Page 54 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

That remark made Gal’s cheeks blush redder, and he nodded.

“We’ve all been there and done the same. It’s just not the smartest thing to do, especially right now. So, being grounded was warranted. However, you could’ve told Galen what you’d done and why someone should stay in touch with us,” Gunnar stated.

“I know. I was angry, and so I kept my mouth shut. It was wrong.”

“Do you think you can do anything about this? Like I said, I hate to leave, but if I could move to where I knew my family was safer and not into a deeper infested area of these lunatics, I’d consider it.

But we can’t pack up our lives and move in three weeks.

We have this house to deal with. Gal has school, and my granddaughter, Fiona, has her job,” his granddad admitted.

“Where is your granddaughter?” Keir asked. He was casual about it, but since they were leopards like him, he had to wonder what she was like and if they might be compatible. Our minds always automatically go there when we encounter our species of shifter.

“My sister is at work. She won’t be home until after six tonight.”

“Aren’t you concerned about her safety while she’s at work? She could be targeted easily depending on where she works and the kind of security her employer has,” Keir stated.

An amused expression creased both Galens’ faces.

The older one chuckled, then answered. “Her work is probably one of the safest places she could be. It’s why I’m not concerned, though I did follow her to work to ensure she got there alright.

I plan to do the same when she returns. That’s when she’s vulnerable.

My grandson is at risk at school. Whether they have resource officers or whatever they call them these days, they’re not equipped to handle several assailants or those heavily armed.

He has a teacher conference day today, that’s why he’s home. I take him to school and pick him up.”

“What about you? When you’re driving alone from escort or transport duties, who has your back?” I asked.

“Ah ha, just what Fiona and I always ask him. He waves us off,” Gal outed his granddad.

Old Galen scowled and waved his hand dismissively. “I’m old and I’ve lived my life. If they want me, they can make their play. Galen and Fiona are young and have lots of life left to live. They’ll be the ones to bring about the continuation of our species, not me,” he protested.

“That doesn’t mean your insights, experiences, and wisdom as an elder aren’t needed. Our history has to be carried on,” Keir told him.

As Galen senior sat there thinking over what Keir said, his grandson asked us questions.

“What’s it like where you are? You said you came from California.

Do you live in the same area or all over?

Are there a bunch of shifters where you live?

” He paused and asked Keir, “Are there more leopards where you’re at? ”

“We’re all from the same town. We moved there several years ago because some shifters were already there, and it was ideal for us.

We have more since a large group that was wandering, looking for a haven from the Knights, came to our attention.

We went to speak to them, and they ended up coming to our town.

They’re in the process of settling there.

And at the moment, there are no other leopards there besides me.

However, we do have a panther couple with a young child. ” Keir truthfully told them.

Both Galens exchanged glances. It was the elder who asked the following question. “Is this town big enough to absorb more of us? Sounds like you’re turning into a sanctuary.”

“It is becoming somewhat of one. This is the first group we’ve brought home with us.

We’ve added about a dozen people in the past month.

There are ten others already there, not including the seven of us.

Then, add on Fennick and Brax’s mates and the twins Brax’s woman is carrying.

Not bad for a town whose non-tourist population sits steadily around five thousand people. ” Banner supplied the answers.

“We were hoping to clear this up and be home tonight, but it seems that there’s more at work here than we counted on.

I suggest we leave one or two of us here and the rest head home.

We can figure out the lay of the land and advise you better once we know more and get a sense of how bad Phoenix is,” Gunnar suggested.

He was looking at the rest of us as he said it.

As we sat there lightly debating its pros and cons, I tried not to get impatient.

I knew one thing. I didn’t want to stay.

I needed to get home to my mate. I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that we were separated so early in our mating, or if there was something wrong that had me uptight and my stomach churning.

I snuck off a text to check on her. Within a minute, I had her answer.

She swore she was doing great and assured me they were fine.

Roan was there with the three of them and keeping them entertained.

After a good twenty minutes of back-and-forth, a decision was made.

Gunnar and Keir would stay. Both had volunteered.

Their jobs as a bounty hunter and game warden allowed them more flexibility in their work schedules.

For Gun, since he was his own boss, he set his workdays.

Keir had a ton of vacation days on the books, and they had an excess of new trainees to pick up the slack.

By the time we said goodbye and promised that we’d be back if our friends felt it was necessary, I was past ready to go.

It was three in the afternoon. Galen wanted us to stay and meet Fiona, but we apologized and promised to do it next time.

A brief private chat with Keir and Gunnar about keeping us informed and letting us know if they felt a threat was imminent, we left them with one vehicle, and the five of us took the other back.

I was counting the moments until we reached our homes.