Chapter 5: Chapter Five

While the canyon was truly a beautiful environment, the waiting was driving him crazy. It’d been two and a half hours since he and RJ had left the cave and still there was no sign of anyone else. There wasn’t anything to do except keep a watch out and talk to the other wolf shifter.

“So you’re retiring after this?” Gray asked the other man.

“Yeah, my older brother accepted an Alpha position in a Pack in New Mexico. Our Pack has so many strong dominants—and our Alpha has several sons who will take over the Pack—that my brother’s name was mentioned as a replacement for the New Mexico Pack.”

“You’ll move with him then?”

“Yes.” RJ crouched, flexing his fingers. “Dylan and our younger brother, Ben, are already heading there. After I’ve made certain that my team and the Prince are safe, I’ll meet up with them.”

“What are you planning on doing?”

“Ben’s set up a storefront in town for me. I’ll have the first tattoo shop there.”

“Cool.” Gray noted. RJ had enough ink to show that he enjoyed it. “Did you do all of the unit’s tattoos?”

“Yeah, but my favorites are the two custom pieces I did for Zach and Casey. I’d like to do that more. Give mates something to show off.”

Gray could imagine having a picture of Beth’s sexy little bobcat on his body. Then he immediately saddened. It wasn’t going to happen for him. A wolf and a bobcat? Gray was kidding himself. He’d get a couple of days with Beth, maybe even be able to stretch their time together to months. Eventually something was going to come between them. One of them would have to make the hard decision to separate. Gray needed to figure out if it was going to be worth it in the end to have Beth and have to let her go.

“I saw Zachary and Casey’s tats. They’re awesome,” Gray admitted.

RJ chuckled. “Glad you think so. I’ll give you a good price when you mate.”

Gray bowed his head in thanks. “Appreciate it.”

Of all the times for Gray to have connected with someone, any other point in his life would have been better. With the future of all shifters and their secrets being revealed, Gray couldn’t abandon his Alpha.

“Sounds like some heavy thoughts over there,” RJ commented.

“Yeah,” Gray admitted. “Some things don’t work out the way we want them to, do they?”

“I guess that depends.”

“What do you mean by that?”

RJ shrugged. “The way I see it, we either chose the path we want to take and we fight like hell or we allow others to decide for us.”

That was actually pretty wise.

“Alpha red to alpha black,” squeaked from the radio.

“Alpha black,” RJ answered.

“Headed your way.”

RJ and Gray both stood and started to strip. In just moments, they had shifted into two big wolves, crouched and waiting. There was movement below them then a bobcat broke through the brush, hightailing it over fallen rocks. A squeal from ahead showed a large flying bird. RJ growled and jumped from his hiding place. Gray followed, barely landing before having to duck to avoid the large swoop the bird made.

He managed to stay on his feet right before a hard knock into his side had him sliding over the canyon ground. Fuck, that’s going to leave a mark.

“Alpha red, alpha black,” the radio went off again. “Three more coming in from the south.”

Gray wasn’t sure who that was, but he didn’t have time to find out as he picked himself off the ground and faced the wolf that had run into him. He snarled at the animal. Bigger than him, the wolf was from the gray breed, but Gray would fight to the death if need be. He caught the wolf as he launched himself at Gray again. He got a piece of his leg and bit down, getting a huge paw to his head.

They scrambled around, each trying to gain the upper hand over the other. He could hear the sound of fighting around him. He wasn’t sure who was there or even how many there were. He kept his eye on his attacker even when he made out the loud roar of a cat. He ignored everything around him and lunged.

Gray caught the wolf in the side, but his opponent managed to kick and get away. Gray stalked him before going after him again. He was pushing him toward the edge of the cliff. Gray didn’t know how far it dropped, but it was his only option right then.

One last jump and he managed to roll the other wolf over. He heard the hit and peered over. The twenty-five-foot drop wouldn’t kill him, but he would be out of the fight for a little while. Gray spun to go back to the battle, but a large feline landed on his back. He dropped, rolled and fought to get back to his feet, knowing he had a pretty good gash on his shoulder. An angry cougar crouched across from him.

