As soon as Tobias pulled up to the pumps and shut off the truck, Joe vaulted over the tailgate and came around to stop Tobias from biting the man with overalls. Or punching him. Punching was more likely, since Tobias had strong hands from ranch work but small teeth.

“What kind of crap is this?” Tobias demanded. “You doubled the price of gas when you saw us coming?”

“Supply and demand,” Overalls said, giving Tobias a nasty smile. The smile slipped away when Tolya opened the passenger door and stepped out of the pickup, but Overalls focused on Tobias. “You should know about supply and demand.”

“We do,” Tolya said so pleasantly it made Joe shiver. Then the Sanguinati gave Tobias a look that warned the human not to make trouble. “Since you had to make the trip on our behalf, I will pay for the gasoline.” He took a wallet out of his suit coat, then held up two fifty-dollar bills as he focused on Overalls. “So that you know we can pay.”

Wanting to get away from the town and this pack of humans who seemed ready to attack, Joe opened the gas cap and snapped, “Tobias.” Then to Tolya, <Letting them change the price because we wanted some gas is no different from letting smaller predators run you off a kill before your own pack has fed. If you pay them this time, they’ll keep making the Prairie Gold humans pay more.>

<Not for long.>

The ominous words made him uneasy, but the scent in the air—there and gone as the wind shifted—was more disturbing.

“What they’re doing isn’t right,” Tobias said as he started to pump the gas.

Joe growled at him because this wasn’t the time or place to discuss human meanness or greed—not when the Elders were so close to the town their scent was in the air.

Tobias filled the tank, Tolya paid for the gas, and they drove away as the pack of men made what Joe assumed were insulting comments.

<Do you need any food?> Joe asked Tolya.

<No, thank you. We ate on the train.>

As soon as they crossed the Bennett town line, Tobias pulled over and Nyx and Tolya got out. Joe, riding in the bed of the pickup, removed his shirt, then pulled off his shoes.

“I need to be Wolf.” He stood up and unbuckled his belt.

“Wait a minute,” Tobias protested.

Joe shook his head. “I need to be Wolf.” He pushed the jeans down his legs and stepped out of them, kicking them aside before he shifted into a form that felt natural and had sharper senses. He gave his fur a good shake, then sat down and looked at Tobias, who had turned his back to the truck.

“We can continue now,” Tolya said politely.

Tobias looked over his shoulder, then turned to face them. “I’ve got things to say.”