Page 22 of Hers to Call
He shook his head at the understatement and looked around. Tourists and townspeople alike milled about, their expressions varying between shock and excitement. He sighed, he wanted to go after his mate to make sure she really was ok but, he needed to reassure the humans and double check on the cub. The last thing he needed was for tourists to leave this town and spread stories of wild shifters who couldn’t control their youth. Keeping the government’s nose out of his town was his main focus as alpha. No one wanted another attempt at apartheid. It had barely worked the first time, nothing but war would result from a second attempt. He turned back and saw Miranda standing on the outside of the crowd with a male he didn’t recognize. He sniffed the air.
Make that a bear he didn’t recognize.
His beast growled. Already riled, aggressive energy raised the hair on his arms. He marched to them, ignoring his ex-wife.
“You stepped onto my territory without permission.”
The male lowered his gaze in false submissiveness and Simon’s bear amped up his power.
“I only arrived recently, Alpha, and was going to make myself known to you. I’m Charles Rossel.”
Simon smelled his lies and his bear wanted him out of town. He narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t quite kick him out without some sort of offense first, though. “Where are you from?”
“Atlanta. I came up with my mate, she talked about this place, and I’ve heard of how tight a ship you keep here.”
“Is that right?” He gave Miranda a cursory glance, wandering exactly what she told the male to get him interested.
“If you have some time...”
“I don’t. File the proper paperwork to request a meeting like everyone else before you.” Simon cut off the male and gave him his back, letting Charles Rossel know he feared nothing from him.
He didn’t want anything to do with Miranda or her schemes. Her scent from the other day made more sense now that he knew she was mated. Miranda had tried to hide that fact from him. Which led him to believe she wanted something more than safe harbor like she claimed. Whatever her goal was in coming back, she’d not succeed. He was done operating in the shadows, and there was no longer a place for her here. He’d have someone watch them while they were in town until Miranda, once again, became bored with country life and left.
