Chapter Six
Glass shattering had Gray lurching up out of bed and fumbling for his clothes.
“What’s wrong?” Beth asked sleepily, flipping the lamp on the bedside table on.
“Something’s going on downstairs,” he told her. “Stay here and lock the door behind me.” Gray only pulled on a pair of sweats before he was racing out of the room. If he needed to shift, he’d be able to quickly.
Before he took a step down the hall, he heard the click of a lock at his door. Good, at least Beth’s out of danger.
His instincts were screaming at him to use caution, so once he reached the stairs, he crept down in the dark. There was a scraping noise coming from the dining room. Gray didn’t know what time it was, but certainty there shouldn’t be anyone moving around downstairs.
If he’d heard the disturbance, Claude probably had as well so he’d have to make sure he didn’t sneak up on the bird shifter.
At the bottom of the steps, he paused, peering into the doorway of the dining area. Nothing moved, but he faintly caught at least three different scents and breathing patterns.
Intruders. Gray was certain.
Across the entry, he saw a quick glimpse of movement. Claude was right next to the front door. Once Gray spotted him, it was easier to make out his silhouette. Claude nodded before dipping it to the side.
Gray held up three fingers in case Claude hadn’t picked up their unexpected guests.
Claude motioned for him to move. Gray stalked forward silently until he was just past the threshold into the dining room.
Felines, three of them straight ahead.
He dropped into a crouch and growled, letting his powerful wolf come to the surface enough that his sound shook the walls.
“Fuck! It’s one of the wolves!”
Gray launched himself up and across the room, but whoever had been there a moment ago was already leaping through the open window. He heard the front door slam and figured Claude was chasing after the intruders from the front. Another feline dove through the opening, quickly followed by the third. Gray couldn’t let them get away.
He was only a few feet behind, but as soon as he cleared the window pane Gray was knocked in the head with something.
“Shit!” He hit the deck hard and rolled just in time to avoid a boot to the back. Using his momentum, Gray kept out of his assailant’s reach until he dropped into the yard.
“Asshole,” Gray spat. There was no one on the porch, though. He stood and looked around.
He could smell the felines, but the scent was all over the place. It was as if they’d just disappeared. A light shining on him had Gray twirling around with a snarl.
Claude stood by with a flashlight in his hand, dressed in only a pair of boxers. “Where’d they go?”
“No idea.” Gray peered around the yard again. “One stuck around long enough to hit me, but I didn’t see him slip away.”
The beam of the flashlight moved and Claude hissed. “You’re bleeding.”
Gray already knew that. Blood dripped down the back of his neck. “I know.”
“We need to call Dawson and see what happened inside,” Claude said.
Gray grunted but walked over to the steps before stomping up them. He couldn’t believe the fucking felines had gotten away from him. Years of training and detective work hadn’t helped him this time. He was pissed at himself.
“Come on.” Claude gripped his shoulder. “We’ll have Dorothy look at your wound.”
“I’m fine,” Gray grumbled.
“I insist,” Claude replied. He stopped outside the front door. “Thanks for coming down.”
“Of course. I’m just sorry that I let him get away.”
“You didn’t,” Claude argued. “They had this planned. As soon I reached the porch, someone knocked me off my feet.”
“Are you okay?”
“Fine.” Claude waved his hand. “I knew there were three inside and didn’t expect anyone else to be on look-out. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“How many total, do you think?”
“At least five,” Claude answered. “And I’ve never scented them before so they’re not from here.” He pushed open the front door before strolling toward the dining room.
“Damn it,” Gray muttered. “We need to warn the Prince. Whoever was here has to be after him.”
“I agree.”
Gray flipped the switch, bathing the dining room in the soft yellow light. “Son of a bitch!”
Every table in the room had been scored with some sort of sharp weapon. One of the vases had fallen and glass littered the floor. That must have been what had woken him.
“We stopped them from doing more damage,” Claude said.
“But why?”
“To let us know they’re here?” Claude suggested.
