Jim and I fed the boys breakfast, then cake, before helping them with their shoes so we could go on our wildlife trek. It was cooler in the trees than in the yard, and both boys enjoyed the freedom of running. Their wonder over every rock, twig, and creature we pointed out reminded me of the confinement in which they’d lived before coming here.
When our time was up, we made our way back to the house and played in the yard.
“Can we do that again tomorrow?” Liam asked me.
“Any time you want.”
Jim pushed them both on the swings while I made a stack of sandwiches. We sat in the shade of the porch and ate. Jim stole my sandwich twice and had Aden laughing so hard the little man’s face turned red. It was such a good day that it made my stomach hurt. I needed to know they’d stay here forever. That we’d always be able to keep them safe and make them laugh. I needed Michelle to say yes to just one date.
I took everything back upstairs and was washing the dishes when I heard Winifred’s car turn onto the driveway. Excitement coursed through me.
Did Michelle have a good time?
She enjoyed herself but had frequent bouts of worry, which I expected. After what she’s been through, trusting her brothers with anyone had to be hard.
I wiped my hands and was just moving toward the door when I heard Michelle on the porch with Jim.
“Hold on. You can’t sneak in without showing me,” he said.
“What are you doing?” I asked, knowing he’d hear me. Silently, I started down the stairs.
“Very nice. Now the dress,” he said.
“How did you know?” Michelle sounded amused. I wasn’t.
“Jim, you’ve ticked Nana off way too often recently for her to intervene when I start kicking your tail,” I said when I hit the second landing.
“Emmitt told me his contribution to your day. It’s why I thought you’d want your nails done. Better hurry, I hear him coming.”
“I don’t know if anyone will get to see me in this dress,” she said, worrying me.
“Day’s not done yet,” he said.
“We’ll see. Thank you for the lovely day.”
I was on the last flight of stairs and saw them as she stepped forward and hugged Jim tightly. And the ass returned the hug, giving me a thumbs-up behind her back.
I couldn’t stay silent anymore.
“You keep that up, and he’ll be treating you to spa days with Nana Wini every week.”
She released him and turned toward me. “Thank you for the dress,” she said.
Jim moved away from us and headed out to the boys, who were still regaling Nana about what they’d done.
“You’re welcome. Just don’t let Jim see it before I do.”
I didn’t miss that she made no move to hug me.
“I think it might stay in the bag for a while.”
“I hope not. I was wondering if you’d consider going to dinner with me.” Her scent changed with her panic. She probably didn’t want to leave her brothers again.
“Next Saturday,” I said, hoping it would help calm her.
“A date?” she asked, doubtfully.
“If you’re not too busy.”
She shrugged and smiled slightly. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She moved past me, carrying her things inside.
“You coming back outside or going to research again?”
“Both. I’ll bring the tablet out here.”
I watched her walk away, then looked toward the swing set. Winifred met my gaze as she listened to the boys tell her about the things we’d done today.
I know, I sent her. Give it time.
No. I was going to tell you I’d keep an eye on the boys while you hand Jim his tail.
I laughed out loud and went to occupy the boys so Winifred could carry her things inside. It didn’t take her long before she was back on the porch, sipping a glass of tea. When Michelle reemerged, she sat next to Winifred.
Jim managed to stay inside for maybe ten minutes before boredom brought him back outdoors. He knew he was on my shit list because he kept a healthy distance between us when he came over to play with Aden. Still, I managed to get a few whacks in when the boys and Michelle weren’t looking. Winifred caught every single one, but she didn’t say a word.
After a while, Michelle stood and went into the house.
“I sure am thirsty,” Jim said under his breath.
“Not happening,” I said quietly in return. In a normal tone, I told Liam I’d be right back, then went to sit in Michelle’s spot. Winifred saw me coming and picked up Michelle’s tablet. She didn’t say anything to me, but started tapping on the surface of the device.
When Michelle returned, she had a glass of iced tea in her hand.
“May I have a drink?” I asked.
She smiled and held out the glass. Our gazes met as I brought it to my mouth. The taste of her lips still clung to the edge of the glass, a sweetness that heated my blood as I took several swallows. She knew because she looked away after a few moments. Then, she paled.
I turned, following her gaze, and found Winifred watching a video on the tablet. A huge dog was mauling a man. I frowned as I stared at the dog then realized what I was seeing. One of our kind, killing a human in the middle of a city. People on the sidewalks screamed and ran. The wolf looked at the camera then leapt over a nearby fence, leaving behind the body of a middle aged man.
Michelle’s scent spiked a moment before she made an odd noise. I caught her as she collapsed.
Liam yelled, and he and Aden came running.
“Mimi! Mimi!” The panic in their voices tore at me.
