Annabelle flinched at the sound coming from Alcide, but she kept on going. “So Basim made up an excuse to get me out of the apartment, and he took off. I tried to follow him, but I lost him.”

“You were suspicious,” Jannalynn said. “But you didn’t call the packmaster. You didn’t call me. You didn’t call anyone. We took you in and made you a member of our pack, and you betrayed us.” Suddenly, she hit Annabelle in the head with her fist, actually leaping into the air to land the blow. Just like that, Annabelle was on the ground. I gasped, and I wasn’t the only one.

But I was the only one who noticed that Jason was straining to hold Alexei back. Something about the violence in the air had sent the boy over the edge. If he’d been a little bigger, Jason would’ve been on the ground. I punched Eric in the arm, jerked my head in the direction of the struggle. Eric leaped over to help Jason restrain the boy, who fought and snarled in their arms.

For a moment there was silence in the dark clearing as everyone watched Alexei struggle with his madness. Appius Livius looked profoundly sad. He worked his way into the knot of limbs and wrapped his own arms around his child. “Sshhhhhh,” he said. “My son, be still.” And gradually Alexei grew quiet.

Alcide’s voice was very close to a rumble when he said, “Jannalynn, you are my new second. Annabelle, get up. This is pack business now, and we’ll settle it at a pack meeting.” He turned his back on us and began moving.

The Weres were simply going to walk out of the woods and drive away. “Excuse me,” I said sharply. “There’s the little matter of the body being buried on my land. I think there’s something pretty damn significant about that.”

The Weres stopped walking.

Eric said, “Yes.” The one word carried a lot of weight. “Alcide, I believe Sookie and I need to sit in on your pack meeting.”

“Only pack members,” Jannalynn snapped. “No oneys, no deaders.” She was still as small as ever, but with her field promotion to second, she seemed harder and stronger in spirit. She was a ruthless little thing, no doubt about it. I thought Sam was mighty brave, or mighty foolish.

“Alcide?” Eric said quietly.

“Sookie can bring Jason, since he’s two-natured,” Alcide growled. “She’s a oney, but she’s a friend of the pack. No vamps.”

Eric glanced at my brother. “Jason, will you accompany your sister?”

“Sure,” Jason said.

So it was settled. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Annabelle stagger to her feet and reorient herself. Jannalynn packed a wallop.

“What are you going to do with the body?” I called after Alcide, who was definitely moving out. “Do you want us to cover him back up or what?”