Lupine

by Hanleigh Bradley

  “Yeah… Are you sure about this? Jacqueline could come with me…”

  “No. I promised,” I tell him seriously as I turn the key in the ignition.

  ***

  The academy hasn’t changed much since I went to school here. I’m surprised how excited Amon is about it. I’ve never seen him this eager to go to school.

  We’re given a tour and Amon asks questions… He actually asks about what sort of classes he’ll be taking and everything. I’m gob smacked.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” I ask.

  We’re sitting in the canteen about to return home, but I’m in no hurry. I want to talk to Amon about this and I know we’ll struggle to make the time when we get back. There’s always something going on at the orphanage.

  “Positive. I love it here.”

  He sounds so hopeful and I’m not about to smash that hope.

  “Alright,” I say, reaching into my purse, I pull out the paperwork. “Let’s get this filled in and hand it in at the office before going home.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. Might as well. No point procrastinating.”

  “Thank you, Lupine.”

  I shrug my shoulders as I begin to fill in the paperwork. It’s easy enough, and it doesn’t take long. Amon is sitting opposite me at the table, looking around, taking in everything.

  “Do you think the food is any good here?” he asks.

  “Wanna try it?” I offer, passing him a twenty. “Go get us both something. I’m half starved.”

  I finish off the paperwork while Amon queues for the food and manage to get it finished just in time for him to arrive back with the food.

  Taking the first bite, my mind goes back to my own time at the academy.

  “You know there will be rules, right?” I say, using the exact same words that Mrs Mackney used when I came to the academy for the first time.

  “You wouldn’t be Lupine, if you weren’t giving me rules to break.”

  Laughing, I don’t bother correcting him. He’s not being serious, anyway.

  “So, your girlfriend…”

  “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  “Okay… Your friend, she goes here?”

  “Yeah…”

  “She used to go to Stone Hill?”

  “She was expelled,” he admits.

  “You’re perfect for each other. You nearly got yourself expelled too.”

  “I told you, she’s not my girlfriend.”

  “Yeah… I know.”

  Finishing off the last of my lunch, I say, “let’s head home.”

  “Sure thing, Piney,” he replies, piling both our trays up so he can put them away. Sometimes, he’s a good boy, even if he is devil’s spawn.

  Stranded on the Roadside

  Amon is talking nonstop on the short drive back to Silver Springs. It’s out of character and I’m loving it. He’s so excited about his new school and weirdly enough seeing it seems to have only increased his enthusiasm.

  He’s also got about a thousand questions about my own time at the academy. I tell him that I wasn’t as excited to move schools because it meant leaving my best friend Lily at Stone Hill. It had only been for a little while and funny enough she had begged her grandfather to let her swap schools too. He hadn’t been as willing to let Lily move as I’ve to transfer Amon and we’d spent our last year of school separated. Fortunately, she grew up next door, and we had still been able to see each other on the weekends.

  There’s next to no traffic and I’m almost disappointed. I’d like to spend more time with Amon. This is kind of precious, especially seeing as how we’ll less of each other when he moves to the academy.

  I almost don’t want to see him go. As much as I think it’s the best thing for him, I’ll miss him at the orphanage. But he can’t stay forever… They all grow up and leave, eventually. Everyone except me.

  Slowing down to turn a corner, I notice a car on the side of the road with its hazards on. I pull in behind the car and tell Amon to wait in the car. He shrugs, turning the radio on to keep himself entertained.

  I climb out of the car and make my way around to where a young woman is lifting the bonnet of her car. Her hair is a windswept blond, and she looks tired… A long journey, perhaps.

  “Are you alright?” I call out.

  I don’t recognize her. She’s not from around here. I don’t know everyone in town but we tend to recognize faces, know names… Even if we’re not quite involved in all our neighbors business. Well… except me. I’m definitely all up in my neighbors business. Who wouldn’t be though when they’re as sexy as my shifters?

