Chapter Four – Jay

“Are you sure about walking?” Kim asked as Jay swung his legs off the bed and stood up. His body swayed from side to side, and he had to take deep breaths to steady himself, but the pain that ripped through his shoulder was gone, thanks to the anesthetic Kit had injected into his shoulder.

“I’m okay.” Jay nodded, hating to see the concern on her face. He was supposed to be the protector, the one who watched over her. “I’ll be fighting fit in no time.”

“No fighting. At all. Ever.” Kim was serious.

“Sometimes you have to fight, Kim,” Jay said gently.

“And sometimes you walk away.” The sadness in her eyes speared his heart. “I can’t lose you again, Jay.”

“You won’t.” He placed his hand on the nape of her neck and drew her to him. Kim rested her head on his chest, her arms wrapped around his waist.

“We should get going before the anesthetic wears off,” Kit said, coming back into the cabin. He and the other two men had gone outside to give Jay some time to recover. With the pain in his shoulder gone, Jay had managed to eat another bowl of broth. Jacob had also given him an energy bar, which he’d eaten slowly, as his stomach came to terms with solid food once more.

He certainly was energized, his brain was buzzing and he longed to be outside in the fresh air. Strange, considering he’d spent days out there on the mountain, one man against the elements. However, he’d been solely focused on survival, which meant he hadn’t taken the time to enjoy the feel of the sun on his face.

After the last year working undercover, living with the stress of knowing one wrong word could get you killed, the mountain meant freedom.

“I’m ready.” Jay let go of Kim, who searched his face with concern.

“I’m not going to collapse on you,” Jay assured her. “I can walk.”

“Good,” Kit replied. “Although just in case, we have someone else heading up here.”

“I thought we were keeping this low profile?” Jay asked.

“Relax, he used to be an undercover cop himself. He also knows all about the case,” Jacob said from the doorway.

“I’m going to trust you,” Jay told Jacob. “Mainly because I have no choice.”

“I understand your reservations,” Jacob responded. “I hope you’ll see you’re among friends.”

“Jay, the people in Bear Creek have been very good to me and A…” Kim let her voice trail away.

“I’m sorry,” Jay forced a smile onto his face. “It’s just when you’ve seen what I’ve seen these last few months…” He closed his eyes, he didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to think about it. He certainly didn’t want Kim to hear any of it.

“It’s going to take time,” Kit said. “Let’s get your body healthy and then we can deal with the mental side of your ordeal.” He patted Jay on the shoulder as he checked the wound to see if it had stopped bleeding. “When we get back, if you want anything, call me. I’ll give you my private cell number. I’m a good listener, or I can recommend a therapist.”

“I’m good. Thanks,” Jay replied.

“You never know when you won’t be good,” Kit warned him. “Don’t be stubborn. If you need help, ask for it.”

“I’ll make sure he does, thanks, Kit.” Kim caught the look Jay flashed her. “What? I care. If you need help, you’re going to get it.”

“I’m not used to being bossed around,” Jay admitted with a soft smile.

“You think that’s bossy?” Kit said. “Oh man, you have been undercover too long.”

“Enough talk,” Jacob said good-naturedly. “My woman is waiting for us, and if we’re too long, I know who is going to get the blame.”

“Henpecked.” Kit grinned. “Happens to us all.”

“And we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Jacob said easily. “At least that’s what we tell our wives.”

They left the cabin. Wyatt was waiting on the porch and as Jay walked past, he said, “Take care of yourself, Jay.”

“You too, old timer.” A wave of guilt swept over Jay. “Any trouble, you come find me.”

“I can look after myself,” Wyatt replied. “But I thank you for the offer.”

“I owe you my life,” Jay said quietly.

“You’re made of the strong stuff, I believe you would have survived without me.” Wyatt appeared embarrassed by words of thanks, so Jay let it drop.

With a last thank you from Kim, Wyatt stood on the porch and watched them walk away, leaving him to the peace of his solitary mountain life.

Kim and Jay followed Jacob, with Kit bringing up the rear. At first, Jay got frustrated at the slow pace, but he quickly appreciated it, since his muscles soon complained about the exercise. No part of him had recovered from the ordeal of the last few days. Lack of food and the loss of blood made him weak. A thing he hated to admit even to himself.

“You’ll soon be back to full health,” Kim told him as she slipped her hand into his as they followed a wide trail along a grassy plateau.

“Then we can think about the future,” Jay told her. “I want to make it up to you.”

“Make what up?” Kim asked. “You were doing something you believed in, something worthwhile. So, although I wish you’d been there, I’m not resentful. Not one bit.”

“I’m a lucky man.” Jay put his good arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. The movement made his wound ache. The meds were starting to wear off.

“Luckier than you think. At least I hope you’ll see it that way.” Kim looked up at him, something unsaid settling between them. Had something happened while he was away? Something bad? They hadn’t had a chance to talk since they’d found each other. His head was filled with everything he had to say to her, but he hadn’t considered that Kim’s life had been anything other than normal.

In the dark hours, while he was away, the very thing he clung to was that Kim was safe, going about her daily life as if there was no bad in the world.

