“No. I have enough to deal with.”
“Fair enough.” Brutus let out a whistle. “My sentinels are making rounds at areas where we think they might enter the park. I’ll also call Otto in the morning to get reinforcements. Otto can let me know what the black bear numbers are.”
A large gray wolf loped into sight and shifted about ten yards from them. Darius, the alpha. “We lost their scent at Lake Lewis.”
“A boat?”
“Most probably. I’ve two trackers circling the lake in opposite directions. Providing the poachers didn’t take the rivers, we should pick up their scent again.”
“Thank you, Darius.”
“You and Brutus have done a great deal to help get us back into the park. We are all in this together.”
“Yes we are.” Brutus clapped the wolf on the back. The man stumbled forward a few steps with the impact. “How about you join me in the morning when I go see Chintok? The old bison needs to hear about what is going on, and you should be there.”
“Great I have a free hour or two tomorrow.”
Both Lars and Brutus laughed.
Brutus sobered. “You might want to clear your whole day.”
Chapter Three
Jenny expected to catch a glimpse of Lars over the weekend. But, so far, no such luck. Rumors flew amongst the rangers about the hunters within the park. A few more stories surfaced of people thinking they came across evidence of poaching, but they found no new leads. Everyone was on edge. Even the elk herd at Mammoth appeared more skittish than normal.
She received a quick note from Lars saying he didn’t know if he would make it to the picnic with Quinn and Brutus. Pulling into Lake Yellowstone Hotel parking lot, she wondered for the first time where Quinn and Brutus lived. Quinn had been vague about her new address when she moved in with Brutus. Jenny crossed the street to the picnic area. It took a few minutes to find Quinn in the crowd. Nearly every member of the fire and rescue team towered over her five-foot-eight height.
“Jenny.” Eyes bright, Quinn pushed through the group to throw her arms around her. “I’m so glad you made it.”
“I wouldn’t miss meeting my godson.” She searched the crowd. “Where is he?”
A cry rent the air, and Brutus turned, cradling a babe in his arms. “I think he wants you, Quinn. Hi, Jenny. We are about to fire up the grills. Tofu burger for you?”
“Yes, please.” She eagerly accepted the baby from his arms. The little guy who’d looked tiny in his father’s grasp now seemed gigantic. “Hello, Hagan. He can’t be just two months old.”
“He’s a brute, isn’t he?” Quinn moved in to kiss the downy dark hair. The baby cooed and snuggled against Jenny’s neck. “I hate that I haven’t been able to get up to Mammoth to see you.”
“I’ve only been back in the park for a couple of weeks, and you have your hands full.”
Quinn led them to the picnic table farthest from the crowd. “Let me know if he gets too heavy.”
“Never.” Sitting, she adjusted the baby in her lap. He yawned and cuddled back into her embrace. “So, fill me in. Other than the baby, what is going on?”
“I’m on family leave for the foreseeable future. But I’m not sure I want to go back now that I have this little one.”
“How does Brutus feel about that?”
“You’ve met him, haven’t you?” she teased. “He’s thrilled about both his son and the idea of my staying home with him. But if I wanted to head back, he would support that decision, too.” The man in question turned to Quinn and offered her a wink before lifting his beer to his lips. Quinn blushed and fidgeted with her shorts hem. “I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
“What?”
“We eloped during the winter. I wanted to give you the news in person.”
“Congratulations. I know how smitten you are with him, and with the baby…”
“He came faster than we expected, but Brutus is so thrilled to be a daddy.”
“And everyone knows he loves you.” She would have said more, but a sizzle went through her, starting at the nape of her neck and moving to her fingertips. Lars came up the path. As he neared, their eyes locked, and he made a beeline for her. He leaned over and brushed her lips before facing the new mother.
“Hi, Quinn. Motherhood suits you.”
“I’m severely sleep-deprived.” She spoke with such love, no one would believe she cared about exhaustion. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, you should sit. I can get it.”
Quinn got to her feet. “Don’t be silly. I’m pampered all day by Brutus and his family. Sit and relax. Jenny, do you want me to take the baby?”
“Don’t even try it. This is my time.”
Quinn backed away, hands up but laughing.
“You are a natural with the baby,” he said.
“It’s easy when they’re asleep. I’ll be finding Mama super quick when he awakens, trying to feed.” She rubbed her cheek against his head. “You’re exhausted.”
“I’ve been watching the herds most nights.”
“Any signs of the hunters?”
“A few, but the evidence is so old it could be another set of predators.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “It’s not hunting season anywhere around, so they can’t try and say they wandered in by mistake.”
“Hopefully you’ll catch them and soon.”
A companionable silence fell between them. Quinn brought them each a beer before returning to Brutus, who wrapped a protective arm around her. After a few sips, Lars cocked his head and asked, “So why haven’t you gotten married and had a baby of your own?”
“Perhaps because my career got in the way. Or I haven’t met the right person.” She never wanted to make the mistake her mother had. Would having a baby with the wrong person cause her to run as well? She doubted it, but she always worried. Her father had once called her mother’s daughter, to her horror. But the right person already had full-grown children. Would he even want to start all over again? “Why would you think I am so desperate to have children?”
