Finn listened as Alex and Quinn talked.  She went to college and she liked working with numbers.  She had to have an accounting or math major.  This had to be enough information for Scavenger to find out Alex’s identity.  Once he heard Quinn getting up, he went and sat in front of the big windows.  He liked it in Quinn’s store, especially at night when all the customers had gone home.  It was peaceful, staring out at the town.  

Flowers filled all the pots hanging from the posts.  It was magical at night with all the twinkling lights in the trees.  They made the town look like it did in the old days. The kids loved it. They were building a park across the street where the kids had a place to play. Benches and rocking chairs would be set up under a pavilion. Flowers would be everywhere. He loved it here, and now he had found his mate. He wanted Alex to fall in love with the town, too. Make sure that it would be impossible to leave.

Finn punched in the numbers and waited until Scavenger answered the phone.  “Talk to me, buddy.”

“Alex and Haine, but I still don’t have a last name.  They might be from the Chicago area.  Alex is around twenty-two years old and little boy around nine years of age.  I think Alex went to college and majored in accounting.  But that’s a guess.  Get back with me I’ve got to go.”  

“You got it,” Scavenger said, hanging up.  This had to work; he had to know what he was working with or against.  He decided not to bust into Quinn’s office but allow her to get comfortable then check on her later.  At the moment, he would go next door and get to know Haine.  

Walking through the entrance, he took in the bustling bakery as Monica, the mate of the Crenshaw clan alpha, and Josh filled orders.  Finn glanced at the corner table to see its usual customer. Ben Crenshaw had become a permanent fixture at the bakery since the day he met his mate, Monica.  They were unmated as she wasn’t ready yet to be his queen of the Crenshaw bear clan.  She had only started speaking again, and that was saying a lot, because Monica didn’t say much even now.  But she was a sweetheart.  

Finn heard giggling as he walked toward the kitchen. Smiling, Finn shook his head when he peeked around the corner.  Simone and Haine had flour all over them.  Apparently, they were making cookies, but it looked like they had more on themselves than in the cookie dough.  

This was something Alex needed to see.  Pulling his phone out, Finn took a picture of the two covered in white powder having a great time.  Hopefully, this would be a moment that would put her at ease.  Instead of making himself known, Finn wanted to show his mate that her brother was safe here.  

Quietly Finn walked back into Southern Treasures.  They were getting ready to open the store so nobody paid attention to him as he sauntered to Quinn’s office.  He had to smile when he peeked in and saw Alex with a pencil in her mouth typing away on the computer.  She had no clue he was spying on her, and of course, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.  His mate wasn’t just beautiful, she was smart, too.  She was loyal to her brother and he loved that about her.  When it looked like she was slowing down, Finn lightly knocked on the door.  

When Alex glanced up, the pencil dropped from her mouth.  Unfortunately, his mate tensed the moment she saw him and that disturbed him more than anything.  “Do you need Quinn?  Because she told me to do this.  You can ask her if you want, too.”  

“I didn’t think you were doing something wrong, Alex.  I’m sorry I make you feel that way.  It wasn’t my intention.  I just wanted to show you a picture of your little brother and Simone.”  Finn moved slowly trying not to spook her as he leaned forward and handed her his phone.   He understood that his size alone would make her nervous.  “They were having a great time.  I didn’t want to break up their fun, but I thought you would want to know he was okay and safe.  That’s my job around here.”

Alex smiled as she stared at the phone.  She stayed silent for a few minutes staring at the picture.  “He looks happy, like he did with our mom.”  This was a moment he couldn’t screw up because she was sharing private information with him and if he asked more questions she would stop talking.  He had to make her feel comfortable around him.

Alex straightened up and gave his phone back to him.  “You did this for me?”

“I didn’t want you to worry yourself while you were in here away from him working.  Plus, it was a magical moment with flour,” Finn said, but when she didn’t say anything he lowered his eyes to the floor.  He cringed at the bad joke.

Then he heard giggling.  When he looked up, Alex was laughing.  “That was a good one.  Haine always loved to help our mom cook.  He can actually cook pretty well.  I guess I can expect to be eating all kinds of sweets now.  I will be big as a house if we stay here.”

“You would still be beautiful,” Finn muttered.  

He couldn’t stop staring at her. She was gorgeous and he didn’t care if she got fat.

“Thank you.”  Now he was getting hard as the blush rushed up her face.  Everything this woman did made him want her even more.  Hell, she could probably pick her nose and he would think it was cute.  

They both continued to look at each other until the lights came on in the store.  Alex glanced toward the door with a worried expression on her face.  “They are getting the store ready to open.  People are standing outside and in the bakery waiting for the door to open.”

“Oh, maybe I need to help them.  I’m finished in here,” Alex said, but he could tell she was waiting for him to leave.

“I can send you this picture if you want me, too.”

“Uhm, yeah, let me look at this phone and I can give you the number.”  Finn wanted to ask questions.  The urge to ask why she didn’t know her own phone number told him a lot.  She dumped her old phone and now on the run.  She also spoke of her mother in the past tense.  “What’s your number and I’ll add you and then send you a text and you can send it back to me.”  

Finn moved a little closer and recited his cell number.  When his phone pinged, Finn sent her the picture.  “Hey, Alex, if for any reason you need help, you can always call me.  I don’t live far from the B&B and would be there in no time.”

He realized the mistake he made when Alex quickly moved to the other side of the desk.  “How did you know where I was living?” When his mate went to scanning the room for a way out because he was standing in her way of freedom, Finn started talking fast.