“Michelle,” I called, tapping her cheek. “Come on, honey. You’re scaring your brothers.”
“Mimi!” Aden said, reaching for her hair.
Winifred caught his hand as Michelle’s eyes fluttered. “She’s okay. She just fainted. Emmitt caught her. She’s not hurt.”
“Why would they do something so obvious?” Michelle mumbled.
“I don’t know,” Winifred said.
I smoothed my hand over Michelle’s hair, and she opened her eyes for me.
“Nice catch,” she whispered.
Humor after fainting. That was my girl.
“For you, always,” I said.
She sat up slowly, and I kept an arm around her. The paleness in her cheeks slowly warmed as she smiled at her brothers.
“I’m okay. Just got too warm. I think I need to go through the sprinkler.”
Liam wasn’t buying it, but he still allowed Jim to lead them away to play. Once they were out of earshot, I glanced at Winifred.
“I’m assuming that was Richard based on your reaction and question,” she said.
Michelle nodded, and I ached for her. She’d just witnessed how her stepfather had been murdered. Would she ever forgive us?
“This has gone too far. We need to find those responsible. They are killing, and that endangers us all. What we saw… that is not who we are,” Winifred said sadly.
Michelle offered no objection.
Winifred rose and walked into the house. A moment later, I heard her conferring with Sam. After all, Michelle wasn’t the only special human. Sam was in charge of Gabby, a young girl one of our kind had discovered years ago. And then, there was my mom. My mom was more than just a human-compatible Mate, though. She could control a human. Any human. Since I’d been old enough to understand the danger that put her in, I’d understood the need to keep her ability a secret.
That one of our own had killed a human put us all in danger. That one of our kind had held a potential Mate prisoner made me worry about my mom.
After Michelle and the boys went to bed, I met Jim and Winifred in Jim’s apartment.
“What did Sam say?”
“He would like to put out a call asking for the offender to step forward. He agrees that there’s no reason to mention Michelle’s existence or connection. It’s clear from the video that it was a werewolf. And, had we been paying better attention to the news, we would have known about this a month ago.”
“I’d like to talk to Mom and Dad and let them know the full story before you send out the call. Will you ask Dad to call from town? Tonight?”
She was quiet a moment.
“He said he will call within thirty minutes.”
They stayed in Jim’s place while I went to wait for the call at Winifred’s, the number they knew. I picked up before the phone completed its first ring.
“Hello,” I said, the universal polite way of asking who was calling.
“Emmitt, baby!” my mom said with love. “I’ve missed you so much. When did you return?”
“It’s been a few weeks. Sorry for not calling sooner.”
“How was it?” Dad asked, referring to my last few months of duty.
“Good. No issues being discharged.”
Silence hung in the air for a few moments, and I knew they were waiting for the reason behind my suddenly urgent call.
“I met someone,” I said.
“Emmitt,” my mom said on a watery exhale.
“We are so happy for you, son. How did you meet?”
“I stopped for something to eat on my way home, and she walked into the same diner. Before her scent even reached me, I knew she was the one.”
I could hear Mom sniffle.
“When will we get to meet her?” Dad asked.
“That may be a while yet.” I sighed. “She’s human, Mom, and running just like you did. Only it’s not from humans. One of our kind found her and kept her prisoner, and we just learned he shifted and killed her stepfather in public.”
The silence was heavy, and I knew Dad was probably conferring with Winifred via their link.
“She’s beautiful, Mom, and strong. She’s nineteen. The mutt who had her also kept her little brothers locked away. They are five and four and just starting to laugh and trust us. We’re treading carefully and not pushing for more information than she’s ready to give. That’s why I didn’t tell you right away. And why we might not be visiting for a while.”
“Emmitt, your first priority will be to your Mate. But don’t forget the safety of the pack. The fact that someone’s out there breaking rules and not reporting their infractions according to law is—”
“Unthinkable,” Dad finished for her.
And it truly was unthinkable for our kind. One of our rules stated not to kill humans. And the corresponding unbreakable law was that anyone responsible for breaking the rule, or a witness to the breaking of the rule, must admit the deed to an Elder. It was a law that was essentially a direct command from an Elder, and as Jim had experienced firsthand, a direct command was unbreakable. So how, then, did someone break it?
“Winifred filled me in. The call is going out tonight. Keep in touch, Emmitt. Your Mom and I were starting to worry.”
“I’m sorry. I’m home now and will be here if you want to ring us again.” I hung up and went back to Jim’s place.
“Mom cry?” Jim asked.
“Yeah.”
“She’s happy she’ll have a chance to spoil grand-cubs. Well, unless you screw up again. I wonder how many kneeings it takes to crack a nut.”