Page 12 of Falling for My Shifter Defender

Something shifts in his expression—a flicker of respect, perhaps. He leans forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

"The job isn't glamorous," he warns. "You'd be coordinating patrol schedules, updating our tracking systems, managingsupply deliveries for the Sanctuary construction. Sometimes long hours."

"I can handle it," I assure him. "As long as I can arrange my schedule around Willow's needs."

He considers this, then nods once. "Two-week trial period. You start tomorrow, 9 AM sharp. I'll have someone show you the systems." He pauses, then adds, "I understand your situation is... complicated. If you need flexibility for your sister, we can work something out."

The unexpected accommodation catches me off guard. "Thank you," I manage, trying not to show my surprise. "I won't let you down."

"See that you don't," he says, but there's less edge to his voice than I expected. "Eli vouched for you. That carries weight here."

I'm not sure how to respond to that, so I simply nod and stand. As I turn to leave, Theo adds, "And Grace? Watch yourself in town. Not everyone is as accepting of humans as Blackwell's people. Old prejudices die hard."

The warning sends a familiar chill down my spine, but I manage a tight smile. "I'm used to watching my back."

"I don't doubt it," he replies, and for a moment, I think I see something like sympathy in his eyes. "But here, you don't have to do it alone."

When I step outside, the bright midday sun momentarily blinds me. I pause on the steps, letting the warmth seep into my skin, feeling the tension in my shoulders ease just slightly. For a moment—just a moment—I allow myself to breathe without scanning for threats.

Then reality reasserts itself, and I scan the street, looking for Willow. My heart stutters for a second before I spot them—Eli and Willow sitting on a bench across the street, sharing a bag of popcorn. Willow is gesturing wildly, clearly in the middle of a story, and Eli is watching her with complete attention, nodding and smiling at all the right moments.

"And then the squirrel did a flip!" Willow exclaims as I approach. "Like a tiny acrobat!"

"That's impressive," Eli says seriously. "Squirrels are natural athletes, but flips? That's advanced stuff."

Willow giggles, then spots me. "Grace! Did you get the job? Can we stay?" The hope in her voice is almost painful to hear.

Eli looks up, his eyes finding mine. That lopsided grin of his appears, warm and somehow just for me. "Well? Verdict?"

I can't help but smile back—a real smile, not the tight, guarded one I've perfected over years of keeping people at a distance. "I start tomorrow. Two-week trial period."

"I knew you'd get it," Eli says, and there's something in his voice—quiet approval, like he never doubted me for a second—that makes my stomach flutter. It's been a long time since anyone believed in me that way.

???

The forest thickens around us as Eli's truck navigates deeper into Whispering Pines territory. Tall evergreens crowd the narrow dirt road, their branches creating a canopy.

"Where are we going again?" I ask.

Eli's mouth quirks up at one corner. "The Whispering Pines pack community center. Some of the women run a sort of daycare there for pack kids and other supernatural children. I thought it might be good for Willow to meet some other kids her age." He glances at me. "And for you to meet some of the pack women."

"I don't need a playdate," I mutter.

He laughs, the sound rich and warm. "Trust me, these aren't the playdate type. They're more the 'could probably take down a hunter with one hand while holding a baby in the other' type."

Despite myself, I smile. "That, I can work with."

The truck rounds a bend, and suddenly the trees part to reveal a sun-dappled clearing. In the center stands a large timber building, its wide windows reflecting the afternoon light. A wraparound porch skirts the structure, dotted with rocking chairs and hanging plants. Behind it, I can make out what looks like a playground, the sound of children's laughter carrying on the breeze.

"It's beautiful," I whisper, not meaning to say it aloud.

"The pack built it together," Eli says, pride evident in his voice as he parks the truck. "Ryan and Jenna wanted a place where supernatural kids could be themselves without hiding."

In the backseat, Willow presses her face against the window, eyes wide with wonder. "Are there other shifters like me?"

"Lots," Eli assures her.

As we approach the building, I feel Willow's small hand slip into mine, squeezing tight. I look down to find her watching the door with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. I know exactly how she feels.

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