Page 14 of Jacob

“Which is that we’re dealing with a shifter,” Taylor said.

Tony nodded.He had to agree.It meant that things were more complicated than he’d hoped for, but that was why he was talking to Gal.If they were dealing with a shifter, the local pride alpha would know what to do.

“They haven’t attacked anyone so far, have they?”Gal asked.

Tony shook his head.“There haven’t been violent crimes in the area since I arrived.We’re dealing with raccoons in trash cans and petty theft.The bear hasn’t attacked anyone or even come close to anyone, but people are freaking out because they don’t know what they’re dealing with.We don’t, either, and we should find out.”

“I agree.Even though this shifter hasn’t hurt anyone, I’m uneasy knowing they’re hanging around pride property.We have children here, and they often play in the forest.We don’t know anything about this person, and I don’t want the kids anywhere near them until we do.”

“I’ll patrol again,” Jacob offered.“Just to be sure.I just came back from my last round, and I didn’t smell anything, but it’s not a problem for me to do it again.”

“Maybe Tony can go with you,” Gal said with a smile.

Was the man trying to set him and Jacob up?Was it even necessary, considering the two of them were mates?Maybe Gal was trying to give them some time alone to talk.Tony wanted to, but he wasn’t sure that today was the best day to do so.He was still reeling from finding out that he was a shifter’s mate.As attractive as Jacob was, Tony needed a moment.

“I think that Jacob should also come sniff around town,” Taylor said.“He and Drake both know what this shifter smells like.Jacob might be able to find a trail or tell us where the shifter’s been.He and Tony should meet both here and in town and go over everything.”

Tony didn’t need his deputy to start playing matchmaker, too.“We could do that together,” he pointed out.“You’re a shifter, too.”

“But I haven’t smelled the shifter, and Jacob is trained to be a guard.He’s been doing that for years, so he knows what he’s doing when it comes to finding scent trails and following them.”

Tony glanced at Jacob.The man nodded as if trying to reassure Tony that he did know what he was doing.

“I didn’t mean to imply that you’re unable to do this,” Tony told Jacob because he didn’t want him to think that he didn’t trust him.

He didn’t yet.His entire being wanted to trust Jacob because he was safe, but the part of Tony’s mind that was still rational was cautioning him.Yes, he wanted to trust Jacob because they were mates, but he didn’t know him.He didn’t know anything about the man except his name, his job, and that he was handsome.

Jacob nodded.“I didn’t take it as you implying that.I know that you’ve been working with Taylor since you arrived in town, so I understand why you trust him more than me.”

“It’s not a question of trust.I just don’t know you.”

“Well, that’s going to change,” Taylor muttered, earning himself a glare from Jacob.

Tony pressed his lips together.He remembered Taylor talking about his best friends.Jacob was one of them, which wasn’t a surprise considering the way the two of them behaved with each other.

Tony’s phone started ringing.He slid it out of his pocket and glanced down at it, frowning when he didn’t recognize the number.“Sheriff Clark here,” he answered.

“The station is empty,” the woman said.“Why is the station empty?I need to talk to the sheriff.”

Tony sighed.“I understand, ma’am.I’m out on a call, but you can either wait at the station or come back another time.”

“How long will you be?”

Tony looked at the people gathered in the room.He didn’t think there was anything else they could say about the bear situation.There was a lot more hecouldsay about being Jacob’s mate, but clearly, that would have to wait.“I’ll be right there, ma’am.”

Unfortunately for Tony, he had a job to do, and that job didn’t include staring at Jacob like a lovesick fool.

Chapter Three

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JACOB HAD BEEN DISMAYEDwhen Tony and Taylor had had to leave right after the meeting the day before yesterday.He’d wanted to spend more time with his mate, but at the same time, it had been a good thing.They both needed time to wrap their mind around the fact that they were made for each other.

That was, if they both wanted this relationship.

Jacob didn’t know what he wanted.Tony seemed like a good person, and Taylor had been bouncing off the walls when he’d come home that evening after work.He was clearly happy that Jacob and Tony belonged together, which helped soothe some of Jacob’s fears, but still.He didn’t know Tony.

He’d get to know him, though.Today, he was meeting the sheriff so they could start looking for the bear shifter.Jacob was nervous in a way he couldn’t ever remember being.His heart was racing even though he was sitting on the couch.He kept glancing out the window toward the gate even though he’d have to wait for Taylor to be ready—and that could take hours in the morning.Turtles were faster than Taylor when he’d just woken up.

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