Embracing the Wolf

by Catherine Bybee

  “It must have been hard.”

  Picking through the sale rack, Kate lifted up a striped blue and white jumper that would work for both a boy and a girl. A quick nod from Janet had her stashing it in the keep pile. “I’m happy I didn’t have a girl. Just look at all of the clothes they have for girls opposed to boys.”

  “I noticed. The little hats and sweaters are so stinking adorable.” Janet picked up pint size shoes that matched the pink purse. “So cute.” Then she noticed the price. “Fifty bucks? They have got to be kidding.”

  “See what I mean. Boys are way cheaper.”

  “That is crazy.” Janet put the items down and went the next isle.

  T-shirts and jeans, Kate mused. Boys were easy when it came to clothes.

  For one brief minute, she wondered what it would be like to be like Janet, pregnant and married to the man of her dreams, with enough money in the bank to buy a silly purse and shoes for fifty bucks.

  Would Richard be appalled if she came home from a day of shopping having spent hundreds of dollars on silly things? Or would he kiss her deeply and say ‘Anything for you, dear.’

  Kate shook her head dismissing the thought. She was jumping way too far ahead.

  She and Richard were mutually enjoying a physical relationship. Neither of them spoke of love and forever yet.

  Arguably, she couldn’t even say they were dating. More like roommates with separate bedrooms.

  At the sound of Joey’s voice, Kate glanced up to see a woman standing next to him talking.

  As if sensing her stare, the woman turned, glanced at Kate, then turned back to her son. Blocking him from Kate’s view.

  James had stepped aside with a book in his hand. He didn’t seem to notice the woman with her son.

  Not liking how the woman was talking in low tones, Kate moved toward them.

  Another glance over her shoulder and the strange woman left Joey’s side.

  “Who was that?” Kate watched the woman walk away. Long black hair hung down her back, her steps quick and decisive as if in retreat.

  “I dunno,” Joey said.

  “What did she say to you?”

  Joey fiddled with a bright red Elmo. Its giggle stood in dark contrast to the icy tension that crawled up Kate’s spine.

  “She asked why I wasn’t in school.”

  Scanning the department store, Kate noticed that the woman was gone. