Page 38 of Promise & Artem

He set two plates with eggs and toast on the table and took the seat across from her. She sipped at the coffee and smiled. “Thanks for making breakfast.”

“Anytime.”

“So when we talk to Ally and her husbands about switching to a larger cabin, we can also talk to them about what I might do here for work?”

“Absolutely.”

She wanted to have a job around the campground like Artem and his family did. Use of the staff cabins was considered part of their salary, so she wanted to contribute.

“Are you part of their baro?” she asked.

“Yes. Dad’s the head of our family group, what the hyenas would call a clan, and he gets together with the other clan leaders to discuss issues. They don’t do get-togethers like packs do, though.”

“Did your dad tell them about what you’re dealing with?”

“I’m sure he has by now if he didn’t before everything went to crap last night.”

She stabbed a large chunk of egg. “If Nero had his guy run you over to send a message that you couldn’t leave the league, he must expect you to show up to the next fight and be ready to go.”

He nodded as he chewed. When he’d swallowed and took a drink of coffee, he said, “That’s what I figure. If I don’t go to the fight, then he might try to find me. He’s resourceful, so while I’ve always felt fairly safe from being discovered, I don’t feel that way anymore.”

“What should we do?”

“You’re not doing anything,” he said, pointing his fork at her. “Except staying safe from harm. I’m going to make sure that Nero knows I won’t fight for him anymore.”

“I’ll do my best to be safe, but I also want to know what you’re planning, even if I’ll be staying here at the campground.”

“I think the best thing I can do is call the authorities,” he said. He finished his plate and then leaned back in the chair. “Shifter fighting groups like his are illegal, so if the authorities are alerted they’ll shut him down and arrest him. He’s been chased out from other cities by the authorities and he seems pretty good at getting away without getting in trouble, like posting bail and then leaving town.”

“If that doesn’t work?”

“I’ll take out the warehouse where the fights are.”

“With…”

“Something that explodes and causes a lot of damage so the warehouse is unusable..”

She snorted. “When will you call?”

“Later.” He pushed back from the table and lifted his plate. “We’ve got some cabins to see and some plans to make.” He rested his hand on the table and leaned over, smiling down at her in a wonderfully wicked way. “And a date.”

“What?”

“A date. You and me. Tonight.”

“Fun. Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise. But wear something sexy. And feel free to forget panties.”

“You’ve got the best ideas.”

She finished her breakfast and helped him with the dishes, and before long, they were on their way to the welcome center to check in with Ally and her mates, to find a new place to live and the possibility of work for her, and also…to see where the day would take them.

Taking Artem’s hand, she gave it a squeeze and said, “I’m so glad you’re mine.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I’m so glad you’re mine too, beautiful.”

Promise loved the two cabins. One was closer to his parents’ cabin and the other was closer to the Welcome Center. They were nearly identical inside: three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an eat-in kitchen, and a family room. But where they differed was that the cabin close to the Welcome Center had a sliding door in the master suite that walked out to a private patio surrounded by the thick woods.

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