Chapter 13

The next morning after a glorious night with Roxie, making love to her, sharing her bed with her, Dylan sure was rethinking his priorities. She was utterly amazing, and he’d never felt that way about another she-wolf.

He slipped out of bed with an important mission to accomplish while trying not to wake Roxie. He was still on medical leave, but he went downstairs to call his boss to give him notice. First though, he told his boss about locating Xander and then he gave him the news that he was quitting his job with the FWS. He wasn’t leaving Silver Town for anything. Well, except to finish his job with the FWS, but after that, he was settling here with the pack.

“Are you serious?” Mr. Bentley asked, knowing Dylan rarely joked about anything. But his boss also knew Dylan lived for working at this job.

“Yeah. I just love it here.”

“Well, there’s something to be said about country and small-town living,” his boss said, still sounding surprised about the whole business.

“Yeah, since I’ve been here, everyone’s been so kind and welcoming.” Dylan let out his breath. “I’ve also met a woman…”

Mr. Bentley laughed. “Now I know what really made you decide to move there. I was still trying to figure that out.”

Dylan chuckled. “Yeah, well, she’s super special.”

“She has to be. Wait, she’s not the one who saved you in the swimming pool, is she?”

“Yeah.”

“Then she truly is special. But you’ll be working for us for a couple more weeks, correct?” his boss asked.

“Yeah. I want to catch Jim and Fennel, and if I have time, I’d really like to catch that trapper. I hope I can get it all done in the two weeks I have left.”

“You’ve got it. And I’m glad you’ll do it. You’re one of the best special agents I have. I’ve never had anyone work for me who can track people down like you can.”

“Thanks. I can’t wait to do it.”

“All right. Congratulations on locating Xander. He’s damn lucky you found him. About the other assignment—good luck on locating the trapper.”

“I’ll be looking for him and the traps too. I really appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

“Well, if you ever decide to return to work for me, you’ll be more than welcome back.”

“Thanks.”

They finally ended the call, and though it was hard to give notice, Dylan knew it had been the right thing to do. He was so glad he was staying here. Even if Roxie and he didn’t mate, he decided he wanted to be with the pack, enjoying all the social functions, but he sure hoped it would work out between him and Roxie. He thought the world of her, and he loved her family too.

Even Luke was hoping Dylan would stay.

Roxie came downstairs and smiled at him. “Did you call your boss?”

“Yeah. I hated to tell him because he’s been such a great boss to work for, but I love that I’m staying here. Though I do have to work for him for another two weeks.”

“Okay, good.” She pulled Dylan into her arms and hugged him. “I guess that means we’re officially dating.”

“Hell yeah. I knew if I left here to return to Denver, any number of bachelor wolves would be knocking your door down to date you.”

She laughed. “Truthfully, I’ve dated a lot of them. But you’re the only one I want to continue to see more of.”

“I’m sure glad for that. At first, I was a little afraid it was because you felt sorry for me being injured on your lodge property.”

“Nope. I mean, sure I did feel bad that we didn’t prevent it from happening in the first place, but I was glad you were here where I could discover you. And our pool water is heated, unlike if you’d fallen in an icy river. I’d say this calls for a celebration—you giving notice and going to work for the sheriff’s department.”

“And dating you. Let’s go to the Silver Town Tavern for dinner. I haven’t taken you there yet, and I’ve heard the food and atmosphere are really good.”

“They are. Sam and Silva own it. Make reservations for tonight, and we can celebrate.”

“All right. I’ll do that and then tell Peter I’m taking the job.” Dylan got on the phone and made the reservations, and then he called Peter next. “Hey, I just gave notice at my job and will be ready to start work two weeks from today.”

“Good show. I’ll set you up for training and then schedule you for shifts and duties.”

“Thanks for the opportunity.”

“You’re welcome. I figured you needed to get to know a particular she-wolf better, and the only way to do that was if you were living in Silver Town.”

