Page 35 of A Swan’s Love Song

that repeating itself.”

The coffee Avi had been drinking began swimming around in his gut. He had a bad feeling that

he already knew what she was about to bring up.

Rosemary continued, “I spoke with the head of the Northeastern division of the shifter network

this morning, and he shared with me that the body of one of Kellan’s old herd-mates was discovered

along the Appalachian Trail near Hamburg.”

Avi and LaMarkus exchanged glances. Avi cleared his throat. “Did they determine the cause of

death or have a theory as to what happened to him?”

Rosemary steepled her fingers. “I’m afraid so. His throat was slit—a trademark kill of that

herd. Not only that, but a bank robbery had taken place in the region less than fifty miles from where

the carcass was discovered, and witness descriptions of the suspects matched Finn and his gang.”

Avi rubbed his forehead. He didn’t want Sean to hear about this secondhand. He’d been feeling

so safe, was so happy.

Rosemary laid a hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. “Avi, that bastard won’t get anywhere

near this town. That’s why we’re discussing this now. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.”

Avi nodded with a tight smile. “I know he won’t be able to see the Valley, but he could still… I

don’t know…”

LaMarkus spoke up. “The protection spells are in place and, unless Finn is best friends with an

unsuspecting Valley resident, I doubt he even realizes that Kellan or Sean are here, or that the town

exists in the first place.”

Avi knew that everything they said was true, that it was highly unlikely Finn could reach Sean

or Kellan within the boundaries of the Valley, but he couldn’t help but get his feathers ruffled. He’d

tear apart man or beast who came near his omega.

* * * *

Sean plopped down on the sofa in Avi’s home. My home now, too. The two-bedroom bungalow

was a rental that Avi had moved into when he’d first arrived in town. They’d already begun

discussing where in the Valley they wanted to put down roots. His not-too-subtle suggestion about the

acreage that was available next to Kellan and Vic’s property had been greeted with enthusiasm from

his Alpha.

He sighed in contentment, idly rubbing his belly. I should make some time to go out on the lake