Harlan dug and clawed his way to Conri a little at a time, throwing punches at the males restraining him, his growling filling the room.
Jaggar,Evie called inruhi,knowing he was nearby at the station.We need help at Fox Valley Apartments and we need it now.
His response was distant, but clear.Coming. I’ll be three minutes, but my wolf says Tabias can get there faster.
Tabias could get… what?Jaggar had once been the beast, but when he’d claimed Leilani, his cougar-half and his-wolf half had separated, and his cougar-half, Tabias, had gone to live in the Meadow.
A familiar presence loomed large in the room, something Eventine could almost see, but mostly sense. Eventine’s legs went rubbery. She let herself tip against the wall behind her and slide to the floor, sitting with her knees up. The trio fighting in the corner all jerked as one, then relaxed into a pile of males. Conri’s injuries healed without a shift.
Somehow, Tabias had returned, but only for a visit. The presence withdrew, and in the resulting calm, Harlan found his right mind again.
“Get off me,” he grunted. “I’m not gonna kill him—not while he’s handcuffed anyway.”
Eventine pushed to her feet on shaky legs, watching carefully until she was sure everything was calm.
She called Jaggar inruhi. Jaggar, you can stand down. Tabias fixed everything.
Good to know,Jaggar said,I’m still coming.His mental voice was clearer. He was close.
Eventine ran to the doorway and found Dahlia outside, dressed in a stagehand uniform. She was pushing stage props in front of the door and Evie didn’t have to wonder where she’d found them—or if they were something she’d made with illusions. Dahlia waved a group of people across the street, yelling, “If you want to be an extra, go stand in that line.” They ran in the direction excitedly.
Eventine gave her a grin and a thumbs-up, then she went back inside. “Dahlia has it under control in the parking lot,” she said.
Eventine gestured to her mate. “Let’s go, Soldier—they can clean up. Me and you will strategize.”
“Strategize,” he muttered, and struggled to his feet. The other males did also and they all held their breath as Harlan stepped over Conri. Harlan didn’t slow, or spare Conri a glance. He kept walking, straight to Eventine. She smiled at him and kissed him.
“I’m hungry,” she said.
He reached down and picked her up in a bridal carry, surprising her. She put her arms around his neck.
He nodded. “We’ll discuss strategy over food, then we’ll head to the cellblock.”
“Can I walk?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Ok Harlan. You can carry me from here to the truck, and then if you try again, shit’s gonna get spicy.”
“We’ll see.”
Eventine gave up. She lay her head on her mate’s chest and rested. With Bruin back, Conri in custody, and Harlan’s overprotectiveness, she was in for a long night.
64—Wolves Stand Guard
Canyon stood in the yard, leaning against a tree. He took one last look at the female sleeping on the couch inside, confused at what he was feeling. He’d been watching and pacing and keeping guard over her for five hours now. She wasn’t his mate, and still… she stirred something inside him he didn’t understand. He found her attractive, but was there more? If she wasn’t his mate, what more could there be? All he knew for certain was that his wolf would sit guard over her all night, but Canyon needed sleep if he was going to be worth a damn tomorrow.
He returned to his truck, one eye still on the house. Wulf sat motionless near a truck tire. Canyon went around to the passenger side, reached in the open window and shook his brother.
Bro, I need sleep.
Timber got up stiffly and jumped out the window, stumbling when he hit the ground. After a moment, he loped away, sayingI got you.
Canyon undressed and shifted, and within a few moments, he was asleep as a wolf in the warm spot Timber had just vacated. He fell easily into a dream.
He was in a meadow, and the dream female was there next to him. They walked hand in hand and every time Canyon tried to look at her, he could see only flowers and sunshine. She led him to acres and acres of Foxglove stalks, then she pulled six out of the ground and threw them at his feet.
Canyon woke up while it was still dark, being shaken by someone. Timber was there, his injured arm bent gingerly into his side.
