Page 54 of Into the Dawn

"Jack, I fucked up. I'm so sorry, but…" My rehearsed speech dies on my lips as he waves off my apologies with a dismissive hand, barely looking up from his screen while he types out an email in his painfully slow, one fingered way.

"You rescued John," he says simply, leaning back in his chair. His scent carries no anger, only understanding. "That's worth more than a few missed tours. Besides." A grin splits his weathered face. "Business has been booming since word got out about possible wild beasts in the area. Apparently, the possibility of seeing a 'Bigfoot' is quite the tourist draw."

I shake my head, grateful for his understanding but still feeling guilty. "I left you in a tough spot. And I appreciate you coming to help us, even after I left you in the lurch."

"You did," he agrees, eyes twinkling. "Which is why you're handling the beginner tours for the next month."

I groan but accept the punishment, knowing I'm getting off easy. My beast bristles at the thought of dealing with clueless humans but accepts the justice of it.

Beginner tours means dealing with city folk who think hiking boots are optional, and bear spray is for decoration. Last week, one woman showed up in high heels. But it's a small price to pay for Jack's forgiveness and keeping my position in our fledgling business.

"Oh, and one more thing," Jack adds as I turn to leave. "John stopped by earlier."

My heart clenches. I haven't seen much of John, being too wrapped up in my mating and making sure Vanessa is okay. And I wanted to give him time and space to get to know Holly, the daughter he never knew he had.

"How did he seem to you?"

Jack's expression softens. "Good. Really good. I thought he might be upset about his ranger job being gone earlier than he had planned, but he seemed fine. Said being a grandfather is going to be a full-time position soon enough."

Relief floods through me. I'd been worried about that, about Griffin moving into his place and taking his job before he was ready to leave on his own terms. The pack dynamics are shifting in ways we couldn't have predicted.

I guess if you thought you weren't ever getting home, everything else like jobs or where you’re living seems inconsequential.

"I know I should be diving straight back into work, but…"

Jack holds up a hand. His scent carries amusement and understanding. "You've got a new mate. Take the rest of the week, and we'll get back on track after." He sniffs the air and frowns. “Actually, don’t come back till next week. I have a feeling you’re going to be otherwise occupied for the next few days.”

I want to go and see John, and to talk to Henry about the case against Jed. But he’s right, I could do with some extra time to clear the decks.

"You're a good man, Jack," I say, backing toward the door before he can change his mind.

The mate bond tugs at me, urging me back to Vanessa. I feel a twinge in my gut, and I pause, unsure if it’s Vanessa’s or my own. I rub my belly, trying to ease away the dull ache with a clammy hand.

Shaking his head, he waves away my obvious sucking up. "Yeah, yeah. Or maybe, I just can't stand that loved up lookyou've got plastered on your face. Go on, get out of here. Tell Vanessa I said hi."

Gritting my teeth as I step outside, fending off a wave of anger, I lean against the wall and rub my temples.

I get that my beast is loved up and pissed off to be away, but there are more things I need to sort out before I can retire to bed with my mate again. The thought of our own space makes my beast rumble with satisfaction. Namely, finding us somewhere of our own to live.

And I think I know just who to talk to.

Slipping my phone from my back pocket, I take off at a jog toward the pretty guesthouse with the beautiful garden on the outskirts of town.

"Hello, Maisy?"

"Ben King. Well I never. I heard you've been a busy man lately." Her voice carries the warmth of family.

She tuts down the phone at me, her tone teasing, and I can tell she's smiling on the other end, itching to get the gossip straight from the horse's mouth. I should have known rumours of my exploits wouldn't have taken long to reach the town matriarch and surrogate grandmother to Evan and me.

"You at home? I've got something I need to talk to you about. Right now."

The future stretches before us, full of possibilities, and I can't wait to start building it with Vanessa. But for now, I need to find somewhere quiet and isolated that I can steal her away to, because it’s not my rising temperature I’m feeling, it’s her heat barrelling toward us, and fast.

Dialling another number as I run, I’m panting hard by the time John picks up the phone. “I need a favour.”

“Anything.” No questions, no hesitations. This man is a hero.

“Vanessa’s going into heat. Get her out of The Claw and back to Evan’s. See if Holly will sit with her until I get back.”

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