Chapter 14

August rolled to his back, careful not to disturb his sleeping soulmate. Ginny had put on a brave front when they'd walked through the park, but by the time they got down to the house in the private living area, she was sobbing. He sat with her and held her while she cried, and when she'd asked him to distract her, he'd been more than happy to drive her to higher and higher plateaus of pleasure until she hadn't been able to form a coherent thought and drifted off to sleep.

He was a little too wired and pissed to rest, even though he was physically exhausted himself. His gorilla was furious that she'd been in danger. He kept thinking she was safe in the park, but the jackals were getting smarter.

He'd never had anyone want him dead before.

He couldn't imagine how Ginny was feeling to be so betrayed by someone who was supposed to love her. It wasn't enough that her grandfather had systematically killed everyone in her family, but that he refused to leave her alone when she'd clearly left, chasing her through several states…it boggled the mind.

Their people had been through some crazy shit before: dangerous panthers and polar bears trying to take out mates, owl shifters with vendettas, and even an entire wolf pack that tried to take over the park.

There was no shortage of crazy in the world, it seemed.

He heard a knock on the front door. Slipping from the warmth of the bed, he grabbed jeans on the way out of the bedroom and shut the door behind him. When he'd pulled his jeans on, he opened the front door.

Atticus stood on the front porch with his son, Zane.

"How's she doing?" Zane asked with a low voice.

August stepped onto the porch and shut the door. "She's exhausted mentally and emotionally. She knows we have to stay down here, and even though she won't say it, I know she doesn't like being cooped up." He scrubbed a hand through his hair. "She was so excited by those damn carousel horses. She told me she'd never had a real purpose before, never been excited to learn how to do something like refinish them and help put it together. I hate that it's all tainted, and I hate that I thought we were safe there. I feel like an ass."

"You're not an ass for believing a secure building in an employee section would be safe, and to be fair, we didn't find any evidence that anyone was back there," Atticus said. "This is all troubling on several levels. We can't shut the park down. The alphas have discussed it and it would be a temporary fix at best. The reality is that we need to find her grandfather and force him to leave her alone."

"How do we do that?" August asked.

"We'll be watching for them," Zane said, folding his arms over his chest. "They'll come back into the park at some point and we'll hold them. We'll force her grandfather to vow to leave her alone if we return his people."

August hummed. "Do you think that will work?"

"It might," Atticus said. "The alternative is that we kill him and anyone following him. According to our laws, it's certainly within your rights to keep your soulmate safe, and the rest of our people too, but we don't want to use deadly force unless we have to."

"Do you really think he'll walk away from her if we have some of his people captive?" August asked.

"It's worth a shot," Atticus said. He gave August a long, quiet look, then he said, "I know you're well and able to protect Ginny. I don't want to confine you to the living area because it's no way to live."

"What do you suggest?" August asked.

"We're going to put you both in the security office. We've added more cameras to the entrance, and we'll have Ginny watch the monitors to see if she recognizes anyone. There will be security around the building as well as inside, so it will be safe there for you both. If she sees anyone she knows, we'll send security to apprehend them."

August nodded in approval. "That sounds like a good plan."

"They may take a few days to try to come into the park," Atticus said. "But hopefully, she'll see them quickly and we'll be able to get this matter put to bed once and for all."

"Thanks," August said. "I really appreciate what you've all done for me and Ginny. It's hard to believe that her grandfather is so intent on keeping his position as alpha."

"Some shifters get wrapped up in the laws and in being alpha," Atticus said. "They crave the power and the obedience of their people." He shrugged. "I've never known someone to take out their family like that, but you might remember that Joss's brother tried to kill him and Jeanie to take over."

"Power corrupts, right?" Zane asked.

"It certainly can."

"Hey, you'll let me know in advance if you decide to go on a family-murder spree, right?" Zane asked, his brows high.

Atticus made a face at his son and then rested his hand on August's shoulder. "Ignore him."

"I usually do," August quipped.

"Hey!" Zane said.

Atticus grinned. "We've got your back and Ginny's too. I'll meet you tomorrow at ten-thirty in the employee cafeteria so she can be settled by eleven when the park opens."

August nodded and thanked his friend and alpha again, then he headed back inside. Ginny was still asleep, her chest rising and falling evenly along with the soft sound of her breathing deeply. She was so beautiful and so very much his. Although the last week had been crazy and frightening at times, he was glad they were together.

Once they got her grandfather to swear to leave her in peace, they could move on with their lives. Working together to restore the carousel and making a life together.

He'd keep her safe no matter what. It was the only thing that mattered.

The following morning after he made her breakfast in bed, they made their way to the employee cafeteria where Atticus, Lucius, and Jupiter were waiting.

