Chapter Eight

Gray sat quietly in a chair next to his bed where Beth was sleeping peacefully. It had been two hours since he’d come across the heart-stopping sight of Beth facing off against an enraged tiger and he’d barely finished shaking.

It had taken him until that moment to realize what he’d already known deep down—Beth was the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.

In less than a week, he’d gone from feeling alone and lost to becoming completely smitten. There was always the possibility that he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life, but Gray was going to have to take that gamble.

He would not be leaving Coyote Bluff.

Somehow, some way, Gray was going to have to figure out how to make a life in the town. He had no idea what he would do, but the only thing that mattered was that he’d found a home he hadn’t even known he’d been searching for.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts and he jumped up to head to the door before whoever it was woke Beth.

“Hey, Gray,” RJ said as Gray cracked open the door. “I was just checking on the two of you.”

Gray slipped into the hall, closing the door quietly behind him. “She shifted back during her sleep, not even waking. She’s worn-out but already healing.”

“That’s good.” RJ tilted his head toward the railing. “Got a minute?”

“Sure.” Curious, he followed RJ across the hall until they were braced on the wooden banister. They could see the bottom floor of the inn. Everything was currently quiet, but Gray could smell something delicious cooking. “What’s up?”

“It’s time for me to join my brother,” RJ said. “Now that everyone involved in kidnapping the Prince has been found, I have to go.”

“I understand,” Gray said. “You have to be there to support your brother. It won’t be easy for him to go into an established Pack as the new Alpha.”

“Yeah.” RJ nodded. “He’s already meeting some resistance.”

“If you need anything at all, you give me a call,” Gray offered.

“I was going to tell you the same thing,” RJ stated.

Gray raised an eyebrow.

“You’re staying here, aren’t you?” RJ asked.

“Yes,” Gray admitted out loud for the first time. “I’m staying in Coyote Bluff and hopefully with Beth.”

“I don’t think you’ll have any issues here. Coyote Bluff is an amazingly accepting, but if you get trouble from anyone or anywhere else, you let me know. My new Pack is only a few hours from here and I’ve got your back.”

It stunned him that he’d started off fighting the other man and now felt a solid bond that would last a lifetime. Gray nodded then pulled RJ into a back-slapping hug.

“Keep in touch,” Gray told RJ.

“Of course, brother,” RJ replied. “And I expect you to bring your woman up as soon as things get settled.”

“It’s a promise.” RJ strolled down the stairs until he disappeared through the front door.

It appeared that things were changing for a lot of them. With Casey’s team ending their service, they had decisions of their own to make about their futures. Gray hoped he’d still be able to see them now that he had connected to the family.

A few minutes after RJ had walked out, the front door reopened and Julian came running through. The boy didn’t notice Gray up above and that gave him a few moments to just watch. It wouldn’t be easy leaving Jesse behind. He’d been with her and Tyler since she’d been born and Gray considered himself an uncle. He knew that Jesse also thought of him that way. But this was his chance to maybe have a child of his own. Beth’s affection for the boy was obvious. He’d like to see her with a baby of her own.

Julian skipped into the dining room, going out of view. Gray turned back to his bedroom. He quietly re-entered, but as soon as the door closed behind him, Beth started to stir.

She rolled over onto her side, rising to peer at him. “Everything okay?” she asked.

“Fine,” Gray assured her. “RJ was just saying goodbye.”

“Oh. I guess it’s really over now. Everyone’s going to have to carry on with their own lives.”

Here was his moment. Gray strode over to sit on the side of the mattress closest to her. “Not everyone.”

“What do you mean?” She sat up, putting her back against the headboard.

“I’m not leaving,” he declared.

She nodded. “You said you’d stay a couple of days. Your Alpha is giving you some time off.”

Gray smiled then took her hand in his. “I mean, I’m not leaving at all. I want to stay in Coyote Bluff.”

“What?” she asked softly.

Fuck, that wasn’t the reaction he’d expected. Even if Beth didn’t feel the same way as he did, Gray still had faith that they would end up together and he was okay with spending the time to convince her. “I’m not leaving. I want to make Coyote Bluff my home.”

“Gray.” She kneeled in front of him on the mattress. “Say it again.”

“I’m not leaving. I want to make Coyote Bluff my home.”

Beth smiled so sweetly that Gray’s hope spiked. “What if I’m willing to go with you? Would that change your decision?”

