Blackstone Ranger Guardian - Alicia Montgomery Page 0,29

he strode in.

His former commander entering his cabin reminded him of how he’d started on this path those many months ago.

You know, forgiveness, it’s not just something another person has to ask for. Sometimes … sometimes we have to ask forgiveness of ourselves.

He would never forget those words Damon said to him after he came here to thank him for saving Anna Victoria. That—and the changes he had seen in his friend—was what set off the chain of events that led him to want to change himself, so he could function normally in society and not be trapped here.

“Krieger?”

“Yeah.” He blinked away the thousand-yard stare he knew was on his face. “What’s up, Chief?”

Damon pulled out a chair, turned it around, and straddled it to face him. “How are you holding up?”

He shrugged. “Same old, same old.”

“I came up here to check up on you … and also, to talk to Milos.”

“Milos?” He knew Damon sometimes checked in with his neighbor when Milos’s friend couldn’t come up. “Is he all right?”

“Yeah. But I wanted to give him a heads-up about Oscar. The raccoon shifter.”

Shit. “Sorry, haven’t had time to look into it, Chief.”

“No, no, I understand, Krieg. I told you to take all the time you need.”

“The raccoon hasn’t turned up yet?” It had been … fuck, over two weeks now since that night?

Damon shook his head. “’Fraid not. Then I remembered our wolf friend, so that’s why I went to see him. He says he’d be happy to keep an eye out for the raccoon and even patrol the area. God knows, you’ve earned any time off you want. Just give him a heads-up if you need to be away.”

His bear chuffed as it considered this area their territory to guard, but then again, that would give him time to figure stuff out with Dutchy. “Thanks, Chief.”

“So, Anna Victoria’s out with the girls tonight. Do you wanna come down and get a drink at The Den with me? I could use the company.”

His first instinct was to say no, but the fact that Damon was the one asking to come out to a crowded place was a big deal. “Sure thing, Chief.”

“Good, let’s go.”

The trip down from his cabin to town was a long one, but both of them sat in comfortable silence. Or perhaps, they were girding themselves for the noise and crowd they were about to face since it was a Friday night. As they entered The Den, Tim signaled to them and nodded to the private room in the back. When they got there, he was surprised that there were three other men already waiting in the lone occupied table.

“You’re here,” Gabriel Russel greeted.

“Chief. Krieger.” Daniel Rogers raised his beer to them.

“Finally.” Anders Stevens rolled his eyes.

Something about this whole thing felt like a set-up. “What’s this about?” he asked Damon, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Relax, Krieger,” Damon began. “When was the last time all of us were together? Over five years ago? Back in training?”

“Yeah, the year of hell,” Gabriel groaned.

“You’re still salty because Simpson wouldn’t let you keep your hairdryer in the barracks?” Anders said.

Daniel was in the middle of sipping from his beer when he snorted, then choked, sending a spray of liquid forward.

“Dude!” Anders jumped back.

“S-sorry!” Daniel wiped his nose with a napkin. “I was just thinking about that first hike we went on and that bat got caught in Gabriel’s hair and he had to cut two inches off of it.”

Everyone except Gabriel burst out laughing, and even Krieger couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

“Fine, be that way,” Gabriel grumbled as he sipped from his glass, though the corners of his mouth tugged up.

“I thought it was time we all got together again,” Damon said. “And I think we could all use some good news.”

“Hell yeah!” Anders slammed a palm down on the table. “I’m glad you asked us to come, Chief, because you all should be the first to know—you’re now looking at a mated man.”

So, Anders finally bonded with his mate. Envy stabbed through Krieger’s chest, but he said nothing. Anders had been in a terrible state right after they rescued his mate from her kidnappers, so he was glad they worked it out.

Daniel glowered at the tiger shifter. “Oh, I already know all right. You really should put on some pants when you answer the door in my house.”

“You were cramping my style, Rogers,” Anders shot back. “Or should I start calling you ‘bro’ now? When can I