Page 30 of The Reluctant Alpha

Over me.

Phoenix had ordered all bears to remain within the packhouse perimeter, but I knew I was the target. I was Micah Olsen's son. Whatever vendetta this revenant had, it was personal—aimed at my father through me. And now people were dying because of it.

I stopped at the window, looking out at the moonlit clearing. Extra patrols circled the perimeter, wolves moving silently through the trees. They were risking their lives to protect me and my bears.

And Danny... The memory of his kiss still burned on my lips, followed by the sting of his anger. It was better this way. Safer for him to be angry at me than attached to me with a revenant hunting bears.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. I picked it up, surprised to see a text from Kaylan.

Are you actually sleeping or just brooding dramatically in the dark?

Despite everything, I smiled faintly.

The latter.

Three dots appeared, then: Figured. You want company?

I hesitated, then typed: Where are you?

Outside your window like a creeper. Let me in.

I looked back out the window, and sure enough, Kaylan stood in the shadows by the trees, phone in hand. He waved when he saw me looking.

Shaking my head, I went through my small kitchen and opened the door. Kaylan slipped in, bringing the cool night air with him.

"You shouldn't be out alone," I admonished him quietly as we headed back to my den.

He shrugged. "I'm not a bear."

"Still dangerous."

"Yeah, well." He was carrying a plastic bag and dumped it in the kitchen, then followed me and sank down into a chair. "Someone's got to make sure you're not planning anything stupid."

I sat heavily on the sofa. "Define stupid."

"Going after the revenant alone. Sacrificing yourself. The usual Bayer Olsen heroics." He studied me. "You look like shit, by the way."

"Thanks."

"Have you eaten today?"

I tried to remember. Had I? There'd been cookies in the kitchen earlier, but I couldn't recall actually consuming any.

"That's what I thought," Kaylan said, reading my silence correctly. He got up and strolled back into my kitchen and started pulling out groceries. Ground beef, bread. He opened the cupboard and pulled out some seasoning that was still in small, unopened jars, then got busy.

“What are you doing?” I asked, interested despite myself.

“Making burgers.” He nodded to the bag. “Start peeling potatoes.”

We worked in comfortable silence for a while, then put a game on while we cooked. I was glad Kaylan didn’t need to talk. If anything, he seemed distracted himself, and I wondered if he’d thought any more about that guy from the bar he’d seemed to like. I wasn’t asking, though. If he wanted to tell me he would.

"How's Sascha?" Kaylan hadn't mentioned his sister in a while.

He sighed. "Mated and moved to Canada."

I gaped. "And you didn't say anything?"

He shrugged. "I got her out because my uncle was starting to become a little too attentive." I knew his uncle was the reason Kaylan still wasn't the alpha even though he was over thirty. I nudged his shoulder.