“Alex, the whole town knows where you are living right now.  This is a small town and when someone is staying here longer than a day, well, it’s known because Charlotte would have ordered Haine something special to eat because he’s a kid.  When you get back to the B&B, there will be something special for your little brother sitting on his bed.  That’s just how Charlotte works.   I’ve known her all my life, practically, and she loves kids and she loves running the B&B.  She wants you to come back and she ensures that you have a great time at her home by doing things like this.  If you walked over to the restaurant you will have people calling you by name.”  

The color in her face turned from a beautiful rosy cheek to a pale color.  “Oh my god, they will know us by name?”  Alex swayed slightly backwards but before she could fall, Finn slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her tightly against him.

“It’s okay, Alex.  Nobody knows anything about you.  They don’t know your last name and I won’t let anyone hurt you or Haine.”  Her muscles were tight as he held on to her.  “I promise you, the pack will protect you.”  

Alex finally inhaled deeply taking his scent in then she wrapped her arms around Finn’s waist.  He rocked her until he felt her body relax.  She fit perfectly against him.  “They can’t find us.”

“I’ll make sure of it.  They won’t.  I promise.”  

“You don’t have any clue what your promising, Finn.  I’ve said too much already.  Dammit.”  Alex pulled away and Finn allowed it, for now.  This was progress even though she said it out of duress.  He had something to work with now.  Nobody would touch one hair on his mate’s head.

“I’m hoping, eventually, you will trust me enough to tell me, but I understand you’re scared and you don’t know me.  Alex, I won’t betray your trust and I have skills that will ensure your safety.  But I have to know what I’m dealing with.  I want to make sure you and Haine are safe.  But I can wait until you’re ready to tell me.”

“This town is unbelievable.  You don’t just take two complete strangers in and tell them you will protect them.  How can you say all that and make promises you can’t keep?  And you’re right, I don’t trust you.  I don’t trust anyone.”  Alex’s voice was higher as she felt for the chair behind her and slowly lowered herself to the seat.  “My brother is my main concern.  I don’t care what happens to me as long as he’s safe.”

“I will keep you both safe,” Finn said, pulling a chair up and sitting across from her.

Alex laughed, shaking her head.  “Finn, you don’t have a clue.  I could be a serial killer, and you my next victim, for all you know.  You’re too trusting of me, a complete stranger.” 

“Well, if you are, you’re the prettiest damn serial killer I’ve ever seen.” His heart ached listening to her.  She was telling him she was in trouble and to not get too close. She had to care about him some. “But I’ve got great instincts, Alex, and I believe that whatever it is, I can help you.  I will keep you and the little boy safe.”

Alex laughed.  “You people are so strange, but you’re great for my ego.”

“Hey, you.”  They both looked up at the door to find Quinn and another lady.  Whoever she was, she had a long scar from the top of her head that went across her cheek.  But it didn’t take away from how pretty she was.  

“Hey, Jade,” Finn said, going to his friend and hugging her. When he turned back, he could tell Alex was very uncomfortable by the red in her cheeks.  He liked that.  Did he scent jealousy on her?  God, he hoped so. It would be something she would have to get used to.  Wolves loved to be affectionate toward each other.  “Alex, this is the famous Jade Cross.”  

Jade snorted then swatted Finn’s arm.  “You my friend are a big fat liar.  I’m not famous.”

Alex gasped. “Oh, but you are.  I’ve got five of your bracelets.  You even have Facebook groups where they talk about your jewelry and pocketbooks. They do countdowns until your next line comes out.  That’s where I found out about you.  I love your jewelry.  But…you are kinda famous.”  Alex said, then she realized Quinn and Finn were staring at her.  

Jade stepped forward and stuck her hand out.  “Hey, Alex.  It’s nice to meet you.  I didn’t know about the Facebook groups, but I’m sure glad you’re here.”

Alex narrowed her eyes and asked, “Why?”

“Because I need your help today, goofy.  It’s going to be a mad house here, but in a good way, and I need someone who knows about my line and can talk to the customers about the products.  Can you help me with that?”

“Oh sure, yeah, I can do that.  I don’t know how to ring them up but if you show me I’m a quick learner,” Alex said, embarrassed.  Finn heard her voice quiver with uncertainty. He would eventually have to tell her about being a shifter and how the pack protects even the weakest member and helps each other when they were down on their luck.

Alex was scared that this was a trick. Once she learned about them, he prayed she would understand. Haine and her needed help and Jade, Simone, and Quinn were doing whatever it took to convince Alex they only wanted to help. She, too, was a born protector.  Always looking out for her brother. This was one of the skills Finn tried to get the little pups to understand, but with Alex, it came naturally.  

“Don’t need you to do that today.  I need someone on the floor with me, behind the counter getting the pieces out for the customers and answering questions if they have them about the jewelry and their names.  So, if you are ready we need to open the store,” Jade clasped her hands and bounced on her toes.

“You did it all already?”  Quinn said, sitting in front of her computer.  “Oh my, you even printed everything out.  Look at all that information; I never even knew it could do that.”  Quinn raised one eyebrow, looking straight at Alex.  “It even shows Southern Treasures’ busy times.  Alex, thank you, thank you, this has made my life so much easier, especially during tax time.  I would have never learned how to do this.  You so have a permanent job doing my taxes if you want it.”  

Alex smiled.  “I don’t know how long we will be here, but thank you, Quinn.”

Quinn’s smile faded as she glanced at Finn then quickly looked away.  They would all do whatever they needed to do to make sure his mate would never leave.