Chapter 7: Chapter Seven

Gray woke up and stretched, still feeling tired but somewhat refreshed. Beth wasn’t in bed with him, which was disappointing, but he could also smell bacon being cooked so that was something.

He sat up to peer around the room. Gray hadn’t gotten a good view in the dark, but with the sun already risen behind the curtains, he grinned. Beth had every flat surface covered with some sort of knickknack.

The décor was simple, with black furniture, black curtains and several black and white photos, but the splashes of color were amazing. The sheets over the mattress were red, as was the rug in front of the door.

The cluttered and unorganized state of the small items scattered around spoke to him of how lived-in Beth’s area was. He liked it. His own apartment was spartan and while Gray tried to find pieces to make it more homey, he’d never quite managed to get the right feel of the place. Beth might be able to help him. Or maybe he already found where he was meant to be.

Gray was going to have to do some serious thinking about his future. As much as he loved his Alpha and home, Gray couldn’t deny that Coyote Bluff seemed to fill a hole in his life.

A loud, fast knock sounded on the door before it swung open.

“Wolf! Wolf!” Julian ran inside. “We have bacon!”

Gray laughed as he discreetly made sure his naked lap was covered. “I smelled that. I was hoping there was still some left for me.”

“There is,” Julian told him. “I wouldn’t let RJ eat any yet. He tried to steal some from Aunt Beth.”

“He did?” Gray mock-growled. “I’m going to have to get him.”

Julian froze. “You’re not going to hurt him, are you?”

Gray frowned. He’d thought they were joking around. “Hey, come here.”

Slowly, Julian walked over to the side of the bed. Gray reached down and plopped the young boy down where Beth had been earlier. “You know that no one here is going to hurt you or anyone else, don’t you?”

Julian shrugged. “We had this wolf come through one time and he picked a fight with everyone. Even Daddy and Claude. He wasn’t a nice man.”

“Well, I promise that I won’t be mean to anyone in this house,” Gray vowed.

“How come you didn’t say that you wouldn’t be mean to anyone ever?” Julian questioned. “Shouldn’t you promise that?”

Jeez, this kid was smart. “Because I don’t want to ever break a promise to you,” Gray told him. “But if someone tried to hurt you or your aunt or someone who couldn’t defend themselves, I might have to get mean. I wouldn’t hurt them too bad, though. And I’d call the sheriff to come help.”

“Like Dad?” Julian pressed. “You’ll only be mean to bad guys?”

“Yes,” Gray said. “Just to bad guys.”

Julian grinned. “Okay. That’s good.”

Gray was glad that the tense moment had passed, but he really needed to get the whole story from either Beth or Dawson. Several times now Gray had gotten the feeling that the residents of Coyote Bluff had had previous trouble with his species. That might need to be brought up before the Council. The community there should be protected.

“How about you go make sure there’s fresh coffee, and I’ll be right there,” Gray suggested.

“Okay!” Julian was off the bed, running down the hall in an instant.

“Hope no one else was sleeping,” Gray murmured with amusement. There was just something about Julian that made him smile. He really did want to get Julian and Jesse together to see how the two kids got along. Throwing the covers back, Gray spotted his sweats laying across the end of the bed. Beth must have picked them up off the floor when she’d woken.

Gray pulled the soft fabric on before strolling out of the still open door. He’d need to shower and change in his own room before heading out to search for the felines responsible for the inn’s damage, but first, coffee and bacon.

As he stepped into the hall, Dawson was coming out of his own room.

“Julian woke you up?” Dawson asked.

“Nah,” Gray said. “I was actually already awake, but he did promise me bacon.”

“Ah,” Dawson chuckled. “The kid does love his bacon.”

“As every growing boy should,” Gray teased. He could hear RJ’s laugh and Julian’s squeal of delight. “But I have a feeling that if we don’t hurry, RJ might charm some before we get ours.”

“Come on.” Dawson clasped his shoulder before shoving him forward.

It reminded Gray so much of the camaraderie of Pack that he had to keep from stumbling. How had he gotten so comfortable so quickly? This was just supposed to be a quick stop before finally being able to go home. Now everything was changing.

“I hear there’s bacon!” Gray called as he entered the kitchen.

Beth whirled from the stove, spatula in hand as RJ was standing by the table holding Julian up over his head. Zachary sat at the table, nursing a mug. “That’s the rumor,” Beth told him.

Gray stalked forward, brushing against her to kiss her quickly before he snagged a piece of bacon from the paper towel where it had been cooling.