Gray was used to being smaller than other wolf breeds, but this cat was huge. In all the years he’d been fighting Gray didn’t think he’d gone one on one with such a powerful foe. It was going to take some quick moves and smart thinking to win this battle.

He growled and faked an attack. The cougar moved left, just how Gray wanted. He went in low, taking the cat’s back legs out. He fell but swiped at Gray’s side.

Caught by just the edge of the claws, he hissed in pain. Still, Gray wasn’t giving up. In a series of quick moves, he went after the cougar again and again, backing him up the same way he had done with the wolf. The cat was smarter, though, and swung around to avoid going over the cliff.

A growl behind him, then a big black wolf rolled into the legs of the cat. Gray took the advantage and landed on the cougar’s chest, taking him down. He closed his jaws around the cat’s jugular and bit hard.

He was clawed at, but the black wolf butted the cat until the cat finally relented. Gray shook his head in warning before he let go. It was only then that he realized the sounds of fighting had ended.

Next to him the wolf—RJ—shifted to human form and straightened. “Damn, man—who thought a little wolf like you could fight like that?”

Gray glared at the other man but didn’t really mean it. He was just thankful for the help. RJ grabbed the cat around the neck. “Shift,” he ordered.

Gray took in the wreckage around him, noting four men on the ground with Casey standing over them. RJ hauled the cougar, now in human form, up.

“There’s one more down there,” Gray told him.

RJ laughed. “I don’t think he’s going anywhere for a while, but I’ll get him.”

He shoved the feline shifter at Gray. Gray escorted his prisoner toward the others as Casey was already on the radio.

“Good job, alpha blue. We’ll come to you.”

“Everyone okay?” Gray asked.

“There were more than we thought and they split up. These six, then another six who ran into Joe, Claude, Mike and Dawson. No one got to Zach,” Casey told him.

“Anyone hurt?”

“Minor injuries.” Casey gestured to him. “What about you?”

Gray’s shoulder was screaming at him, but he’d heal. He also needed a fucking shower and some rest but he was alive. “Yeah, fine.”

Casey cut his eyes to where RJ was hauling the wolf over his shoulder. “Let’s move.”

The trek down the canyon took a while with their prisoners’ hands tied, but they made it. RJ would push at them occasionally but it was more for dominance than to hurt anyone further. Gray didn’t really care what Casey or his team did to the shifters. It was over for him. Twelve men had been captured. The only one who should still be free was the Prince’s cousin Raphael. Gray was pretty sure that Casey’s unit could take the remaining man down without his help.

That meant his mission was finally over.

Gray could go home if he wanted to.

He didn’t want to.

Now what the fuck am I supposed to do?

They reached the others and Gray didn’t have any more to think about the future. The sheriff had his gun out, holding it on his own tied-up prisoners.

“Steve,” Casey grunted at one of the men Mike was covering.

Steve scowled at him but didn’t say anything.

“I see your dad didn’t make the trip with you,” Casey noted, crouching in front of him. “Too much of a coward to get his own hands dirty that he has to send his failure of a son?”

The man lunged at Casey, but Mike caught his shoulder and threw him back down.

“That’s what I thought,” Casey said in disgust, standing again. “You couldn’t keep Zachary and now you’ve managed screw up the recapture. Your father is going to be pissed at you.”

“Where is your father?” Prince Zachary joined them as he stepped down from the ledge above with Craig right behind him.

Steve, glared but didn’t say anything.

“No worries. We’ll get him,” Zachary told Steve, grabbing hold of his chin. “While you and your friends here will be processed for kidnapping, torture and treason, I’ll deal with your father.”

Gray watched the scene closely. It seemed like he was the Prince’s nephew. The family resemblance was close enough. More betrayal by family. Casey looked ready to kill Steve, but the Prince remained calm and cool.

“The rangers are on their way,” Joe told them, pocketing his phone.

Gray collapsed against a rock. He needed to shift again to speed up his healing but wanted to wait until the prisoners were gone.

“You okay?” Dawson asked, coming up beside him with a noticeable limp.

“Good, you?”

“Fine.” Dawson waved his hand. “Little shit had sharp teeth.”

