Chapter Thirteen
Toby sighed. He had zero patience, which wasn’t usual for him, but he was in an unusual predicament.
Even with his wolf’s hearing, he couldn’t make out what was being said, and he sat right outside the door Griffin and the sheriff had gone through an hour ago. It had to be soundproof.
Toby’s shoulders went up to his ears, and he wrung his hands together when the door opened and Griffin walked through, followed by the sheriff.
Griffin nodded to Toby before heading toward the station door. The station was really just one big open-concept room with a few exceptions. Toby wasn’t sure what was behind some doors, but the interrogation rooms were obvious because they had labels, and so was the sheriff’s office.
“Let’s go, baby.” Was Griffin aware of how often he used that endearment instead of using Toby’s name? Toby had his doubts. And it wasn’t as if he disliked it. The exact opposite was true, but he just wondered how they were going to keep their mating a secret from Riley if Griffin slipped up.
Would Griffin want a mate if he found out about Toby’s weird ability? Nobody else had liked it. The elders had tried to take his abilities away from him. Mark Sibly and his buddies had killed because they disliked magic so much.
Entire magic councils existed just to control people like Toby. People with weird magical abilities who may or may not be a danger to society. He’d taken a chance by attending Dinsmore, and he’d stayed under the radar. Until he didn’t.
How long could he keep it a secret? He was already being blackmailed. That was more than enough reason to hightail it out of Fortune Falls and forget about finishing his degree program.
But he followed behind Griffin, watching the way his ass moved when he walked.
Underneath Griffin’s frustration with Toby was a gentle nature.
And he was the hottest guy Toby had ever seen.
Toby didn’t have a lot of experience with hot guys, or any guys for that matter, but his body responded to Griffin in ways it hadn’t with anyone else.
Like ever in his whole life. Griffin made him want to get closer.
He picked up his pace until he walked next to Griffin. He felt a hand on the small of his back right before Griffin opened the station door for Toby, allowing him to go first.
Toby stayed alert once they were outside. He didn’t see anyone, but he’d learned the hard way that it didn’t matter what he saw; the dickwads were good at hiding.
“Do you want me to drop you off at your car or at your apartment, baby?” Griffin wrapped an arm around Toby’s waist and pulled him closer, which was fine by Toby. It was easier to protect Griffin if they never left each other’s side.
“I don’t think anyone is watching us this time,” Toby whispered. He didn’t feel that itch in the center of his back or the hairs on his neck like he had before. “My dad used to tell me to pay attention to what my body tells me. Not just my gut.”
Griffin smiled. He seemed to always be in a good mood, even in the middle of the night after experiencing something scary.
“My dad says the same thing. But he’s a warlock and my grandma, his mother, was a witch, so all that stuff about staying present and aware sort of comes naturally for my family. ”
“Your grandma was a witch?” It wasn’t unheard of for warlocks and witches to bond and have children together.
Or even magic users and shifters or vampires.
It was when children had magic that it became a problem for the prejudiced dicks in the world.
Or, gods forbid, someone had Toby’s magical abilities.
“Yeah. She was kind of on the older side for having kids when she and my grandpa had my dad. She died when I was twelve. My grandpa died before I was born.”
“I never knew my grandparents.” They had died trying to protect Toby’s mom.
She had been like him. Their pack had a big problem with wolves who were magic users.
Toby might have been four years old, but he remembered waking up to his mother’s screams and his father putting a hand over his mouth to keep him from making a sound.
He remembered his father carrying him through the forest, running and then crying as the farm grew further and further away. Toby hadn’t been back since.
“My grandparents on my mom’s side are still around. They travel a lot. They’ve been to every national park. But they’re home base is my mom’s inn.” Griffin opened the truck door for him and then shut it behind him.
Griffin walked around to the driver’s side and got behind the wheel. Toby had never seen a more tired person in his life.
Toby sighed. “Can we switch?”
Griffin frowned when he started the vehicle. “What?” he asked around a yawn.
Yep, Griffin Palmer was pretty sexy, even when he was exhausted.
Toby opened the door and stepped out of the truck. “I’ll drive.”
Griffin shook his head as if he were going to protest, but he scooted across the seat to the passenger’s side. Toby sat behind the wheel. He had to move the seat forward to reach the pedals, which moved the whole seat because Griffin’s truck was older and had a bench seat.
