Page 42 of Gavin

“Right now, sweetheart. The security team is gathering and we’re going to have an escort plus the team is going to hang out around the house while we’re there. You’ll be safe, I promise.”

She felt the sting of happy tears. Rising to her feet, she gave him a hug. “You’re the best mate, thank you.”

“I’m trying,” he said. He pushed her gently to arm’s length. “Sometime, soon I hope, things will be back to normal and we won’t have to constantly worry about someone trying to get to you. But until then, I’m extra-strength crazy about your safety.”

“I know, I appreciate it.”

They met a small group of security team members waiting at the side of the house with two small Jeeps with tinted windows. She and Gavin got in one and the other males got in the second one, and in moments, they were on their way through the forest using trails that had been hand-cut through the woods to allow pride members to drive vehicles easily around the territory.

As their jeep bounced along the rough terrain, Sadie was just so dang happy to be out of the house that she could have cried. But she didn’t want to cry because she didn’t want Gavin to know how much she both hated and loved being stuck at the house with the others. It was a blessing to be so well cared for and protected, but she was chafing under the no-leaving rule.

This was a blissful moment of freedom, and she wanted to soak up every second of it.

They reached Nora’s home a few minutes later. Gavin parked right by the front door and got out, leaving Sadie inside while he took a look around. When he walked her to the door, she noticed security cameras around the exterior of the house and was happy to know that Nora had extra eyes.

“Nora? It’s us,” Gavin called as he opened the door and gave Sadie a gentle push inside. He followed and shut the door quickly behind them.

“I’m in the den, come on back. I have cookies!” Her voice rang out like a song and Sadie smiled at the sweet tone.

They found her in the den on a plush lounge that was covered with soft, rose-colored velvet and looked like it belonged in a Victorian painting.

Nora rose to her feet and gave Sadie a hug. “How are you holding up?”

“Good, but I’m glad to get out of the house,” Sadie said.

“I understand,” she said, taking her seat again and patting the space next to her for Sadie. As she sat, Nora continued, “I’m a homebody, but when Ican’tleave, I feel like the walls are closing in.”

“That’s exactly how I feel.”

Gavin cleared his throat and said, “I’m going to hang out with the security team. Take as long as you like visiting with Nora, sweetheart.”

“Thanks.”

He nodded with a smile and left.

“I’m so glad you could come visit,” Nora said. “When Gavin called to ask if I was free, I told him that I was going to call you anyway because I found a book you might like.”

“What kind of book? I’ve been reading an old sci-fi book that Midas had in the library, but it’s not really holding my interest.”

Nora stood and scooted over a small table that held a tea set and a plate of thin cookies covered with colorful sprinkles.

Sadie watched as she put loose tea leaves into mesh balls, hung them over the edge of clear mugs, and then poured steaming water into the mugs.

“Jasmine green tea,” Nora said as she gently bobbed the tea in the water and the water slowly changed to a pretty golden color, “has a lot of benefits, but mostly the scent of jasmine is calming and promotes relaxation, so I thought it was a good choice. It pairs nicely with sugar cookies too.”

She pulled the steeped tea from the mugs and suggested a few drops of fresh lemon from wedges and just a bit of honey for sweetness.

Sadie took the mug and held it between her hands, taking time to inhale the gentle floral scent. Closing her eyes, she settled into the calm that flooded through her and smiled.

They ate cookies and drank tea while Nora showed her a book she’d found in her collection about rare and unique shifters.

It was an old, large book with colorful drawings of different types of shifters.

“It’s more types of shifters and not so much unique colors, but I thought you might like to read through it. Did you know there’s a Pegasus shifter in Northern Ohio?”

“Really? I didn’t know they were real.”

“I’m very certain there are a lot more types of supernatural creatures than we know of because they’re either not in the States or keep to themselves. I know there’s a polar bear who lives with the dragons, she’s Prince Tosh’s mate. And of course I think the dragons are quite interesting too. There’s a panther who works for the vampire coven. They normally stay with their own kind, but he’s on his own.”

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