Gray chuckled.

“Who’s got the beer?” RJ asked, falling in on the other side of him.

“First round’s on me,” Gray told him with a nudge. The other wolf had been a good man to have by his side. The training that RJ had been through had really saved their asses.

“I got the second,” Dawson said, tiredly, from Gray’s right.

“Damn, sounds good,” RJ muttered, letting his head fall back and closing his eyes. “Sounds fucking fantastic. Do we really have to walk all the way back to the vehicles?”

“Pretty sure,” Mike said joining them. “They aren’t bringing in the choppers for us.”

“But I’m tired,” RJ whined.

“Shower, food, bed,” Gray reminded him.

“Oh yeah. Race you?” RJ ran off cackling with Mike right behind him.

“Those guys are completely nuts,” Gray commented.

Dawson snorted. “Yep.”

* * * *

Beth knew the men were back. It was early evening and the talk of the town was all about the twelve men the rangers had taken to the jail for the sheriff. Dawson had gone home to shower while Gray had headed up the stairs ten minutes before.

“Why don’t you go see if the wolf needs a little help?” Dorothy told her, passing over a room key. “I’ll keep an eye on Julian.”

She’d been sitting on one of the chairs in the great room, watching Julian color while kneeling over the coffee table. She accepted the key with a smile. Julian’s attention was still on his artwork so she quietly left the room and headed up the stairs.

She hadn’t noticed any lingering injuries on either man, but shifters healed fast. The rumpled and exhausted state the men had returned in testified to the tough fight they’d been through. Their quiet demeanor told of a hard day. Even when Gray had spoken softly to her, assuring her that he was unharmed, there had been a weariness in his gaze she’d never seen before from him. Beth quickly rushed up the stairs to the second floor and reached his door.

Gray’s room was empty when she entered. She could hear the shower running in the attached bathroom. She left the key on the dresser and padded across the floor. The bathroom door was silent as she pushed it open. Steam billowed, but she could still make out Gray’s naked body through the glass.

Shit, he has a fine body. She stripped and quietly opened the stall door.

“Damn, baby,” he murmured. “I was just wishing you were in here with me.”

She pressed against his back. There were several large scratches that had started to heal. It hurt her heart to see him injured. She carefully kissed the wounds. “I didn’t get to wash your back last time. I thought I would volunteer my services again,” she told him, sliding her hand over his stomach.

He chuckled and grasped the hand she was moving lower. “It’s not my back that needs attention.”

She smiled against his shoulder and stroked his hard cock. Gray moaned, thrusting his hips forward. He felt good in her hand. She liked that just the thought of her had him raring and ready to go. Beth glided around to his front to face him, keeping a hold of his shaft.

“It was just a day, but I missed you,” he confessed quietly. Gray cupped her face and bent to run his lips over hers.

She rose to her toes. “I worried about you.”

He kissed her sweetly, holding her close. Beth opened for him, let their tongues twirl and tease. As expected, the kiss quickly grew passionate and she gasped into his mouth as he ran his hands down her back to cup her ass.

She rocked up, letting go of his shaft and hanging on to his shoulder.

“Hold tight,” he ordered, picking her up and pressing her back against the wet shower stall. He nibbled down her neck to her collarbone as she arched for him.

His hard cock poked at her entrance. She wiggled, letting him know that she wanted him inside her. Gray slipped in slowly, helping her open her legs around his waist so he could thrust deeply into her. Hot and solid, deep inside her. Beth gripped his shoulders hard, accepting him as he continued to gently enter her.

“You feel so good,” he whispered against her flesh.

“So do you.”

They’d made love before, but this time something felt different. It wasn’t just the way he desperately plunged into her but the tears that sprang to his eyes.

“It’s just us,” she told him. “You and me. It’s going to be okay.”

Gray grunted before closing his eyes. “For how long?” His voice sounded wrecked. “How long before I have to leave?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Beth assured him. “We’re together now!” She hoped he planned on coming back, but she knew that soon she would have to let him go. She tightened her grip even more. “All that matters is this moment.”

“Beth…” He moaned her name as though he was in pain. Gray moved again, to pound deep inside, filling her like no one else, taking her to the edge.

