Page 2 of Love in Unexpected Places

Sullivan knew who he was talking about.Several mages from their coven had ended up becoming pack members.It had been a surprise when Sullivan had gotten Lester’s phone call, but a good one.He’d been happy to find out that Lester and his friends had made it out of the coven in one piece and found a place to call home.If only he could do the same, everything would be peachy.

James parked the car in front of Chance’s house.Sullivan recognized him and several others who were standing on the porch, and he didn’t hesitate to exit the car.His friends were a bit slower, but they followed his lead.James had been the first out, and he stood next to the car, his arms crossed over his chest, ready to intervene if anything happened.

The only thing that did was that Chance walked down the porch steps, leaving his partner behind.He stopped in front of Sullivan and smiled, offering him his hand.

“It’s good to see you again.”

Sullivan shook Chance’s hand.Itwasgood to see him again.

He turned to the others to introduce them.They were cautious, but Sullivan doubted anyone had expected a different reaction from them.After all, they were three mages in the middle of a pack.Anything could happen to them, and even if they used their magic, they might not be able to make it out.

“These are three of the people who are willing to help us, including Braden,” Sullivan explained.

Braden stepped forward.Sullivan noticed how some of the people present seemed surprised to see him, but that was a reaction Braden always got.He towered over everyone, and he looked like he could easily pick up Chance and carry him inside the house.Chance wasn’t a small man, but Braden was even bigger.

“I wish we’d met under different circumstances,” Braden said in his deep voice.He was smiling, probably to put Chance at ease.

The alpha didn’t look one bit intimidated, which was good.Braden might be big, but he was a good person, and deep inside, he was a softy.He loved animals and nature, and he hated what the other coven leaders were doing.He was a leader, but there was only so much he could do since he was a minority.

“I agree, but unfortunately, this is the situation we’re in,” Chance told Braden before turning toward Michelle and Ryan.“I’m Chance, the alpha of this pack.”

Michelle didn’t look scared as she stepped forward.“I’m Michelle.”

“Welcome to the Mayport pack, Michelle.”

Everyone’s attention turned to Ryan.He’d always been the quietest of their group, and today wasn’t any different.He looked like he might start running at any moment, but Sullivan knew he wouldn’t.No matter how scared he was, he wouldn’t abandon the rest of them.

“Ryan,” he said quickly.

Chance nodded.“It’s good to meet you, too.Why don’t we go inside?”he suggested, gesturing at the house.

Sullivan heard Ryan suck in a breath, but he wasn’t surprised when Ryan nodded.He went to move, only to be interrupted by a loud voice.

“Mages!”

* * * *

Matty groaned at thesound of Francis’s voice.It wasn’t the first time the guy pitched a fit, but this was probably the worst moment in which he could have done it.

Matty leaned closer to Seth.He wasn’t scared because he knew that most of the people present would jump in to help him if anything happened, but he didn’t like Francis, and he didn’t want anything to do with whatever was about to happen.At the same time, he was intrigued by the mages.He wished he could move closer, and he might have tried talking to them if Francis hadn’t decided to be an asshole.

“After a bunch of dragons and weird shifters, now you’re welcoming mages into our pack?”Francis asked as he stopped close to Chance.

Matty noticed Red leaning into his boyfriend and whispering something that made Charles snicker.At the same time, Charles pushed Red behind him, which probably meant he expected something to happen.

Matty shifted even closer to Seth.Matty was a bear shifter, but that didn’t mean he knew how to fight.When their ragtag family had been on the streets, Matty hadn’t been a protector.That role had gone to Dustin, Seth, and Theo.

“Is there something you want?”Chance asked Francis.He looked like he wanted to kick the guy’s ass.Matty didn’t think anyone would blame him if he decided to do just that.

Francis seemed to realize that, or maybe it was Chance’s annoyed tone.His face turned red, and Matty wondered for a moment if the guy might be about to faint.Or maybe he would have a heart attack.That would save Chance a lot of trouble.

“This is our pack,” Francis snapped.“We’re bears.”

“We’ve never been a pack of only bears,” Chance answered.“In fact, that’s why my great-grandfather made a point of calling this a pack rather than a sleuth.I seem to remember that your grandmother was a fox shifter.”

Oh, burn.How was Francis going to answer?Matty didn’t really care because he was over this already.Clearly, Francis was trying to get Sullivan and the other mages to leave.Did he not understand that the pack needed them?Did he not see that without them, the coven would eventually win?

Matty was pretty sure there was an even higher possibility of Francis having a heart attack now.His color had gone from red to purple.“We’re not talking about my grandmother here.We’re talking aboutthesepeople.”

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