Chapter 23
“So, what do you think?” Jamie asked.
He was sitting out on the back deck of the farmhouse with Guardians Mac, Piper, and Leah. Iris and May were unable to meet but promised to catch up with them later. Jamie watched as Aiden walked along the perimeter of the fenced-in area of the backyard.
“What’s he doing out there?” Leah asked instead of answering his question. She nodded toward Aiden.
Jamie shrugged. “I’m not exactly sure. Clearing his head, I think. He’s been quiet since Frankie and Edie left. But what do you think about what they had to say? Do you think we should let them help?”
The four of them had pulled Adirondack chairs close together, facing the backyard. They gazed out over the lawn that was surrounded by forest just beyond the fence line.
“Hmmm,” Mac said. “What do you think?”
He’d been turning the idea over in his head ever since the feisty seniors had expressed their outrage over being ignored. He didn’t like putting them in danger, but they were in danger anyway with Williamson out to take over the town. “I think we should let them help. All of them. I don’t think he’ll ever see it coming.”
“How so?” Piper asked.
“Well, I worked for Williamson for several years after college with Aiden. His father stayed out of the office for the most part, but whenever he came in for meetings, it was clear he treated the oldest members of the company terribly.”
“Like how?” Mac asked.
“Well, all of the employees were shifters. We know shifters that are elderly are still quite vigorous, especially compared to humans.”
“Right,” Mac said.
“Despite that fact, Williamson had a forced retirement clause in all his employee contracts. He essentially fired his employees when they hit age sixty-five, regardless of their position.”
“Sixty-five!” Piper exclaimed. “That’s like thirty-five in shifter years.”
Mac huffed a laugh. “Ironic that he’s the oldest of them all.”
“I know,” Jamie said. “The rules never applied to the boss, of course. He essentially had no use for shifters once they hit a certain age. He’d never expect the senior shifters in town to be part of the resistance.”
“We could bring them all in on the plans. Well, those who volunteer, that is. We’ll have to get Heath to approve. Even if he wasn’t the Grey Lake wolf pack alpha, he’s still responsible for everyone in town as the Chief of Police,” Mac said.
“And if he doesn’t approve?” Leah asked.
“Mac will just have to encourage him to approve of it,” Piper said. She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“Oh, come on. He’ll see the logic in it,” Mac said. “He can be reasonable.”
Jamie watched as Aiden stalked toward the deck. One side of his mouth was turned up in the tiniest of grins. “Who can be reasonable?”
“My mate,” Mac answered.
Aiden let out a laugh. “I’ve heard that, but I haven’t seen it yet.”
Jamie’s brain briefly short-circuited at hearing his mate laugh. He must be feeling better.
“Feeling better, indeed,” Jamie’s wolf agreed.
“So, we’re going to do it, right? Involve the whole town?” Aiden asked. He climbed the few steps to the deck and leaned against the railing, facing the others.
Mac looked at Piper, Leah, and then Jamie and sighed. “We just have to speak with Iris and May.” She added, “And my mate. But I’m in support of it.”
“Me, too,” Leah said.
“Me, as well,” Piper agreed.
Aiden’s gaze flicked over to Jamie’s, then away. He grunted. “I think it’s a good idea. Jamie’s right about my dad.”
“You heard everything?” Jamie asked.
“Yeah, even my hearing’s improved since I shifted. It’s like all my senses have become even sharper.” His eyes snapped back up to Jamie’s then drifted away once more. “My father would never think of the oldest shifters in town being useful. I think it’ll bring the element of surprise, but we’ll need to keep it quiet. We don’t want this getting back to him.”
“Did you want to practice shifting now?” Mac asked.
Aiden nodded. “Yeah. Are you guys ready?”
Piper stood up and twisted one hand in the other nervously. “My spell is still holding. Your father shouldn’t be able to detect your phoenix.”
“How can you be sure?” Jamie asked. If she was wrong, Aiden’s beast would be vulnerable to attack by his father.
Piper tilted her head to the side and bit her lower lip. “It’s hard to explain exactly, but it’s like I can see the threads of my magic around Aiden, protecting him. Hiding him from everyone but the Guardians and their mates – at least in his beast form. I’ll feel if the magic shield weakens or breaks. I’ll let you know right away if that happens.”
“Your powers have grown, huh?” Jamie asked.
She nodded. “I can control my magic a lot better than when I first discovered this ability. I get stronger every day. It seems like we all are.”
“Not me. I don’t know what good I’m going to be in all this,” Jamie silently told his wolf.
“Don’t say things like that. You’re very important. We’re very important. You’ll see,” the wolf answered.
“I’ll be able to heal any injuries,” Mac said.
“I can teleport him or any of you out of here if we need to make a quick escape. Jamie’ll have to help since I won’t be able to touch him directly—he puts off too much heat. If the magic shield breaks and we need to get the phoenix hidden, Piper just needs to say the word,” Leah said.
“OK, then I guess we’re ready,” Jamie said. “Ready when you are,” he said to Aiden.
Aiden nodded. “Let’s do this.”