JESSE
It had been all Jesse could do to let Matt go to work that morning. It gave him a new perspective on just how hard it must have been for Matt to have lethimgo. He knew Matt had let him go because he cared, because heknewJesse, but he hadn’t appreciated how difficult it must have been. If he’d loved Jesse less, he’d have held onto him more.
But Matt had kissed him before leaving, and the promise of his return was in his eyes. So now, all Jesse had to do was fill the time until then.
He shuffled down the hallway—maybe he wasn’t feeling quite as spry as he’d let Matt believe—only to be nearly bowled over by Tristan racing out of the kitchen, a piece of toast in one hand and his backpack in the other.
“Sorry, Jesse! Gotta go—see you later!”
The front door banged behind him as Jesse made it to the kitchen, feeling as if he’d just been run over by a tornado.
Jason glanced up from the croissants he was taking out of the oven. “He’s the only person I know who gets excited about taking a math quiz.”
Dave was at the table, drinking something that smelled downright strange. “He’s young. He’ll learn,” he said.
Jesse wrinkled his nose at the scent from Dave’s mug. “Whatisthat stuff?”
“Blackberry and pomegranate tea.”
Jesse stared at him. “You’re making that up.”
“Try it.” Dave pushed the mug across the table to him.
Deeply suspicious, Jesse picked it up and took a wary sip.
“Well?” Jason asked, putting a plate of croissants in front of Jesse.
“Didn’t spit it out, and that’s as good as it gets,” Jesse said, pushing the mug back and grabbing a croissant. “I suppose it’s—damnit, these arehot.”
Jason rolled his eyes as Jesse flapped his hand in front of his mouth, trying to ease his burning fingers. “And there I was, thinking you’d seen me just take them out of the oven. I’d better go—I’m due at the diner.”
Tristan and Jason were back at school and work respectively, while Christian and Dave were once again working the ranch. There were always two of them out on patrol at night. Matt said he’d have liked it to be more, but there weren’t enough of them.
Jason walked quietly down the hallway to the front door. But not quite as quietly as he used to move. What had happened had changed things. Jason had more confidence. Tristan was no longer seen as just a kid. And, for the first time, Karl had let others look after him, instead of being the one who always protected them. It was only because he hadn’t had a choice, Jesse knew, but it hadn’t stopped the warmth he’d felt every time he’d seen another wolf with Karl, quietly keeping watch over him.
“I’m going to take over from Christian,” Dave said. “There’s different sorts of fruit tea in the pantry if you want to try any.”
“Don’t exactly want to push my limits that far,” Jesse said, eyeing the mug as if it might bite him. Dave was laughing as he went out the door.
Jesse’s croissants eventually cooled down enough to eat. He only managed one and a half, because for some reason his appetite hadn’t come back since he’d woken from his days of healing sleep. Don reckoned it was nothing to worry about, saying his body was resting after all its exertion. “Because I have to tell you, Jesse, if not for your shifter-enhanced healing, I don’t know if you’d have made it.”
“Nope, you reallydidn’thave to tell me that,” Jesse had informed him, surprising a laugh out of Don.
“He’s got a smart mouth, or thinks he has,” Matt had said apologetically, hooking his arm around Jesse’s neck. “Listen, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention to anyone Jesse’s coloring when he’s shifted.”
Jesse stilled suddenly. With all that had happened, he’d lost sight of that possibility.
“Sure,” Don said, easy and obliging. For him to be so casual about it, he must have no idea about Argents. Having only seen Jesse indoors, he probably thought Jesse simply had a particularly glossy coat. “Figure you’ll tell me why sometime if you want me to know.”
Matt nodded, his eyes on Don’s. “I will.”
Don took himself off to check on Karl, leaving Jesse and Matt alone.
“Do you think Cale’s still out there?” Jesse asked.
Matt had been quiet for a long time. “Part of me thinks his sort’s like a cockroach,” he’d confessed at last. “And if he is out there, he won’t easily give up on a prize like an Argent. But the restof me thinks his pack’s so damn rough and brutal that they’ll tear him apart for having been beaten.”
That wouldn’t prevent them coming back for another try, with another leader. But having seen how Matt had dealt with a wolf like Cale, who had been arealalpha, power and dominance and fight in every inch of his body, they probably wouldn’t dare. All Matt’s pack could do was stay alert and prepared, just in case.
