Page 351 of Rangers Last Promise

“They don’t believe in invitations.”

He started down the hallway.

“Trigger.”

He looked back.

“It’s good to see you.”

His teasing expression disappeared.

“You too, brother.”

He left me alone with Max.

I sat on the edge of the bed.

Max rested his head on my thigh.

“You like it here.”

His tail thumped against the blanket.

“That makes one of us.”

His tail thumped again.

I scratched behind his ears and looked around the room my brothers had kept waiting for me.

I wasn’t ready to call Eagle River home.

But for the first time in three years, I unpacked my bag.

27

MACE

Iwoke to Max growling at the bedroom door.

My hand went beneath the pillow before I remembered I wasn’t carrying a weapon.

I opened my eyes.

Sunlight pushed through the curtains. A ceiling fan turned slowly overhead. The room smelled like fresh paint, clean sheets, and the piece of apple pie Agnes had insisted I keep beside the bed.

Max growled again.

Someone moved in the hallway.

Slow footsteps stopped outside my door.

The knob turned.

I came off the bed as the door opened.

Trigger stepped inside carrying two coffee cups.

Max lunged across the room.