  “Oh, god! A person… Thank fuck!” She gives me a glowing smile.

  “Do you know what you’re doing under there?” I ask, pointing to the car.

  “No. Haven’t got the foggiest,” she admits blatantly, “but I’m new to town and I don’t know who to call.”

  “You’re in luck,” I tell her, pulling out my phone. “My friends recently opened an auto shop. Otherwise you’d have to wait ages for someone to come over from Scarborough.”

  Dialing Dylan’s number, I glance back at Amon. He’s looking at me impatiently. I notice that there are cardboard boxes in the backseat of the woman’s car.

  “Moving to Silver Springs?” I ask while I wait for Dylan to answer.

  “Yeah, needed a fresh start.”

  “I’m Lupine,” I introduce myself, offering her my hand to shake.

  “Saxon.”

  “Sorry?”

  “My name… My parents wanted a son.”

  I laugh, although I wonder if maybe I shouldn’t. I’d hate to be called Saxon. Poor girl.

  “Hot Wheels! What can I do for you?” Archer answers.

  “Hey Archer! It’s Lupine.”

  “Loops, what’s up?”

  “I’ve got someone here who needs a little help,” I tell him before going on to explain what’s happened.

  When I hang up, I tell Saxon that I’ll wait with her for the guys to arrive, but she laughs it off, telling me that Amon looks like he might die of boredom. She has no idea. I’m surprised he’s actually done what I asked and stayed in the car.

  “Are you sure?” I ask uncertainly. I don’t like the idea of leaving her here alone on the side of the road. Even if it is the middle of the day.

  “Of course, I’ll be fine.”

  “Give us your number,” I tell her. “At least then you’ll have one friend in town.”

  “Awesome,” she says, grabbing her phone from where it’s sitting on the passenger seat. “I can’t remember it for shit.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m the same.”

  She reels off the numbers and I save her number. “We’ll have to get a coffee sometime,” I say eagerly. “I know the perfect café.”

  I feel bad as I make my way back to the car and prepare to drive off. I really think I should have waited with her, but my concern eases when I turn the corner and pass the Hot Wheels tow truck.

  ***

  I’m surprised to find the guys waiting for me in the living room of the orphanage. They can’t seriously be so worried that they stayed here all day waiting for me.

  “Don’t you guys have work to do?” I ask, coming to sit on the arm of the sofa next to Rehan.

  “Or at least abs to work on,” I tease, poking at his ribs as he pulls me down so I’m sitting on his lap.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he replies, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me closer to his chest. “We were worried.”

  “I told you I’d come back safe,” I say stubbornly.

  “Piney, can I go out with Valentina?” Amon asks from the doorway.

  “Sure, just no tattoos!” I reply, struggling not to laugh as Rehan tickles me.

  “So… that means I can drink, smoke…” he begins listing all the other things he knows I don’t want him to do with a smirk on his face.

  “Er… do them at your own risk,” I tell him in a sickly sweet voice. “I
promise to murder you, if you do.”

  Amon laughs before making to leave.

  “Amon!” I call out to him.

  “Yeah?”

  “Be back for dinner.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Everyone will want to know about your trip to the academy,” I tell him.

  “Can we have pizza?” he bargains.

  “If you like…”

  “I’ll be back then,” Amon says with a grin before leaving us alone.

  Not that we’ll be alone for long. Jacqueline and Lewis will be back shortly with the children. It’s a little after three and no doubt, they’re on the school run.

  “You don’t like us worrying about you, do you?” Camden asks.

  He’s sitting on the floor, his legs stretched out in front of him, looking completely at ease.

  “I’m just not used to it,” I reply. “I’m a bit of a lone wolf.”

  “Not anymore,” Kalen growls.

  “I know we’re annoying,” Rehan whispers as he nuzzles against my neck, “but it’s our job to protect you now.”

  “I don’t really need protecting though.”

  “We know… but it would be nice if you’d humor us.”

