Page 51 of Alpha Rising (Secrets of the Northland Shifters)

So I grabbed every justifiable reason for keeping her close. This afternoon, it was the need to discuss the possibility of a staff softball game.

Some of the employees who worked in the stables with Angel mentioned wanting to do it. Angel had brought the idea to me because, as of late, none of the employees were comfortable approaching me directly.

Sarah was our events planner. It made sense that I’d discuss the idea with her. My heart rate was the calmest it had been since breakfast.

She sat across from me in a pale-blue linen dress with puffy sleeves and colorful embroidery down the front. She balanced a notebook on her lap and chewed on the end of her pen as she reviewed the details I’d given her.

“I’ll have to call the Parks Department to see if the field is free on that day,” she said.

“Evergreen doesn’t have a Parks Department. Call Angie at City Hall.”

She looked up at me with those beautiful, wide gray eyes. “I’ve never noticed a City Hall building.”

“And you noticed a Parks Department building?

“Well…no,” she admitted, laughing at herself.

“City Hall shares space with the library. And see about reserving some time this Thursday too. I understand several of the employees want to practice hitting balls for an hour or so.”

“Got it.” She clicked her pen shut and clipped it to her notebook.

“Oh, hey,” Toby said, appearing in the doorway. “There you are.”

Sarah turned over her shoulder to look at him. Toby’s short dark hair was wet with sweat, and his clothes were smeared with axle grease. One of the ATVs had been in need of repair.

“Where else would I be?” I asked.

“No, not you,” Toby said. “Sarah. There’s a guy at the front desk who’s asking for you.”

I immediately rose to my feet, sensing a threat. But then, these days, even a delivery guy would make me want to tear his throat out. My instincts had gotten that out of hand.

“Show him in here,” I said. If Sarah needed to meet with a stranger, she could do it in my office.

“Reese,” she said, totally on to me. “Settle down.”

Toby disappeared, and a minute later a man I’d never seen before was standing in my doorway. He wasn’t wearing a postal uniform, or any other delivery uniform for that matter. He was wearing a business suit—his face shaven and his blond hair newly cut.

The scent of shock filled the air, emanating from Sarah, and she jumped to her feet. “John!”

I rocked back on my heels. John? As in, U.S. DeputyMarshalJohn? The man who’d put her in witness protection?

“What are you doing here?” Sarah asked. Notably, she didn’t cross the room to greet him but stayed rooted by her chair.

I came out from behind my desk and stood beside her, my eyes locked on the male intruder and I took in his scent, barely able to believe it.

With an herbal aroma as distinctive as that, the man’s brown contacts didn’t fool me. Behind them were the lavender eyes of a seelie—one of the most powerful races of fae.

“Hello,” John said, and I saw the flicker of recognition in his own eyes. Apparently, I was catching him equally off guard. He had no idea he’d placed his star witness with a family of shifters.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he continued. “I’m Sarah’s—” His eyes flicked to her for a second before returning to me. “—cousin.”

“No, you’re not,” I said, and a low growl rumbled through my chest, audible to only me.

John blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You’re not her cousin. So don’t bullshit me. Has something happened? Is she in more danger?”

John turned to Sarah with a furrowed brow. “He knows?”

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