Page 5 of Jacob

“I would never do that.You live in a small town now, Sheriff.You’re not going to be able to keep secrets anymore.Everyone’s going to know your business, sometimes even beforeyouknow it.”

Tony couldn’t help but smile.That would’ve sounded like a threat to a lot of people, but not to him.He missed the community he’d had when he was in the military, and even though it wasn’t the same, he could feel some of it here.Once people accepted him, he was sure they would welcome him into their midst.Not everyone would like him, especially since he was the sheriff, but he didn’t need that.

He just needed a few select people, and starting with Taylor sounded like a good idea.

* * * *

“THIS ISN’T WHAT I MEANTwhen I said I’d stay a bit longer,” Drake complained as he trudged between the trees.

Jacob ignored him.If there was a strange shifter hanging around the house, he needed to know.Even though his job wasn’t much, it was his job, and he took it seriously.He’d protect the pride against anyone or anything.

This strange shifter was the most exciting thing that had happened in a long time.Jacob couldn’t deny he was curious to meet them.He still wasn’t completely sure that Drake hadn’t just smelled someone who’d recently moved into town and had come up to the pride house to take a peek.People in town weren’t that interested in the pride because they were old news, but some newcomers were curious.Jacob couldn’t think of any other explanation, but he was ready to deal with whatever happened.

“Where did you smell the scent?”he asked.

“The wind blew it toward me after I got out of my car.It came from over there.”He gestured to their right.“But I don’t know how deep in the forest it came from.”

“Can you smell it now?”

Drake stopped walking and sniffed the air.He had to try a few times before he nodded.“Yes, I do.”

Jacob did the same as Drake and sniffed the air.He could smell something that he’d never smelled before.It was almost like a bear shifter, but not quite, which didn’t make sense.What was a bear but wasn’t a bear?Jacob had met plenty of bear shifters in the past few years, so he knew what they smelled like.This was it, but also different.“I smell it.”

Drake nodded as if satisfied.“Told you.”

“You have no idea who it’s coming from?”

Drake opened his arms to gesture at the forest around them.“How am I supposed to know?”

“Where in town did you smell it?”

Drake frowned.“On the edge of town.It wasn’t on Main Street or close to any of the shops.It came from the forest.”

Like it did now.Whoever this shifter was, it sounded like they were sticking to the forest.Why?Did they have something to hide?Were they in hiding from someone?

“You’re overthinking this,” Drake said as he poked Jacob in the arm.“I get that you take your job seriously, and I’m sure Gal likes that, but it was just a strange smell.No one’s going to attack the pride.”

“You can’t know that.”

“Not for sure, but you can’t know theywillattack.It was probably just a tourist who’s already gone.”

“It might have been someone more dangerous.”

“Maybe, but what’re you going to do?Will you follow the scent?I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure where it’s coming from, so there’s little I can do to help.”

It was frustrating because Drake was right.There was little Jacob could do.He’d mention this to Gal, just in case, but this was the end of it.

Jacob’s shoulders slumped.“You’re right.We should go back inside.I’m sure you have better things to do than to walk around the forest with me.”

Drake reached over and squeezed Jacob’s shoulder.“I don’t.I might be bitching because it’s hot and I hate insects, but I like spending time with you.Maybe we could walk closer to the house?”

Jacob huffed and smiled as he shook his head.“Yeah, we can do that.”

Drake bumped his shoulders together as they started walking back toward the house.“I can’t remember the last time you were so focused and engaged.”

Jacob could say he didn’t want to talk about it, and Drake would drop it.Maybe he did want to talk, though.More than that, he wanted to complain and for someone to tell him that he was right.

“Before, I felt like I was actually doing something, you know?I was protecting the pride.I knew what my job was, and I did it.I had a purpose.”

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