“That gave us a warning, though,” Gray said.
“Yeah,” Claude said. “I’m still trying to figure that out.”
“Call Dawson,” Gray told the bird shifter. “I need to let Beth know everything is okay.”
As Claude headed one way, Gray walked toward the stairs. His head was pounding and he knew it was going to be a rough night, but he had to check on his woman.
“Beth!” He knocked gently on the door. “It’s me.”
She yanked the door open and stood there with wide eyes. “What happened?”
“Some felines broke in,” Gray explained. “Claude’s calling your brother.”
“I smell blood.” Beth grabbed his shoulder before spinning him around. “Gray!”
He chuckled to try and take away some of her worry. “I’m okay, I promise. Do you want to stay up here or come down and—”
“Dorothy needs to look at you.” Beth grasped his hand then tugged him in the direction he’d come from.
Gray almost stumbled. Damn, she can move fast. “Slow down, honey.”
“I can’t believe that you’re walking around like that.”
He didn’t get to say anything else because Dorothy was standing at the bottom of the stairs with her blue robe wrapped around her.
“Dorothy,” Beth said. “Gray’s been hurt.”
“Claude told me. Bring him into the dining room. That’s where your brother is going to meet us.”
Gray decided to just let the women fuss over him since the more he walked around, the sicker he felt. He knew he wasn’t injured badly, but it would take some time to heal. Beth led him to one of the tables off to the side where Dorothy had already set up some supplies.
“Sit here,” Beth said ushering him to a chair. “You’re getting pale.”
“Feeling a little sick, but it’ll pass,” he admitted.
Instead of sitting next to him Beth kneeled between his legs before taking his hands in hers. Gray smiled down at her. It felt nice that someone was so concerned about him. Not that his Pack mates wouldn’t be, but at home he had to be the strong one who watched out for the others. In Coyote Bluff, he was learning that everyone pitched in and it wasn’t about species. The community he’d found himself in was certainly unique.
“Gray! You okay?” Dawson hollered as he walked in.
Gray waved his hand. “There’s people sleeping, man. Keep it down.”
“Not anymore,” RJ said as he and Mike strolled in. “What’s all the excitement about?”
Gray had forgotten that the two wolves were also sleeping at the inn. “Break-in.”
“What?” RJ glanced around and snarled. “Are you fucking kidding me? With us in residence?”
“Where’s the Prince?” Mike’s question immediately followed RJ’s rant.
“Casey and Craig are guarding him and my son at my house,” Dawson stated. “We thought this might be a ploy to get Zachary out in the open and we’re not going to do that.”
“Why didn’t they hit your place?” RJ questioned. He walked over to Gray and gently ran his hand over his shoulder.
With Beth still holding him and the comfort he got from RJ’s wolf presence, Gray was able to relax while Dorothy began to clean his wound.
“More security,” Dawson replied. “The inn has to allow their guests to come and go. Even though they lock the doors at night, there isn’t an alarm. I caught the strange scent of some felines so I think they circled around my place but couldn’t find a way in.”
“We don’t lock the windows,” Claude said. “If they hadn’t broken the vase, I wouldn’t have even heard them.”
“Me neither,” Gray said.
“It’s pretty stupid letting us know that they’re in town,” Mike commented.
“Unless they’re not worried about us,” Dawson said. “Joe’s already on his way here. RJ, Mike, why don’t the two of you watch my place. Let’s not give the felines a chance at Zachary.”
“You got it,” RJ agreed.
The two wolf shifters didn’t hesitate to walk out and toward the front door even in their half-dressed state. Of course, if they decided to shift, which Gray would have done, it would be easier for them not to have to undress.
“Now what?” Beth asked. “Are they going to come back?”
“I don’t think so,” Dawson answered. “I suspect they only want Zachary.”
“How are we going to keep him safe?” she questioned.
Dawson chuckled. “I don’t think we can. It took Casey literally sitting on him to keep Zachary in the house. He’s so upset that anyone was hurt because of him.”
Gray grunted. “Not his fault.”
