Page 49 of Secrets at Dawn

Griffin shook the hands of both men, addressing them by name and asking about something he must have had a hand in fixing. One guy had a minor plumbing problem, and the other had a major car issue. Griffin used the word transmission.

Bobby winced. “I didn’t realize you knew so many people, Griffin.”

Griffin went to Toby again, pulling him to his side. He smiled. “I help a lot of people. My mate and I have that in common.”

Bobby growled. “He killed Kinnison Ransome with magic.”

It was the woman who scowled and pointed to something behind Griffin and Toby. “Isn’t that Mr. Ransone with the sheriff right there?”

People came out of every nook and cranny in the park. More people than Toby was aware of.

Toby realized they were the reason he was so on edge. Cass and Riley led the large group toward them.

Everyone stood behind Griffin and Toby. That was when Toby finally relaxed. “They’re pack.”

Griffin nodded. “They came to support the wolf shifter who saved the sheriff and his family from burning to death in a fire. A fire Bobby Ball set.”

The woman addressed Kinnison. “Did this young man hurt you with his magic?”

“No, ma’am. He saved my life by getting me out of the area. Bobby Ball tried to blackmail him into killing me, but he refused.” Kinnison put a hand on Toby’s shoulder. “He’s not using his magic to hurt people. But if there’s a concern, his family can vouch for him.”

Riley nodded. “I’ll be the first.”

“Toby isn’t the one we have to worry about.” The sheriff helped Cass arrest Bobby Balls and the rest of the dickwads.

For the first time since the meeting began, Toby took charge. The first thing he did was hand Iven the envelope Wolf Dickwad had given him when they’d first tried to blackmail him. That felt like a lifetime ago.

“There’s a wolf shifter who did all their dirty work. Griffin and I are pretty sure his name is Jackson Polk. He handed it to me when they first tried to blackmail me. I don’t know what’s in it. And there has to be some sort of magic user, too, because the bakery had a ward or something attached to it. I don’t know who they are, though.”

Iven took the envelope. His gaze went from Toby to Griffin and then back again. “Good job. Both of you.”

The dickwads protested, and Cass called it resisting arrest, which meant an extra charge, Toby was guessing.

“Do you need us anymore, Dad?”

“Nope. We’ve got it from here.”

Griffin led him down the path toward Toby’s apartment.

Kinnison called his name.

Toby stopped and turned, meeting his gaze.

“Come to the next pack meeting. It’s this Friday.”

Toby nodded. “Will do. Alpha.”

“I’ll be calling you that if I get my way.” And with that, Kinnison turned back to watch the dickwads as Cass and Iven put them into the sheriff’s vehicle.

Griffin kissed him on his temple. “You’ll make a good alpha. You’ll be fair to everyone. But I don’t want you to think you have to fix the pack’s issues by yourself.”

“That’s why you took the lead, isn’t it?”

Griffin pulled his shirt back, showing Toby the wire. “That and we wanted a confession.”

Toby wanted to be mad at Griffin for keeping it from him, but he couldn’t. By taking care of the dickwads, Griffin let Toby know he wasn’t alone anymore.

Toby made Griffin stop and then jumped onto his back. Griffin caught him. “Guess what?”

“What?”

“We get to have another marathon.” Toby wanted to get started immediately.

****