“You’d move to Colorado?” he asked.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” she admitted. “I’m not ready to let you go. If you have to leave, then I want to go with you.”

Not only was Beth at the same place as he was for their future, but she’d be giving up everything she loved to join him. Gray couldn’t let her do that. Coyote Bluff was her home and they’d already received support from the residents.

Gray wanted to believe that his Pack would accept whoever he picked as a mate, but he couldn’t guarantee it. There was no doubt in his mind that Tyler and his good friends were going to be happy for him, but not every member of the Pack was going to understand his choice of a feline shifter.

Beth deserved to be comfortable in her home. There would be too many uncertainties and doubts for Gray to back with him.

“Can I be honest?” he asked. Gray didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but they should make this decision together.

“Yes,” she replied quickly. “Please.”

“If we were to go to Colorado, I wouldn’t want it to be right away. We already have people here that will support us.”

“You don’t think your Pack will want me.” She didn’t say it as a question.

“Tyler will and he’d demand the same from his Pack, but no Pack is perfect. If I can’t assure myself you’d be safe, I won’t take the chance.”

“We might have issues here,” she pointed out.

“Yes,” Gray said. “But with the different species living peacefully, I think we’ll find more acceptance. In a Pack of wolf shifters, you’re going to stand out all the time.”

“I’ll admit I’m relieved,” she told him.

“You are?”

“I don’t want to leave my brother or nephew. This town is the first place that I felt a connection to and bonded with. I really would love to stay.”

He’d known he was making the right decision. Beth’s admission helped ease his mind even more. “Maybe we’ll be able to visit, but I want us to plan our future here.”

“I’m so happy!” Beth cried, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Gray didn’t actually need to hear the words, but it was nice all the same. She was peppering his neck with kisses, but Gray was already beginning to feel a more powerful need.

“Lie back,” he said while gently nudging her to comply.

Beth peered up at him with all the love and affection he felt toward her.

“Let me show you how good it can be between us,” he offered.

“I already know,” she told him. “I just want more.”

“You’ll have it,” he promised. Gray tugged his shirt over his head then leaned down to tease her lips with his tongue.

When she pushed up to increase the pressure, Gray nipped her bottom lip.

Beth laughed but laid her head back down on the pillow. Gray slid his hand down her shoulder to cup her breasts. Thankfully she was already naked from falling asleep as a bobcat. He could admire her body tonight and for so much longer now.

She arched, thrusting her chest into his hold, but he didn’t pull back this time. Instead he leaned forward, taking one pert nipple into his mouth and sucking. Beth cried out, her hands going to the back of his head. Gray licked a path down, lavishing attention on her soft skin. He loved how fully she gave herself to him.

As she spread her thighs, allowing him to settle comfortably between her legs, he rewarded her with a brush of his thumbs back over her nipples.

Already she was starting to flush. Gray wanted her desperately.

He sat back on his heels then rubbed his fingers through her folds so he could feel the wetness. She wanted him just as much, but still wasn’t that desperate.

Gray dropped down, pinning her under his larger body to bury his face in her sweet pussy.

“Gray!” she called out.

He hummed but didn’t stop the erotic torment of licking at her entrance while rubbing his thumb over her clit.

“Please! More!” she demanded.

Almost there. Gray slid his palms under her ass and lifted her to give him better access. He tongued her open, collecting the juices of her essence before plunging in to get a deeper taste.

She trembled for him.

“Gray!” Beth climaxed but Gray didn’t pause, didn’t stop until she tugged his hair so hard he worried that she’d yanked some out.

He climbed up and positioned himself to enter her. Gray waited until she opened her eyes and reached for him before thrusting hard. The bed rocked with them, but he wasn’t done making the furniture move. With a good grip of her hips, he withdrew then plunged back. Repeating the action over and over.

Beth lifted her legs to brace them under his arms which opened her farther for every powerful drive. Pumping his hips as fast as he could, Gray felt every part of his soul needing to claim Beth as his.

He wouldn’t, of course. There’d be a serious conversation before he mated with her, but now he knew one day the option was available. Gray needed Beth, always would, and he had to show her. Every damn day.

“Gray,” she moaned. The way she clawed at his back both turned him on and made it hard to concentrate on loving her. If she didn’t stop, he was going to lose control.

“Fuck!” he snarled. Her sweet cunt clamped down on him. He jerked her hips even harder against his groin before plowing on.