"Morning, guys," August said. "Thanks for this."

"Hey, if one of us is in danger, we all are," Lucius said.

Jupiter nodded. "Lucius is going to be in the main part of the security office with you today. Justus will be watching the monitors as usual, and I've got a setup in the other office. The doors will be locked at all times, so patrons will have to buzz to be let in, which will allow us to control who enters."

"Sounds good," August said. "Ready, sweetheart?"

"Yeah. I hope…what if I mess up and I don't recognize someone?"

"You just do your best," Atticus said. "That's all we're asking. If you miss someone, if your grandfather has recruited people you don't know, then it's out of your hands."

She nodded and inhaled before blowing out a slow breath. "I'm ready."

August took her hand and they walked out of the building with the others, straight to the security office. Lucius unlocked the door and let them in.

"I'll be around," Jupiter said. "I've got Amadeus and Benjamin coming for the first shift to stand here at the front and back of the building. Good luck."

Atticus nodded at them and left with Jupiter. August and Ginny walked into the security office, and Lucius pulled the front door shut. He could hear the automatic lock engage. He was fairly sure the lock wouldn't stop someone from getting into the building if they were inclined to use force to do so, but it would give them time to prepare in the event it happened.

Justus walked into the room where he would be watching the security feeds for the entire park, while Lucius took them into the other room and tapped one of two desk chairs in front of a bank of monitors. August and Ginny sat and faced the monitors while he explained what was on each one.

"You can focus on this one," he said to Ginny. "We've only got two gate entrance lines for the time being, so this split screen shows each one and you'll be able to see everyone as they come into the park. It's a weekday, so we don't expect it to be too busy, plus the temperature is dropping and we don't have as many people coming to the park in the fall and winter as we do in the spring and summer. If you see someone you recognize, click the mouse and it will freeze the screen. You can also rewind and forward as needed."

"Okay, thanks, Lucius."

"You're welcome. Holler if you need me, I'll be at the front counter."

August was going to watch the screens with Ginny, not because he would recognize a jackal if he saw one, but because he wasn't about to leave her on her own.

He faced her, then turned her chair so she was facing him.

"You look so worried, Ginny." He took her hands, which were cold, and held them.

"I am. I'm worried that you'll never feel like I'm safe, I'm worried that I'll never really feel safe topside, and I'm mainly worried about how intrusive all this stuff is to the park and people who live here. It's just so much."

He considered her fears for a moment. Because he wanted to immediately tell her that of course she was safe, of course he would do everything in his power to make sure that they were going to have a good, long, and happy life together. But he didn't want to dismiss her fears since they were valid. He couldn't be everywhere at once, and it wasn't fair to keep her sequestered in the private living area like a criminal.

"I don't want you to worry about our people or any other shifters having an issue with what's going on. I could tell you some stories about the things we've all had to deal with when it comes to soulmates or assholes trying to get to someone in the park. You're my soulmate. Not only would I do anything to keep you safe, but it's important to the others too. I've always had everyone's back, whether they're gorillas or not, and they've got mine and yours too." He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and smiled gently. "It's okay to be afraid because there are some things we can't control, but trust in me and our people. Because I'm damn sure going to do my best to keep you safe, and I do think that we'll get to the point in time when your grandfather isn't an issue anymore and you can feel truly safe."

Her eyes were shining when he finished speaking. "I've got a lot of baggage. Are you sure you want to get tangled up with me?"

He ran his thumb lightly over the mark his gorilla had made on her neck and she shivered. "One thousand percent." He paused, because this was not the most romantic of situations, but things needed to be said. "Ginny, I'm falling in love with you. Hell, my gorilla is already head over heels for you. There isn't anything on this earth that I wouldn't do to be with you, trust in that."

She smiled and blinked rapidly. Then she whispered, "I'm falling for you too."

Sweet female.

He pulled her in for a kiss, slow and tender, and when he felt her melt in his arms and heard the barely audible sigh from her jackal, he broke the kiss. The hug that followed made him feel like she was finally relaxing a little, that he'd been able to say something that resonated with her and made her feel better, and that made him feel like he was ten feet tall.

His phone beeped, alerting them to the front gates opening to let in patrons. There were a few people waiting to get in already.

"It's going to be a long day, I think," she said as she swiveled the chair to face the monitors.

"Yeah, but we'll keep each other company."

"No funny business in there," Justus called from the other room. "I can hear everything."

Ginny's cheeks pinked.

August grinned. "Spoilsport," he called.

"Damn straight."

Ginny winked at August and then turned her gaze to the monitors.

It was going to be a long day, but that was okay with him. However long it took for them to stop her grandfather, that's how long he'd be by her side.

His gorilla let out a low hoot in his mind, ready for whatever might come.