“Hey!” She swatted at him, but he merely grinned back.

“No fair!” RJ exclaimed.

“That’s cheating!” Julian cried.

Zachary was chuckling.

Gray just chewed the crispy bite, ignoring them all. Beth looked beautiful standing there glaring his way.

“Where’s everyone else?” Dawson asked, passing by him to the coffeepot.

“Casey and Craig are outside keeping an eye on the house and inn, making sure the felines aren’t around, and Mike’s in the shower,” Beth informed them.

“Claude’s not here?” Gray asked.

“They went home last night,” RJ said. “Mike kept an eye on the inn to make sure there wasn’t any more trouble.”

Gray nodded. He’d suspected Claude wouldn’t want the inn to remain empty, but he hated that the bird shifter didn’t have any back-up. Especially with a human mate to protect.

“They’re coming over for breakfast,” Beth said. “Dorothy was just finishing up some muffins.”

“I hope she made chocolate chip!” Julian said. “They’re my favorite.”

RJ set the boy back down in a chair. “I don’t think Gray should get any. He stole food.”

“Yeah!” Julian agreed. “I should get his.”

Gray laughed loudly. “Is that so, little man?” He tickled Julian’s belly as he sat down beside the boy.

“No,” Julian said. “You can have a muffin. I was just kidding.”

“I know.” Gray ruffled the kid’s hair. “Next time, I’ll steal a piece for you.”

“Deal!” Julian said.

“No stealing necessary,” Beth admonished them. “Here you go.” She set a platter of meat on the table before going back to the counter and picking up two bowls. One held fluffy eggs and the other crispy fried potatoes.

Gray groaned. All this good eating was really going to have an effect on his waistline.

There was a knock then the front door opened.

“Good morning!” Dorothy called out.

“We’re in the kitchen,” Dawson hollered. “Come on.”

“You have felines hunting the Prince and the door was unlocked?” Gray asked.

RJ snorted. “Craig wouldn’t have let them close had they been a threat.”

Gray shook his head. He hadn’t gotten to see Craig in action, but the way Craig stalked about, he had to be some sort of badass. It made his curiosity peak.

“Just wait,” RJ said as if he was reading Gray’s mind. “Craig is trained in every sort of martial art there is. He was groomed to protect Zachary.”

The Prince nodded. “He really is talented.”

“Okay.” Gray shrugged. He’d have to take their word for it.

“How’s everyone doing?” Dorothy asked as she entered the kitchen. Claude was behind her, carrying a large plate. Gray could smell the fresh-baked goods already.

“We’re fine,” Gray answered. He glanced at Claude. “Everything okay at the inn?”

Claude smiled. “Yes. I already have some guys from town cleaning up and taking out the ruined furniture. We’ll be closed today, but I plan to reopen tomorrow morning.”

“I told him that I could just cover up the damage with a tablecloth, but Claude’s been wanting to update the décor in there anyway. Now’s as good a time as any,” Dorothy said.

“Chester Grant makes some hand-carved wood tables that I think would go well in the dining room,” Claude said. “He’s got several in stock and can have them delivered today.”

Dawson patted Claude’s back. “It’ll help him toward sending his girl to college as well.” Dawson glanced at Gray. “Chester’s daughter was accepted into Yale. It’s expensive, but she did get a partial scholarship.”

So Claude didn’t really need the new tables, but he was buying them to aid a community member. Gray nodded. “I’d like to see some of his stuff. I still need to get Austin and Kiley a mating gift.”

“That’s a great idea,” Dorothy praised. “I’m sure Chester would know exactly what a new couple would need.”

Beth squeezed his shoulder.

A sense of peace filled him.

Pack, community, family—it didn’t matter what word was used. This closeness could only come from good people who truly cared about one another.

“Now everyone sit down and eat while it’s hot,” Beth ordered.

For several minutes there was laughing, teasing and the clang of utensils on dishes before everyone was seated.

“Chocolate chip!” Julian cried. “I knew it.”

“Woo-hoo!” RJ called.

“There are also blueberry, orange cranberry and oatmeal,” Dorothy said.

Julian made a face. “Yuck! I think you should only make chocolate chip.”

“I don’t know,” Gray said taking an orange cranberry. “These look really good.” They were his favorite, as a matter of fact.

“Nothing is better than chocolate chip,” Julian informed him.

“I’m with the kid,” RJ said. He reached over and picked up two of the muffins, dropping one onto Julian’s plate before biting into his own. “Jeez,” he muttered with a mouthful. “These are delicious.”

