“No, I guess not, but—”
“Alpha,” one of the enforcers shouted, “there’s another car pulling into the driveway.”
“Take your father inside, Jackie.”
Jackie didn’t even question the command. He grabbed his father by the arm and started pulling him toward the house.
“Jackie!”
Jackie spun around. His heart thundered when he spotted the man running toward him. He dropped his father’s arm and raced across the yard. The arms held out to him wrapped around him as soon as he was within reach.
“Boone.”
Jackie groaned as he was swept up and clutched against Boone’s chest, the man’s lips coming down on his. Kissing the man was such a simple act, yet Jackie’s heart beat faster, harder, and happiness bursting through his veins, a pleasure in and of itself. When Boone’s lips parted, Jackie groaned. The taste of Boone exploded on his tongue, his senses reeling.
“God, baby, I never thought I’d see you again,” Boone whispered against his neck. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” Jackie whispered back. “I didn’t know what happened to you. I went back for you, but you were gone.” Boone’s sweet scent invaded his lungs as Jackie inhaled deeply, calming his lion. “What happened to you?”
“It’s a long story, baby. Let’s get inside. Hugh needs to hear this, as well.”
“My dad is here.”
Boone glanced toward the house. “The tall guy on the steps with the salt-and-pepper hair?”
Jackie nodded. “Drummond brought him.”
Boone growled.
“We fought and my father punched him.”
“You fought?” There was outrage and panic mixed into that loud tone.
“I thought he had taken you and…” Jackie swallowed tightly. “He was threatening my father. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Are you hurt?” Jackie smiled when Boone started moving his hand over him, looking for injuries.
“I was clawed up a bit, but Hugh made me shift.”
“I’ll kill him,” Boone snapped as he started for Drummond.
“Boone, stop!” Jackie grabbed his arm. “Hugh has it under control. The council is sending someone to take him into custody.”
“He still needs to die.”
“Yes, he does, but that’s not our job.”
“I’m an enforcer, Jackie,” Boone said as he looked back at him. “That is my job.”
“Only if your alpha or council deems it so. Until they give the go-ahead, you can’t kill him unless you’re defending yourself or someone else. Right now, Drummond is in custody. If you went after him now, you’d be in the wrong.”
Boone huffed, but a smile began to spread across his lips. “You’re gonna keep me in line, aren’t you?”
Jackie shrugged. “I am the mate of the sheriff. I kind of have to make you follow the rules.”
“Baby, I have no doubt you can keep me in line.” Boone’s brown eyes twinkled with adoration as he stared down at Jackie. “That’s what makes you so perfect.”
“No.” Jackie smiled back. “That’s what makes me your mate.”