“When he finds out Dorothy’s beautiful furniture was damaged, I expect he’ll be hard to keep away from here,” Dawson finished.
“Then you don’t tell him,” Dorothy demanded. “All of this can be covered up or replaced.” She waved her hand around the room. “You just keep that sweet man safe. I want him and Casey coming back here more often and reconnecting with your family.”
Dawson nodded. “I want that, too. First we need to end this fucking bullshit with Zachary’s family. His uncle has to be behind this. We have his son, after all.”
“What about the jail?” Gray suddenly had another idea. “What if this was to draw us away from there?”
“I just spoke to Joe,” Dawson said. “All’s quiet there. A couple of the rangers who live in town are helping us out. We have plenty of back-up.”
That didn’t give them much of a chance to play offense then. Gray hated defense, but if that was what it took to keep everyone in Coyote Bluff, including the Prince, safe, he’d do it. He glanced down at Beth. “I think it would be a good idea for you and Dorothy to go back to your house.”
“But—”
“I agree.” Claude joined them, putting his arm around his wife. “This was a stupid move and I think they’re pretty desperate to get Zachary back. They lost the team they sent in and now they’re scrambling. They might even consider taking either of you or Julian if they can’t get to Zachary.”
“Julian?” Beth repeated.
Claude shrugged. “I wouldn’t put it past them.”
“I’m finished here,” Dorothy kissed the back of Gray’s head. “Just let me put some clothes on and I’ll go next door.”
Gray waited until Claude and Dorothy exited before squeezing Beth’s hands. “Watch over Julian. We’ll all be keeping an eye on you all, but I don’t want anything to happen to the two of you.”
Beth nodded before he even finished his sentence. Gray knew that the threat to her nephew would have all Beth’s protective instincts kicking in. The same as his were doing. “As soon as Dorothy comes back, I’ll head over there.”
“Not alone,” Dawson demanded. “Claude will take you both. I want to go around with Gray to see if we can get the feline scents better.”
“Not alone,” Beth agreed. “Are you going to shift?” she asked, turning to him.
“I think that would be best,” Gray admitted.
Beth sighed. “I wanted to see you in your wolf form again, but not under these conditions.”
“When did you see him shift?” Dawson asked.
Beth blushed, causing a surprised laugh from Gray. Gray stood up and nuzzled her neck before turning to Dawson. “None of your business.”
Dawson was smirking. “I think the two of you have been hiding things from me.”
“Of course,” Beth said. “That must be it. Because you know everything that goes on in this town.”
Dawson frowned. “I used to.”
Beth walked over to her brother. “None of this is your fault. It’s a situation we were put into.”
“That was caused by my—our—brother.”
“You can’t think of it that way,” Beth said. “We have to protect Casey and Zachary like you would anyone else.”
“I know,” Dawson said. He glanced over at Gray. “Bet you didn’t expect all of this when you arrived.”
Gray shook his head. “No, but I do know a thing or two about protecting those I care about. That’s what being part of a Pack is. Let me help you and we’ll put an end to all of this.”
“So you’re not leaving right away?” Dawson asked.
Gray didn’t even need to look at Beth. He’d already told her so he just needed to let the others know. “My Alpha is letting me take some personal time. I’m staying in Coyote Bluff for a little while.”
“Good,” Dawson said. “It seems we’re going to need you.”
Gray was just glad that Dawson didn’t question how long ‘a little while’ was since he didn’t have an answer. No matter what, he wouldn’t leave Beth or anyone else in Coyote Bluff while they were still in danger.” “I’m going to take Dorothy next door,” Claude called from the threshold.
“Hold up!” Gray hollered. “Beth’s going, too.” He turned to his woman and tugged her close. “Make sure you keep yourself safe.”
“I will,” she promised.
Gray kissed her deeply before pulling back then pushing her toward the bird shifter. “Keep an eye out on the walk. RJ and Mike should be out there already, but we don’t know who else is,” he told Claude.
Claude nodded.
