Chapter One
––––––––
DOING HIS BEST TO KEEPthe scowl off his face, Craeg discreetly followed the woman.She peered around surreptitiously.If Craeg hadn’t been glancing in her direction when she’d slipped a package of trail mix into her pocket, he never would’ve pegged her as a shoplifter.
The woman moved between racks, appearing to browse.She checked the price on a child’s sweatshirt before moving on.Nibbling her bottom lip, she glanced around again.Then she stopped at a rotating display rack that held an abundance of stuffed marine animals.
With her left hand, she reached up and picked up a dolphin stuffie.She appeared to be considering it.However, it was her right hand that snagged Craeg’s attention.With a subtle move, she palmed a small jellyfish stuffie and slipped it into her pocket.Then she sighed, put the dolphin back, and moved on.
Grimacing, Craeg discreetly followed as she made her way to the store’s exit.As security, he knew it wasn’t technically shoplifting until she exited without paying.Once she’d done that, Craeg continued to shadow her as she strode to the left.
Craeg was about to stop her when she came to a bench where a little girl of about seven sat alone.Pausing, he watched the woman run her hand along one of the girl’s pigtails.The girl grinned up at the young woman.
Wondering at the relationship between the pair, Craeg continued to wait and watch.He hadn’t pegged the young lady as more than nineteen or twenty.Although, as a shifter, he knew he wasn’t the best at guessing ages.Still, she seemed way too young to have a daughter of that age.
“Thanks for sitting tight, Katie,” the young woman stated with a warm smile.“You ready to go see the stingrays?The clock says the petting pool is open now.”
“Yeah,” Katie replied, sliding from the bench.As she took the woman’s hand, she murmured, “I’m hungry, Tilda.”
“I thought you might be,” Tilda replied while slinging her arm around Katie’s shoulders.“I got you a snack.”
Craeg watched Tilda pull out the trail mix she’d swiped.After opening the bag, she handed it to Katie.The girl took it eagerly and began scarfing the food as if she hadn’t had breakfast.
Listening to their conversation gave Craeg pause.
Okay.Not the mother then.A sister, maybe?
Considering their hair color and facial features, Craeg guessed they could be related.
Craeg trailed after them, debating what to do.While hewaspart of security, he wasn’t technically on duty.Craeg had been in the shop to sayhito Meredith, the cashier, before heading to lunch with his buddy, Seri.He wasn’t even in uniform, which was probably why Tilda hadn’t noticed him.
When the pair reached the stingray petting pool, Craeg noticed Beta William on duty.The squid shifter was the younger brother of their alpha, Kaiser.He enjoyed mingling with the crowds, especially when his human mate—John, a captain at one of the nearby city’s police precincts—was on duty.
Hmm...maybe he can give me some advice.
Craeg headed toward William, which had him drawing close to the woman and child to pass them.As he did so, the young girl’s scent hit him.He nearly stumbled in shock.
Katie’s a shifter.
Snapping his focus to Katie, Craeg stared openly, too surprised to hide his interest.Tilda noticed, even with her attention on Katie, who was busy listening to Serena, a dolphin shifter who often worked the stingray pools, give instruction on how to pet the stingrays.Scowling at Craeg, Tilda gave him awhat the hell do you wantlook.
Clearing his throat, Craeg gave Tilda a tight smile and moved on.He crossed to William, who was eyeing him speculatively.Sucking in a deep breath, Craeg did his best to settle his jangled nerves.
Why is a young human female parading around our marine park with a shifter girl?
And why is she stealing?
Speculating didn’t usually do a lot of good, so Craeg stopped next to William.His beta arched a dark eyebrow.He glanced toward the pair surreptitiously, then refocused on Craeg, his silent question clear enough.
Craeg rubbed a palm over his short beard, keeping his back to the pair so as not to give away their interest in them.“I watched the older one shoplift atAquatica’s Grotto,” he admitted.“Followed her outside, and she met up with the young girl.”Craeg barely resisted taking a glance over his shoulder at the pair.“The young woman, Tilda, gave the trail mix to the girl, Katie.”Letting out a sigh, he admitted, “I bet the seven-dollar stuffie she stole is supposed to be a gift for Katie, too.”Shaking his head, Craeg muttered, “Gods, ya shoulda seen how fast Katie ate that trail mix.Acted as if she hadn’t eaten all day.”
And it’s early afternoon.
Craeg shoved his hands into his pockets and met William’s green eyes, seeing the same confliction within them that he felt.Yes, stealing was wrong, but she was giving it to her...sister?Ward?Girl she was babysitting?Craeg wasn’t certain what they were to each other.
When William opened his mouth as if to respond, Craeg quickly added, “It gets more complicated.”
“How could it getmorecomplicated?”William asked softly, his gaze flicking over Craeg’s shoulder, presumably to watch the pair.
