“You okay?”he asked as they walked through the clearing and headed toward the burned area where they’d been attacked.
“Yeah.I just wanted to see it in the daytime.Is that silly?”
“Not even a little bit.”
She gave him a grateful smile and squeezed his hand.
They reached the area where he’d been trapped by flames and stopped.He could still smell the flames even though they didn’t burn any longer.Trees were scorched, and the ground was black.He could hear movement and knew the security team was on patrol.
Standing in silence, he considered all he might have lost and was damn thankful they’d all come out on the other side of the ordeal, safe and whole.
“I wonder how they dropped the accelerant,” she said.
“Brick found evidence of drones on the security feed.And someone got close enough to toss a small Molotov cocktail, which set off the fires.”
“It could have been a lot worse.”She shivered.He put his arm around her and drew her close.
After a little while, he walked her to the alphas’ house, where her mom and sister were waiting for her, and then he headed to the security building.
“Hey,” he said, walking inside and finding Solan, Brick, and Stewart.
“Hi,” Solan said.“I’m on patrol with you.How’s Mira?”
“She’s great.I’m the one who’s having occasional nightmares about her being hurt during the fight.”His wolf was still in protective mode and would probably always be extra-strength crazy about it.
“They’ll pass in time,” Stewart said.“My mom got hurt in a car wreck when I was a kid, and my dad was driving.He said it took a few weeks before he stopped waking up in a panic because his wolf was having nightmares every night about her being hurt.”
“Sounds about right,” Leo said.“I know they’ll ease off, but I may never get over seeing her get hit by that asshole.”
The males nodded in understanding.
He and Solan checked their patrol schedule and were going to hit the east side of town and start with a perimeter walk before hopping in a golf cart and driving around the neighborhoods.After they grabbed their walkies, they moved outside and headed toward the east side.
They crossed the road in silence, walking directly to the edge of town, and then began the patrol.The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves that rustled with a light breeze that brought heat and no relief.Leo’s wolf stretched inside him, ready for anything.
“You’re wound tight,” Solan said.
“Can’t stop,” Leo admitted.“My wolf is still on edge, like flames might shoot up again.I know Stewart is right and it’ll ease with time, but I also always want to be ready to protect Mira whenever she needs me.”
“You’ll find a balance between being overprotective and vigilant.Mira wouldn’t want you to drive yourself nuts worrying about her.I want to say she’s safe here, that we all are, but the truth is Brent Foley is a menace and there’s no telling what he might do or who he might come after.Being watchful is something we should all be doing.”
Leo hummed.“I wish he’d get hit by a bus or something.”
Solan snorted.“Me too.I mean, imagine making your whole personality one that doesn’t like a group of people?We’re shifters for crap’s sake, not criminals.But he thinks we don’t have a right to exist, to share space with humans.”
“Well, the anti-vampire guy—Jason Finnegan—met his end finally.At the fangs of a hellhound.Eventually, good wins over evil.”
“Yeah, but he also took out a lot of vampires along the way,” Solan pointed out.“No telling how many shifters Foley has killed or hurt.I believe someday he’ll meet his end, and then he’ll have to contend with his actions in the afterlife.I suspect there will be lots of fire and brimstone where he’s going.”
“For sure.”
“I remember my dad saying that finding your truemate makes the wolf louder because there’s more to lose.Before you’re mated, you’re just an island.Yeah, you’ve got the pack to watch out for, but it’s not the same as being the protector in a relationship.But the wolf doesn’t just get loud, he gets smarter.Fear isn’t weakness; it’s just intuition.Your wolf was made to keep Mira safe, and you will.”
“You’re a damn good friend, Solan.I hope you find your truemate soon.”
“Oh, me too, it’s been long enough.I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life.Mate, babies, a home full of love.I want it all.”
“You’ll have it, and it’ll be worth the wait,” Leo said confidently.
