Pack Security (Were Chronicles) by Crissy Smith Page B

Shawn, but he hasn’t called back yet. I’m worried. I know our Pack isn’t public, but the church can cause us all kinds of trouble.”
    “Do you think they might be responsible for the break-in?”
    Alex blew out a breath. “I don’t know. I mean, how would they have known we weren’t home?”
    “Someone was watching.”
    “And if someone is watching, what else have they seen? We shift all the time. Almost everyone around these parts does.”
    Max could completely see why Alex was worried. The members of the church had been getting more and more vocal about how unnatural the shifters were. After their leader had been convicted, it had seemed to spread to being downright nasty between the church and shifter communities. “We need to call the Council.”
    “That’s why I wanted to talk to Shawn. He’ll be able to contact them and maybe even the Coalition.”
    “Fuck!” Max muttered. This just got worse every minute. If they did have to bring the Coalition in, there was no way they would be able to remain hidden. “What are we going to tell Cassie?”
    “I don’t know. I’m not sure we should tell her anything right now. She needs to concentrate on the upcoming show and I don’t want her more worried than she already is.”
    “Then maybe you shouldn’t discuss it on my front porch.”
    Max jerked his head to the side and saw Cassie standing in the doorway. Alex groaned and stood.
    “I’m sorry, Cass, but I didn’t want to scare you.” Alex held out his hand.
    Cassie moved to him and snuggled into his arms. “I’m a big girl, Alex. You can’t protect me from everything.” She looked over at Max. “Plus I’ve got a pretty good bodyguard.”
    Max grinned, although he fought not to blush. He really admired how calmly Cassie seemed to handle everything. Yes, she was struggling, but her natural instincts seemed to take over and she showed trust in the men around her.
    Alex chuckled and patted her back. She stepped away then leaned against the rail while Alex retook his chair.
    “You can’t keep things from me, Alex. If there is more going on than just a break in, I need to know.”
    Alex nodded. “I know, you’re right.”
    “We’ll handle this,” she told him. “But what about the boys? Are they safe here?”
    “I sure hope so,” Alex said just as his cell phone rang. He dug it out of his pocket. “That’s Shawn. I need to take this.”
    Max waved him off and waited until he’d walked down the porch steps. He then turned his attention to Cassie. “You okay?”
    “Yeah. No. I don’t know,” she said, sighing deeply. “I can’t help but wonder if I caused all this with my paintings? Is the Pack in danger because of me?”
    Max stood and encircled her in his arms. “No, I don’t believe so. These people are so hell bent on causing trouble for us they could have found anything.”
    She laid her head against his chest. “I hate the idea of someone watching us. Planning ways to hurt us. I don’t understand why they can’t just let us be.”
    Max buried his hand in her hair and tightened his embrace. “Ever since the beginning of time, people have feared what they don’t understand. This will pass. We have the Council and now the Coalition. It’s going to be okay.”
    “I’m glad you’re here. Everything is crazy and happening fast, but I feel safe with you. Like I can get back to my art and not worry about what is going on around me.”
    “I’m glad I can give you that kind of security,” he replied. It was funny that from the moment he’d set eyes on Cassie, he had felt something settle deep inside him. Like even his wolf was at home with this woman. “And we’ll figure out what to do about the church.”
    Her eyes sparkled as she gazed up at him. “Kiss me again?”
    He cupped her cheek while he lowered his head. “Yes,” he whispered against her lips, brushing his over hers.
    She pushed into the kiss eagerly and responded so beautifully that he had to draw back so