“My Beth!” he called out, plunging his hips faster and harder.

“Gray!” She screamed his name as she climaxed.

“Not done,” he told her, smacking off the water. Gray hefted her higher in his arms before elbowing the stall door open. They only made it as far as the bathroom rug before he laid her back and, still hard inside her, started to thrust once again.

“I can take it,” she panted. “Give all of you to me. This once, don’t hold back.”

He growled and slammed into her once, twice, then one last time before releasing himself again. He collapsed on top of her, his panting matching hers and filling the small room.

“Don’t let me go,” he breathed out.

“No, no, I won’t,” she promised, hugging him close.

Beth didn’t know how long they lay on the floor, but finally she started to shiver and Gray lifted his head.

“That was intense,” he said, looking a little sheepish.

She giggled. “That was awesome.”

He dipped his head and kissed her gently. “You are amazing.”

She hummed, kissing him back. As long as he thought so, she was happy. Once they had broken their lip lock, he stood, lifting her with him and toweling her off before drying himself. Beth loved the attention he paid to her, making her feel so cared for. He was a strong man who showed gentle kindness.

Once dressed, they sat on the bed together while he held her hand, both not sure what to say.

“Beth…” he started but paused, pressing his lips together.

“It’s okay, Gray,” she assured him.

“I have to call my Alpha. Give him an update on what happened and have him pull the other wolves from the search. They need to know so they can go back to their families.”

“I know.”

He squeezed her hand. “When I call him, I want to tell him I’m not coming back right away.”

“Really?” Beth was afraid of what that might mean.

“I think he’ll let me,” Gray told her. “I have been working my ass off for them.”

“He’ll also want you home. To go back to your Pack.”

“I know,” Gray said.

“Do whatever you have to,” she said quietly.

The shrill sound of a cell phone interrupted their moment.

“That’s Tyler,” he told her, letting go.

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No.” Gray gripped her hand. “I want you to stay.”

She nodded and moved onto his lap and he reached for the phone on the nightstand. It was hard allowing him to speak to the one man who could send him away from her. She wanted to throw his cell across the room and hide him forever in her small town. But it wasn’t her choice and she couldn’t make him remain with her. Just like she needed her brother and nephew, Gray relied on his Pack and they relied on him.

He held her tight as he answered. “Hey, Tyler.”

“Gray, are you okay?” his Alpha asked.

Beth rested her head against his chest, hearing both sides of the conversation easily.

“I’m good. You can let the others know that it’s over for us. We captured twelve men. Casey Williams said they would be leaving soon to gather up the other men who were involved.”

“Good, good,” Tyler said over the line. “I called the sheriff’s office and spoke to Joe already. I thought you would be there, but he said you headed back to your room to clean up. You weren’t hurt, were you?”

Gray grimaced so Beth stroked his chest. “No, no—I’ve already healed. I just wanted to shower before I called you.”

“Grayson.” Tyler’s voice took on a stern tone. “What is going on?”

Gray sighed and gripped her hand hard. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Okay,” Tyler encouraged. “You know, whatever it is, I’ll support you.”

Gray blew out a breath but didn’t continue.

Tyler waited a few minutes then a heavy sigh came over the line. “Just tell me.”

“I want to stay longer,” Gray admitted.

“I see. Tell me about her.”

Gray laughed. “She’s amazing and I’d like the time to get to know her better.”

“Of course,” Tyler said. “Take all the time you need. I think you deserve it.”

“But what about the threats to the Pack?”

“Things have settled down lately. We’re still on alert, but we’re prepared to deal with anything that comes up. You deserve this time for yourself. Do you hear me? Don’t worry about us.”

Beth relaxed. She liked Gray’s Alpha already.

“Yes, Alpha,” Gray answered. “I hear you.”

“Just make sure to check in with me. I want to know you’re all right.”

“I promise.” He hung up the phone smiling.

“That was easy,” she commented.

Gray let out a long breath. “I get the feeling he already knew. He didn’t sound surprised at all. Maybe Joe said something?”

“I don’t see why he would.”

