A long time ago, Ty had been close to Monty. The gray wolf had a decent sense of humor, a hard head that had suffered many a blow during childhood stunts, and a savvy poker face. He’d disappeared years ago, leaving his friends and family behind with more questions than answers.
Since he’d been back, he’d been in one scrape after another. After joining the Catamount Pride, Monty had seemed to be trying to clean up his act. Seemed being the key word.
“You have shitty timing, Monty,” Ty muttered, concerned about Monty’s condition. “Damn, son, you look like crap.”
Monty bared his teeth in a semblance of a grin and sat. “Thanks.”
Ty dug into his desk drawer and found a Snickers. He tossed it to Monty and watched the wolf gobble it down. He handed him a glass of water and watched it disappear as well. “They didn’t feed you?” Anger surged, but before he could yell for Laura, Monty stopped him.
“I didn’t eat what they brought. I’m a vegetarian now.”
Ty’s jaw dropped.
Monty grinned. “Kidding. I just hate being caged. Had some problems with confinement during my lost years. Don’t worry, I’m feeling much better.” With a steady hand, he brushed back black hair threaded with silver.
“Okay, wolf. Tell me the whole of it.”
Monty grimaced. “I followed a few wolves talking about taking vengeance on the town sheriff. They had plans for you, Ty. None of it sounded good. Well, I followed them into the grocery store, only to find two bears messing with Sophie. So yeah, I got distracted.”
Of course he did. Ty had seen the way Monty watched Sophie. A pretty little wolf and new to the town, she’d been quite the curiosity for a while. Not aggressive like the wolves of her Order, Sophie worked hard and didn’t give anyone trouble. He had a feeling Monty was soft on the woman, especially after hearing about the damage the wolf had done on her behalf.
Monty continued. “Those bears aren’t cubs anymore. Assholes are huge and old enough to know better. They were tossing her between them like a fucking rag doll. One of them threw her so hard she hit a rack and it fell on her, breaking her arm. I saw red and attacked.”
Ty sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. So much for the bears and wolves getting along. Stovall, the bears’ leader, would blow a gasket. Normally, the giant of a man with a heart of gold would try to reason out their difficulties. But a wolf attack days after someone had bludgeoned his truck… Shit. “Does Stovall know?”
“How the hell should I know? I’ve been cooped up in here while your damned deputies have been playing house,” Monty said in a louder voice.
Low growls from outside the office answered him.
“You’re just making friends all over the place, aren’t you? I take it you attacked John because you smelled bear?”
The wolf flushed. “Ah, yeah. I’m really sorry about that. I went into protective overdrive with Sophie. Laura at least let me know Sophie’s okay.”
“But the oaf wouldn’t see her when she came to visit,” Laura yelled from the other room.
So much for the privacy of his office. Ty rubbed his eyes tiredly, really wishing he’d spent his first evening at home sequestered with Julia and not his job.
“But enough about me. What’s that pretty scent all over you?” The interest on the wolf’s face alarmed him. Monty had a way with women. Ty thought of him as Gerald in wolf form, but not as smooth. The wildness around Monty’s eyes clearly reflected the animal inside.
“Never you mind.”
His old friend frowned. “It’s more than just her scent. Yours is mingled with it. Damn. Never thought I’d see the day. Who’s the lucky fox?”
“Julia Easton.” Ty didn’t look away from Monty, sending a signal the only way he knew how without bashing Monty’s brains in. “She’s mine.”
Monty finally glanced away, acknowledging Ty’s claim. “Congrats. Sucker.” He snickered and groaned, fingering his jaw. “By the way, tell Laura to watch that right hook. She put a bit too much bear behind that punch.”
“I heard that,” Laura yelled.
“Damn woman hears everything,” Ty murmured. “Okay, Monty. I’m letting you go. Make things right with John. He won’t hold a grudge. And go see Sophie if it’ll make her feel better.”
“I will. I’m really sorry about this. But I’m telling you right now, I see those bears harassing her again, I won’t stop with broken bones. I’ll kill the bastards.”
“Perfect. Now take your testosterone somewhere else. I’ll deal with the bears. Oh, and a word of advice? Take a shower before you go see Sophie. You stink.”
“Dick. Later, Sheriff.” Monty flipped him off and left the office.
Ty worked some damage control with the bears and wolves, made a call to Burke to let him know the rowdiest member of his small pride would be returning shortly and to keep a leash, and preferably a muzzle, on the gray wolf. Then he signed a few things needing his attention and headed home.
On the short drive back to his place, he thought about the cats and wondered. Burke didn’t much care who joined his pride so long as the Shifter would give his or her loyalty. If things didn’t work out with the foxes, he and Julia could always move there. It would hurt to leave his family and the friends he’d made throughout his life, but he’d still see them every day. He just wouldn’t have that tight connection he’d always had.
He couldn’t imagine leaving Julia to fend for herself if push came to shove. To make a choice between his clan and his mate proved easy. Julia was his future. One he needed to return to before Gerald scared her away for good.
“I’m so glad you’re back. You worried me,” Gerald said, a lecture in his tone.
Julia groaned. “Go ahead, get it off your chest.”
She’d worked for Gerald for five years and knew the silver fox better than he knew himself. His glib tongue and roving eye masked a serious, responsible Shifter who wanted to settle down and support the community. Problem was, no woman could keep Gerald’s interest for longer than a few weeks at most. Julia had lost count of how many flowers she’d ordered for him. The Date Breaker Bouquet, for the lady who ails you.
Gerald frowned at her. “I wish you would have told me about your problems with Meghan.”
“Ty told you?”
“Yeah. He told me about everything. About Meghan, about your dad.”
Tears welled though she tried to blink them away. “I trusted him.”
“And he trusts me. If there’s a legal loophole in this town, I know about it. If there’s anything I can dig out of the council members, I’ll find it. Come on, Julia. We’re friends. You know I’d never betray you. And you have to know Ty won’t either.”
Rationally, she agreed with him. But it chafed her Ty hadn’t thought to ask her permission before sharing family secrets.
“So did you really propose to Ty?”
She leaned her head back on the couch and counted to ten. “No. I did not propose to Ty. The fox accepted an offer I never made, and somehow I’m wearing his scent.”
“Somehow?” Gerald murmured.
She blushed and snapped back, “I know how it happened. I just mean I hadn’t thought it would be anything more than, uh, something physical.”
“Bullshit.”
She blinked at Gerald and sat up straight. “What?”
“Honey, I’ve watched you two dance around each other for years. Whenever he’d come into the office, you avoided his gaze. But you’d watch him all the same. Not like anyone else who ever approached you. You gave them all the cold shoulder. Ty was different.”
“Come on, Gerald.”
“You know it’s true. You care for him, don’t you?”
“I guess.”
He scoffed. “You’d better get a little closer than I guess. That man will rip my head off for looking at you the wrong way, and Ty’s as close as a brother to me. Your problems are now his. And he’ll do everything he can to see that you’re happy.” He paused. “You’re happy at the office, right? You are going to come back to work with me eventually, aren’t you?”