Turner (White Wolf Ridge 1)

Okay.

“Mom, I have to go finish dinner. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Okay. Call me tomorrow.”

“It will have to wait until we finish work. I’m helping him out, and it’s crazy how much goes on in a day,” I explain.

“That’s fine. I’ll be at the shop until six anyway.” My parents own a local grocery store, so they understand how busy life is.

I end the call and go straight to Turner’s office, where he’s pacing. “What’s wrong?”

“Mark says that Anderson has been scoping out my assistant’s house and saw my cousin shift.”

“Shit. So what’s going to happen?”

“I don’t know, but the first thing is to catch him off guard where he doesn’t have a weapon. I don’t want to kill him, but I will be put in that position. I can’t have him exposing us as well as trying to kill my people.”

“You have to do what you have to,” I say.

“I want you to stay here. My sister’s already being brought here by Mark. Then we’re going to meet before we decide what to do.”

“I don’t like this.”

“Me either, but I can’t let anything happen to you. We’re going to be okay.”

“You don’t know that. Look at what happened to you at the other resort. We’re in this together.”

“We already have men on the ground watching his every move, and that’s the reason he was caught. We’ve cut the signal to his phone and the dispatcher cut his radio. There’s nowhere for him to go but home. I just want to talk to the bastard, but I won’t be alone.”

“Okay, but if something happens to you, I’m going to kick everyone’s ass.”

“Fine. Just so you know, today you will become chief. I’m not going to let anyone step up into the position that isn’t one of us. Are you ready to lead?”

“Are you serious? You’re trusting me with that duty?”

“I’d trust you with my life. You already have the experience to do it. The only reason you weren’t promoted in Wolfe Creek was your human status. Now you’re one of us, even if you haven’t shifted yet.”

“I know I can do it, but I didn’t think you wanted me to be in law enforcement,” I remind him.

He cups my face and kisses my nose. “I don’t want you patrolling, but I’m not against you sitting behind the desk, giving orders and delegating.” He gives me a smile.

“I can manage that, and I won’t be a total lazy prick.”

“Good. So let me handle this, and then I turn over the station to you.”

“Fine, just come back to me. That matters more than anything else.” I can’t lose him.

“I will. You’re my priority, but I am still the pack Alpha.”

“I know. Kiss me before you go.”

“Always.” His mouth crashes down on mine. His kiss is hard, dominating as he swipes his tongue along mine. I thrust my hands into his hair, bringing us closer. I need more, and he delivers.

The sound of the car pulling up in the driveway pulls us apart. “Mark’s here.”

“Sorry, love.” He kisses the top of my head. I smile up at him before walking to the front door. Aria comes running up the stairs and throws her arms around me.

“Maria, it’s a girls’ night!”

I love his little sister. She’s exuberant and sweet. The men share a look of concern on their faces, so I take Aria in the house because they’ve business to discuss. I understand that there are levels of authority. Turner is still my mate and we are close to equals, but I’m not strong yet and I’m a liability to them. If I ever shift, then I’ll be able to give him a little help. Even then, I doubt he’d ever want me involved.

“So you need to tell me more about Jacob. I know you lived with him, so you must know what he likes and what he doesn’t?”

“You don’t even know if you’re mated to him yet, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll give you a little bit about him. You know what he looks like, but you haven’t had time to spend with him. He’s more than his good looks. He’s really smart, like book smart. He works for the Wolfe Creek Police department now. He only started after graduating from college. He loves the outdoors, which I’m starting to suspect is what most shifter men enjoy.”

“Yes, and most of the women too. I think it’s the wolf in us. Speaking of, we have to figure out how to get you to shift.”

That’s something that bothers me. I have no idea when or if I will ever shift, and it might take a serious injury to Turner. I’d rather never shift than for that to happen.

We work on dinner to keep our minds off of what the guys are up to. We’re about to eat when the sound of a car comes up the driveway. It doesn’t sound like Turner’s or Mark’s vehicle, but then I look, and it’s Nancy with a file folder.