At first I think he's referring to my beard, but then I realize he was the fourth wolf out during the full moon.
Normally after a wolf marks his mate, the extreme possessiveness and jealousy eases. I don't know why mine seems even worse. Probably because despite my wolf's claim, I haven't figured out how to keep her.
Rafe pushes the beer and two empty glasses our way without a word.
Quiet fellow.
Once again I'm struck by the stillness he embodies. I follow suit and don't speak, pouring a glass of beer for myself and Sunny and taking a long sip.
"Well?" Rafe says.
"We'll take them all. No problem. I'll take care of transport."
Rafe cocks his head. "You don't know how many there are."
"Doesn't matter. Alpha Green will figure it out. His son owns nightclubs and real estate all over Tucson, and the pack owns a brewery north of Phoenix. We can find jobs for them. Get them integrated. Help with the PTSD."
Lance gives a solemn nod. "Good. You have an understanding of what they're dealing with."
"I know a few from the California lab. They function… but barely. Real paranoid and jittery. Definitely off." I think of Declan, Laurie and Parker and shake my head. They are definitely unique characters.
"Good," Lance repeats.
"We have two dozen refugees," Rafe tells me. We took them in six weeks ago when we located the lab and took it down. They are currently camped nearby."
"Two dozen. Okay. I can hire a bus to take them down to Phoenix."
Rafe nods.
When I realize we're back to silence, I decide to try to get some of my questions answered. "So do you guys work for the government?"
"Contractors for hire. Former active military. The order to shut down that lab came from the government, though."
Sunny and I glance at each other, digesting that news.
"Yeah, if we'd known such a thing existed when we were in the forces, we probably would've all defected, right then and there," Channing offers. Clearly he's the only talkative one in the group. "Because what we found in that lab was wrong."
All four of them nod, a haunted quality sneaking into their sharp gazes.
"All wrong," Deke agrees, and throws back his beer, draining a full glass in a few gulps.
"So why did the government send you in to shut it down forcibly, if it was their lab to begin with?" Sunny asks.
Rafe shakes his head. "They didn't brief us much, but from what I understand, it was a joint-venture project between government and private industry."
"Data-X," I concur.
"Right. The major players in Data-X were eliminated. I'm guessing by your network."
I nod.
"The government chose to close the project and eliminate any evidence of what remained."
A chill runs up my spine. Are these guys government assassins?
Not wanting to know one way or the other, I down my beer and stand up. "I'll arrange the bus. When can we meet the refugees?"
"Let us know when you book the bus and we'll give you the location," Rafe says.
I barely manage not to roll my eyes at their cloak and dagger shit. "This time can I at least get a phone number?"
"Yes." Rafe turns on his phone.
I pull mine out and it beeps with a message.
"That's me," he says.
I don't even bother asking how he got my number. These guys probably already know everything there is to know about me, Sunny, and my pack.
Sunny isn't deterred by their reticence. "So what's the scoop-were you guys, like, special ops?"
All four of them consider her, which tells me she hit the mark. Her intuition is always spot on.
"Shifter ops," Channing grins and takes a sip of beer.
Sunny's eyes light up and she leans forward. "You were all like, shifter CIA? Navy SEALS? Special Forces?"
"Something like that," Rafe mumbles.
"And now that you're retired, you're a pack?" she asks brightly.
"Something like that," Deke answers.
"We're a company-Black Wolf Security," Channing offers.
The other three look at him.
"What? It's not a secret."
"Need to know," Deke sing-songs.
"We're a legit company. Rafe bought a headquarters."
"Still," Rafe says. "Low profile."
Low profile, minimal words. I'm getting the essence of these guys. And while I think they're the good guys, I'm also certain danger surrounds them. And my wolf doesn't like Sunny near danger.
I stand up and help Sunny out of her chair. "I'll be in touch, then."
Rafe nods. Channing lifts his glass. Deke and Lance remain still.
I shake my head as we leave. Not sure I've met a stranger shifter pack since those crazy three moved over from California.
And they had good reason.
Of course, these guys probably do, too, but I doubt I want to know what it is.
Sunny
I TUCK a bottle of wine and an opener in my picnic basket, along with our lunch and climb in the bus to meet Titus at his place. It's our last afternoon in Taos before we head to Phoenix with the refugees, and I intend to make the most of it.
I've been ignoring the little niggles of anxiety that have been running through me as our end draws ever closer.
I don't want to think about it. Don't want to give him up. Being with Titus feels too good.
Too right.
And every time I'm with him, his auric field turns pink.
He loves me.
He hasn't said it, but it's clear.
And I feel the same way.
I find him sitting outside his place, waiting for me. He surges to his feet as soon as I pull up.
"Hey, big man," I call as I jump out and hoist the picnic basket.
"What's this?" He takes it from me. I didn't tell him our plans, just that I wanted to show him something this afternoon.
I beam up at his handsome face. "We're going to have a picnic at the waterfall," I tell him.
"There's a waterfall?"
"Yep. And we're going there. On your bike," I say. "It will be easier and way more fun." The road up to the waterfall gets a little rough.