“What is it?” Jay asked.

“I can’t tell you.” She placed a hand on his chest, her touch igniting his need for her. If his damn shoulder hadn’t been shot up, he would have taken her out into the forest and reclaimed her, beneath the branches of the trees.

“Why not?” Jay asked.

“Because I want to show you instead.” She smiled briefly. “I don’t mean to be cryptic, but it's…delicate.”

“Now I’m intrigued.” He looked down at her pretty round face, with her green eyes, and brown hair with coppery natural highlights, the same color as his bear’s fur.

“Incoming.” Jacob stopped walking as something headed toward them across the plateau.

Instinctively, Jay’s muscles tightened and he put himself in front of Kim, his fists curled into balls, ready to fight. It was an eagle. A massive bird, that could only be a shifter. He landed up ahead and shifted into his human form.

“That’s Liam, he was one of the officers who helped arrest the men in my apartment building,” Kim told Jay.

“They were in your building?” Jay asked.

“Yes.” She gave him a quizzical look. “I keep forgetting there’s so much you don’t know about…you know.”

“Once we’re alone, we can tell each other everything,” Jay said as they approached the man talking to Jacob.

“Hey there. We have been looking all over for you.” He smiled, and his eyes slid to Kim’s face. A surge of jealousy caused Jay’s fists to ball once more.

“Here I am.” He sounded arrogant, even to his own ears, and he earned himself a sharp look from Kim.

“Jay. I told you, Liam helped arrest those men at the apartment building.”

“Why was he there?” Jay raised his eyebrows in question.

Kim slapped his chest, as if she were chastising him. But he had done nothing wrong, he had to defend what was his. “Liam flew to the apartment because we needed his help. I needed his help.”

Jay shook his head, shaking off his belligerent mood. “Sorry. It’s hard to get used to not having to watch your back.” Or protect what was yours.

Liam thrust out his hand. “Let’s start again. I’m Liam.”

“Jayden.” They shook hands, with Jay making sure his hand was relaxed, even though he wanted to crush every bone in Liam’s hand. He let out a short puff of breath, he had to conquer this anger, and soon.

“I used to work undercover,” Liam was saying, and Jay made himself focus on his words. “It’s tough to come out of a long stint in a world you don’t belong. And I never stayed undercover as long as you have. Or brought a criminal organization down quite so spectacularly.”

“It is. And it’s tough not knowing what happened after you left.” Jay forced himself to sound friendly. Normally he would have been debriefed and had time to reconcile himself with his real life. Instead, he’d spent days out in the wilds. It might take a few days for Jay to remember exactly where he did belong.

“Shall we get going?” Liam suggested. “I’ve left Leona in charge of the store.”

“I thought she was taking over running it full-time when you took over from Avery?” Jacob asked as they resumed their expedition back down the mountain.

“She is. Yes. And I know she is more than capable…” Liam laughed. “Maybe I want to feel needed.”

Jacob laughed. “That’s more like it.”

The friendly back and forth between the men carried on as they turned off the wide trail and began a steep descent along the length of a high-sided valley. With each step, the ache in Jay’s arm increased. When they finally reached the truck where Avery, who was heavily pregnant, sat waiting in a police vehicle, his relief was immense.

“Hello, stranger, you had us all worried,” Avery called from the driver’s seat. She sat with the door open, her swollen belly uncomfortable in the confines of the truck. “I’d get out, but I doubt I’d get back in again.”

“Don’t get out on my account. It sure is good to see you, Avery. I’m grateful for everything. Particularly the ride.” He lifted his hand and waved, immediately regretting it.

“I don’t think I could walk another step,” Jay told Kim as they got into the truck.

“We’ll be home soon. Then you can rest for as long as you need.” With her concern evident in her expression, she took a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at his forehead. “I want Kit to check that you aren’t running a fever before he leaves.”

“I don’t want any more fuss.”

“Tough. You might act like a grumpy old bear, but these people have been kind to me. Very kind. So you’ll take your medicine and do what Kit says. And you’d damn well better be polite to Fiona when we get to the house.”

“Listen to Kim,” Kit said as he climbed in beside Jay. “Fiona will bite your head off, literally.”

“She’s a dragon shifter,” Avery warned, then added, “Good to see you, at last, Jay. You’ve had quite an adventure.”

“Thanks. One I could do without.” He put an arm around Avery and hugged her. “Thanks for acting on the information.”

“It’s my job.” Avery blushed with pride all the same.

“Dragon shifters, huh? I thought they were all extinct.” Jay steered the conversation back to the fiery beasts, his heart rate increasing. Of all the shifters Kim could get mixed up in, it had to be dragons.

“Hey, steady. She’s not really going to bite your head off,” Kim told Jay.

Jay didn’t answer as he sat back in the seat, trying to ignore the deep painful throb in his shoulder. He’d always believed that dragons were extinct. While undercover, he’d learned differently. He’d learned they were cold-blooded creatures, selfish and willing to do anything to get what they wanted.

Jay closed his eyes. He’d found Kim, he should be elated. So why did he feel as if this was far from over?