“Okay, children,” Dawson drawled. “Eat your breakfasts. We have to meet up with the sheriff in half an hour. Julian, eat some eggs, too. Don’t fill up on muffins and bacon.”

Gray chuckled before bending over his plate to finish his own meal. He still wanted to check on Claude and Dorothy before they headed out.

Beth wiped down the last countertop before tossing the sponge into the sink. Julian was still coloring peacefully at the kitchen table so she had a few minutes before he was dragging her across the yard over to the inn.

Neither Dorothy nor Claude acted as though the damage to the inn was a big deal, but Beth knew how much they loved the place. When no one else had accepted a hawk shifter and human mating, Claude and Dorothy had set out on their own to make a life together, without any support from either of their families.

Now it appeared that Casey had steered the couple toward Coyote Bluff, but Beth couldn’t even be mad about that. Claude and Dorothy were happy and the residents of Coyote Bluff had gotten to adopt the loving pair. It was a win-win for everyone.

Dorothy and Beth were going to spend the day rearranging and redecorating the dining room of the inn. By the time it reopened, Beth hoped that Dorothy would be able to put last night’s events behind her.

“Are you ready to go next door?” Beth asked her nephew.

“I am!” Julian said, jumping off his chair. “Claude said I could help him pick out new chairs to match the tables.”

“Wow! That’s a pretty big job.”

“Yep.” Julian nodded. “But I can do it.”

“Yes, you can.” Beth ruffled his hair. “Let’s go, then.”

Julian took off toward the front door.

“Stay close to me,” Beth ordered. Usually they let Julian run between their house and the inn, but with the felines still out there, Beth wouldn’t take any chances.

“I know the way!” Julian argued.

“Julian!”

He had the front door open before she’d crossed the threshold from the kitchen.

“Julian, stop!” she yelled. She raced after him, but he was already down the steps and in the yard. “Julian!”

He stopped and spun around. “What?” he whined.

“Come back here,” she said sternly. It wasn’t often that she had to discipline him but he was getting close.

Julian slumped his shoulders. “Sorry.”

“Let me lock up,” she told him. Beth set the alarm before checking to make sure she had the keys, then secured the door. After she was certain no one would be getting inside in her absence, she turned. Julian was still in the same spot with a frown on his face, but something felt off.

Beth glanced around, close to panic. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing up as the feeling of being watched hit. “Julian,” she said quietly. “Hurry here.”

Julian must have heard the tremor in her voice, because he immediately took a step forward.

A tall, raggedy-looking man leaped out from the side of the house.

“How about the boy comes to me instead?” he said.

“Aunt Beth?” Julian’s frightened voice was high.

Two growls cut off his words.

Shit! Julian was several feet away and the animal sounds were coming between them. Beth walked forward until she could peer down the deck stairs. A large tiger and jaguar stalked from the other end of the yard. They were heading right toward her nephew.

“What do you want?” she demanded of the stranger.

“You and the boy will do for now. I’m sure the Prince will cooperate better for your safe return.” He grinned, showing off yellow-stained teeth. “Of course safe could mean so many things, now, can’t it?”

“Who are you?” she asked. If she kept his attention on her, maybe Julian would be able to run. Claude and Dorothy had to be close by.

Beth couldn’t believe that they were in this situation to begin with. Dawson and Gray had warned her, but Beth hadn’t actually thought anyone would come after her or Julian. The guys had left to track these felines down.

“My name is Dustin and you’re going to listen to everything I say or my friends there are going to tear that little boy apart.”

Julian was starting to shake and tears filled his eyes. “I’m sorry, Aunt Beth.”

“It’s okay,” she told her nephew. “You just be strong.” She glared at Dustin. “Let him go and take me.”

“Oh, how brave,” he mocked. “But I don’t think so. We’ll have our fun with you and not harm the kid as long as you listen. You try and get away and we’ll rip his throat out.”

Her stomach roiled when Julian whimpered.

“It’s okay, Julian,” she called out. Beth was on the edge of the deck now. All she’d have to do was jump to place herself between Julian and the strangers. She was not going to let them take her nephew.

“No, it really isn’t,” Dustin corrected. “Leo! Watch the girl.”

The tiger turned to Beth and snarled. Okay, she really didn’t want to feel those teeth.

“Kip!” Dustin called. “Grab the boy.”

The jaguar stepped toward Julian.

