Page 11 of Jacob

“That’s because Ellery is nosy,” Taylor said.“Forest, this is Sheriff Tony Clark.Tony, this is Forest, our beta.”

They shook hands, but Forest’s attention was on Taylor.“Has something happened?”

Tony would have wondered the same thing if he’d been in Forest’s place.That was why he’d told Taylor to call ahead, but his deputy had waved him off.

“Not really,” Taylor said.“But we got a few strange reports, and I thought that it would be a good opportunity for Tony to meet Gal.Is he free?”

“Yeah.Come on in.”Forest turned to Tony.“No offense, I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but I’d like to hear what you have to say first.”

Tony laughed.“No offense taken.”

He followed Taylor into the office from which Forest had come out.Just like the rest of the house, it looked lived-in and comfortable.The shelves on the walls were heavy with books, knick-knacks, and pictures.There was a fireplace, which thankfully was empty, and several couches and armchairs scattered in front of it.

As soon as Tony saw the alpha, he forgot all about the room he was in.Alpha Brennan had been sitting behind a desk, but he got to his feet when he saw Tony.Tony was tall at six feet two inches, but Alpha Brennan was taller.His blue eyes were piercing, as if he could read Tony’s mind, and Tony was glad they were on the same side.

“This is a surprise,” Alpha Brennan said.

When he held out his hand, Tony shook it.“Alpha Brennan.It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said.

“Gal, please.I take it you’re our new sheriff?”

“I am.Tony Clark.”

“Well, Tony, why don’t you sit down and tell me why you’re here?Unless Taylor decided it was the best moment to introduce us?”

Taylor shrugged as he flopped into one of the chairs in front of Gal’s desk.“We got a strange report in a line of other strange reports, and Tony’s unsure how to deal with it.I thought he should talk to you.”

Gal frowned.“I see.Well, Tony, I’m listening.What’s so strange about these reports?”

“People have been seeing what most of them call a strange bear around town lately.We don’t know if it’s a real bear or a shifter, and I’m not sure how to deal with that.If it’s a bear, I’d call animal control, but it could be one of the shifters who live in town, or a visiting shifter.Either way, I felt like you and your pride probably needed to know about it.”

Gal leaned back in his chair and looked at Taylor.“Why don’t we start from the beginning?Tell me about the first time this was brought to your attention.”

* * * *

JACOB WAS WATCHINGthe footage when his phone vibrated on the desk.He answered without looking away from the screen, thinking it was one of his friends.

It wasn’t.

“Jacob?”Gal asked.

Jacob straightened in his chair.“Gal?Is there a problem?”He didn’t think the alpha had ever called him.They talked, but since they both lived in the pride house, it usually happened around the dinner table or even in Gal’s office.There was no reason for the alpha to be calling him unless something was wrong.

“There isn’t,” Gal reassured Jacob.“I’d just like you to come to my office if you’re not busy.”

Jacob snorted.“You know I’m not.”

“I didn’t want to assume.Can you come?”

“I’ll be right there.”

They hung up, and Jacob stayed where he was for a moment.He didn’t think Gal had been lying, but he was still worried.Was this when Gal told him that he needed to find a productive job?When he told Jacob that the pride didn’t need him anymore?It didn’t sound like something Gal would do, but Jacob was still nervous as he got up, slid his phone into his pocket, and left the security room.

Gal’s office was a few doors down.Jacob could still hear people talking in the entrance, and he was glad he wouldn’t have to go back there.Was the pride really so boring these days that people were excited to see the sheriff?It wasn’t a bad thing, even though it was weird.Jacob preferred it to the pride living in fear the way they had when Carter was still in charge.

He knocked on the office door and waited for it to open.Forrest was the one who let him in, causing him to worry even more.Gal wanted to see him, and the beta was there, too?

Jacob wanted to ask Forrest what was going on, but he was about to find out.He stepped into the office, his gaze instantly stopping on Taylor.He was wearing his deputy uniform and was slouched in one of the chairs in front of Gal’s desk.What was he doing here?

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