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Doc’s innocent air was almost comical.

Jake folded his arms. “Nope. I’m not going to give rise to another Geran group.”

Dellan frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“What you’re describing has all the hallmarks of a cult. I may have been out of things for the last three decades, but I know what a cult is. Jim Jones? David Berg? Charles Manson? Do these names ring a bell?”

Dellan stared at him. “I don’t think you’re going to inspire the same kind of acts they did. You’re benevolent, for one thing.”

“So are most cults when they start out, but they quickly spiral down, and suddenly those who don’t believe? They become the enemy.” Jake stuck his chin out. “I’m not going down that route.”

The light touch of Doc’s hand on his arm was like an anchor.

“And no one is saying you should.” Doc’s voice was as gentle as his hand. “But you’ve been given a gift. Use it for good. Talk to people, even if it’s in a Zoom meeting.” He cocked his head to one side. “We discussed this, didn’t we? Tell them what you know, what you’ve seen… what’s coming. Remind them you’re as human as they are.” He smiled. “People are going to need to work together, and no one knows that more than you.”

“You think it’ll be that easy? We’re talking exposing shifters to a world that thinks they’re a myth. And sure, on an individual basis, knowledge of them will increase as more people find their mates, but we’re not just talking individuals here. We’re talking governments, andthey’reunlikely to be so benevolent.”

Doc snickered. “Until they findtheirmates.” He sighed. “But seriously… I believe once this starts, there will be no stopping it.”

He could be right.

But the idea of achieving cult status disturbed him.

Jake frowned. “They’re going to find us, you know that, right? Someone will leak the location. It won’t be Aelryn, but there’s bound to be someone who can’t resist doing some digging.”

“We’ll deal with that when—if—it happens,” Dellan assured him. He gave Jake a hug. “And now I’ll leave you to have that conversation.” He left the small living room.

Jake walked over to the window and stared out at the lake, nestled in green. “Peoplewillcome, you know.” When Doc chuckled, he twisted to peer at him. “What was funny about that?”

“It’s a line from a famous movie, that’s all.” Doc joined him. “And they’ll have to find us first. So I guess this is as good a time as any to show you what I’ve been up to the last day or so.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, tapped the screen, then scrolled. He handed the phone to Jake. “Take a look at this.”

Jake gazed at the image of a house. It was attractive, with cream siding and a reddish-brown veranda, a couple of trees out front. He peered closer. “Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska. What’s there?”

“Us, if you like the house.”

He stilled. “Really?” Jake scrolled, and when he reached the end of the images, the breath caught in his throat. “Ten and a half acres?” There was nothing to see for miles except hills in the distance and field after rolling field.

“Three beds, two baths, so plenty of room for all three of us. Thirteen hours’ drive from here, but it has an airport in case you needed to get anywhere fast.”

Jake studied the details. “Pinecone Drive, Gering.” He glanced at Doc. “Population?”

“Eight and a half thousand.” Doc smiled. “And ten point five acres is a whole lotta space for an elephant and a tiger to run around in. So what if we’re spotted? We happen to have some exotic pets. But I’d say the likelihood of that happening is pretty small.”

Jake scrolled some more. “I like the back porch. I can see myself sitting out there on summer evenings.”

“Me too.” Doc’s hand was on his back. “And no neighbors. We can hide from the rest of the world if we want to—or need to.”

“So this is it? You’re retiring?”

Doc shrugged. “I was semiretired when I took that first call from Horvan to take a look at Dellan. It isn’t such a big step to go the whole hog and call it a day. Besides”—he smiled—“I want to spend what days I have left with you. Making up for lost time.”

Jake studied the image again. “Doyoulike it?” He was already in love with the place, and he’d only seen pictures of it.

“I wouldn’t be showing it to you if I didn’t. So what do you say? Fancy a trip to Scotts Bluff, Nebraska? Maybe after the weekend?”

Jake beamed. “I’d love one.”

A little corner to call their own. A sign saying No Trespassers.