Chapter 319 Chapter 319
“Did you chat on the phone while climbing the tree and taking those shots?”
He turned to see Walker standing there grinning at him. He motioned to the crowd that had gathered, “they filled us in.”
Giana came over the railing, her gaze moving over his chest. “You’re bleeding.”
Deacon looked down to see the scratches and scrapes. He wiped his hand over his skin, noting that most had stopped oozing blood. “I didn’t know I was climbing a tree when I gave you my shirt.” He looked at Walker, “did you see any cause for the bear to be acting that way?” He dropped down to one knee and closed the rifle case. “I hate killing an animal unnecessarily.”
Walker nodded, then bent down to slip his shoes on. “It looked like its one leg was torn up from a trap at some point.”
“Are bears common around here?” Picking up the case, he swung it over his shoulder.
“Not that far out of the bush.”
Deacon turned his hat around the right way. “You might want to check on where the traps are,” he scanned the group and saw there were a lot of young shifters, “you don’t want a first-timer to land in one.”
Walker nodded, “yeah, I'll go mention that to dad now.”
Giana turned around. Her father and two brothers were walking through the crowd.
“I’ll run interference while you go get a shirt,” Walker tapped the side of his neck, reminding Deacon that with no shirt Giana’s mark was very visible.
“I’ll go grab you a shirt.” Giana hopped over the rail and ran for the van.
Deacon watched her brother get in his father’s way, likely telling him about the traps.
Oren turned to his other sons and motioned in the other direction.
Deacon was pretty they’d just been sent to go run the land and search for traps.
Giana came running back and handed him one of his shirts.
He held out the rifle case to her and then pulled it over his head, jamming his hat back on afterward. His mind was still swimming from the phone call. He made fast work of tucking the shirt in when her father stepped over the rail.
Before the Alpha could reach them, a little girl came running over to the rail. A woman ran after her and stopped her from climbing it. It was the little girl from down in the gorge, he was sure of it.
Deacon acknowledged Giana’s father and held up his hand as he went over to the girl. He leaned down on his knees to look at her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded and leaned against her mother’s side.
Deacon stood up and looked at the older sister that had been down there with her. “Zariah?” She nodded. “You did a good job, getting high enough and out of reach.” She looked at him with a frightened expression on her face and sheltering your sister.
“I was so scared,” she whispered.
“Me too,” he told her.
She looked at the tree, “did you really climb the tree and shoot the bear?”
Deacon looked up in the tree, “I did.” As he examined it now, he wasn’t sure he’d do it a second time.
“Thank you.” Her mother said with emotion shaking her voice.
He felt Giana come up beside him.
The woman bowed her head, “thank you, Giana.”
With a shrug, she looked up at him, “it’s kind of what we do,” she told her, with an understanding smile on her face.
Deacon turned to see her father patiently observing the interaction. “Excuse us.” He said quietly and went over to him.
“Thank you,” Oren looked down at his daughter, noting she still held his rifle case, “both of you.” He turned back to Deacon, “I just had an interesting conversation with Shepard Addison,” he paused when Walker came over, “concerning you Mister Parrish.”
Deacon sucked in a quiet breath, wondering if the king had told him he was his daughter’s mate.
“And my daughter’s new role in the Alliance’s system.”
Giana gave Deacon a guarded look, she was expecting the worst as well.
“I’ll admit, I was quite taken back by it, but I do see the need for such a thing.” He held out his hand to Deacon, “if I can ever assist in your task, don’t hesitate to ask.” He shook Deacon’s hand and then released it. Turning to his daughter, he put his hand gently on her shoulder. “Please be careful, Giana.” He stepped back, “I know you have other tasks to do today, so we won’t keep you any longer.” He walked back toward the crowd.
“I’m sorry, did I miss some sort of miraculous event in the last half hour?” Walker smirked as he buttoned up his shirt.
Giana shook her head and looked at Walker, the confusion was clear on her face. “I have no idea what happened.” She glanced back to Deacon, then gave her brother and shrug, “Maybe the king told him what we’ve already accomplished with the team?”
Deacon knew exactly what the king had told her father, but there was no way he could explain it right now—not when he hadn’t thought it through and had an idea of what it meant. He rubbed his hand over his beard, “I say we get going before he changes his mind.”
Giana’s eyes went wide. “Yes.” She nodded. “Yes, let’s get out of here before the magic or whatever that was wears off.” She grinned at Walker and then gave him a quick hug.
“Be safe, babes.” He told her softly. She nodded and lifted the rifle case to her shoulder.
“Love you, bro.” She stepped over the rail and went toward the van.
Walker smirked at Deacon, “you will explain to her what happened, right?”
Deacon couldn’t mask his surprise.
Glancing at his father, Walker shrugged, “I heard him telling Mom.”
Blowing out a breath, Deacon nodded his head slowly, “yeah, as soon as I figure out what the hell just happened, I will.”
Holding out his hand to him, Walker grinned, “you just became my father’s equal—that’s what happened.”
Deacon shook his head and took his hand.
“Try to keep her out of trouble.” Releasing his hand, he walked away.
Deacon looked over to see Giana sitting in the driver’s seat. “I’ll try.” He said to no one and stepped over the rail.