"Deacon, I’m here.”

HIS eyes were heavy, fatigued. Yet his sense of hearing was heightened. The voice belonged to his mate—to Monica—he was certain of it.

"Deacon…"

He rolled his head to the left toward the voice and opened his eyes. When he saw Monica, he tried to lift himself up from the bed of downy softness he lay in.

She stopped him. "Don't try to move." She grabbed a cool, damp towel and applied it to his forehead. "Rest. You'll be fine."

"Monica…I thought I'd never see you again," he rasped, swallowing to clear his dry throat.

"I'm here, and I'm so glad you're okay."

She grabbed a glass of water from the nightstand next to them and brought a straw to his lips.

He looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings after quenching his thirst. "Where am I?"

"The guest bedroom next to my room."

"You didn't have to—"

"Deacon, please don't try to get up. My dad moved you in here and he told me not to let you leave just yet. He went into town to get you some medicine."

"Your dad is okay with this?" he asked, confused.

"Yes."

"It's Monday, right? You were supposed to work today, weren't you?"

"It's okay. I have someone covering my shift for me."

"But—"

"No buts. You need me now. I don't know if you remember this, but you were shot last night. Dad found you on the doorstep bleeding out. If he hadn't been there, you would have…" She shook her head. "How did this happen?"

"I guess I took the warnings lightly. Members of the Pack were telling me about the shootings but I didn't know how serious it was until two men came after me with rifles. I didn't even see their faces. All I heard were shots and I bolted. Nothing like this ever happens in Tunica."

"I'm so sorry. Here." She turned and grabbed a tray. "I have some food for you. Biscuits and fruit. Dad said you'd want red meat but we had none."

"How does your dad know so much about our kind?"

"He works in the ER. The Cross City hospital has several shifter doctors on site."

"That's new. We usually see our own doctors outside of the hospital," Deacon said. "Of course, I haven't seen a doctor in ages. I've had broken limbs, several black eyes, and have even broken my nose a couple times, but I've never been shot."

"I'm sorry that happened to you. You didn't deserve that. Regarding the availability of urgent care for all, a lot has changed over the years," she said, handing him a biscuit and then taking one for herself.

"It has," he agreed. "Yet, how come we're being gunned down?"

“They’ll be caught. We didn't know if you wanted to speak with the cops or your Alpha. We wanted to respect your privacy."

"It's a Pack matter. The cops are already involved. I'll have to report it one way or another." He winced at the soreness raging through his left shoulder. "I think I need to shift again. It's the only thing that will speed up my healing process. I'm bandaged up but my wolf needs to heal as well."

"My dad will be back soon. He didn't have any pain killers strong enough for you. He says he needs a specific shot formulated for shifters. He said if he gets it to you at least an hour before the shift, it won't be so bad."

"I'm not afraid of a little pain, but if you insist."

She propped up the pillows on the headboard and then picked up the bowl of freshly cut fruit. "In the meantime, I'll feed you."

He grinned. "Sounds good to me."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you downstairs. After you dropped me off, I got some research done for the health article I'm writing for the local newspaper. I fell asleep but I had every intention of calling you to see how your meeting with the Alpha's brother went."

"It went well. I'll be an official Aspen Valley Wolf Pack member again on the next full moon."

"That's great. Then that means you'll stay," she exclaimed.

"I knew I would stay before that meeting. My decision was made when I found you here."

She smiled. "I feel the same. I knew you were supposed to be in my life."

Monica fed him the last piece of pineapple, which he accepted. He then reached over with his right hand and trailed his fingers down the side of her face. Her need rose again with just that one touch. His lips parted and she knew what he wanted. She bent her head, taking his mouth in a kiss, savoring in the sweetness of the fruit he'd just consumed. It wasn't just his taste that aroused her. Her nostrils filled with the scent of maple and spice. He kissed her thoroughly, a slow gentle declaration of his need for her.

Monica and Deacon were so caught up in the kiss that they didn't even notice the door to the bedroom being opened. The air around them changed at the same time her dad cleared his throat.

Monica parted from Deacon and glanced near the doorway to see her dad standing there with a small package.

"Uh…" her dad mumbled, scratching his head. "I can come back."

"No, Dad," she told him. "We were just talking and um…having breakfast."

Her dad came into the room, dropped the package and his keys on the opposite nightstand.

"How are you feeling?" he asked Deacon.

"Like I need to shift," Deacon replied.

"Okay…" Dad chuckled. "I know nothing about that part, but I'm really talking about your shoulder. Let me take a look at it."

"Dr. Collins, I want to thank you for what you did. I would have bled out if you hadn't opened the door," Deacon exclaimed as he checked the bandages.

"Oh, it's nothing. This is what I do for a living. Besides, I can't have any friend of Monica’s suffering needlessly."

"I can pay you for your time. I know how busy you and Monica are and I'm probably keeping you away from—"

"No, son, I don't need payment. I'm just glad you're alive. Now, I may be a little suspicious of my daughter's friends when I first meet them, but I'm not an asshole. But I can be an asshole when it comes to my daughter's safety."

"Dad…" Monica warned.

"Let me finish, Monica." Dad held up his hand. "I knew what you were from the moment I laid eyes on you, son. I was a little taken back at first, but I need you to understand that I condone none of what happened to you last night. There are some crazy things going on in this town that I hope the people we voted in place to protect us are getting to the bottom of this. This should have never happened to you or any of the shifters already found dead because of the shootings going on around here."

"I understand. Just know that I would never put your daughter's life in jeopardy. I would give up my own life for hers. She's very special to me."

Her Dad looked back and forth between her and Deacon.

"You didn't sleep here the other night, did you?" Dad asked her.

She sighed, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

"I was working an extra shift Saturday night, but don't you think I know when you don't enter the home at a certain time?” Dad continued.

"Dad, I was with Deacon. I don't want to argue and I don't want to hear anything about my agreement with a certain lawyer wannabe asshole who shall not be named," she said.

"I want you happy, princess," Dad said."Certain things have come to light…but I do want you happy. Let Deacon and I have the room for a moment, will you?"

Monica hesitated for a moment, but reluctantly rose from Deacon's side. "I'll be downstairs," she said.

"Oh, and I bought some red meat. Steak. Do you mind throwing a couple on the grill?" Dad mentioned just before Monica left the room. "I'm not sure how you like it Deacon, but I'm a medium rare type of guy."

"Um…I like it rare. Very rare."

"Ah…of course," Dad exclaimed.

"Okay, last time I left you two alone, Deacon left," Monica started.

"I don't need a reminder, princess. The first time was a test. Deacon hid nothing when I grilled him and that's saying something about him."

"Well then," she said, and left the room.