From his perch in the tree at the park, Bas might have memorized the boy’s schedules. Even with their protective mates, Bas felt better making sure that no on messed with the family.
Bas wanted to snort at how his thoughts always connected the men from the area as the family. Like they were mafia or something. It was just the best way to think of them since they would be a pack if they were all the same species, and since they weren’t, they were family.
“Well?” Aaron said when Bas entered.
“I like it,” he admitted.
Leo nodded. “One of the reasons that I preferred this office was location. We’ll be right in the middle of town.”
Bas nodded toward where they shared a wall with the town’s important offices. “And where you can keep an eye on the coming and goings of town?”
“Mayor is new,” Leo told him. “Axel and Shawn have both met with him and seem to get a good vibe but it’s weird that the last mayor just upped and left.”
“Something we need to look into?” Bas asked. It had been a long fucking time since he’d had a real mission. Anticipation filled him.
Leo stole his enthusiasm as he shook his head. “He was human. Nothing the family went through touched anyone in town. They were able to keep the hunters and magic under wrap. Sometimes people just leave.”
Bastian wasn’t satisfied with that answer. What could it hurt to just investigate the old mayor and the new one? If this was where he was going to settle, then Bas needed to make sure that they were all in a safe place. And if Hudson really was his mate? He’d make damn sure that Hudson was always protected.
“Now we just have to decide if we’re really doing this,” Leo said. He leaned back against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest.
“You and Aaron have already decided,” Bas replied. He knew his friends. Leo was staying. Aaron was nearly attached to Leo’s hip. They weren’t a couple any longer, but they were still the best of friends.
“We are,” Leo confirmed. “The question is whether you’re going to join us or are we going to bring in the council.”
Bas growled just thinking about having anyone from the council close to the family. And if they had a council office in town, the council would want to put in people of their choosing as well.
Leo smirked. “All you have to do is say the word.”
What Leo really meant was that Bastian needed to make up his mind whether he was staying or not. First things first. Bas needed to figure out if Hudson was truly his mate. “Can you give me a couple of days?”
“Of course,” Leo responded. “I’m not trying to rush your decision. I can move forward with the office no matter what you chose.”
Aaron rolled his eyes. “You’re staying and we all know it, but if you want to overthink it, like always, who are we to stand in your way?”
Bas flipped off his friend as he snorted. Aaron probably wasn’t wrong. Just arriving in town had been enough for Bas and his shifter side wanting to stay. He didn’t make decisions without thorough thought.
“I’m going to meet with Axel and give him an update.” Leo pushed away from the counter. “Want a ride back to the house?”
“Nah.” Bas shook his head. “I’m going to hang around town and check things out.” Maybe do a little stalking of his human.
“Don’t get caught by the pound,” Aaron teased.
“We don’t have a pound in town,” Bas pointed out as they headed out of the break room.
“You almost became a housecat,” Aaron responded as he snickered. Damn, Noah had loved sharing that story the previous night.
Bas was thinking that it might not have been a terrible thing if he’d been kept by Hudson. As soon as dinner was over and everyone settled down, Bas had snuck off property to find the human’s scent in town.
It was easy enough to retrace Hudson’s steps.
From his perch in Hudson’s backyard tree, Bas had watched Hudson and his brother for hours. They appeared close. Both worked in town as first responders. Good humans that didn’t seem to have any idea of the paranormal world that surrounded them. Bas hadn’t dived deeper into the brothers yet, but it was on his list.
He left Leo and Aaron behind as they made plans to meet up for lunch in about an hour. Bastian had other things on his mind than food. He strode down the sidewalk that would take him to the bakery.
There were a few residents milling around but the residents didn’t look at him with suspicion any longer. Bastian knew that he didn’t exactly fit in. With his shaggy chestnut brown hair and tattooed arms and chest, most people would be frightened of his appearance. They must be used to the other paranormals being around.
Standing at just over six foot with a lean body, he didn’t think he was nearly as intimidating as some of the other men. Even Hudson, who had the brightest eyes and smile that Bas had everseen, was bigger than him, although there was no way anyone could be frightened of such a sweetheart.
