by Kasey Belle
“Well let’s get down to it.” Sheriff Wells’ expression became serious. “You want to join my team?”
“I do. How do we make that happen?”
“Simple. You’ll need to fill the application out online.” The sheriff handed him a business card. “The website address is on there. Choose the apply for a job tab in the menu. I’ll also need your separation papers. How’s the PTSD?”
“Under control.” Sort of.
“Good. Good.” Sheriff Wells nodded as he absently played with his goatee. “There will be a test you need to pass. You won’t have to go through the academy. I don’t require it of veterans with your law enforcement background. You’ll start your ride along on Monday.”
“Even before I fill out all the paperwork and take the test?”
“Yep. Do you think you won’t pass?”
“I’ll definitely pass. I want this.” He swallowed his pride and spoke his truth. “I need it.”
Sheriff Wells stood from his chair and walked over to the filing cabinet in the corner. He opened the second drawer and pulled out a thick book. “This here is the manual you’ll need to study. There are practice tests in the back. I’ll schedule your test for two weeks from today.” He passed the book to Devon. “If you need any help or have any questions, I expect you to call me.”
“That’s it?”
“Would you like me make the process harder? Perhaps lord that cow tipping escapade over your head?”
Devon widened his eyes and feigned fear. “No thanks. I don’t need yet another I told you so from Janie.”
“Women.” Sheriff Wells grunted. “Shoot me an email once you’ve filled out the application, so I can fast track it.”
“I’ll do it first thing when I get home.” Devon stood and stuck out his hand. “Thank you, Sheriff Wells.”
The sheriff shook his hand. “Thank you, son. The department will be stronger with you on it. Now get on out of here and you tell that lovely Janie I said hello and that I’ll be in for coffee sometime this week.”
“Yes, sir.”
Devon left the sheriff’s office feeling as if his whole world had righted itself in the last twenty-four hours. He’d claimed his mate. She’d welcomed and loved his wolf as much as she did him. He’d found a job. Now, all he had to do was decide where they would live. Her house in town or at The Sanctuary. It didn’t matter to Devon where they ended up. He just knew he wouldn’t be spending another night apart from his woman.
Epilogue
Devon pulled his car in behind Koda’s SUV and turned off the engine. Thanksgiving was being held at the Black River Pack house. It would be the first time in years since Devon had spent any quality time with his family, especially for the holidays. Being able to do so with his mate was icing on the cake.
He gave Janie’s hand a squeeze. His mate was sweet as sugar with a spine of steel. She’d have to be strong to be able to handle his moods. Though mentally he healed more each day he was with her, Dev still fought his demons and most likely always would. But knowing she would be at his side fighting with him made the burdens so much easier to bear.
“Ready, baby?”
“Are you kidding?” She responded with a cheeky grin. “There’s pumpkin pie in that house.” She threw open her door and climbed out.
The rest of the families that made up Sanctuary Pack began exiting their vehicles. They were here to not only celebrate the holiday but to support Koda as their soon to be official pack alpha. Devon and Janie had news of their own share as well.
The front door opened, and Devon’s mother came rushing out. She hurried down the steps and made her way in their direction. She shot him a little wave but otherwise completely ignored him as she engulfed Janie in a hug. “I am so excited to have you as an official daughter, Janelle.”
“Good to see you too, Mom,” Devon said blandly.
Koda snickered beside him. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think our mothers were cats. They are so easily distracted by shiny new toys.”
Devon’s mother glared at them over her shoulder. “Watch yourself, Dakoda Stone.”
Koda blew her a kiss. “I love you, Aunt Celia.”
Celia Stone rolled her eyes then went back to fussing over Janie.
Devon’s father, Greer and Uncle Thorne joined them. “You look good, Son. Congratulations.” He let his father pull him into his strong arms. Dev may or may not have held on a little longer than normal. “About time you got your head out of your ass.”
“Thanks, Dad. Sorry we haven’t been by sooner.”
“I get it. I remember being a newly mated wolf.”
When his father finally pulled away both their eyes were suspiciously wet.