Oh, hell no! Beth growled and launched herself off the porch. She flew over both felines’ heads and landed, blocking them in that way from Julian.

“That was stupid,” Dustin said.

“You’re not touching him,” Beth said.

Dustin walked toward her. “You’re just going to make things harder on yourself.”

“When I say go, I want you to run as fast as you can toward the inn,” Beth whispered to Julian. “Scream for Claude.”

“Okay.” Julian sounded so scared. She hated these fucking guys who were threatening them.

Beth knew she was no match for any of the powerful shifters. The tiger and jaguar could both take her smaller bobcat form down quickly. Dustin smelled like panther, which was just as bad. She had no chance of escaping without injury. But she was going to fight for her life.

“Come quietly and we’ll leave the birdy and human alone,” Dustin taunted.

“Go!” Beth pushed Julian toward the inn while spinning to face Dustin. “You’re not taking him.”

Dustin laughed.

“Julian, duck!”

A gun shot rang out and Dustin and the two cats froze.

“Hurry, Beth!” Claude yelled.

Oh, thank God! Julian was almost to the porch where Claude was standing, still aiming the weapon at Dustin.

She took off at a sprint, but before she could get halfway across the yard the tiger leaped at her. Beth hit the ground with the massive animal on top of her. Claude fired the gun again, but Beth was in a fight for her life.

* * * *

They’d confirmed four people were inside the rented cabin and one of them was the man who’d been responsible for the entire ordeal Zachary had been through. Zachary’s cousin was in the living room watching television while three of his men sat at the kitchen table playing cards.

Gray knew they were missing some of the other shifters, but they’d be easier to find once they got these men into custody.

The excitement from Casey and his team was catching. They were so close to ending it all.

Now, with the help of the rangers, they’d tracked down the last threat to the Prince.

Casey pulled out his weapon, a Desert Eagle, and met Gray’s gaze. Gray nodded and waited while the other man held up a hand to the other members of the unit behind him. Five seconds. He watched Casey’s fingers come down one at a time until he held up a fist. Once the countdown was up, they moved into action. Casey kicked in the front door and Gray heard the other part of the team break down the back door. They ran into the cabin, weapons drawn and ready.

There, in the center of the living room, was a man who appeared similar to Zachary. He appeared shocked to see them, but the surprise didn’t last long. He leaped to his feet but Casey strode across the room, slapping him back down.

“Cas,” Zachary said. “Let me handle this.”

Casey glanced over his shoulder. Gray made sure to stay at Casey’s back while RJ and Mike flanked the Prince. Zachary should have the opportunity to face his cousin.

“Raphael,” Zachary said with a growl. “You’re not looking too good.”

“You’ve been better yourself,” Raphael responded. “Lost some weight? You must not have been eating well lately.”

Casey growled.

“It’s okay, Cas,” Zachary said, not turning to his mate. He was still stared at his cousin. “I doubt Steve is faring well in jail.”

Raphael snarled. “You’ll pay for taking my son.”

Casey laughed. “He didn’t even put up a fight. I always knew he was a coward, but he rolled over and ratted on you before we asked him one question.”

“He’d never betray me!” Raphael spat.

“The night you took me from my suite, you deposited ten thousand dollars into an off-shore account. It’s your back-up plan in case you failed. I even have the account number now. Steve’s told us everything.”

“No.” Raphael paled. “He wouldn’t.”

“He did.” Zachary crouched in front of Raphael. “It’s over.”

Suddenly, Raphael smiled. “Perhaps.” He glanced toward Casey. “But it’s too late for you to save everyone.”

Casey straightened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You might have captured me, but at what cost, Prince mate?” Raphael said. “Even now my best three fighters have your sister and nephew. Do you know how easily a tiger’s jaw can pierce a skull? You’re about to.”

Gray didn’t hesitate. He ran for the front door. Dawson was already in front of him.

“The truck!” Dawson yelled. “It’ll be faster.”

Gray sped for the open driver’s door and had the vehicle started and pointed back toward town even as Casey dove into the passenger side.

“Hurry!” Dawson cried.

“Claude is there. He’ll protect them,” Gray said. He was speaking the words for Dawson’s benefit but even to his own ears they sounded hollow.

“I shouldn’t have left them,” Dawson said.

“It’s going to be okay,” he said. “They’ll be fine.” He couldn’t pay attention to Dawson freaking out or he would lose his mind. He was telling himself the same thing. Surely with the rangers and Casey’s entire team at the cabin in the canyons, someone could have stayed with Beth and Julian.

