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enjoy her cracking jokes right about now.
    "I'm out. Since you're back now, I'll just head down to the bakery to see my ma—uh—woman."
    She wanted to roll her eyes. Hadn't they already established she knew shifters? And there was no way Gage hadn't heard every word of the conversation that took place in the hallway. Even a hushed whisper couldn't hide a conversation from their hearing.
    Bhric slapped the man on the back on his way down the hall. "Come back in the morning and we'll go over business. I'd like to know when Greer is scheduled to return."
    "Wouldn't we all," Gage said. "Ever since he picked up that woman down in Georgia he's been MIA. Probably won't turn up again until she's pregnant."
    Bhric groaned. "Good for him. He deserves it."
    With that, the man they called Gage disappeared down the stairs and she stood alone with the giant, broody man who suddenly looked tired.
    He brushed past her and walked into his office. "Well, come on in and let's get this over with before Calder is breaking down my door to get to you."
    Jessa sighed. This situation looked more and more like she'd jumped from one frying pan to the next. She trailed behind him and took the first available seat in front of a large, imposing desk that had every inch covered by stacks and stacks of papers.
    He tossed a backpack in the corner and dropped into the brown leather chair behind the desk.
    "So what can you tell me about the Blackwood pack? I'm a little surprised you've met Simon."
    She squirmed in her seat. This is the part she had been dreading since she arrived in the area. To tell this man anything was an automatic violation of her non-disclosure agreement. This could be the beginning of the end if he didn't want to help her.
    "First, you should probably know I signed an agreement with them that I would never divulge any information about my time with the Blackwoods. I'm not sure if I've violated anything yet by running away, but if I get into the details with you, I suspect it's going to cause me and maybe you a lot of trouble."
    He nodded. "I would expect no less from those mangy wolves. They have caused me nothing but a shitstorm thus far, why would that change now?"
    The rough timbre of his voice took her aback. Not so much the aggravation and annoyance he clearly conveyed, but the weary tone underneath it all. As if he was simply tired of everything.
    Despite those emotions, she continued on with her plan. "Before I tell you anything I need some assurances. About my safety I mean. While the legal and monetary consequences are obvious when it comes to breaking the contract, it's my safety I worry about more." She took a slow breath before continuing, hoping her heart rate would calm. "Simon helped me leave. But before I did he told me the truth about how shifters feel about humans. I mean when it comes to knowing you even exist. But since I couldn't live up to my side of the contract, he feared that they would reject me and not in a 'thanks for nothing, now go home' kind of way. He said my life was in danger."
    Bhric closed his eyes for a minute and she watched him drag in air. His hands were clenching on the table and it was obvious he was working to manage his control. Fascinated by his movements, she jumped when he opened his eyes and spoke.
    "Simon sent you to me directly?" he asked.
    "Yes. Why? Is that a problem?"
    Bhric nodded. "Probably. However, it is what it is. First, tell me more about this contract you signed. What were you supposed to deliver?"
    Jessa hesitated. This was it. The moment she truly went past the point of no return. If she told him the truth, there would be no turning back. The Blackwoods would come after her.
    Of course, if Simon was correct, they would anyway.
    "And you'll protect me from the Blackwoods?"
    Bhric steepled his fingers and said nothing for several long minutes. Just when she was about to crumble under the wait, he spoke.
    "Honestly?"
    She nodded. Oh my God, of course she wanted him to be