Page 29 of Shifters Unifying

Olivia didn’t look like she believed me, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she gave brief instructions to the remaining bodyguards, and the trio helped me from the dugout and back to the four-wheelers. With a groan, I lifted one leg over mine, slid into the seat, and slumped over the handle.

After we reached the ATVs, Phil and Henry collected Theo’s body and carefully placed it on Olivia’s four-wheeler, tying it in place with rope from the supply bag. Then they catapulted onto their four-wheelers and sped off, probably to collect Torbin and any of the others who preferred to live without tech like cell phones.

Olivia dialed the first on her list of alphas. “Hey, Flynn,” she said. “We’ve got a problem…”

CHAPTER TEN

emma

Willow Creek, Louisiana

Willow Creek was my home… until it wasn’t.

Everything I loved used to be inside the city limits of my small town. Until the world had grown infinitely bigger, stuffed to an excess with everything regular humans didn’t know about. Now the hidden world was quickly edging out every aspect of the real world I used to know.

The sunrise turned the billowing clouds bright red, and the sunrise promised to be glorious. I couldn’t fathom how to reconcile my memories of Willow Creek with the new life I was building with the shifters I had to protect. It was early yet, and the street were mostly deserted. A Blackwood Construction truck passed by, and Jasper shared a wave with the other driver.

“Where to first?” Jasper asked.

“Can we drive by my office? I’d like to check on things there.”

“Yer wish is my command, lass.”

“Need the address?” I asked.

“Nope, but we’re stopping for coffee on the way. I imagine ye could use a cuppa.”

“Sounds good. I can’t remember the last time I had time to make myself coffee. Probably not since the last time I overnighted in Willow Creek.”

“Ye ever been to Peaches and Melons?” he asked.

I frowned. “That doesn’t sound like a coffee shop.”

He shrugged and tugged on his beard. “Aye, they are, but they serve some brunch items as well. Now their fruit options are quite popular with the construction.”

“Oh, really? I guess that makes more sense,” I murmured, studying the screen of my phone. I didn’t think I could put it off any longer, so I opened the texting app on my phone.

Me: Hey, Mom. You up?

Mom: Of course. Worry does that to a person.

Me: I know. I’m in town. Wanna grab an early lunch?

Mom: Come by. Let me cook you something better than whatever fast food trash you’ve been eating.

Me: Lol. Okay if I bring a friend?

Mom: A boyfriend?

Mom: I knew it had to be a man.

Mom: Who is he?

I groaned.Never should have texted about Jasper.

Me: MOM! Jasper is my *friend*. Nothing more. He is dating a friend of mine, so don’t ask him a million questions about what he does for a living and if he wants kids. See you soon.

Mom: I think that’s the most words I’ve gotten out of you in weeks.