Griffin shut his eyes and rested his head against the back of the seat. “Thanks for driving.”
“You’re welcome.” Toby tapped the wheel. “I don’t know where you live.”
Griffin chuckled. “Turn left out of the driveway. Go through town.”
“Got it. Okay.” Toby followed Griffin’s direction in silence. It was comfortable in ways Toby hadn’t expected it to be. He figured they’d argue some more, but he was happy that they had put that aside, at least long enough to get Griffin into bed.
It was difficult to argue with Griffin. Griffin was the most even-keeled person Toby had ever met in his life. It was frustrating when Toby had wanted to protect him, and he’d refused. But at the end of their ordeal, Griffin’s consistent mood calmed Toby.
It wasn’t until he passed the bakery that either of them spoke again. “It was more about what Frank didn’t say. Then what he did.”
It took Toby’s brain a second to regroup, but once he did, he raised his eyebrows. “Meaning?”
“Frank wouldn’t say anything about who hired him, which means he’s more scared of that person than of going to prison, which is where he’s headed.”
“Who is Frank?” Maybe knowing more about Frank and his circle of people would tell Toby a bit about who the dickwads really were.
“Like I said before, he’s part of the Fortune Falls pack.
He’s got a reputation for being an addict.
It wouldn’t be hard for someone to take advantage of him.
They paid him to deliver the letter. It’s probably someone local who knew his reputation.
” Griffin yawned. “Take the next right. Onto Harrison Street.”
Toby slowed down before putting on his blinker. “Am I in the middle of a pack war?”
It was the worst-case scenario because it was likely that one pack would keep using Toby against the other. The blackmail would be endless regardless.
Griffin shrugged. “Could be. We just fought the Timeston Pack. But it’s probably someone local because they know Frank and his reputation.” Griffin yawned. “Take the next left. It should be Mertle Street. My house is second on the right. 8745 is the number. It’s on the mailbox.”
Toby glanced at Griffin before watching the road again.
Griffin still had his eyes closed. How did he give directions when he wasn’t watching where they were going?
“How did the fight happen?”
“Marric is Kinnison Ransome’s son. Timeston pack wanted Kinnison out as alpha because of Marric’s magical abilities. Prejudice pricks.”
Toby’s stomach twisted. “Kinnison Ransome is Timeston’s Alpha?”
“Used to be. He’s leading the Fortune Falls pack now.
Or sort of. They lost their alpha a while back, so Kinnison is helping sort things out since that was a mess and a half.
But Kinnison wants it to be temporary. The pack still isn’t right.
So much so that keeping the peace at pack meetings is the reason my dad deputized me. He needs all the help he can get.”
Toby swallowed the lump forming in his throat. “Is it normal for the sheriff to be at pack meetings if he isn’t a wolf and part of the pack?”
Griffin shook his head. “The Fortune Falls alpha turned out to be a serial killer. It wrecked the pack.”
“Timeston took advantage of a bad situation?” If that was the case, then why did they want Kinnison gone?
Griffin sighed. “I don’t really know if that’s their goal. They wanted Kinnison out of the picture, but it didn’t work. The packs fought, but Timeston lost. Now they’re in an even worse position than they were before. But our pack might be, too. It’s not over. That’s for sure.”
“Why do you say that?” Toby shut off the engine.
“Someone wants control of the pack. It’s all about power. It’s always been about that.” Griffin met Toby’s gaze. “Someone hired Frank to deliver that letter. They’re trying to force your hand. Whoever is blackmailing you is the head of the snake. The question is who that person is.”
That lump formed again. Toby tried to swallow it down, but it grew a bit more stubborn the second time around. Toby averted his gaze. His grip tightened on the steering wheel, and he rested his forehead against it. “I’m sorry I got you into this.”
“You didn’t. I told you I was already in the middle.” Griffin touched his shoulder, rubbing down his arm. “Even if I weren’t, you did nothing wrong. Right?”
Toby wanted to tell him about the dickwads paying him to eliminate Kinnison Ransome, but if he did that, then he’d have to tell Griffin about his abilities. He couldn’t stomach Griffin rejecting him. “I didn’t hurt anyone, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Griffin sighed. “I’m asking what the hell is going on, Toby. I’m asking you to fucking trust me, but I can tell you won’t.” Griffin met his gaze. A crease formed on his forehead. “What happened to you that you find it hard to trust people? I’m your mate, baby.”