It was two a.m.when they passed by the alphas’ home, where Adam and Cinder lived on the third floor.Adam’s parents lived on the second floor, and there were other suites open for high-ranked males, but Leo and Solan had chosen to live in homes of their own in a nearby neighborhood.Solan chose that because he liked his privacy, but Leo chose not to live with them because before Adam and Cinder had realized they were truemates, he and Cinder used to fuck around.It had never been anything but casual, but Leo respected Adam too much to make himself a permanent fixture in their home while they were starting a family.
A low whistle from the back porch made Leo and Solan stop and turn toward the house.
Adam lifted a hand.
They walked over and climbed the steps of the porch.
“Hey guys, how’s it going?”Adam asked.
“All clear,” Solan said.
“That’s what I like to hear.We haven’t heard from Foley since the last time he came after us.I don’t want to jinx it, but I sure as hell hope he’s moved on and will leave us alone.”
Leo nodded in agreement.Brent Foley was the head of Humans Against Shifters, an anti-shifter group that operated under the guise of keeping cities and towns free of shifters to protect humans, but in reality, they generally tried to kill as many shifters as they could using any means necessary.He was a nasty, unhinged male and recruited mercenaries to join his cause.He’d come to Northern Ohio and gone after the tiger pride in Whisper Creek, and now he’d turned his attention to the pack.
“I hope he’s moved on, too,” Leo said.“But if he hasn’t, we’ll be ready for him.”
“We sure will be,” Solan said.“Why are you up so late?”
“Eh,” Adam said.“I came downstairs to grab a piece of my mom’s apple pie and heard you guys.I wanted to see if one of you would come along on Saturday to the Festival of the Revel in Willow’s Crossing.”
“I’ll go,” Leo said.“What the heck is it?I’ve never heard of it.”
“It’s a pop-up festival,” he said, leaning on the porch railing.“It follows a star called Velastra that’s linked to magic and dreams and other witchy stuff.Cinder wants to get some things to restock her magic supply cabinet, and also to get the fried junk food they’re supposed to have.Corn dogs, cotton candy, and such.”
Leo hummed in surprise.There was a festival for that bright star, and he just happened to see it?How cool.
“What time?”Leo asked.
“It opens at noon on Saturday, so we can go sometime in the afternoon.I’ll holler at you.”
“Sounds good.”
“Save me a piece of pie,” Solan said as he and Leo headed down the steps.
“Sorry, I already finished it.”
“You don’t sound one bit sorry,” Leo said with a chuckle.
“Nope.”
Their patrol continued, slow and methodical.Fence lines were checked, cameras were reviewed, and every border of the town was touched upon more than once.The star—Velastra—shining brightly over everything they patrolled.
* * *
The following day, Leo spent a few hours in the afternoon at the garage in Delta Park that bordered Thorn Hollow.The car dealership and garage were owned by the pack, and Leo had learned how to turn a wrench from Adam.He was under the hood of a truck when Brick called out to him.
“How was patrol last night?”he asked as he joined Leo at the truck.
Leo straightened.“Good.We fixed the one camera that was glitching.”
“Adam asked you to join him and Cinder for the festival tomorrow?”
“Yep.”
“We’re meeting at the alpha’s house at one, and then we’ll head over to Willow’s Crossing.Jade is coming because Cinder invited her, so I have to go too.I’ve got Dove, Joey, and Stewart joining you for security.”
“Sounds good.”