His orgasm built.

Gray knew he couldn’t handle any more.

“Yes!” He plunged deep one last time before he came. Beth was still lifting her hips, forcing his cock deep. Then she heaved at his shoulders, shoved him back and climbed on top.

Beth grasped his cock and positioned him at her entrance before slamming herself down. Gray could only lie there gasping as she used his body for her own pleasure. And he loved every moment of it.

When he had more control, Gray cupped her breasts while she rode him.

Gazing up at her, he was amazed by her beauty and the fact she’d deemed him good enough for her.

Gray was in heaven.

* * * *

The fact that someone was once again banging on his door made Gray realize he was going to have to figure out a more permanent living situation. Even though Beth was snuggled into his arms, if whoever was outside didn’t go away, he was going to kill them.

After the day we had yesterday, don’t I deserve to sleep in? The pounding came again and he sighed before slipping his arm from under Beth’s head.

“Tell whoever is at the door that I plan on killing them,” she mumbled.

Gray peered down and had to smile. She was just so adorable ruffled and sleepy-eyed. “I’ll do that.” He placed a quick kiss to her forehead before climbing off the mattress. While tempted to answer naked just to be a dick, Gray stopped to pull on a pair of boxers.

He stomped to the door and threw it open before realizing his mistake. He hadn’t connected the scent of home until he was staring at his Alpha, who had two people behind him.

“What?” he managed.

“Jesus Christ!” Kiley pushed past Tyler and was in Gray’s arms before he even knew what was happening. “We were so worried.”

Out of habit, he’d caught Kiley who clung to him, but he looked at his Alpha before turning to Kiley’s mate, Austin. “Huh?”

“Uh, Gray?” Beth called. “Why is another woman climbing you?”

Kiley stiffened before doing a slow scan of the room. He knew the minute she caught sight of Beth in his bed. Kiley shifted back then he was shoved forcefully toward Tyler as Kiley planted her hands on her hips.

Shit, fuck, damn…this is bad.

“Who are you?” Kiley asked quite rudely.

To her credit, Beth merely smiled. “Kiley?”

Obviously taken back, Kiley glared at him before nodding.

“And the other two men must be Gray’s Alpha and your mate?” Beth guessed.

“You sure seem to know a lot about us,” Kiley stated. She stalked forward before Gray had a chance to grab her arm. “All I know about you is that you shared a bed with my best friend.”

“Kiley!” Gray snapped. He didn’t care how much he loved his friend—no one spoke to Beth that way.

Beth arranged the blankets high but smiled at him. “It’s okay, Gray.”

“It is not!” Kiley exclaimed. “Since he’s been in this happy little town, he’s been attacked twice. The last time we don’t even hear about from him. Then he doesn’t answer his phone for over twenty-four hours! Things are far from okay.”

“Twenty-four hours?” Gray and Beth said at the same time.

“Kiley.” Austin stepped farther into the room. He shot Gray an apologetic smile, but Gray knew he was lucky Kiley had even allowed them to knock on the door. Kiley was able and willing to use some of her more questionable skills from being a private detective when it suited her. “Maybe we should let Gray and…”

“Beth!” Gray said. “Her name is Beth and what the hell are you three doing here?”

Out of everyone, Gray didn’t expect it to be Beth who began to laugh uncontrollably. After a minute, Tyler and Austin joined her. That left him and Kiley peering at the weirdos around them.

“Damn it!” Gray threw his hands in the air. “What’s so funny?”

Kiley snorted. “Okay, looking at this from your point of view, this is kind of funny,” Kiley said to Beth.

Beth nodded, wiping her eyes.

“How about the two of you get dressed and join us downstairs? I’m fucking starving and I swear I smelled steak,” Kiley said.

“Sounds good,” Beth agreed easily.

Kiley spun toward him. “You better hurry up. I think we make your hosts nervous.”

Gray had no doubt that Dorothy and Claude were more than a little nervous with so many wolf shifters around. They’d been wary when he’d arrived alone but now the number of wolves was multiplying. He’d also bet that Dawson had already been informed of his Alpha’s visit. “We won’t be long.”

Kiley pressed her lips together into a thin line then stalked out, grabbing his mate’s arms as she went.

Tyler shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think anything about bringing her. I was telling Austin what had been going on and she overheard. Austin couldn’t do anything to keep her home. It was either come with her or be responsible for what she did once she arrived.”