Gray frowned, but she wasn’t going to let him dwell on what his Alpha did or did not know. She ran her finger over his furrowed brow. “Now, what should we do for the rest of the night?”

Gray’s stomach growled and he blushed.

“I guess that’s my cue to feed you,” she teased, standing and offering her hand. “I think I can handle that. You’ll need your energy for later, anyway.”

“I really am hungry,” he admitted.

Beth tugged him toward the door. “I think Casey and the other guys were coming for dinner too.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me. I get the feeling that those guys haven’t had a good meal in a long time.”

“Well, they’re in the right place. Now, let’s go before they eat everything in the inn,” she told him.

Gray grumbled about needing a little bit more loving but followed Beth easily out of his room and down to the dining room. She held his hand and noticed for the first time how drawn he looked. He was starving. There was no telling how many times he’d shifted that day. Plus he still needed to heal.

She continued to drag him down the steps, the scent of food growing stronger until they reached the threshold to the dining room. Inside RJ, Mike and Craig sat at a large table already filled with overflowing plates.

RJ waved them over. “Dude, they have homemade chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes and rolls from scratch.”

“I can see that,” Gray said. “Did you leave any for the rest of us?”

“Maybe if you hurry,” RJ replied. “Because I’m not going to stop eating until they roll me out of here.”

Gray took the seat next to him, pulling Beth down beside him. She liked that he still hadn’t released her hand yet. He wasn’t ashamed of her. Instead, he was sort of staking a claim to her.

A part of her wanted that claim to be permanent. It might be too soon to even think about forming any kind of long-term bond, but in her heart she wished for it.

Dorothy and Julian walked in, hand in hand. Julian squealed, waving at them.

“Hey, little man,” Gray called to the boy.

“I drew you a picture!” Julian came rushing over.

Gray accepted the picture and Beth glanced over his shoulder and down at the drawing of three cats and a wolf.

“That’s me, Daddy, Aunt Beth and you,” Julian told him proudly.

Gray lifted the boy into his lap. “It’s wonderful! I love it, Julian.” He rotated it more for Beth to be able to get a really good look as well.

“Great job, Tiny,” she told her nephew.

“Really?” Julian sounded so excited.

“Really.”

“Into your seat, Julian, so everyone can eat,” Dorothy ordered him while she held a large tray of plates of food.

“Okay.” Julian scrambled around to sit next to Beth and Dorothy filled the empty space in front of them with plates.

Gray groaned, bending so that he could sniff his meal.

“Told you!” RJ said smugly, leaning over and snatching one of Gray’s rolls.

“Hey!” he protested with a laugh. Beth grinned along with him. She didn’t see Dawson, Casey or the Prince but even she was starving after smelling their dinner.

“Homemade, dude!” RJ taunted, waving the roll at Gray.

Dorothy smacked the back of his head. “You behave, RJ Cross, or I’ll be giving your brother a call.”

“Yes, ma’am,” RJ said, dropping his head. Beth noticed he kept the roll tucked in close, though.

Dorothy shook her head and smiled. “I’ll bring you all a beer. I think you deserve it.”

“Yay!” RJ cheered, digging back into his food.

Everyone laughed and Gray picked up Beth’s hand, placing a kiss in her palm before he started on his own plate.

Beth ate more slowly than the men, making sure Julian was taken care of. The conversation remained light and playful, which she was grateful for. The guys needed a break from everything they’d gone through. Tomorrow was soon enough to figure out where they’d all go from here.

At least, that was what she thought, until Dawson strolled in with Casey and Zachary behind him.

“Look!” Julian pointed to the Prince. “It’s the fancy cat!”

Dawson groaned, walking to his son’s side. Everyone else laughed.

“Fancy cat,” RJ repeated. “I like it!”

“Don’t even think about it.” Casey pointed to RJ. “He’s still my mate.”

“Sure, Cas.” RJ held his hands up. “Or should I call you, fancy cat’s man.”

Casey stepped toward RJ, but Zachary caught his mate’s arm. “Don’t forget, RJ,” Zachary said. “We know where your skeletons are buried.”

RJ stuck his bottom lip out. “You’re so mean!”

