Chapter 30: Xavier

Xavier stroked the last signature with a whoosh and then let the pen fall with a clatter against his desk.
He leaned back in his chair and rubbed at his eyes, gritty from a sleepless night. Damn, he hadn’t
pulled an all-nighter since last ski season. He was rusty.

Last night had been harder than any other rescue. Not just because he’d had to yank four poachers off
the mountain, all armed and looking for a polar bear head to take home for their walls, but because it
wasn’t just him anymore. Or him and his guys. He was now protecting a mate. Yeah, he’d finally come
around to the truth when his animal had almost lost it to realize the paperwork couldn’t wait.

Gerald had been nice enough when he’d told Xavier and the guys about the formal complaints, but it
didn’t change the cold truth. Someone was after the Blue Bear Search and Rescue. Someone wanted
him gone from this job. Maybe from town or even life, who even fucking knew right now. Gerald had his
suspicions, but Xavier was at a loss. He’d kept his head down all these years, too scared of a repeat
performance after losing his dad to do anything wild or crazy. And now here was some asshole trying to
rip away everything he’d worked for.

It wasn’t fucking happening.

So he’d kissed Laurel goodbye and put her in the truck with Jake and sent her home. All he wanted
was to go home and crawl into bed next to her. Make up for all the dumbass comments he’d made
trying to push her away, because he knew what he wanted now, and after tonight, he wasn’t going to
run from it anymore.

But he wasn’t done yet. There was one more item left to do before he could call it a night.

He stood up, making his way into the kitchen and pouring the last dregs of the coffee he’d made earlier.
Then he dialed Jake.

“Boss,” Jake said sleepily on the fourth ring.



“Crew meeting in an hour,” Xavier said.

“Boss—” Jake protested. Xavier knew they were all exhausted. So was he, dammit. But he couldn’t
wait any longer for this. They’d waited long enough.

Xavier used his alpha voice, so Jake knew he meant business. “Get them here, Jake. We need to talk.”

Xavier hung up and went back to his office to drink the worst cup of coffee ever. An hour later, on the
dot, the crew stumbled in. Jake’s hair was rumpled and his shirt untucked. Behind him, the men’s boots
all clunked against the hard floor, and Xavier shook his head at what sounded like a stampede. One by
one, they filed into the lounge where a sagging couch lined one wall. A couple of recycled chairs
completed the set-up. Not fancy, but big enough for all of them to discuss.

Harley was the last one in and Xavier nodded at him to shut the door, but then another figure darted
inside, smiling at him.

“Laurel,” Xavier said, surprised. He shot a glance at Jake, who shrugged.

“She’s Mrs. Alpha. What did you expect?” Jake asked.

“Crew meeting in an hour,” Xavier said.

“Boss—’” Jake protested. Xavier knew they were all exhausted. So was he, dammit. But he couldn't
wait any longer for this. They’d waited long enough.

Xavier used his alpha voice, so Jake knew he meant business. “Get them here, Jake. We need to talk.”

Xavier hung up and went back to his office to drink the worst cup of coffee ever. An hour later, on the
dot, the crew stumbled in. Jake’s hair was rumpled and his shirt untucked. Behind him, the men’s boots
all clunked against the hard floor, and Xavier shook his head at what sounded like a stampede. One by
one, they filed into the lounge where a sagging couch lined one wall. A couple of recycled chairs
completed the set-up. Not fancy, but big enough for all of them to discuss.

Harley was the last one in and Xavier nodded at him to shut the door, but then another figure darted
inside, smiling at him.

“Laurel,” Xavier said, surprised. He shot a glance at Jake, who shrugged.

“She's Mrs. Alpha. What did you expect?” Jake asked.



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