Gray hadn’t truly believed that they’d be targeted. The actions from the night before had been stupid, leaving Gray to believe the felines were desperate and not thinking straight. Now things were different.

While they’d gone after Raphael, Beth and Julian had been by themselves, in real danger.

Of course Raphael could be full of shit and just fucking with them, but that didn’t explain the shifters missing from the cabin.

Even if Beth and Julian were at the inn, only Claude would be there to fight against three powerful cats.

Gray took a turn too fast and the truck skidded along before the back end slid. Instead of slowing down, he pressed his foot harder on the accelerator. Nothing mattered other than getting to Beth and Julian.

“Take the next left.” Dawson pointed ahead. “It’ll take us to the front of the inn quicker.”

“Okay.” Gray yanked the wheel, taking the short cut. Fuck, it felt as if an hour had gone by instead of just a few minutes.

Dawson had grown quiet and Gray couldn’t even imagine how he felt. Gray was scared shitless for the woman and kid, but this was the family that Dawson depended on. Gray felt as though he’d failed them all.

The entire point of his staying was to spend more time with Beth and make sure that her family remained safe. Instead he’d majorly miscalculated.

“Almost there,” Gray muttered. He pulled the truck onto the main road blocks away from the inn. “Damn it! Call the sheriff!” Why hadn’t they thought of that before? Joe wouldn’t have made it before them since he was at the station on the other side of town, but someone else might be close by.

Dawson was struggling to remove his phone from his pocket as Gray continued to speed down the road.

In the background he heard Dawson talking, but it took all his concentration to maneuver them safely without crashing. The driving training he’d received from the police department was coming in handy and he’d have to remember to thank his boss.

Up ahead, he could see the top windows of the inn.

Gray slammed his foot on the brakes and the truck fishtailed, coming to a stop almost landing in the yard.

His breath caught at the scene in front of him.

Dorothy’s prone body was laid out on the deck of the inn with a large hawk sprawled out close by. He didn’t see Julian, but Beth was in her bobcat form, facing off against a tiger.

Blood dripped from a long gash in her leg and she was limping, trying to avoid the claws of the bigger cat.

Gray kicked his door open and climbed out quickly. He ripped the clothes off his body while calling forward his wolf. His shift came faster than ever before. On all four legs, he howled deeply before charging toward Beth and the tiger.

Beth heard the squeal of tires, but she couldn’t take her attention away from the tiger. Claude had managed to take out Dustin before the jaguar had attacked him. After that it had been pure chaos.

The only reason she was able to fight the exhaustion and pain was because she knew that if she didn’t, this fucking tiger would be going after Julian next.

She’d lost track of her nephew but had to believe he was still safe.

The eerie wolf howl had her almost missing the swipe of the tiger’s sharp claws. She managed to duck out of the way just in time. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the figure racing toward her.

Oh shit, I can’t deal with another attacker.

Instead of coming at her, the wolf launched himself onto the tiger’s back and she realized it was Gray. Oh, thank God!

She glanced in the direction Gray had come and saw Dawson scrambling toward her. The vicious sounds of the fight between Gray and the tiger echoed around the yard. Beth stepped forward, but her back leg buckled and she collapsed to the ground.

Dawson nudged her as he came to her side. She shook her head and hissed at him. He needed to find Julian and make sure that the boy was okay. Both the jaguar and Dustin, still in human form, were down, but she knew Dorothy and Claude had also been hurt.

“Stay still,” he told her. “Where’s Julian?”

She shook her head. The last she’d seen her nephew, Julian had been tumbling underneath one of the bushes.

“I’ll find him,” Dawson said. “Help is on the way.”

Beth yowled, responding the only way she could. Dawson must have taken that as acknowledgment, because he stood up.

“Julian!” he yelled. “Where are you, son?”

“Daddy?”

Beth rotated her head and saw Julian climbing out from under a rose bush. He was a little scraped up but seemed okay.

“Julian!” Dawson’s relief was evident in his voice.

Her nephew looked from his dad to her and burst into tears. “Daddy.”

She wanted to go to the boy, but the pain was radiating from her leg to all over her body. Beth had never been hurt so badly. There was nothing life threatening, but she was going to be feeling this later.

A yelp took her attention back to Gray and the tiger.

Gray had done some damage to the large cat.