Once the three of them exited, Gray nodded at Dawson. “You ready?”
“Yeah, let’s do this.” Dawson led the way onto the porch. Gray glanced round, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Would the felines actually have left the area already or were they waiting to pounce?”
“You shift first,” Gray told Dawson. “I’ve got your back.”
Dawson began to undress and within a few minutes he’d transformed into the small bobcat that Gray was getting used to. Once Dawson took a stance to guard Gray, it was time for Gray to shift. He did so quickly, not liking to be vulnerable for even a few moments.
Once Gray stood on his four furry paws, he saw the world differently. The instinct to hunt was strong. While Gray would normally push back his animal nature, this time he allowed the impulse to take over.
Not waiting to see if Dawson followed, Gray raced to the window where the three felines had gotten out. He sniffed around, pulling in the different odors. The felines hadn’t been taking very good care of themselves. It was too easy to pick up the tang of unwashed bodies mixed with the feline scent.
He growled once then took off, following the trail he barely caught.
There was a scramble of some sort behind him. It sounded as though he’d surprised Dawson, but the bobcat was running after him. Gray was surprised to find the path leading away from Dawson’s house.
His long strides ate up the distance until he was at the edge of the neighborhood. From his short time in Coyote Bluff, Gray was aware that if he kept going he’d end up at the canyons.
The fucking cats were hiding out close to where Zachary had been. It would take time to hunt them down. Gray paced back and forth, trying to determine if he should go now.
By morning, the scent would be gone. If he didn’t get a head start, Gray wasn’t sure what would happen next.
He glanced over his shoulder, finding Dawson watching him. He had the feeling that the bobcat would follow whatever choice he made. But it wasn’t smart to go in with just the two of them.
A screech above his head startled him.
Gray peered up, spotting the hawk circling him. Claude! Okay, that was three against five.
A howl, then another joined it, and Gray knew RJ and Mike were closing in on them. Damn it, they’re supposed to be guarding the Prince.
Of course, with Casey, Craig, Zachary, Beth and Dorothy all in one place Dawson’s house was probably the safest in the town at the moment.
He waited for RJ and Mike to join him and Dawson.
RJ circled Gray, sniffing the air. He must have caught the same scents as Gray. He nodded once before tilting to peer at him. RJ was asking him what the plan was. Gray didn’t want to take the time and energy to shift so he motioned his head toward the canyon, asking RJ’s opinion.
RJ’s wish to go after the felines came out clearly with his huff and bared fangs. He wanted to end this just as badly as Gray.
That worked for Gray.
Gray glanced over to Dawson, who nodded. Mike was doing the same.
Guess we’re all in agreement.
Beth closed Julian’s bedroom door quietly behind her. The windows were locked and she’d found his old baby monitor that they’d retired more than a few years ago.
“He still asleep?”
She glanced up at Casey, who was leaning against the opposite wall. It was so weird to see her oldest brother in her house. It wasn’t like the home that they’d grown up in. Their parents hadn’t ever tried to make their childhood as safe and comfortable as Dawson had for Julian.
Julian was really lucky. She was realizing that more every day.
“Yeah,” she replied. “Out like a light.”
“You want a cup of coffee?” he offered.
She snorted. “Why are you acting so weird?” He sounded overly polite.
Casey shrugged. “I don’t know what to say. I left you and Dawson just like mom and dad did. I look at your lives here and know I made a mistake.”
“You were our brother. It wasn’t your job to look out for us.”
“Wasn’t it?”
“No.” Beth walked to him. “It wasn’t your job.”
“I should have protected you. The way Dawson did. I should have found a place like this to take the two of you. I’ve missed so much. That boy in there doesn’t even know who I am.”
“It’s not too late,” Beth reminded him. “You’re here now.”
“And I’ve put you all in danger.”
“But you came to family when you needed help,” Beth pointed out. “You knew we’d have your back. We can build from there.”
“I don’t know if Dawson feels the same way.”