“The way you’re clinging to Hagan like it’s your only chance.” He reached out and twisted a curl of Hagan’s hair around his finger. “You would make a wonderful mother. Why deprive the world of that?”
She wanted to ask him if he would help father her child, but she couldn’t work up the courage, even in jest. She could face down an angry animal, deal with tourists who didn’t have a brain cell. But when it came to this man, the ground seemed to be made of egg shells at all times. “I guess time will tell.”
“I hope so,” he replied, running his knuckles over her cheek.
Staring into his eyes, she reminded herself to breathe, to enjoy the moment with him. She couldn’t worry about next season, next year, or even next week. She could live in the now and enjoy being the center of his attention. After all, Quinn had taken the leap, and it worked for her. And if it didn’t, she would remember she hadn’t shied away from what she wanted.
“Hey, Dad.” A tall blond young man, so like Lars she would have known he was related even if he hadn’t called him “Dad,” came up to the table. “Didn’t think you were going to make it.”
“Anders.” He stood and embraced the younger man. “I didn’t think so, either.”
“This must be the Jenny I have heard so much about.” His smile was so much cheekier than his father’s as he peered down at the baby. “Wow, you move fast, Dad.”
“Oh no. This is—” she began.
“Sorry. Just kidding. This little guy and I are well acquainted, though usually no one is able to pry him out of his proud papa’s arms. You must have mad skills. I’m Anders, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too.”
“The old man has been alone for far too long.”
She forced herself to smile. She had convinced herself it made no difference as long as his children were younger than she. But Anders had to be a few years older. Hagan l
et out a grunt followed by a loud wail as he rooted for milk. Saved by the baby. “Excuse me.” She stood, looking for Hagan’s parents.
Quinn and Brutus made their way through the ever-growing group of park staff who came for a burger and to meet the infant. “He has perfect timing. Every time I’m about to sit down to eat, he demands his meal.”
Quinn eased her fussy son from Jenny’s embrace and settled into an empty seat to nurse. Hagan’s absence left an emptiness in Jenny she never would have imagined. The hand at her lower back had her jumping. “Walk with me.”
She nodded but couldn’t face Lars. Too many conflicting emotions churned within her.
A distance away from the group, he turned her toward him. “Seeing my son bothered you.”
She nodded.
“Age is simply a number.”
“He’s older than I am.” She hoped he would contradict her.
“Many in the park are older than you are.” He grinned, but she couldn’t return his smile.
“Don’t joke. How old are you?”
“I’m younger than Brutus, if it makes any difference.”
She wanted to pull out her hair. “Why won’t you answer the question?”
“Because you will harp on the answer when I’d rather have you focus on what is important.”
“Which is?”
“This.” He placed her hand on his heart. “I knew you would fight the age difference. Even now, it’s all you can focus on.”
“Because your children are…”
“Are not us. They have nothing to do with us. If they aren’t concerned with the age difference, and I’m not, why are you?”
Excellent question. She didn’t care what people thought, so why would she focus on something no one else seemed to care about. “Brutus is older than you?”
“Mmm hmmm. He’s ancient, actually.”
“But he appears so young.”
“And by that you mean to say I look old?”
“No. I knew you were older than I but not twice my age.”
He lifted her against his body, and his kiss burned him into her soul. Deep inside her a fire lit and threatened to cause an inferno. His kiss proved to her he could keep up with any suitor. His hands gripped her ass, lifting her off her feet. “I’m young enough to give you all the babies you could possibly want. I want to see you large with my child, Jenny.”
Those simple words sent heat rushing between her thighs and into her core. Under his cool exterior, the face he showed the world of the sexy but somewhat reserved scientist, simmered a passion which threatened to burn them both. “I want you.”
He eased back and searched her eyes. “I want you, too, but not here and not yet.”
How could she forget they stood on a hiking trail a few yards from the picnic area? “Yeah, not here.”
He let her slide down his body to stand again. “There are things you don’t know yet about me, and I want to make sure you have all the facts before I make love to you.”
In her current state, nothing he could say would alter her need for him. “So, we need to talk.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes, in my office.”
She spent the rest of the picnic in a haze of desire. She smiled and laughed with the others and even managed to ask Quinn how old Brutus was, but Quinn’s “a couple of hundred years old” comment didn’t help her in the least. Not until she passed Mammoth Springs on her way home did she remember she wanted to ask where the hell her friend lived. Back in her room, she forced herself to stop pacing the floor. She had to keep her mind occupied with something she could do on autopilot. Talk about the elk.
The elk lay majestic and unaffected in the common, sunning themselves, oblivious to the humans who wanted to get as close as possible and get some selfies. She was speaking with a group of Boy Scouts when one of the cows rammed her from behind, sending her flailing to the ground before the female huffed and stomped across the street.
