VIOLET

On our way to the jail, Draven stopped by Jayce’s house and asked me to go inside and pick out a change of clothes for Jayce. That was the point where I knew they were working to get Jayce out as quickly as possible. The lawyer had reported that there wasn’t any good news as of yet, but I was still hopeful.

During our drive on the way into town, Draven kept switching from radio station to radio station, until he finally turned the thing off. Somehow the story had made the town’s headline.

Shifter fight down in the valley, they claimed.

What shocked me was that most of the stories reported that the fight was between two male shifters over a girl. When I asked Draven about it, he told me that the police likely covered up the real motives like they always did. And in a town desperately trying to keep the tourists coming, I wasn’t surprised.

Driving behind us was a truck full of shifters from the Timber Rock pack. It certainly wasn’t the whole pack, but I counted at least six of them sitting in the bed of the truck. Draven and I were in the SUV with the lawyer. I didn’t recognize the driver.

As we rolled up into the parking lot of the police station, the lawyer was discussing his plans with Draven. Our attention immediately turned to the crowd of news reporters and journalists mulling around outside.

“Oh dear God no,” Draven grumbled, as he looked out at the spectators.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Looks like journalists are trying to squeeze out more of the story,” the lawyer exclaimed.

“I don’t even see how this made headlines. Did the videos get posted to social media or something?” Draven asked.

“I spoke with the investigator last night. He explicitly told me that he wouldn’t release anything to the public,” the lawyer replied.

“Well, someone must have. Why else would these journalists be concerned about a fight between wolves?”

“Don’t know. You two can stay in here while I go speak to the clerk. I’ll try to get the area cleared out.”

The lawyer made a mad dash for the front door of the jail. A few journalists chased after him, but many stayed behind attempting to get pictures of us. Thank God the windows were tinted. I just hoped the men in the truck bed weren’t being harassed too badly.

I looked out of the back window at the crowd.

“Your men are ignoring the reporters,” I stated.

“They know the drill. We don’t talk to journalists about anything that happens in our pack. Ever.”

“Do you think they know that you’re all shifters?”

“They know now, but we’re not exactly in hiding. This is the first time in two years that some of them have been in the main town.”

“I don’t see any protestors around. That’s a good thing, right?”

“They lifted the ban this morning, but only temporarily. I have a meeting scheduled soon with the mayor and we’re going to talk about getting rid of the law altogether. You do know who Lakely was, right?”

I shook my head.

“The grandfather of the councilman’s daughter who was impregnated by Marshall. He pushed for the law as soon as he found out his granddaughter was running around with the Black Ridge rogues.”

“So, they’ve been working relentless trying to keep the shifters away from this town.”

“And from his granddaughter,” Draven added.

“It’s tragic really how it ended for them. They lost the one person they were trying to protect,” I said.

At that moment, the lawyer came running back through the crowd. He yanked open the door and jumped inside, then slammed the door behind him.

“Good Lord!” he exclaimed, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “Those journalists are just chomping at the bit for a story.”

“No one’s going to talk. We’ll just have to let them speculate. What’s the word on Jayce?”

The lawyer smiled. “They’re going to release him. They couldn’t pin the manslaughter charge on him and they have nothing else that’s concrete to keep him on. But…he’ll have to cooperate with the investigators. They may need him later on to testify.”

“Testify for what and against who? Marshall is dead,” Draven stated.

“Marshall’s wolves were arrested too and they’re talking. The cops wouldn’t say who it was, but I think they’ve connected at least one other councilman to the rogues.”

Draven appeared surprised. “Another councilman? Really?”

“Yes. And that pool is so small, I could probably narrow it down myself to one or two men. So, do you agree to cooperate? And do you think Jayce will too? That means he can’t run. The both of you have to sign papers giving your word that you won’t leave the state.”

Draven nodded. “Yeah, we’ll do it. It’s not like we’re going anywhere. The Timber Rock shifters don’t run.”