“I know,” Gray smiled. “I am really glad to see you, though. Hell, I’m happy to see her and Austin.” He threw a glance over his shoulder at Beth. “A little warning would have been nice.”

“I tried calling,” Tyler said. “Kiley called. Austin called. Several others.”

“Sorry.” Gray hadn’t meant to worry anyone. “I don’t even know how long we’ve been asleep.”

“As long as you’re okay.” Tyler dipped his head in respect to Beth. “But I do think the two of you should hurry. Now that we know you’re unharmed, there’s no telling what trouble Kiley will find.”

Gray watched his Alpha turn and leave before he closed the door. He braced himself for whatever reaction Beth was going to have.

Beth had her phone in her hand. “I have ten missed calls. We slept all day yesterday and half of today.”

“You needed your rest,” he said.

She raised an eyebrow.

“Okay, we both did,” Gray admitted. “But, fuck, I am so sorry about this.”

Beth cocked her head to the side. “About what?”

“Kiley and the others busting in on us.”

“You’re happy to see them,” she commented.

He was. Gray had planned to call Tyler and explain that he wouldn’t be returning, but now he would also have to deal with Kiley. “Kiley’s harmless.”

Beth scoffed.

“She will be,” Gray corrected. “We’ve been friends a long time.”

“You already told me about her,” Beth said. “And it’s obvious that the two of you still adore each other. But even I can tell that Austin is completely in love with her and I have the feeling that she feels the same way.”

“Yes,” he agreed.

“Then you need to relax. Enjoy their visit,” Beth told him. “Are you going to talk to Tyler while he’s here?”

“Yes,” Gray said. “Although I’d like to do it without Kiley around. She just left us, which was hard for Tyler and Jesse. I don’t want him to feel abandoned by me too.”

“I could take Kiley and her mate around town. Show them the community,” Beth offered. “That would give you some time alone with your Alpha.”

“You’d do that?”

“I want to,” she said. “You have to remember that I get to keep you after this. Anything I can do to make things easier for you, I will.”

Gray walked over to the bed and pulled her up to kiss her thoroughly. “You are the best,” he said. “If Kiley starts to get annoying, bring up kids. Nothing will get her to shut up as fast as that.”

Beth laughed loudly. “That’s mean!”

“Hey! A guy’s gotta learn some tricks,” he defended. “She can probably kick the ass of most male shifters I know.”

“I’m actually looking forward to spending time with her,” Beth said. “She’s important to you, so I want to be friends.”

“Oh, you will be,” Gray said. “I have no doubt. But we have to go save Claude and Dorothy.”

“Let me brush my teeth,” Beth rushed off.

Gray decided to go casual. If Beth managed to get Kiley away, he’d like to shift with his Alpha. Having Tyler in wolf form was always so comforting. And Gray didn’t know when he’d get the chance again. He grabbed a clean pair of faded jeans and a plain navy shirt. By having dressed quickly, he’d finished by the time Beth exited the bathroom. They switched places so she could pull on clothing while he took care of his morning routine.

It couldn’t have taken them more than ten minutes, but Gray still grew nervous as he and Beth followed the sound of voices into the dining room. Gray paused in the doorway, making Beth almost run into his back.

Kiley was crouched facing Julian, who was speaking animatedly to her. Tyler, Austin and Dawson sat at one of the bigger tables, drinking what appeared to be coffee.

“The dead have arisen,” Dawson called, spotting them.

Gray refused to be embarrassed. He’d been on the hunt for a long time and since he’d arrived in Coyote Bluff it’d been nonstop chaos.

“Gray!” Julian yelled. He ran at Gray, who scooped him up.

“What’s up, little man?” he asked.

“She’s a lady wolf!” Julian pointed at Kiley.

“I know,” Gray said. “She’s my friend.”

“She’s the only one who didn’t promise not to eat me,” Julian tattled.

Gray whipped his head toward Kiley.

“What?” she snapped. “I’m not going to lie to the kid.”

“She’s not going to eat you,” Gray told Julian.

“Not unless I do something really bad,” Julian said.

“Kiley!” Gray couldn’t believe that she’d even joked about that.

“In her defense,” Dawson spoke up, “she was totally blindsided by my boy.”

“I’m keeping my eye on him,” Kiley warned. “I think he might work for the secret service or something.”

Julian giggled.