While Beth had mainly just been trying to keep the tiger’s attention on her and move fast enough to avoid injury, Gray was aggressively lunging and catching the tiger with his sharp canine teeth. She was a little surprised that he could keep up with the large cat. Wolves were so powerful because they hunted in packs. It was obvious that Gray had been highly trained and that he was using those skills against the feline.

The tiger caught Gray in the leg but Gray managed to slip away. He needed help or he’d end up as exhausted as she was.

Beth tried to rise, but as soon as she got to her feet, her back leg went out from under her. She grunted as she connected with the ground.

Gray looked over to her and howled.

Two answering calls came loud and clear.

Beth tried to scramble away from the fighting but had only managed to drag herself a few feet when two more wolves ran into the yard. They immediately went to Gray’s aid and the three wolves surrounded the tiger.

It had to be RJ and Mike. Gray’s back-up had arrived.

In the distance, she could also hear sirens headed their way.

Finally, help was coming. She’d managed to hold off the felines and Julian was safe in his father’s arms. From her spot on the grass, she could see Claude was awake and transforming back to human and Dorothy sat holding Julian’s hand. The three wolves were keeping the tiger pinned to the yard, not letting him up.

The sheriff parked in the driveway, cutting off the siren before exiting his SUV. He held a Taser in one hand as he stalked toward the battling shifters.

“Back off!” Joe ordered.

The wolves were snarling and barking, but they did give the sheriff room. When the tiger lunged at Joe, he pulled the trigger of the Taser and two probes extended from the small device and attached to the cat’s stomach. Electricity buzzed.

At long last, the tiger stopped attacking. Instead, he dropped down, panting hard and whimpering.

“That will hold him for a few minutes,” Joe said. “It’ll give me time to tranq him.”

The two bigger wolves took on a guard position over the tiger, but the small one, who she knew was Gray, ran toward her.

Gray nuzzled her neck before moving down to sniff at her leg. She wanted to assure him that she would be fine, but she was just too tired. There was no way she’d be able to shift. The air around her swirled as Gray began the change back to human form. Beth watched him, amazed that he was still able to change back and forth with all the adrenaline in his body. That couldn’t have felt good.

“Hey, you’re going to be okay.” He ran his hands gently up and down her sides. He glanced up at Dawson. “Julian? Claude and Dorothy?”

“Everyone’s all right,” Dawson called back.

“Do we need an ambulance?” Joe asked joining Gray.

Beth shook her head. She didn’t want to waste the time going to the clinic in town when she’d heal on her own.

“I’m going to take her to my room,” Gray said. “Let her rest and check for other injuries. Do you need help with the three felines?”

“No,” Joe said. “You go ahead. We’ll take care of everything out here.”

Gray was careful when he picked her up, cradling her in his arms, but it still jostled her and she couldn’t hold in a hiss.

“Sorry,” he said, wincing.

She nodded back.

“Is Aunt Beth going to be okay?” Julian asked when Gray stepped onto the deck.

“Yes,” Gray told the boy. “She’s just really tired. She’ll be just fine.”

“I was so scared. But Aunt Beth wasn’t. She was brave,” Julian said, his lower lip trembling.

Gray crouched, which couldn’t have been easy still holding Beth. “Can I tell you a secret?”

Julian bobbed his head as he scooted closer to them.

“I was scared, and I bet if your aunt could talk right now, she’d tell you that she’d been as well. It’s okay to be frightened when put in a bad situation,” Gray said quietly.

“Really?” Julian’s eyes were wide and glassy.

Beth licked his check.

Julian laughed as Gray chuckled.

“Yes, really,” Gray assured him. “Now, how about you help me?”

“Okay!” Julian stood up. “What can I do?”

“I’m going to take your aunt upstairs,” Gray said. “Can you open the doors for me?”

“I can,” Julian replied quickly. He ran off to the front of the inn.

Gray rose then stepped over to Dorothy and Claude. “You two sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“Dorothy has a small bump on the back of her head, but I don’t think it’s too bad,” Claude said. “I’m going to take her to the clinic just to be sure, though.”

“Good idea,” Gray agreed.

“I’ll keep an eye on things here for you,” Dawson said.

“Let me know if you need any help,” Gray told Dawson. “I’ll be upstairs with Beth.”

“You got it,” Dawson replied.

As Gray carried her toward the entrance, Beth gazed up at him. He’d come for her, for them, and she didn’t ever want him not to be there. It didn’t matter what she needed to do. Beth had fallen in love with the wolf shifter. Their future was together and Beth needed to confess that to him.

It was time to take a chance.

Even if that meant leaving everyone else she loved behind.