“Alright. The journalists don’t look like they’ll be leaving anytime soon, but we’re going to have to go back inside.”

“Let’s do this. Let’s get my cousin out of jail. I’m growing impatient. I’m sure his mate is too.” Draven looked at me and grinned.

“I’m beyond ready to see Jayce.”

I grabbed the bag with spare clothes and we exited the SUV.

I was prepared for the onslaught of reporters and journalist. As a paralegal, I dealt with them often. Even when the journalist in Green Bay found out I was engaged to one of the richest bachelors in the city, and who also happened to be the man that had announced his interest in running in the upcoming elections, I had gotten intrusive phone calls and requests to interview me. What I wasn’t prepared for were the questions this particular mob of reporters were spitting at us.

As the mob persisted, I felt my face redden as the questions became more personal.

To my surprise, Eddie pulled up in a red pickup truck, parked haphazardly, and came to meet us on the sidewalk.

“Thanks for coming out,” Draven yelled over the noise. “I don’t think they’re going to give us any problems, but I’m glad you’re here.”

“No problem. I just heard what happened this morning,” Eddie replied.

Finally, we reached the lobby of the jail and I let go of the breath I was holding.

“You have got to be kidding me?” I breathed.

“No, that’s what we deal with here every few months or so when a story breaks out about us shifters. It’s best to just ignore the questions. Let them speculate. They’ll disappear soon.”

“Let’s just hope so,” I said, rubbing my arms as a chill crept up my spine.

The releasing process took longer than I thought. Mr. Chase, the lawyer, was walking back and forth in the lobby, rubbing his forehead. Eddie had gone outside in an attempt to get the media to calm down and leave. Draven was seated calmly, but that didn’t stop the two security guards from eyeing him like a hawk. Either they felt threatened by him or didn’t like him, but the tension in the room was thick as mud. Everyone in this town had history, it seemed. Both good and bad. Yet, Arrow Lake was a charming place to live. If things had been different and I’d just been an innocent tourist just driving through, I probably wouldn’t have noticed anything out of the ordinary.

Draven rose from his seat suddenly and his nose flared. He must have sensed that Jayce was getting closer because the door was opened and there he was. I was just as excited to see him and I was suddenly flooded with a surge of emotions. I stood up from the chair, but before I could take a step in his direction, his long legs ate up the distance between us. He came to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Are you alright?”

I nodded. “Yes, and I should be asking you that question.”

He smiled. “I’m fine.”

“I hated that you had to stay overnight here.”

“I’ve spent the night in jail before. I was a pre-teen basket case until my grandpa whipped me into shape. But that was years ago. Everything still looks the same though. Same old cinder block walls. Same old straw mattresses.” He was making light of the situation, but I could see a tinge of sadness in his eyes.

“I’m glad you’re out now.”

Unable to help myself, I threaded my fingers through his unruly hair. I wanted to kiss him and hold him and never let go. He took my hand and rubbed gently at the mate mark on my wrist.

“I thought you would leave after…”

“I’m still here,” I whispered.

“Violet, I’m sorry. I…” he started.

“I understand,” I stated, firmly. “Please don’t explain. Not here.”

His gaze met mine and then his attention shifted to my lips.

Our moment was cut short when a cop came out and handed Jayce some papers. Draven was nearby and they shared a brief glance.

“Thank you,” Jayce said.

“Don’t mention it. Let’s get out of here, cousin, before we become fodder for the tabloids,” Draven commented.

We filed out of the jail, stirring up the nosy mob again.

“Whoa,” Jayce exclaimed.

“Yeah, you’re famous, cousin,” Draven joked.

I held my forearm up to prevent the camera flashes from blinding me. This time, Draven’s men jumped out of the truck, clearing a path for the alpha and entourage to get through. We made it to the SUV where Jayce held the door open for me.

“Violet! Is that you?”

I froze on the spot. I just couldn’t believe that I was hearing a very familiar voice calling out to me.