He didn’t even know what to say. Gray peered at Beth for help, but she was shaking with laughter. He growled before strolling over to the table. He sat down as far from Kiley as he could. Maybe Gray should be more worried about Kiley and Julian. She would be a terrible influence on the boy. Julian didn’t need any help getting into trouble.

Still, Gray could see how well his family would mesh with the residents in Coyote Bluff. There was absolutely no reason he’d have to stop seeing his pack when he moved permanently. He just needed to tell Tyler.

Tyler sat across from him and when Gray glanced at his Alpha, he was surprised by the expression on Tyler’s face. His Alpha was peering at him with affection but somehow also sadness. When Tyler dipped his head slightly, Gray had the feeling that he wasn’t going to have to explain too much. Tyler already knew.

“I was really starting to worry about the two of you,” Dorothy said as she bustled into the room carrying a tray. Claude was walking behind her and smiled at Gray as well.

Dorothy set her tray on an empty table then bent to kiss his cheek before doing the same to Beth. “I thought you might have been more hurt than we’d known.”

“Just tired,” Gray assured the older woman. “We’re up and ready for adventure. What’re you doing later? Is there a drug house or something in town that needs taking down?”

Dawson and Claude groaned while everyone else laughed.

“I think you can take a few more days off before you go back to cleaning up the streets of Coyote Bluff,” Dorothy said, swatting him.

“Billy Jefferies stole my gummy bears last week,” Julian piped up.

Gray glanced down at the boy and bared his teeth. “You just point him out to me.”

Julian giggled, nodding.

“Now, Gray,” Kiley admonished. “You know you can’t go picking on little boys. Julian can tell me. No one knows me here.”

“Okay!” Julian jumped down and raced over to Kiley’s side.

Gray reached for the kid, missed his arm and grunted. This was not a good idea. Beth patting his hand had him looking at her for help.

“We have to keep him away from the she-devil,” he mock-whispered.

“I can hear you,” Kiley singsonged. “And I can stay longer than a few days if you’re not nice.”

Gray shuddered dramatically.

“You behave,” Dorothy scolded. She set down a mug of coffee and a full plate of breakfast food. He noticed that Beth received the same, but the others were eating full plates of dinner food. He nodded toward his plate. “You haven’t eaten in over a day. Let’s take it easy for now. I want to make sure you’re not coming down sick.”

Emotion choked him up. Gray caught Dorothy’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He wasn’t certain he could express in words what he was feeling.

No one took care of him anymore. It was his job to stand in front of the pack and while his fellow wolf shifters had his back and wouldn’t let him get hurt, no one mothered him.

Claude laid his palm over Gray and Dorothy’s, shocking Gray further.

Maybe he wouldn’t be so quick to move out of the inn. Gray couldn’t see himself living in Coyote Bluff and not visiting with the older couple daily. Plus Claude’s dominance soothed his wolf side, which needed to have a strong leader around. Claude would never be Gray’s Alpha, but he was something.

“Eat, son,” Claude mumbled. “Then you can enjoy time with your friends. Leave your worry for now.”

Gray nodded and picked up his fork. With his free hand, he reached for Beth’s fingers beneath the table. He could follow that order. Claude was right. He didn’t need to worry. Gray had made up his mind and he was now going to be part of the Coyote Bluff community.

Beth didn’t know where Dawson, Austin or Julian had disappeared to but she was pretty certain that it’d been planned. Sitting on the back deck of the inn with beers, she found herself alone with Kiley for the first time.

The sun had already begun to set, so it was a pretty sight, but the longer Kiley sat there without speaking, the more nervous Beth grew. She wanted this woman who was so important to Gray to like her. Finally she’d had enough.

“I figured you’d start your interrogation,” Beth stated.

Kiley glanced over and smiled. “I’d planned to, but the view sort of took my breath away. I wouldn’t have ever guessed that the canyons would look so astounding. It’s quite beautiful.”

Beth beamed. Kiley wasn’t saying anything positive about her, but it still felt like her approval of Beth’s town meant something.

“But now that you’ve brought it up, I guess we should talk,” Kiley said.

“Should have kept my trap shut,” Beth mumbled.

“It’ll be painless, I promise.”

Beth noticed for the first time how tense Kiley was. With her own anxiety so high, Beth hadn’t thought about how awkward this would be for the other woman. “I’m not going to hurt him. That’s what you want to hear, but I’m not just saying it, I mean it.”

