cold until the thaw of spring finally arrived.
Slowly, he made his way to the manor’s detached garage and entered the side door. There was a large metal box mounted on the wall just beside the light switch. He hit the lights, then punched his personal code into the keypad on the box. The front popped open, and he selected a set of keys. The system was synced with Vanessa’s phone so she always knew who had a vehicle since she was the Enforcer technically in charge of the manor’s security—and Rick and his family’s as well.
He was just closing the box when Jamie appeared in the doorway, face still flushed and short blond hair looking more disheveled than it usually did.
Marcus didn’t say anything about what had happened, and neither did Jamie, both of them just climbing into the SUV and Marcus backing out of the garage. The ride to the farmhouse wasn’t long, but the silence was awkward. He wasn’t sure if he should say something or offer some words of reassurance. In the end, he did neither, not because he was judging Jamie for having the hunter flirting with him but because they weren’t friends.
Not really, not anymore.
Turning onto the short driveway leading to the Medina farm, he spotted Robson on the front porch right away. His large, muscular body was like a beacon to Marcus, instantly drawing his attention and guiding him home. Even though he had a house of his own, he’d never felt like he’d had a home before. Not really. Home was about more than a roof over your head in his mind. It was… solace, acceptance, and love.
His chest tightened just at the thought, and he spotted Jamie’s sharp gaze on him out of the corner of his eye, probably having caught something in his scent. Marcus worked harder to lock down his emotions. It wasn’t the time to wallow in useless things like feeling sorry for himself.
Parking behind a short line of vehicles, Marcus quickly turned the SUV off and exited the car, trying to keep his goal for the visit at the front of his mind and ignore everything else.
Robson stomped heavily down his porch steps, mug of steaming coffee in one of his hands. The light was fading fast, but Marcus could still easily see that Robson was staring at Jamie, and he felt his wolf bristle, wanting their mate’s eyes only on them.
“Every time I see you,” Robson said as he approached them, “you’re with someone new. Who the hell is this guy? Your accountant?”
He felt Jamie stiffen next to him. “Jamie Foley, personal assistant to Alpha Garrick Kincaid. You must be the deputy that has been so… dogged in his pursuit of answers.”
Marcus’s head whipped around to the bird shifter, lip raised in a snarl. He wouldn’t abide Jamie making snide comments to his mate. “Watch yourself.”
Eyes wide, Jamie stepped back and nodded quickly. “My apologies, Enforcer Rivera.”
Robson noisily slurped at his coffee, scent more amused than annoyed. “See, that right there. What the fuck was that?”
“That was me being rude, Deputy,” Jamie said easily, grimacing in apology. “Birds don’t always get along with canine or feline shifters, so the ‘dogged’ comment was a dig at you and your—and Marcus. Apologies.” Casting another wary look at Marcus, Jamie stepped forward as he dug in his messenger bag. Robson was staring at him again, but this time he seemed shocked at Jamie’s nonchalant way of talking about shifters. “I’m actually here as a representative of Alpha Kincaid. He’d like me to extend an invitation to Kincaid Manor to officially meet him and his mate. This Saturday at six. Dinner will be served promptly at six thirty.”
He handed a square envelope to Robson, then stepped back to just behind Marcus and pulled out his phone. Turning back, Marcus watched Robson set his mug on the trunk of the car next to him and open the envelope carefully.
Robson frowned at the piece of paper he held in his hand. “It’s just an address… I was kind of expecting an actual invitation with calligraphy and shit after that spiel.”
“You’ll be able to find the manor now,” Marcus informed him.
“Well, yeah. I figured that was what the address was for.” He raised his eyebrows at Marcus, his scent sharpening with impatience. “So I’m supposed to wait until I go see this alpha guy to get some damn answers?”
“No, Robson. I’m going to answer any questions you have now.” He took half of a