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“Suppose I were to offer you a place here as a teaching assistant. We’d train you on the job, as it were.”

His heart hammered, but before he could tell her what a wonderful idea it was, she held up her hand.

“However… I would also like you to work with our two counselors, to be involved in their sessions with the students. And I’d like you to consider taking a course in counseling. I think you have a lot to offer our students.” She smiled. “I know this isn’t how things are done in human schools—I’ve worked in a couple of them—but these are no ordinary students. They’ve been brought up to believe they have a particular place on this earth, and—”

“I was brought up the same way,” Jamie blurted. “I believed what my parents and teachers told me. I was a student here too.”

She smiled, and it reached her eyes. “But you know the truth now, don’t you?”

He returned her smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Soyouhave been where they are now. Youknowwhat is going through their minds. They need support, encouragement, and while the staff and counselors can give them that,youcan give them something unique—understanding and insight.”

Jamie swallowed. “I like your unorthodox proposal, Ms. Payton.”

Her eyes sparkled. “I thought you might. Your salary wouldn’t be large to begin with—that will grow as you gain experience—but we’d provide you with all your meals, accommodation, laundry facilities….” She paused. “Although I should warn you about the two counselors you’d be working under. They already have a bit of a following around here. They’re rather exuberant characters, and the students adore them.”

“Would it be rude of me to ask what they are?” He was dying to know.

She chuckled. “I don’t see that as an issue, seeing as you’ll be working with them. Shawn is a grizzly, and Brandon is a North American cougar.And one thing more….” She gazed at him. “I don’t know if you’ve ever met any shifters like them before.”

Jamie raised his eyebrows. “What makes them so different?”

“It was the first time I’d come across this, but since then I’ve met more, so—”

“They’re mates, aren’t they?” Jamie smiled.What is there, something in the water?

Gina stared at him. “You know about this?”

He laughed. “My half brothers have mates, their friends have mates, my dad has a mate. I guess you could say I know a bit about it.”

She beamed. “That’s something else you can discuss with the students. Word is getting around, and they have so many questions.”

“I’m not sure I have the answers, but I’ll do my best.” He tilted his head to one side. “Is that why they have a following? Because the students know they’re mates?”

“Partly.” She chuckled. “It might also be because they’re rather good-looking gentlemen, and they have a lot of admirers—girlsandboys.” She extended a hand across the desk. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Matheson.”

“Delighted to be here, Ms. Payton.”

Gina stood. “I’ll show you the way to the staff accommodations and we’ll find you a room. Then we’ll come back and sort out the paperwork.”

For a while at least, Jamie had a home, and possibly two careers.

He was content.

JAMIE CALLEDDellan as soon as Gina had finished with him.

“Hey, how did the mission go? Are you still in the UK?”

“Yeah, we’re still here. Vic’s okay. Saul and Crank are with him at a clinic. Theron’s locked up in Richard’s dungeon until Aelryn moves him. Dad’s going to Rome with Seth, Brick, and Orsini. And… we lost Alec.”

Jamie’s throat seized. He’d hoped they could’ve done something, but….

“He was too far gone and in so much pain.” The tremor in his voice told Jamie how hard Dellan was fighting to keep his emotions under control.

“I’m so sorry.”

“But enough about us. What aboutyou? What’s going on in Boston?”