Beth laughed. “He’ll come around. He loves you. Every year on your birthday he takes a few beers out to the porch and drinks them while watching the sun go down.”
“That’s how I let him have his first taste of alcohol,” Casey said quietly.
“And he remembers that. We both know what you sacrificed for us. Dropping out of school and getting your GED so you could work. We wouldn’t have eaten without your help.”
“It doesn’t seem like enough. He was only eighteen, you’d just turned sixteen,” Casey told her.
“And you had taught us how to survive.”
Casey sighed. It didn’t appear that any of her words were getting through to him. Beth didn’t know how to make him feel better. She’d been devastated when he’d joined the military and left, but she also understood. Casey hadn’t been ready to be a parent and he’d stayed. With Dawson aging to adulthood, Casey had walked away.
It was obvious to her that he was more like their parents than he wanted to admit. He relied too much on the feline part of him to make decisions. Beth wouldn’t judge him, though. It was in his nature.
“Come on,” Beth said. “Let’s go downstairs so I can interrogate your mate.”
“Right,” Casey snorted. “More like he’ll badger you for stories about when I was younger.”
“Cool.” Beth took a few steps back. “There was that one time I caught you with Melissa Coolridge in my tree house.”
“Don’t you dare!”
With a laugh Beth raced off, Casey at her heels. She knew he was letting her win, but when she slid into the kitchen where Zachary and Dorothy were sitting at the table, she must have seemed half-crazed.
“What’s wrong?” Zachary leaped to his feet. “Is it Julian?”
“No,” Beth assured him. “I was just going to—”
From behind, Casey covered her mouth with his hand. “Nothing. She wasn’t going to do anything.”
Beth tried to pry her brother’s palm away, but he dug his free fingers into her side, making her squeal.
“Fuck!” Zachary said then laughed. “The two of you are acting like children.”
“Well…” Casey drawled. “I can show you—”
“Stop!” Zachary demanded. “There are ladies in the room.”
“Sorry,” Casey told Dorothy. “But Beth isn’t a lady. She’s my sister. Don’t believe a word she says. Especially if it’s about finding me in any compromising positions.”
With a raised eyebrow, Zachary beamed. “Really?”
“Lies!” Casey stressed. “All lies.”
“Let your sister go, honey,” Zachary said. “I won’t believe a word she says.”
Casey grunted, but he did release her.
“Now,” Zachary said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “Tell me everything.”
“I hate you both,” Casey muttered.
“I could always tell him about that time in boot camp during our twenty-four-hour leave,” Craig stated, strolling into the room.
“Fuck!” Casey yelled. “I can’t win.”
“Oh, hush, you,” Dorothy soothed, going over to coax Casey into a chair. “Let me get you some coffee and pie. I gave Dawson an entire cherry pie yesterday and there’s some left.”
“You’re my favorite,” Casey said to Dorothy. “I don’t like the others at all.”
Beth stared at her brother in shock. Her first memories of him were of Casey stirring mac and cheese from a box into a big pot. Casey had had to stand on a chair to fix them something to eat because their parents had been gone for a few days. Dawson had always been the brother who played with her while Casey had taken on the grown-up responsibilities.
She was seeing him in a different light now, though, as Dorothy fussed over him and Craig continued to tease. This was what Casey had needed. The freedom to be a little silly and play around. Having to take care of her and Dawson hadn’t allowed Casey to have a childhood himself.
“He’s really missed you,” Zachary whispered from his chair beside hers.
She nodded. “We missed him, too. But seeing him like this, it’s even better.”
“I’m glad you understand,” Zachary said. “He’s struggled for a long time trying to come to terms with leaving you. I know he’s tried to keep tabs on you both and when Julian was born, he almost came to visit, but he got called on a mission.”
“I don’t blame him,” she admitted. “I just hope now he’ll want to be a part of our lives. I don’t want to lose him again.”
“You won’t, if I have anything to say about it,” Zachary promised. “My family is so different from you and Dawson. I want Casey to reconnect with you both almost as much as he wants to.”