Kiley shook her head. “I think being mated to Austin changed me.”

“How?”

“Instead of worrying about Gray getting hurt, I’m trying to figure out a way to let him go. He belongs to you now,” Kiley said.

“You don’t have to let him go completely,” Beth told her. “I don’t want to keep the two of you apart. I just want to have a part of him, too.”

“You have more than just a part of him,” Kiley said. She gazed back out toward the canyons. “He’s staying, isn’t he?”

“Yes.” Beth didn’t think any more words than that were necessary.

“I figured. The way he looks at you is how Austin’s always looked at me. The minute I saw the two of you together, I knew.”

“Knew what?” Beth asked carefully.

“That he loves you.”

Beth smiled. She couldn’t help it. Someone else could see the things she saw when she looked at Gray. It wasn’t just her imagination.

“I think this is a good place for him as well,” Kiley said.

“Really?” Beth was truly shocked by that.

“Gray’s the type who needs to help. Has to feel useful. If the shifters announce their presence, there’ll be a need to protect all of you in this town,” Kiley said. “Gray will bring the protection of the Pack, but he’ll also fight to keep everyone safe. It’s almost the perfect place for him.”

“I can’t see anyone here wanting to be a part of that,” Beth admitted.

“No, I didn’t think they would. But Tyler told me that your older brother is mated to the Prince of felines. Keeping this town a secret will benefit him as well giving him a retreat from the outside world. Also making Coyote Bluff need Gray even more.”

“I guess I haven’t thought about things like that,” Beth admitted.

“Gray has. And I have a feeling Tyler has as well. I think he knew before we even got here.”

“Will he try to talk Gray into leaving?” Beth asked. She couldn’t hold in the concern and Kiley had been honest with her. Surely Kiley had some sort of idea how the Alpha would react.

“No. Tyler loves Gray, but he always does what’s best for the individual. I wasn’t actually part of the Pack, so it wasn’t a big deal for me to leave. Tyler still calls me every other day. It helps that Austin is his best friend, but you shouldn’t expect any different. In fact you might want to start preparing for a massive increase in visits, because I suspect someone from the Pack will be around most of the time.”

“Why?” Beth exclaimed. Having an increase of wolf shifters was going to affect everyone in town.

“Because you and your community will be a part of Gray’s family. He’s already bonding with you all. There is no way Tyler or any of us will leave Gray or you on your own.”

“I don’t know quite what to say.” She didn’t know how to feel, either.

“It won’t be to take over anything.” Kiley looked at Beth as she spoke. “I don’t think Claude would allow it, anyway.”

“You haven’t met the sheriff, either,” Beth said. “Between the two of them, they keep other shifters from trying to dominate here.”

“Good,” Kiley said. “It’s about the bond with wolf shifters. Gray will still need that.”

“I’ll admit I don’t know much about your species.”

Kiley waved her hand. “We’re pretty simple. Most of what Gray needs he’ll get through you and the other connections he’s made here. But there will be times when he’ll need a fellow wolf. It’s instinctual, but if anyone can make it work it’ll be Gray and Tyler. You should just be prepared. We’re a nosy group.”

Beth laughed. “I don’t think I’ve seen the last of RJ or Mike, either.”

“The wolves who served with your brother?”

“Yeah, they were pretty crazy, but they seemed to have bonded with Gray as well.”

“You both have a lot of people on your side.”

“I think so,” Beth replied. “Gray still believes that we’ll get some trouble from shifters who won’t understand a wolf and bobcat together.”

“What do you think?”

“I don’t know,” Beth answered honestly.

“Wolf culture is a little different than felines and if there are problems, it will probably come from our kind. But, like I said, you have a lot of people who’ll have your back. Plus your brother is mated to the fucking Prince. Anyone would be stupid to mess with you.”

“So you don’t mind?”

“Not at all,” Kiley assured her. “I think it’s perfect.”

Beth relaxed in her chair. She brought her beer to her lips and ignored the fact she’d allowed it to get warm. Now that she could relax, she wanted to enjoy sitting out with her new friend.

Kiley must have felt the same way since she slouched in her chair, taking a deep breath. Beth didn’t know how the other woman could be mated to an Alpha. As much as she loved Gray, she was so thankful he wasn’t in charge of an entire Pack. That had to put a strain on things. Instead Beth could continue to care for her family and live her own life.

A life with Gray by her side.