Peter fell to his knees and put his forehead to the ground in utter obeisance. Lex’s arm shot out and Peter was on his side, bloody but still breathing.

“Rise, Peter. You took your punishment. You’ll be on probation and moved to administrative work. I can’t trust you in the field.”

And that was worse than a cuff to the face. Having your Enforcer tell you he didn’t trust you to keep the Alpha safe was a deep blow and Tegan watched as Peter flinched but kept his eyes down.

“Yes, Enforcer. I’m so sorry.”

“I want the teams to expand to five. Let’s go with three shifts of eight hours. Tegan, I want you on the day shift. Eight to four. Lead it. Megan, you’re on midday. Four to midnight. Dave, you’ll take midnight to eight. Choose your team carefully. Put two extra guards on Cade and one more on Nina at the nursery.”

Nina was going to love having another bodyguard hanging around her all day as she dealt with customers. Tegan was glad Lex and Megan would have to deal with her.

Lex stood. “Shift change starts today. Tee, grab some sleep so you can get started at eight, please.”

Nodding shortly, she moved around him to the door. She gave brief instructions after consulting with Dave and Megan about who would take over for her and get outside, she headed toward the guest room that had been hers for some time.

“Tegan.”

She turned around to see Lex moving toward her.

“You did an excellent job tonight, Tee. Thank you.” He touched his hand to his forehead and heart and it moved her. He’d thanked her as Enforcer to his subordinate wolf instead of brother to sister. It meant a lot.

“Thank you.”

She changed into some clothes she’d left behind, knowing there’d be times like these when she’d have to sleep over, and slid between the sheets. Even though she was amped from the situation, she knew she needed the rest and meditated until she was able to shut down and fall asleep.

Ben’s steel-blue eyes were the last thing she thought of before she fell into sleep.

Chapter Four

By the time Tegan got home that evening she was tired. But not too tired for dinner.

She had an hour and a half so she decided on a quick, forty-five minute nap and then she’d get ready.

People often didn’t realize just how good a short nap felt but when Tegan awoke at six-fifteen she felt refreshed. Even more so after a shower and a cup of coffee as she got ready.

Dinner and maybe a bit of play, he’d said. Tegan shivered as she remembered just what a fine hand he had at play.

It was January but wolves were very warm blooded. Foregoing a coat, she chose a scoop necked cashmere sweater. It was a coppery-brown that Tracy had given her for her birthday the year before. A long black wool skirt and knee high boots with a nice heel completed the outfit. She decided to leave her hair down and went with just a little makeup. She generally preferred a bit of lipstick and some mascara.

She’d just fastened some pretty earrings when she heard her doorbell ring and with trembling hands, she smoothed down her skirt. “It’s going to be all right, Lucas. Right?”

she asked herself in the mirror before moving to get it.

Checking to be sure it was someone she knew, she opened the door and his presence hit her, tightening her entire body. He stood on her doorstep in a black turtleneck, jeans and boots. So damned sexy she wanted to skip the dinner part and go to the sex part.

Instead she smiled and motioned him to come inside.

He brushed a kiss over her lips as he passed. “You look beautiful tonight, Tegan.”

She turned to him after locking the door. “Why thank you. You look quite handsome yourself.”

He looked around the room at the pictures and art hanging up. “Wow, this is amazing.” He indicated a painting hanging over her fireplace.

“It is, isn’t it.” She smiled. “It’s my brother-in-law Sid’s work. He’s a very talented artist. He gave that to me as a wedding present.”

Shit. Well, she hadn’t planned to tell him about Lucas right then and certainly not like that but he was a cop and she knew he hadn’t missed what she’d said. Especially when he looked her in the eyes.

“You were married before?”

“Yes. He died, four years ago.”

His face softened. “I’m sorry. How?”

“He was an Army Ranger like Lex used to be. He was killed in action in Afghanistan.”

Ben whistled low. “Wow. He must have been young.”

“Twenty-three. He’d just gotten through Ranger school about eight months before.

He loved it.”

“How long were you two together?”

“Four years. I was twenty when we mated. He was nineteen.”

“So young. I’m sorry for your loss. I really am.”

Looking into his face, she knew he meant it. What a genuine man he was. So totally different looks and personality wise from Lucas, who’d been a wiry blond who was always moving and joking.

“Well, I didn’t mean to bring the date down right off. Sorry about that.”

In three steps he was on her, his arms around her waist, forehead against hers. “You didn’t bring the date down. You were sharing about your life. Now, are you hungry?”

“Starving. It’s been a crazy twenty-four hours, let me tell you.”

“I heard part of it earlier. We can talk about it later. Does Thai sound okay with you?

Lotus?”

“Love it.”