She nodded, pleased. It appeared that Casey had really lucked out in the mate department. She and Dawson hadn’t fared so well, but there was time. Beth peered out of the window, wondering what Gray was doing. It wasn’t his Pack he was trying to protect. All of the drama and threats were directed toward Beth’s own family.
Even though she hated that he was involved, Beth was also relieved he hadn’t left yet.
Trust wasn’t something that she gave easily. The fact that she absolutely did trust Gray meant a lot. It was her people, her community, that were being affected by the events happening. She knew he was staying for her, but still Gray had put himself at risk tonight.
She smiled at Dorothy as the older woman filled a mug and brought it over to him.
“They’ll be okay,” Dorothy said quietly.
“I know.” Beth tried to sound sure.
“So, a wolf shifter,” Zachary said. “How’d that happen?”
Beth smiled at her brother’s mate. “I’m not actually sure. He came to help find you. I didn’t expect anyone as interesting as him.”
“From everything I’ve heard, Gray is an honorable man,” Zachary offered. “I think it would be a good match.”
She shook her head. “He has a Pack he has to get home to. I’ve never thought about leaving Coyote Bluff. I’m not sure how it would work between us.”
Zachary glanced across the table where Casey and Craig were playfully arguing. “You might be surprised by how easily things can work out when it’s meant to be.”
“Is that how it was between you and Casey?”
“Yes,” Zachary told her. “He came to my house with Craig during one of their time-off leaves. Craig’s family has guarded mine for years, so I’ve been friends with Craig since childhood. I took one look at Casey and was immediately attracted. Then he opened his mouth and within five minutes, I want to punch him.”
“Sounds like my brother,” Beth said with a laugh.
“I still don’t know how he managed to be respectful and a smart-ass at the same time. He deferred to my position, but he also didn’t treat me like I was fragile. I’m used to people, especially felines, going along with anything I say. If Casey doesn’t agree with me, he never brings it up in front of someone outside the inner circle. But as soon as we’re alone, he has no issues with telling me what he thinks.”
“That’s great. I still can’t believe that my brother is mated to the Prince of felines though.”
Zachary blushed. “I hope soon you’ll see me as just Zac. Maybe one day consider me as a brother,” he confessed.
Wow! It was crazy that the most powerful feline in the United States actually wanted to be a part of her family. “I’d be honored to call you brother.”
“Thanks,” Zachary said then yawned.
Casey looked over and frowned. “We need to get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be another big day.”
“I’m fine,” Zachary argued. “I’m not going to sleep with our guys still out there searching for whoever broke into the inn.”
“You’re still recovering from your ordeal,” Casey stated. He stood and walked over to Zachary. “Please just come rest.”
“I’ll be keeping watch,” Craig interjected. “I’ll make sure everyone makes it in safely.”
Zachary appeared to want to continue disagreeing but finally sighed and stood. “Craig, please wake me if there are any problems. I don’t care what my mate says.”
Craig nodded. “Of course.”
“I could beat you both unconscious, then we wouldn’t have this problem,” Casey muttered.
“That would be spousal abuse,” Beth offered. “I’m pretty sure that’s frowned on, especially when you’re the mate of the Prince.”
“Of course no one is on my side!” Casey exclaimed.
“I agree that you both should get some rest,” Beth replied. “At least while you can.”
“Fine.” Casey held his hand out to Zachary, who immediately went to her brother’s side. “If something happens—”
“I’ll come get you,” Craig promised.
Beth watched them both go before turning to Dorothy. “Let me show you where you can lie down. As soon as Claude comes in, I’ll send him to you.”
“I’d appreciate it,” Dorothy responded.
Craig nodded to her before strolling into the living room, where she suspected he’d be keeping an eye out for the others. Hopefully they would be returning soon.
* * * *
Two hours after Gray had been woken up, he followed Dawson up the steps to his front door. They’d managed to track the felines through the canyons into the area where several cabins had been built for tourists. It had been too risky for any one of them to search closely with several humans out and about.
