“How did it go?”Rowan asked as Thomas came closer.
Thomas shrugged, but his smile widened.“I think it went well.I won’t know for sure until I get the results, but I answered everything.I didn’t leave anything blank.”
“That’s great!”Rowan wanted to pull Thomas into a hug and kiss him, but they were in a public parking lot, and he wasn’t sure how Thomas would feel about that.Instead, he squeezed Thomas’s shoulder.“I’m proud of you.”
Thomas’s cheeks flushed again, and he ducked his head.“Don’t be proud yet.I might have failed.”
“You didn’t fail,” Rowan said.He was sure of that.“But even if you did, I’d still be proud of you for trying.Now, how about that celebratory breakfast?”
Unfortunately for them, they had to keep it short because they were expected at the sanctuary.It was a small miracle that Shane had allowed both of them to clock in late today, and Rowan didn’t want to push their luck.He and Thomas would have plenty of time to talk about the future soon, and he wasn’t in a rush.He just wanted to spend time with Thomas.
They drove separately to the sanctuary after breakfast.It wasn’t far, and Rowan used the time to think about how lucky he was.He’d left his pack looking for a different life, and he’d found it.He’d found Thomas.
As they pulled into the sanctuary’s parking lot, Rowan noticed something odd.A man was standing near the edge of the property, partially hidden by trees, holding up his phone.It looked like he was taking pictures of the sanctuary grounds.
Rowan frowned.That was weird.People didn’t usually take pictures of the sanctuary unless they were visitors, and visitors parked in the lot and came inside.This man was lurking outside, obviously trying to stay hidden.
As Rowan climbed out of his car, he got a better look at the man and swore under his breath.Jimmy.The weird guy who’d been coming around asking about that pigeon and who might or might not be interested in Thomas.
Thomas had noticed him, too.He was standing by his car, staring at Jimmy with a confused expression.
“Is that who I think it is?”he asked.
“Jimmy,” Rowan confirmed.
“What’s he doing?”
“Taking pictures, apparently.”
Thomas looked concerned.“That’s not normal, is it?”
“Definitely not.”Rowan felt uneasy.Something about this felt wrong.Jimmy wasn’t just some guy with a crush on Thomas.There was something else going on.There had to be.
As they watched, Jimmy seemed to notice them.He quickly lowered his phone and hurried away, disappearing into the trees that bordered the property instead of heading toward the parking lot for his car.
“That was definitely weird,” Thomas said.“I should tell Chance.”
Rowan was relieved.“He should know about this.I don’t like the idea of Jimmy hanging around here when you’re working.”
Thomas smiled at him.“I’ll be fine, but yeah, I’ll definitely mention it.Chance takes pack security pretty seriously.”
They headed inside after Thomas made a quick call to his alpha, and as they walked, Rowan found himself curious about Thomas’s family.Thomas had mentioned them before, but always in passing.Rowan wanted to know more about the people who’d made Thomas into who he was and who’d protected him when he most needed it.
“So, you mentioned Seth, as well as Theo and Chance,” Rowan said as they headed to the break room.“Tell me more about your family.You’ve said you all lived on the street together?”Rowan wasn’t sure Thomas would want to talk about that, but if he did, Rowan would be happy to listen.
Thomas nodded.“Yeah.Most of us aren’t related by blood, but we’re family anyway.We found each other when we needed it most.”
Rowan’s heart hurt.Thomas was only nineteen.The thought of him living on the street, struggling to survive, made Rowan want to go back in time and protect him from all of it.He couldn’t do that, but thankfully, he wasn’t the only one protecting Thomas.
“Seth is Theo’s brother, and Theo was the unofficial alpha of our small pack,” Thomas continued.“They’re both polar bear shifters.Seth’s boyfriend Ryan is a mage.Theo and Chance fell in love after we moved to Mayport.”
“That must have been complicated,” Rowan said.
Thomas laughed.“You have no idea.But it worked out.Then there’s Dustin, a dragon shifter, and Carrie and Wade, okapi shifters.We’ve got a few others, too.It’s a messy and wonderful family.”
“It sounds amazing,” Rowan said honestly.His own family was small and traditional.The idea of a chosen family was beautiful, and Rowan couldn’t help but wonder if he’d have that, too.
“It is,” Thomas said softly.“They saved me.Without them, I don’t know where I’d be.”
