like putting your folks in danger.” The hunted feeling that had plagued her for the past eight months returned in force as she thought about it.
“Honey, we’re all grizzly bears. Even though my folks are retired, Dad was an enforcer for the local weretribes near Whitefish. Like I am here. Mom’s no slouch either. Never mess with a mama bear, especially when she’s protecting cubs.” Rocky chuckled. “We’re not all that different from our wild cousins, except we have a human side that can be just as deviously clever as those who hunt us. Having three bears in the house—and no Goldilocks jokes, please—will keep you and the boys safe if danger comes to our door.”
She chuckled at the Goldilocks line and some of her tension disappeared. Rocky stepped back and removed his hand from her shoulder. She missed the warmth of him, but the attraction she felt for him was still a little uncomfortable. She was Tony’s wife. The feelings she’d always had for Rocky were almost easy to ignore when he was so far away, but now that they were sharing space, it was nearly impossible.
“So where will your parents stay?” she asked to change the subject of her dangerous thoughts.
“The front bedroom for now. It’s the first line of defense if anyone actually gets past the new security measures and patrols in the woods. My folks can also keep watch from the window in that bedroom. It’s got a good view of the front of the property. I’ll be watching the back and watching all the new monitors. They can stay there until the addition starts to take shape, and Dad can be a big help with the design.”
Maggie knew Rocky’s dad had been an architect and builder before retirement, so that made perfect sense to her. She only wished they wouldn’t be in so much danger, because she knew in her heart that things had not yet come to a head with the man who’d killed Tony and then chased her all across the country. She feared a showdown, though she fully expected it at some point in the not-too-distant future.
“There will be wolves and other shifters patrolling the woods at all hours, of course. Try not to worry, Mags. There are more resources here than you think. Just because you can’t see them all, doesn’t mean they aren’t here. A large part of our defense is stealth.”
She ceded the point , but nothing could make her feel better about the danger on her trail. Danger that she’d brought to these good people who had given nothing but kindness to her and her boys.
Chapter Seven
That following night—after a day spent watching furniture being moved all around Rocky’s house—they had dinner with Tim, Rafe and Allie at Rocky’s place. The Alphas, as Rocky called them, explained a bit more about their role as the leaders of all were , and the uncommon marriage between themselves and the priestess, Allie. Maggie was shocked at first but tried hard not to let it show. She asked Rocky about it later that evening, but he seemed to take it all in stride, his attitude doing more to settle her mind than his actual words.
He helped her fix the linens on the large bed they’d moved into his windowless den. Some of the Pack members had brought it over earlier in the day. The room was done up in warm, honey colored wood paneling and hunter green fabrics. It felt as much like being in the woods as you could get without actually being outside. Maggie liked it.
The twin sized crib had been moved into the farthest corner, and Rocky had helped ready the boys for sleep as if he’d done it a million times before. Maggie felt comfortable with him at her side helping. Their friendship and the closeness they had always seemed to share had come back to life with very little prodding. He was a steady presence that reminded her of all the good times in her past.
Rocky and Tony had been central figures in her high school years and beyond. That had only changed after her marriage, when Rocky had drifted away and they’d lost touch.
“Honey, we’re all grizzly bears. Even though my folks are retired, Dad was an enforcer for the local weretribes near Whitefish. Like I am here. Mom’s no slouch either. Never mess with a mama bear, especially when she’s protecting cubs.” Rocky chuckled. “We’re not all that different from our wild cousins, except we have a human side that can be just as deviously clever as those who hunt us. Having three bears in the house—and no Goldilocks jokes, please—will keep you and the boys safe if danger comes to our door.”
She chuckled at the Goldilocks line and some of her tension disappeared. Rocky stepped back and removed his hand from her shoulder. She missed the warmth of him, but the attraction she felt for him was still a little uncomfortable. She was Tony’s wife. The feelings she’d always had for Rocky were almost easy to ignore when he was so far away, but now that they were sharing space, it was nearly impossible.
“So where will your parents stay?” she asked to change the subject of her dangerous thoughts.
“The front bedroom for now. It’s the first line of defense if anyone actually gets past the new security measures and patrols in the woods. My folks can also keep watch from the window in that bedroom. It’s got a good view of the front of the property. I’ll be watching the back and watching all the new monitors. They can stay there until the addition starts to take shape, and Dad can be a big help with the design.”
Maggie knew Rocky’s dad had been an architect and builder before retirement, so that made perfect sense to her. She only wished they wouldn’t be in so much danger, because she knew in her heart that things had not yet come to a head with the man who’d killed Tony and then chased her all across the country. She feared a showdown, though she fully expected it at some point in the not-too-distant future.
“There will be wolves and other shifters patrolling the woods at all hours, of course. Try not to worry, Mags. There are more resources here than you think. Just because you can’t see them all, doesn’t mean they aren’t here. A large part of our defense is stealth.”
She ceded the point , but nothing could make her feel better about the danger on her trail. Danger that she’d brought to these good people who had given nothing but kindness to her and her boys.
Chapter Seven
That following night—after a day spent watching furniture being moved all around Rocky’s house—they had dinner with Tim, Rafe and Allie at Rocky’s place. The Alphas, as Rocky called them, explained a bit more about their role as the leaders of all were , and the uncommon marriage between themselves and the priestess, Allie. Maggie was shocked at first but tried hard not to let it show. She asked Rocky about it later that evening, but he seemed to take it all in stride, his attitude doing more to settle her mind than his actual words.
He helped her fix the linens on the large bed they’d moved into his windowless den. Some of the Pack members had brought it over earlier in the day. The room was done up in warm, honey colored wood paneling and hunter green fabrics. It felt as much like being in the woods as you could get without actually being outside. Maggie liked it.
The twin sized crib had been moved into the farthest corner, and Rocky had helped ready the boys for sleep as if he’d done it a million times before. Maggie felt comfortable with him at her side helping. Their friendship and the closeness they had always seemed to share had come back to life with very little prodding. He was a steady presence that reminded her of all the good times in her past.
Rocky and Tony had been central figures in her high school years and beyond. That had only changed after her marriage, when Rocky had drifted away and they’d lost touch.
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