“No, he’s not!” Julian defended. “He’s going to take me a castle. A real one. He told me so.”

“Well.” RJ shook his head. “I guess I can’t argue with that.” RJ nodded at him. “You win, kid.”

“Good.” Julian nodded once before turning to his dad. “Sit down, Daddy.”

Dawson caught Beth’s gaze as they smiled at each other.

“Yes, son,” Dawson said. “It’s time we all sat and had dinner together as a family.”

There was some shuffling of chairs and plates as another table was added to theirs to fit everyone. The place to the left of the Prince was empty until the small guard, Craig, walked into the room quietly and joined them.

Beth hadn’t spoken to the strange cat shifter, but her brother had explained earlier who he was.

Once everyone was present, Dorothy arrived with a tray full of beer bottles and a glass of chocolate milk. She must have guessed that even Julian was getting into the celebration.

There wasn’t anyone else in the inn’s dining room, which was probably a good thing since Casey’s unit was pretty rambunctious. Everything said was PG-rated, since there was a little boy in the room, but the guys amused her.

It was one of the best evenings she could ever remember having.

Dorothy quietly began to clear the dishes, with RJ and Mike getting up to help her. She tried to shoo them away, but they’d insisted. Julian started to yawn as he grew sleepy and Dawson pulled him onto his lap, patting his back.

RJ and Mike came back with more beer, but Beth waved away the offer. She leaned over and rested her head against Gray’s shoulder while he spoke quietly to Craig.

There wouldn’t be a lot of nights like this. The Prince had obligations and Casey’s unit was breaking up and going their separate ways, but at the moment she believed all was as it should be.

If she didn’t have the worry that Gray would soon be leaving her, Beth would be the happiest that she’d ever been in her life.

All she could do was enjoy the time with him.

If she worried too much about the future, she’d miss out on the present.

Gray tilted his head, brushing his lips over her temple. “Are you about ready to head upstairs?”

Beth was more than. “Yes.”

“We’re going to call it a night, guys,” Gray said as he stood. He captured Beth’s hand and helped her rise, too.

“Meet at eight?” Dawson asked. “We can head to the sheriff’s office after breakfast.”

Gray nodded before leading Beth from the room. Julian had fallen asleep on Casey’s shoulder, but the rest of the men made hardly any comments as she and Gray walked from the dining room. Which she was a little surprised at, but thankful no one was giving them a hard time. Even jokingly.

She was fully aware that Gray was uncomfortable with the relationship between a wolf and a feline shifter. If anything other than the distance separated them, Beth suspected it would be the fact she was a bobcat.

Beth should probably have been upset about that fact, but for some reason all she wanted was Gray. It didn’t matter how she got the man. He was hers. She was going to have to figure out how to make a relationship last.

Leaving Coyote Bluff was her worst nightmare. She loved the small town and the community that had become her sanctuary. No one there expected her to abandon her family like other feline shifters. Here she fit.

Gray had an Alpha and a whole other life she didn’t know anything about.

On the quiet walk up to his room, she squeezed his hand. “Will you tell me about your Pack?”

The smile she received was beautiful, the love that shone through obvious. “Yes.” He unlocked his room before ushering her inside. “How about we talk in front of the big window? We can enjoy the settling down of things.”

Beth nodded. That idea sounded romantic to her.

While Gray opened the curtains and arranged the chair, she grabbed a couple of bottles of water sitting on the desk. Dorothy must have put them in earlier when she’d cleaned the room.

“There’s only one chair in here,” Gray told her. “I guess you’ll have to sit on my lap.”

Like that was a hardship for her. “Well, damn it.”

He laughed before dragging her over to sit on him. With his arm around her back, she settled in to listen to him talk.

“I live in Colorado but far enough from the mountains that it’s not too cold,” he said. “Tyler, my Alpha, took over the territory from another Alpha who abused his Pack. Riker is now with our Alpha Council, paying for those crimes, and that leaves our Pack trying to move on from a bad beginning.”

“That sounds horrible,” she whispered.

Gray nodded. “Riker’s Pack was so mistreated that when Riker was finally taken away, they ran as soon as they could. Another Alpha in Colorado opened up his own home to the members who needed to be away from the territory and memories and still wanted to remain a secret after the shifters unite and become public.”