  “Fancy spending the rest of the afternoon in bed?” Wren suggests, winking at me.

  “I can’t,” I say with a sigh as I hear the minibus turn onto the street. “The kids are back.”

  “Damn it,” Wren grumbles.

  “We could go hide out across the street,” Rehan suggests.

  “Or you guys could go to work,” I counter.

  “Where’s the fun in that?” Camden asks.

  “Is there anything we can do to help?” Kalen asks.

  “The kids will need to do their homework,” I tell him. “Any good at mathematics?”

  “Wren is…” Kalen points in Wren’s direction. “I’m better at fighting… I guess that’s not particularly helpful.”

  Laughing, I shake my head. Only a few weeks ago I was thinking about hiring someone to help with the workload and now I have four volunteers…

  The Storm

  The next few days are spent packing up Amon’s clothes for the academy, starting with finding the socks he’s been stashing under his bed. I’m not completely sure how much clothes he needs to take and I know I’m the queen of over prepared so I’ve probably packed too much.

  I’ve checked his school supplies list three times over. I’m pretty sure everything is ready and the guys definitely think I need to stop worrying about it. We’ve still got a few days before he leaves and I certainly don’t need to be thinking about it right now…

  When I should be fast asleep like the rest of the orphanage. My wolves certainly are. Not that I know how. There’s a storm raging outside and between the rain that’s pelting down on the window, the howling wind and the distant thunder, it is noisy as hell.

  I don’t understand how every other wolf shifter in the house has actually managed to fall asleep in this horrible weather.

  Rolling over, I pull the pillow over my head, trying to block out the sound. I really don’t want to have to deal with tomorrow on no sleep.

  There’s a resounding crash somewhere downstairs and within seconds I’m no longer the only one awake.

  “What the hell was that?” Kalen asks groggily.

  Wren is already out of bed, moving ridiculously fast to the window. He pulls the curtain back and looks down. “There’s something out there,” he says, pulling on his jeans before making his way across the room to the door. “Lupine, wait here. Guys, let’s go.”

  Like hell I’m going to just sit here…

  Climbing out of the bed, I pull on my dressing gown and follow him out of the room. The others aren’t happy about it and Camden tries to pull me back but I shake him off. While the guys make their way downstairs, I check on the children, but they’re all still fast asleep.

  Then I make my way down the stairs.

  “Rehan, Camden, check the back garden,” Wren says hotly. “Kalen, you’re with me. Lupine, for god’s sake, just wait here.”

  I try my best not to get angry but when I hear a baby cry; I push past the guys. They’re so worried about my safety that they’ve completely forgotten that we’re in an orphanage. People leave their babies on the doorstep from time to time.

  Shaking my head, I open the door and look out. Just as I expect there’s a baby on the front stoop. I crouch down, preparing to pick up the child but Wren pulls me back.

  “Careful.”

  “Of what? It’s a baby, for goodness’ sake.”

  Laughing, I pick up the baby, removing it from its wet basket and walking back inside.

  “Check for a note,” I tell them.

  “What about his mum? Should we look for her?” Rehan asks.

  “If you like. She’s probably long gone, though.”

  I look the baby over, removing his wet blankets and clothes. “First things first, we need to get you dried and warmed up,” I coo.

  The baby doesn’t stop crying until I’ve got him out of his wet diaper, and I’ve got him wrapped up in warm blankets. Cradling him closely, I begin to pace the living room, singing a little hum for the wee guy.

  “Was there a note?” I ask when Wren comes into the room.

  Nodding his head, he says, “his name is Lucian.”

  “Lucian?” I ask. “Hello baby Lucian.”

  “He’s a chameleon,” Wren tells me seriously. “His mum didn’t know what to do with him. Something about being unable to explain the random shifts to her parents. She’s human… so they wouldn’t understand, I guess.”

