Page 31 of Breaking the Surface
Braden stood and shook Camden’s hand, feeling the weight of the gesture.He wasn’t a shifter, but he understood what it meant to be part of a pack.It meant family, protection, belonging.It meant he’d always have people at his back, and he’d always have theirs.There would always be someone to protect Peter, even if something was to happen to Braden.
“Thank you,” Braden said.“It means a lot.”
“You’re one of us now,” Camden said.“That’s not something we take lightly.”
They settled back into their seats, and the conversation moved to lighter topics.Remi started telling a story about a client who’d insisted on installing a security system that included an actual moat around their property.Braden laughed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.He’d already heard the story, but it never failed to make him happy.
“I’m not kidding,” Remi said.“The guy wanted alligators in it and everything.I had to explain that was both illegal and impractical.”
“What did he end up with?”Camden asked, leaning forward in his chair.
“A very expensive fence and some strategically placed lights that make shadows look bigger than they are,” Remi said.“He was happy with it, though.Said it made him feel like he lived in a castle.”
Braden shook his head, smiling.“We attract the weirdest clients.”The moat was probably the weirdest, but they had plenty of other stories to share.
“Hey, weird clients pay well,” Remi shot back.
Camden was about to respond when the door burst open.A guard stumbled in, his face pale and his hand pressed to the back of his head.Blood seeped between his fingers.
All three of them were on their feet immediately.
“What happened?”Camden demanded, his voice sharp with authority.
“Someone—” The guard swayed, and Remi moved quickly to steady him.“Someone attacked me.I was doing my rounds near the eastern perimeter, and I heard something.When I went to check it out, someone hit me from behind.I just woke up a few minutes ago.”
Braden’s blood ran cold.“How long were you out?”
“I don’t know.Maybe twenty minutes?Half an hour?”
That was more than enough time for someone to get deep into pack territory.Braden’s mind raced, but he already knew who it had to be.
Lou.
It had to be him.The man was obsessed with Peter, and he knew exactly where to find him.
“We need to lock down the area,” Camden said, already moving toward the door.“Now.”
“I have to get to Peter,” Braden said.Vincent was with him, but that might not be enough.It certainly wouldn’t stop Lou.
“Go,” Camden ordered.“Remi, I’ll get Toby.”
Braden didn’t wait for anything else.He was out of the office in seconds, his heart pounding as he ran through the house.Behind him, he could hear Camden barking orders into his phone.The pack had protocols for this kind of thing.The guards would be out there within minutes.But minutes might be too long.
Braden pushed himself faster, his lungs burning as he ran.He couldn’t shake the image of Lou breaking into their house, of Peter having to see him again.Peter had been so happy this morning.Braden had seen the way his shoulders had finally started to relax and the way he smiled more easily.
If Lou took that away from him, Braden would make sure the man regretted it.
The house finally appeared, and Braden pushed himself harder.He needed Peter to be okay.
Behind him, he heard Camden’s voice, still giving orders.The alpha was right behind him, along with what sounded like a dozen other pack members.They were all running for the house, ready to face whatever they found inside.
Braden hit the porch and didn’t slow down, bursting through the door with his heart in his throat.
“Peter!”he shouted, his voice echoing through the house.
He had to find him.He had to make sure he was safe.Nothing else mattered.
* * * *