Dylan laughed. He hadn’t figured his new boss would be into matchmaking. “Hey, what’s going on with the men who wouldn’t pay for lunch at the ski lodge and had a stolen credit card?”

“They were charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and will get a hundred days in jail in Green Valley. We have an arrangement with them that we don’t keep prisoners here long-term. The mayor is a gray wolf, and he understands the situation we have with being completely wolf-run here. Anyway, they also received a thousand-dollar fine each. They could have gotten a year in jail, though they’ll probably serve less time than that with good behavior. They’ll probably think twice about using a stolen credit card, trying to scam a restaurant out of paying for a meal, and battery.”

“Good. I’ll let Roxie know. Talk to you later.” When he finished the call with Peter, Dylan said to Roxie, “It’s done.”

She gave him a hug. “I’m so glad you’ll be staying here with us.”

“I am too because I get to keep dating you. I can check on renting an apartment. We’re dating exclusively, but I don’t want you to feel like I’m rushing our relationship too much.”

Roxie smiled. “You want to check out my competition?”

“Hell, no.”

“Then it seems foolish to rent an apartment. You can stay here with me, and if things don’t work out, you can get an apartment,” she said.

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. If we can’t live together, we can’t be mated wolves anyway.”

“True.” He was glad she was willing to take him in.

“And so far everything’s worked out between us. We’re both low-maintenance.”

“I agree.”

“So we can do it on a trial basis,” she said.

“Thanks. That really works for me.”

“Me too. I am thrilled to have you stay here and keep me company.”

“Yeah, me too. I haven’t ever lived with anyone other than my parents when I was younger, but I’m really enjoying it,” he said.

“That’s good. I always forget you’re an only child.”

Then Dylan told her all about the business with the two men who wouldn’t pay for their meal.

“Yes! Brett Silver, our local reporter and cousin to Darien, will report on it and then if anyone else—who is not a wolf—thinks to pull that at our businesses in town, they’ll know what they’ll be faced with.”

That night, Roxie was excited about going with Dylan out to dinner. It was tantamount to proving she and Dylan were a couple now.

“Are you ready to go?” She was wearing a sweater dress that she’d worn at work, which felt a little dressy, but it was nice for wearing to the tavern tonight.

He glanced at his attire.

She grabbed his hand, knowing just what he was thinking. “You look great. Anything works for the wolf-run tavern.”

“Good. I don’t have anything really dressy with me, other than the tux and all.”

“I love your sweater and cargo pants. You look like a hero to me.”

He smiled.

Then he drove them to the tavern in town. The windows were decorated with little white fairy lights, and two big, hand-carved grizzly bears guarded the entrance. Dylan opened the door for Roxie. The place had been a hum of conversation, music playing in the background, until they stepped into the tavern. Everyone looked to see who the newcomers were.

Smiles appeared on the patrons’ faces, and glasses of beer or other drinks were raised to them as if Roxie and Dylan had announced they were mating. But she knew the word had to have already spread that Dylan had taken the job as a deputy sheriff and was joining the pack while helping them to find traps, a trapper, and hunters on the lam, so he was one of the good guys. They were welcoming him into the wolf pack, and Roxie was so glad about that.

Silva hurried over in her high-heeled boots—the first thing Roxie always noticed—a pretty sweater top with sparkles around the neckline, and faux leather pants, with her brown hair piled up high on her head. She always looked like a million bucks, Roxie thought.

Roxie introduced Silva to Dylan, but Silva said, “Oh, sugar, we all know just who he is,” and led them to their reserved seats.

Roxie hoped she wouldn’t mention the business with Dylan being in the pool.

“I can’t wait for the Valentine’s Day party. I bet you’ll kind of be glad when it’s all over, Roxie, since you’ve been working so hard on it,” Silva said.

“Oh, I can’t wait to enjoy it. I’ll be working on setting up the Mardi Gras party after that.”

“Count Sam and me in for that too.” Silva looked at Dylan as if she wanted to know if Roxie and he were a couple.

