Mia leaned his way again. “They won’t force the women to mate, will they?”
“No,” Seth said. “But I know both of these men, and they can be very persuasive.”
Mia studied the two women standing next to each other, glaring at the entire ensemble. “I’m not sure either of those men will survive the next couple of months,” she murmured.
Seth looked at her, his heart warming. Then he threw back his head and laughed.
Epilogue
Mia watched the rain drench the earth outside while she cuddled by the fire with a book in her hands. It had been two weeks since her kidnapping, and her bruises had mostly faded. That was a good thing because every time Seth saw a mark on her, he turned all growly. She supposed wolves were entitled to be that way, but hers was becoming an overprotective ass, and she needed him to back off.
He walked into the room with another cup of tea to hand to her, and she instantly felt guilty. He’d spent more time with her the last couple of weeks than at the mines or even the pack office, and his phone was always buzzing.
She looked up and smiled. “You don’t have to babysit me all the time. I’m fine, you know.”
He lifted his shoulder. “I know. And the good news is that Kurt Colbey is back in DC, and I believe that reporter followed him, so one more worry down.”
She already knew Kurt was back because she’d turned in her resignation. She hadn’t told Seth, however. “What about Kurt having to mate a shifter?”
“I don’t know,” Seth said, snorting. “It would be hilarious to see. Basically, I just said that to buy him time. If any of the packs truly go after him, then we’ll have to sit down and have a serious discussion. Right now, everything is in such turmoil, I’m not too worried about him.”
Neither was Mia. Kurt may not have been there for her when she needed him a million years ago, but he was still a good guy, and he’d proven himself during this last case. She wished him well. “I heard from the Seattle hospital,” she murmured. “Lionel is being released tomorrow and gets to fly home.” She had visited him several times, and while his recovery may take a while, the photographer would be all right someday. She sobered. “Any news on Claire?”
“She’s still alive,” Seth said curtly.
Mia nodded, her heart softening. “I know. It does seem easier to take her out, but she has five children, and I can’t imagine what she felt when she lost Mandy.” It made sense that the woman had turned all her anger somewhere. Unfortunately, it had been at Mia. “Is she safely checked in to Lost Asylum?”
Seth nodded. “Yeah, we put her in front of a judge, one of ours, and she was sentenced to Lost Asylum. You’re not going to believe who her main therapist is.”
Mia put a hand to her head. “It’s Dr. Jeremiah Bankston, isn’t it?”
“You mean Brother Jeremiah,” Seth drawled. “And yes, it is. Hopefully, he’ll concentrate on her and not keep bugging me about Pete’s disappearance. We’ve warned Claire that she has to keep quiet about wolf shifters and just talk about her grief and her daughter, but I don’t have a lot of faith she’ll do that.”
Mia stretched her legs. “One thing at a time, right?”
“Right.” His gaze turned dark, and his lips curved. Sleekly muscled and more animalistic than humanoid, he’d never look tame. Even relaxed or smiling, the predator just beneath the surface was always there, speeding up her heart rate like usual. “You’re looking better.”
“I’m feeling better,” she said. “I should tell you that I resigned from the FBI.”
No expression crossed his face. “I don’t ever want you to be anybody other than who you are.” Was that caution glowing in his eyes? Peace? Maybe both.
“I know,” she assured him. “But I can’t work for the FBI and keep this secret. I’m a good cop. If there are crimes around here, I’ll investigate them, but I need to do so by being aboveboard about wolf shifters, and I can only do that within the pack.”
He knelt in front of her…a strong, dangerous man. “I’m glad. I’ll admit it eases my mind somewhat, and frankly, you’d make a great sheriff. Are you going to run?”
“I’m still thinking about it.” She let a smile play on her face. “We’ll see. There’s time to figure it out. We are down one deputy, though.”
Seth nodded. “I’m aware. I’ve been thinking about asking Greg to step up, but he’s so valuable in the mine, and he’s looking to help with the Enforcer position. We may have to put an all-call out to see who wants the job.”
“I think you should keep humans in town,” Mia said.
“No.” His face turned implacable, and there was no give.
All right. That was a fight for another day.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Somewhat nauseated but not horrible,” she admitted. “My strength definitely isn’t all the way back, and I sure haven’t gotten any extra since mating you. I’m hoping that all comes after we have the baby.”