“So your Pack is coming out?” she asked.

“We are,” Gray said. “It’s not the best solution for everyone and I know that, but it’s a start in helping shifters thrive. Austin, the other Alpha in Colorado, is taking in any wolf shifter who wants to join. He recently mated with a very good friend of mine.”

The softness that showed up in his tone surprised her. “Was this friend a woman?” Beth questioned. Oddly, she didn’t feel jealousy. Instead, she was bothered by the sadness in his gaze.

“Yes,” Gray admitted. “Kiley and I were never meant to be together and we both knew it. We spent time together and we did have sex, but the emotional bond was missing.”

“But you still loved her,” Beth stated with certainty.

“I do, but as a friend. I’ll miss her, but she’s met the man she was supposed to be with. Austin is the perfect match for her. I’m very happy for the two of them.”

“I believe you,” Beth said. “I can see it in your face.”

“If Kiley and I had settled for each other instead of allowing ourselves to search for who we’re meant to find, she wouldn’t have Austin and I’d have missed out on meeting you.”

“And yet we barely know each other,” Beth pointed out.

“True,” Gray said. “However, the connection I feel to you is stronger than anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s something that I want to explore.”

Beth cuddled in to him further. “Tell me more.”

“I work for the local police department there as a detective, although in the last year family obligations have kept me from working full-time. Even though my superiors are human and don’t know about shifters, they’ve been great about giving me the time off I need. Although I don’t know how much longer they’ll be willing to do so.”

“So, a cop, huh?”

“Yes,” Gray said with a smile. “I enjoy the investigation part of the work. Especially being able to swoop in and help someone who needs it.”

“You’re a hero.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. I just want to make a difference in someone’s life,” Gray admitted.

Beth didn’t say anything about there not being much opportunity in the small town of Coyote Bluff for Gray to make that difference. Yes, they had a sheriff’s department, but her town didn’t have a whole lot of trouble. “Do you live with your Alpha?” she asked.

“No, I have an apartment in town that’s closer to the station. Tyler has full-time guards who watch out for him and his daughter so I’m allowed to come and go.”

“He’s not mated?”

“Tyler?” Gray shook his head. “No, Jesse’s mom was Tyler’s college sweetheart and human. As soon as he told her about his shifting after she had Jesse, that was the end of it. She left Tyler and Jesse behind and they haven’t heard from her since.”

“But there’s a chance Jesse won’t be able to shift with one human and one shifter parent,” Beth pointed out.

“I guess it didn’t matter. Although we’ve learned that the shifter gene is stronger than her human DNA, so the possibility of Jesse shifting when she’s older is pretty high.”

“I just can’t imagine leaving my child behind for any reason,” Beth shared. “It seems like the worst thing a parent can do.”

“I agree. We might have shifting abilities, but we’re humans too. I think that’s going to be one of the biggest hurdles we’re going to have to face from pure humans. That we’re just like them, with hopes and dreams, but we can transform into animals as well.”

She shuddered just thinking about it. “I don’t ever want anyone to know what I can do.”

Gray didn’t say anything for several moments. Then he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “I’m going to talk to Joe tomorrow and make sure he’s aware of everything. Without any time of contact with the shifters in charge of the movement, I don’t want your town to suffer.”

“Do you think we need to worry?”

“No,” he said quickly. “I just want him to be prepared.”

It was nice that Gray cared, but now Beth regretted bringing up the subject. So much could go wrong if humans freaked out about the knowledge of shifters. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Sure,” he murmured. “I think we’ll have to get Jesse and Julian together soon. They’re going to be the best of friends and I can see them both keeping us on our toes.”

Beth laughed softly. “That might not be a good thing.”

“It will be,” Gray told her. “At least for us. We’ll get to torture Tyler and Dawson, so that’s a plus.”

Beth closed her eyes as Gray continued to talk about the little girl back home who Julian reminded him of. She loved to listen to Gray’s deep, rumbling tone while he spoke. Inside, she warmed at the thought of getting their two families in one place. There was hope for her and Gray.