“I would like to point out that Devon had help in the mated wolf department,” Ella supplied with arrogance.
“Oh? Care to explain, daughter?” Thorne stuck out his elbow allowing Ella to wrap her hand around his arm as he escorted her up the steps.
“Grandpa Thorne? Can I hold your hand?” Casey grinned up at the big alpha. Dev swore the man melted on the spot.
“Always.” He glanced over at Ella. “Help you say? You’ll have to tell us all about it over dinner.”
“It is an epic tale of bravery, Uncle Thorne.” Matt stood at the top of the steps grinning from ear to ear. “The hero in the story is particularly handsome and selfless. Almost, god-like.”
Dev smacked Matt in the stomach as he passed by and grumbled under his breath when all it did was earn him a snicker from his favorite annoying cousin. He still hadn’t exacted his revenge on the little shit. He would though. Devon had years of payback built up. Whatever he did, it needed to be well-planned and unforgettable.
Nikki and Jim fell in behind Devon. He rolled his eyes when he heard the little fox giggle.
“I heard minstrels wrote songs about it, Alpha Thorne,” she called out then began singing, “There one was a brave lad name Sir Matthew. Fi-fi-fa-fiddley-dee. He helped the Lady Janelle catch her giant pain in the butt wolfy.”
The others joined in, including the children and Devon couldn’t help but laugh. Damn, he loved his family.
****
Janie sat next to Devon at the large table in the pack house’s extravagant dining room. The table was big enough to hold Koda’s family, her and Devon, Devon and Koda’s parents, Koda’s brother’s family, and the rest of Sanctuary Pack. She loved watching the children interact with the adults. Contentment filled her. That would be her and Devon’s children one day giggling and chatting with their pack.
She thought she’d miss spending Thanksgiving her parents since they decided to visit Janie’s older brother David and his wife Marni in Georgia for a few weeks. Instead Janie felt nothing but happiness. She was surrounded by love and a feeling of completion. Devon squeezed her hand as if he read her mind. She looked at him and they shared a smile.
He cocked an eyebrow, and she nodded. He was ready to share his news. Devon cleared his throat. The room fell silent. All eyes turned to him. “I have something I’d like to share with you all. First off, Koda I’m afraid my leave of absence will need to be a permanent break.”
Koda smiled at Devon but didn’t respond. Janelle had a feeling he knew more about what happened with the members of his pack than he let on.
“Starting Monday, I will officially be a member of the Sanctuary Sheriff’s Department. I passed the exam a couple of weeks ago and completed my last ride along yesterday.”
“I wasn’t even aware you were looking to do something like that.” Celia frowned looking both a bit worried and hurt.
“I didn’t want anyone to know, Mom. I asked Sheriff Wells to keep it quiet until I was sure training with him and the other deputies wouldn’t trigger my PTSD. Obviously, it didn’t. In fact, I feel a sense of accomplishment I haven’t had in a while.”
Everyone offered their congratulations even Celia.
Thorne cocked his head and narrowed his eyes as if he were trying to see inside D
evon’s mind. “There’s something else you want to say, but you are reluctant to bring it up.”
Devon muttered something under his breath that made the shifters at the tabled chuckle. “Yes, Uncle.” He paused. Janie squeezed his hand reminding Devon he wasn’t alone. “I hope you don’t take this personally, because it’s not. I wish to move my family’s membership to Koda’s pack.”
“I figured.”
Janie didn’t know who was more shocked her or Devon.
“You did?”
Thorn arched an eyebrow. “You and your mate deciding to live in your cabin on Koda’s land instead of her house in town was kind of a big clue.”
Devon sniggered. “Right. Sorry.”
“Plus, you share experiences with Koda and members of his pack. It makes sense you’d feel connected.” He turned his attention to rest of those sitting around the table. “I’m including the children when I say this. All of you have healed each other in one form or another. You have seen the worst that humanity has to offer. It was fate’s design for you all to come together.” He looked at Koda. “I am assuming you brought the official forms so that I may countersign them?”
“I did.”
