Jacey’s eyes flashed with anger.“Along with the dead possum, they tipped in bottles of red food coloring.We’ve emptied the tank and scrubbed it clean.Depending on what they used, we might need to empty the tank again.”
“The dead animal?”
“Gerard buried it.At least it was already dead when someone tossed it into your tank.”His jaw tightened.“Whoever did this is a disturbed person.”
And she needed to be extra careful about security.If this person grabbed her, there was no telling what might happen.
“I promised Levi and his friends I’d give them juice and cookies.Is there anything you need me to do?”
“No, sweetheart.We have everything under control.”
“Thank you.”Maia returned to the front, unlocked her door, and let Juno out.The big dog licked her hand and immediately rushed to play ball with the kids.She chided herself for not doing that first as she turned off the alarm.
“Maia!”a shrill voice piped behind her.
She whirled to face the door.
Levi cocked his head, his forehead furrowed in a frown.“Did you not scent me?”
“Ah, no,” she said, confused by his words.The boy didn’t smell any worse than the others.
A gaggle of boys and one girl stood behind him.
“They don’t believe you play rugby.”
“I’ve come from practice.I can show you my muddy clothes and boots.”
“That’s not proof,” the girl said.
“Tough sell, huh?”Some of Maia’s gloom lifted.“I guess the only way to prove it is for you to see me playing.You’ll have to ask your parents, but I have a game on Saturday.”
“She has real boots with spikes,” Levi said.“Dad said she isn’t playing much right now ’cause someone hit her and gave her a concussion.”
“Why didn’t she scent them?”the girl demanded.
“That’s enough of badgering Maia,” Gerard said.“She might decide not to give you cookies.”
There was a chorus of protests.
“You okay,” Gerard asked.“I didn’t call Henry, but you should tell him.”
Maia sighed, knowing he was right.“Maybe when he gets home.”
Two days later, in the early evening, Henry walked into his suite and smiled.It smelled like Maia.It smelled like home in a way it hadn’t before.He found Maia in his lounge with her laptop on her knee.She was staring outside into the darkness, her mind far away.
“Hi, honey.I’m home,” he said from the doorway.
She let out a screech, almost dropping her laptop.Wide blue eyes stared until her initial alarm subsided, and she recognized him.
“Maia?”
“Henry,” she said, standing on noticeably wobbly feet and setting her laptop aside.“I didn’t hear you come in.”
“What’s going on?”he said.“What haven’t you told me during our phone calls?”
“I didn’t want to worry you.Let’s get a drink, and I’ll tell you everything.And I need a hug.That would help big time.”
Henry drew her against him, savoring her scent and her softness.He’d missed her and worried about her the entire time, thoughts of how he’d failed Jenny and repeating mistakes never far from his mind.She trembled, and anger built in him, but he kept it contained.His wolf struggled against his grip, wanting out.He wanted to rip and tear and destroy the villain persecuting their mate.
