a lock behind her ear. “Everything’s going to be okay,” she whispered, pulling Emily firmly against her side.
    Emily rested her head in the crook of her mother’s neck.
    Three loud, crisp rasps on the door caused her to jolt upright. She gritted her teeth and took in a shaky breath. Her mother rubbed her hand up and down Emily’s arm as Emmett strode forward and opened the door.
    “Emmett McKinley?” a man said, his bronzed arm reaching in to take her father’s. “I’m Fernando Juarez and this is my son Luis. It’s nice to meet you in person.”
    Fernando Juarez instantly gave her the creeps. He looked smugly around the room at them as he entered. An air of power radiated off him and Emily could tell by the predatory glint in his eyes, he wasn’t a man who took objections well.
    “Likewise. Welcome to our home, please come in,” Emmett greeted.
    Emily held her breath and swallowed down the thick lump in her throat as the two men entered her