“Good. We’ll do that after we have full bellies and are too miserable to move because we ate entirely too much.” Thorn took his mate’s hand. “If I’ve learned one thing by watching all of you, it’s that family happens in a thousand different ways, and not always through birth or a blood tie. You’ve chosen to make a family, and I believe those bonds are stronger than those due to genetics. I am pleased by the pack you have formed, Dakoda. I know I’ve said it before, but… You make a father proud.”
“I am especially pleased that you chose Nikki as your second. She was an excellent choice. As was Storm as your head enforcer.” He paused and met the eyes of each person sitting at the table. “Every member of a pack serves a purpose whether they hold a title or not. I can feel that everyone here holds that belief.” Thorne picked up his wine glass for a toast. “To Sanctuary Pack. May you prosper for many generations to come.”
“Here. Here.” The rest of them replied in unison.
“Deidre and I would like to thank Devon,” Stephan, Koda’s older brother said. “For not killing Matt. Our son can be a trouble-maker, but he’s the only one we’ve got.”
“To Devon,” everyone chanted.
Janie glanced down the table. She met Matt’s eyes and smiled. Feeling a bit impish, probably because of all the wine and turkey, she said, “I’d also like to propose a toast if I may.”
“Of course, Janie. You are family, sweetheart,” Thorne responded in a gracious manner.
“I think we should recognize Sir Matthew the Brave and his love of poking Devon’s wolf. For if it wasn’t for his love of mischief Dev and I might still be living as separate halves of a whole.”
Matt winked and blew her a kiss. Devon growled. They all raised their glasses and saluted Matt. Nikki led them in a rousing performance of Brave Sir Matthew. Janie had never laughed so hard or felt such a kinship with another group of people, not even her own family. This was her future and she couldn’t wait for the years that lay ahead to unfold.
The End
Acknowledgement
Thank you Sharee Ellis for your sharp eyes and excellent insight. I don’t know what I would do without you.
Thank you to my Beta Crew and my ARC Team for your willingness to take time out of your busy schedules to support this indie author.
Trademarks/Copyrights mentioned in this book do not belong to this author and are property of their owners and are their own entities: Caddyshack (Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, Brian Doyle-Murray, Orion Pictures), Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams, Eoin Colfer)
About The Author
Independent Author Kasey Belle, whose sarcastic tendencies and faulty filter will most likely lead to an untimely death, is a southern belle with a sexy imagination.
Kasey promises her readers few things: soulmates, sexy times, and a happily ever after…always. Other than that, the sky’s the limit. In Kasey’s opinion, a good romance is raw and honest, limited only by the author’s imagination, not dictated by what society deems as normal. Love is love, and all forms are beautiful.
When Kasey isn't writing and perfecting her craft, she is spending time with family/friends or kicking back with a bottle of Moscato. Kasey admits she's addicted to tattoos and books and won't be seeking help.
Please Stalk Me
*Begs profusely*
Friend Kasey on Facebook
Like Kasey’s Facebook Author Page
Join Kasey’s Facebook Group
Follow Kasey on Twitter
Follow Kasey on Instagram
Follow Kasey’s Amazon Author Page
Sign up for Kasey’s Newsletter
Follow me on Bookbub
Follow me on Books+Main Bites
Follow me on Goodreads
Other Works
Copper Creek Pack Series
Their Cajun Queen: Book 1
Prideless: Book 2
Healing Cathy: Book 3
An Unexpected Triad: Book 4
Mating Mal: Book 5
A Perfect Fated Christmas: Book 6
Box Set Volume One (Books 1-3)
Box Set Volume Two (Books 4-6)
The Shifters of Sanctuary (A Howls Romance Series)
Resisting His Irish Spitfire: Book 1
His Foxy Lady: Book 2
The Grizzly Bear’s Barista: Book 3
A Purrfect Gift of Fate: Book 4
Catching Her Wolf: Book 5 (Oct 2018)
Name TBD: Book 6 (Dec 2018)
Stand Alone
All You Need is Love and Coffee
A Swing and a Dare
For Upcoming Releases and Works In Progress visit my website www.kaseybelle.com