Shaking off the attack, if attack it had been, she excused herself, limped back to her room, and lowered her pants and panties to check for damage. Her left butt check already showed the colorful signs of what promised to be a hell of a bruise. She replayed the event over and over in her mind, trying to figure out what set the animal off.
Maybe the cow had sensed her nervousness about her meeting with Lars? If he thought the age difference might be an issue, whatever he planned to share must be a doozy. When she approached Lars’ office, his door ajar the sounds of voices wafted out.
“Exactly what did you think would happen?” Though Lars’ voice remained calm, his tone conveyed his anger loud and clear.
“I thought she would get the message and leave good enough alone,” The female whined. “You didn’t expect us to be happy about the situation did you?”
“You’re out of line, Amanda. This isn’t going to happen again. Do I make myself clear?”
“But, Alpha…”
“Not again.” The rumble in his voice had her knees quaking.
“Yes, sir.”
“Leave, now. Tell Erin I wish to speak to her as well.”
The door opened, and she stared up in the tear-streaked face of a beautiful brunette with large doe eyes. “Sorry,” Jenny said, for lack of anything else.
“You should be,” the other woman puffed before stomping down the hall.
Jenny poked her head around the corner. “Should I come back later?”
Lars stood in front of the large window looking out over the commons. He didn’t turn to her, only shook his head. “No, come in. How is your hip?”
She paused, “How did you know about my hip?”
“You’ll soon come to learn there is very little going on in the Mammoth area or within the elk herds I don’t know.” He approached her and sat in a big armchair. “Come here.” When she obeyed, hesitant, he pulled her between his legs and turned her away from him. “May I see your injury?”
She nodded and eased the elastic waistband of her leggings down, exposing the hip and ass cheek which she knew sported a hideous purple discoloration. “I should have seen it coming.”
“How could you see it coming? From the information I’ve been given, you were talking to some children and well away from the herd. The attack was unprovoked, but I’ve dealt with it.”
She faced him again. “I’m fine. Don’t hurt her.” When an animal attacked a human they were sometimes put down.
“This says to the contrary you aren’t.” He rubbed his thumb over the heated flesh. “Amanda is jealous and rammed you out of spite.”
They had to be talking about two separate things. “Amanda? You mean the woman who left a few minutes ago?”
“The very same.”
“I think you’re confused. An elk attacked me, not a human.”
“I’m very aware of who and what hurt you.” He stood and began pacing, “This is what I needed to explain to you.”
“I feel I should sit.” Somehow, she knew whatever he had to say would rock her world.
He waited until she eased into the chair before beginning. “Amanda the human and the elk are the same being.”
“Right.” She judged the distance to the door and how many steps it would take to run down the hall.
He didn’t say anything more, but a golden shimmer covered his body, and the image of an elk cast over him. As quickly as it appeared, it faded again. “I’m not the man you think I am.”
“What the hell was that?”
“That, my love, is my other half.”
“Right.” For some reason her vocabulary left. Acid raced up her throat from deep in her stomach. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
He pressed a wastebasket into her hands and eased her head down. “Breathe deep.”
“Easy for you to say,” she managed between pants.
The moment of queasiness passed, but she didn’t think she coul
d face him yet. The animals she loved and cared for were also humans? Impossible. But true…she knew it was true. Anger infused her. “Do you laugh at us at the end of the day? Stupid rangers.”
“No. Never. You protect us when we are at our most vulnerable. When our babies are too young and don’t understand the dangers.”
“Why do you need us?”
“Because there are humans in the park. If we are to save Yellowstone and the other parks for future generations, people have to come to them and love them. We are far outnumbered by mundanes.”
“Mundanes?”
“Those who aren’t shifters.”
“Shifters?” she mumbled into the bin.
“Humans who have the ability to become an animal.”
Visions of horror movies rushed into her head. She needed to see his face to try and read his reaction to her questions. “Like werewolves.”
“There are some werewolves in the park. But, obviously, my animal form isn’t wolf.”
“Are all the animals shifters? That’s a stupid question.”
He moved towards her, and she pulled back.
“No, not a stupid question. Not all animals are shifters, and not all elk in the park can shift. Ninety-five percent can’t.”
“But every one out on the common can?”
“Yes the herd up here is made up of shifters, the ones on the western and southern edge of the parks are also shifters. There are about seventy-five of us in the park at any given time.”
A horrifying thought came to her, and she jumped to her feet, regretting it as the queasiness returned. She pushed past it and remained standing. “The elk that were hunted.”
“Were not shifters.” He squared his shoulders. “Although any killing within the park is despicable, had the deceased been our kind, there would have been no holding back Brutus and his bears.”
“Did you say bears?” She eased back into the chair to discover it wasn’t low enough to the floor for her liking. Flat on her back might be the best option for a conversation of this type. The utilitarian carpet offered no padding, but the drop ceiling panels gave her something to focus on. Of course, if elk could shift, so might others, but bears? And Brutus. Quinn had to know. She lifted her head. “Bears?”
An Alpha’s Second Chance (Shifters of Yellowstone Book 3) Page 3