Roxie also knew that as well intentioned as Silva was, if anyone shared anything with her, she would share that news with all the pack in a heartbeat. She truly had a heart of gold and was definitely a matchmaker.

“Dylan’s taking me to the Valentine’s Day party depending on his workload. If he can catch the guys he’s trying to hunt down, he’ll have to do that instead.”

“Oh, sure. Well, I’ll be hoping he won’t be off in the woods during the party. What would you all like to have to eat?”

They ordered slices of the standing prime-rib roast, potatoes, and carrots for dinner and wine.

“Good choice.” Silva went to get their wine and glasses of water and returned with them. She also brought them a loaf of fresh bread. “Enjoy.”

“We will,” Roxie said.

Then Darien and Lelandi came into the tavern with Jake, Darien’s triplet brother; Alicia, Jake’s mate; Tom, Darien’s youngest triplet brother; and Elizabeth, Tom’s mate, and stopped by their table first. “Welcome to the pack,” they all said, the guys giving Dylan hearty slaps on the back and the ladies all giving him hugs. Since Jake and Tom were the subleaders of the pack, it was important for Dylan to meet them and their mates.

Dylan was smiling. He looked like he was enjoying the camaraderie.

Roxie was so glad he was part of the pack now.

A couple of wolves who were ski instructors, Kemp and Radcliff Grey, came into the tavern just then, talking about a wolf they’d seen they hadn’t recognized. “I thought he was acting strangely.”

His twin brother agreed. “Hey, Darien, do you know of any wolves that are mostly black with blond legs and torso and a black collar of fur? His face was mostly white, but the top of his head and around his eyes were black.”

“No. Where was he when you saw him?” Darien asked.

“Near the ski resort, but when we went to check him out—” Radcliff said.

“He ran off. He shouldn’t have been wearing his wolf coat during the daylight hours,” Kemp said.

“Well, it was almost dusk,” Radcliff said.

“But still, it was light out,” Kemp said.

“We figured he had to be one of our kind,” Radcliff said. “Or he wouldn’t have gotten that close to the resort.”

“Or a rabid wild wolf,” Kemp said.

“Did you catch his scent?” Darien asked.

“Yeah, but it wasn’t anyone we knew by scent,” Kemp said.

“Keep a watch out for him. If he returns, let us know. We’ll get some men out to chase him down and find out if he’s one of our kind or not,” Darien said.

“Will do,” Radcliff said, and he and his brother found seats at the bar.

Then a group of four men entered the tavern, and Sam, though he was the owner of the tavern, hurried to throw them out as if he were the bouncer. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, this is a private club only.”

They were human. Roxie had never seen Sam in action when he had to toss anyone out of the place. He was like a big grizzly bear.

To Roxie’s amazement, Dylan immediately joined him to help him out. But several other diners rose from their seats to offer their assistance too.

Silva came over to Roxie and Dylan’s table and smiled. “Dessert is on us.” Then she said to Darien and his party, “Do you want your usual?”

Everyone in the Silver party, except Jake and Tom, took their seats at a table reserved for the pack leaders and their family. The pack subleaders stood by Roxie’s table in case Sam and Dylan needed their help.

Sam and Dylan got the men out of the tavern without getting physical, but there was quite a discussion going on between them. Finally, they walked off and Sam shut the door, thanked Dylan for the assistance, and returned to the bar.

Dylan rejoined Roxie at their table while Jake and Tom smiled at him.

“You got free dessert for saving Sam. They never give us free dessert when we help him out,” Jake said. “You must have done something right.” Then they joined their family at the Silver table.

Dylan smiled at Roxie and raised his brows in question.

“Silva likes you.”

Dylan chuckled. “As long as you like me, I’m happy.”

“You’re a dream come true. But just for your information, every male wolf in here would have come to Sam’s aid if he needed them too. You just beat everyone to it. Believe me, everyone will know about your heroics by morning.”

“I love being with a pack. As long as I’m doing things right, of course,” Dylan said.

“Yeah.” She laughed. “That’s the key.”