  I can’t understand. I’ve never been able to understand the idea of leaving my baby outside of an orphanage like that. Knowing my own mum did it to protect me makes me feel a little bit better about it, but not much.

  “Does this happen a lot?” he asks me, coming to stand next to me, looking down at the baby in my arms.

  “More often than I’d like.”

  Wren looks cut up. He’s got a look on his face that doesn’t seem to match his hard exterior. He’s staring at baby Lucian like he’s something terrifying. I’m not sure if it’s just a reaction to the fact that Lucian is actually a little baby and some great big scary monster he needs to protect me from. Or if he simply feels horrified at the idea of a baby being abandoned.

  I giggle when Lucian half shifts so his eyes match mine.

  “Wow!” Wren says, stepping closer, reaching out to offer baby Lucian his finger to hold.

  “I’ve never had to look after a chameleon baby before,” I admit. “I’m a little stumped.”

  “What do you mean?” Camden asks from the doorway.

  “They’re supposed to be pretty challenging as infants,” I say.

  “How so?”

  “They shift uncontrollably and often incompletely so they can wind up getting hurt.”

  “Shit… That doesn’t sound good.”

  Wren growls protectively at Camden, “baby ears.”

  I watch as baby Lucian gurgles, causing bubbles to pop out of his mouth. He really is the cutest thing. And I’ve seen some pretty cute babies in all my years at the orphanage.

  “Camden, there’s a crib in the cupboard at the top of the stairs.”

  “Where do you want it?” he asks.

  “Next to my bed.”

  “Hang on a second,” Wren pulls back suddenly looking distraught. If I thought he looked upset earlier, it has nothing on the look on his face at the realization, he won’t be getting laid again tonight.

  “He’s a baby,” I say. “I’m going to warn you now. If you guys don’t want to be woken up at least three times tonight, you should head home.”

  “Why would we go home?” Kalen asks, coming into the room. “This little guy is pretty ace.”

  “He’s going to want feeding, burping… He’s going to want his diaper changed.”

  I’m not trying to scare them off, but equally I really don’t want to ha
ve to deal with them grumbling about it when we’re all as tired as each other.

  “We’re staying,” Wren tells me as he takes the baby. “Can we go to bed now?”

  “We should feed him first. And he needs blankets and…”

  “Where are they?”

  “In the laundry room, top shelf. It’s been a little while since we had a newborn.”

  “I’ll get the blankets,” Camden says.

  “Do we have formula?” Wren asks. He looks pretty good holding baby Lucian. He’d definitely be the sort of dad the mums at the school gawk at.

  “It’s an orphanage,” I scoff. “Of course, there’s formula.”

  We always keep a spare tin of the stuff in the kitchen pantry for this very reason. Because babies are never dropped off during the day and never when the stores are open.

  Walking through to the kitchen, I prepare the formula milk, while Wren engages in what appears to be baby talk. It’s weird seeing the supposed lead wolf of my parents’ mafia seeming so… human. My insides clench at the sight. Yep, there’s nothing like seeing a man with a baby to make your ovaries explode.

  Jewels Café

  The next morning, the guys get straight to work fixing everything that was broken in the storm. Several fences came down and the trampoline out back somehow managed to flip over. We’re all dog tired. Baby Lucian didn’t sleep a wink and so we all took it in turns to stay up with him.

  It was not an easy night but then again, the first night never is.

  The more I think about it, the more worried I feel. If I’m going to look after Lucian properly, I’m going to need to do some research. All I know about Chameleons, is what I remember Mrs Mackney saying, and it isn’t much. Just that they shift uncontrollably and sometimes incompletely throughout their baby and toddler years. She had said that she’d had to call the Cleaning Den for help more than once when she had a shifter baby in the orphanage.

  But she also said it was short term… After a couple of years, it all dies down and it’s like they’re almost human… At least until they reach their teens.

  I have two options. The one I always recommend the children use – visit the library and read a book or two… or ask for help. I think I prefer option two.