Page 108 of Forbidden Moon
Dominic began to snore softly, mind at peace and comfortable in his own home. Jack had already replaced his memories of RJ and the packlands, Russell’s threats, and his fear of shapeshifters. Confident of Dominic’s obedience, Jack rose, turned out the light, and joined his companions in the living room.
He found Tom thumbing through a small notebook and Caleb gazing out the window with binoculars, angry with himself for missing what was now apparent.
“I am such an idiot! I never even considered being watched from here this way. Take a look, Jack.”
Jack stepped up to the window and peered through the binoculars at a stretch of their western border. From this height and angle, anyone could see the security team on patrol. No wonder Bluett observed them without being spotted. He stepped back and handed the glasses to Caleb.
“Your self-recrimination serves no purpose, my friend. Only perfect people make no mistakes, and as much as I admire my packmates, none of us fit the description. Our confidence in you remains, and you are now better prepared to serve Gladstone and other packs which may need your advice. Learn from this experience and move on.”
Caleb nodded silently. While he appreciated Jack’s words, he wouldn’t soon forget this failure and feared no one else would either. Fortunately, Jack let it go and turned his attention to Tom.
“What have you found?”
Tom handed over the simple journal and provided a summary of the contents.
“He’s recorded many sightings since last fall, but we already knew that from his blog. What intrigues me is how he got started—he’s a birdwatcher! Those entries seem to be from the last place he lived and weren’t particularly interesting. What did you pick up about his past?”
Jack explained Dominic’s unsavory past, prison time, and the fresh start here in Gladstone after his release.
“Despite his illegal activities, I believe him to be an honorable man who wants nothing more than a clean break from his past and a better life for himself. His discovery of us was purely accidental, and both intrigued and frightened him. Unfortunately, his workplace put him within the sphere of Russell Hook. He wishes only to be left alone and believes the man will utterly ruin him and threaten his loved ones.”
Neither Tom nor Caleb were expecting their hated enemy to be, for all intents and purposes, a nice guy. Tom returned the journal to its place on the side table with a surprised grunt and moved across the room to the corner office.
“He doesn’t seem to have much in the way of printed records, and this computer is seriously out of date. Robyn may want to bring a laptop with her in case this one isn’t up to the task. If he hasn’t stored records elsewhere, it shouldn’t be too hard to clean up the mess.”
Jack looked around in the hopes of building a more complete picture of Dominic’s simple life. Despite the trouble he’d caused, he knew Bluett’s actions sprang from curiosity and fear, not malevolence. Instead of punishment, Jack desired to create a better future for him.
Done for now, the trio slipped quietly out of the apartment and locked up behind them using Tom’s master key. Back home, there were preparations to be made for the coming conflict with the Michigan Foresters. If things went well, not only would Russell Hook and his men receive their comeuppance, the Gladstone pack could once again live in peace and safety. If the intricate plans failed, their lives here would come to a complete and ruinous end.
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MEANWHILE, AT NORTHBluff Grocery
The overhead speakers came alive with an abrupt announcement.
“Russell to the manager’s office, please.”
Russell abandoned the pallet of toilet paper he’d been working on and headed for the back room. Ted Klune was a nice enough person to work for, but Saturdays were hectic, and Russell resented the interruption. He entered through the open office door and noticed the frown on Ted’s face.
“Sorry, Rus, but Dominic called in sick. He’s picked up some nasty bug, and I doubt he’ll be able to make it in tomorrow either. The last thing we need is to expose the entire staff to whatever he’s got. I’ve called in a couple of our part-timers to give you a hand, but I need you to cover for him tomorrow. I know it’s short notice, but Andy’s out of town, and I can’t do it all by myself.”
Royally pissed, Russell left Klune’s office and returned to the sales floor. That miserable little prick wasn’t sick—he was afraid and trying to hide from him for all the good it would do. Russell knew where to find him, and the smarmy weasel would pay for this. Worse yet, there was no way Russell would cancel his plans for tomorrow and come to work. He intended to keep his appointment at the Preserve, and nothing short of a natural disaster would get in the way.
He and the men were ready to strike, and Sunday morning was the perfect time to catch the commune by surprise. Confident of the upper hand, Russell looked forward to their mission and the adulation of a grateful public. Once the community discovered the truth about the Preserve, they’d appreciate what the Michigan Foresters did for them.
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SNUGGLED UP TOGETHERon Jonah’s couch, the conversation started with a simple question from RJ—what is an Omega? He’d overheard someone refer to Jonah as “our happy Omega” and wondered what it meant. So far, his mate’s explanation wasn’t making sense.
“So there are different types of wolf shifters? Why? What are they? Is there some way to tell?”
Jonah considered the best way to answer, as RJ needed this information.
“Let me start with how we know the difference. A shifter’s sense of smell is much more powerful than a human’s, and each person not only has a unique scent, but a distinct underscent that reveals what type of shifter they are. Remember when we first met, and you thought I smelled good but didn’t know why?”
RJ leaned over and nuzzled Jonah’s neck, enjoying not only his scent but the taste of his skin and the shuddery response of his mate as he licked the imaginary mating scar.
“I sure do, Jo. It’s like the best smell in the world now, and I miss it whenever you aren’t nearby. It makes me horny, too.”