At least they knew where to start later that morning after they had support from the rangers.
Either the felines were setting them up for a trap or they’d not considered how easily they’d be tracked.
Gray wasn’t certain which option he would prefer. He’d love to end this entire ordeal and have the people responsible for kidnapping the Prince in custody, but after months of searching he didn’t see things ending easily.
Before they reached the front door, Craig stepped out of the shadows.
“Everyone okay?” Craig asked.
“Yes,” Gray assured him. “We have a good idea of the path they took and we’ll follow up once the sheriff and rangers are available. We don’t want to leave anyone vulnerable here when we track them down.”
“Zachary’s going to want to go along,” Craig stated.
Gray would have, too. “That’s up to him.”
“RJ and Mike?”
“They want to keep watch. Dawson and I offered to switch places with them, but they insisted they could handle it,” Gray explained.
“Right,” Craig said. “If you ask them, they’ll tell you that they don’t need sleep.” He held up a backpack. “I’m going to take them a few supplies. They at least need some food and water.”
“Everyone asleep inside?” Dawson questioned.
“Yes, all is quiet. Where’s Claude? Dorothy was waiting for him.”
“He ran by the sheriff’s office to get with Joe. He’ll be here in a few minutes,” Dawson explained.
“Okay.” Craig started down the steps. “Try not to wake up Zachary or Casey. They’ll never get back to sleep.”
“We’ll be quiet,” Gray promised. All he wanted to do was climb in beside Beth and close his eyes. His head no longer hurt, but he was more tired than he could remember being in a long time. Not only was he physically exhausted, which he could push through, but the worry and stress for Beth and her family were taking a toll on him.
“Come on.” Dawson slapped his shoulder. “I’ll show you to Beth’s room on my way to check on Julian.”
Gray nodded. That worked for him.
The house was homey and smelled of coffee and pie. He hadn’t gotten to visit before so it was nice to see where Beth lived. After a few hours’ sleep, he’d appreciate it even more.
Dawson didn’t give him a tour. He just led the way until the two of them stood in front of a door. “Here’s Beth. Julian is right next door and I’m across the hall. Try to sleep some and we’ll regroup in the morning,” he whispered.
“Will do,” Gray agreed before turning the knob to enter Beth’s room.
It was dark inside, but he stood by the entrance until his eyes adjusted. He could see her bundled under the covers lying on the right side of the bed. Gray stripped off his sweatpants then walked over and climbed in beside her.
When he lifted the blankets, Beth murmured softly.
Gray pulled her closer until her head was against his chest. He needed to feel the connection between them. So much could have gone wrong earlier. If he hadn’t heard the broken glass, the felines might have attacked them inside the inn.
He would have done his best to protect her, but he didn’t like the fact that she’d been anywhere near danger.
Anger began to build in him.
Fucking cats are going to pay for what they’ve done.
“Shh,” Beth whispered, patting his chest. “Everyone is okay. Get some sleep.”
“Sorry.” He hadn’t meant to wake her, but the tension didn’t seem to be leaving his body.
“It’s okay.” She lifted her head, looking at him. “Did you find them?”
“Maybe. We at least have an idea where to start the search.”
“Good. Now close your eyes. You won’t be any help if you’re worn out.”
“Just let me hold you,” he said. “That will help me relax.”
Beth didn’t respond with words. Instead, she wiggled around until her leg was over his and she was cuddling into his shoulder. She still smelled fresh and clean from their shower earlier and he breathed in her sweet aroma. That seemed to help his body calm, so he did it again.
For several minutes, they lay there holding each other. Finally she went lax and he knew she’d fallen back asleep.
He strained to hear anything else in the house, but all was silent.
RJ and Mike would make sure they were warned if the felines came back. Gray hoped that Claude and Dorothy remained over here instead of going to the inn by themselves. He should have spoken to the bird shifter about that before Claude had left to update the sheriff.
He finally felt sleep starting to tug at him and closed his eyes. Hopefully this time he wouldn’t be woken up for several hours.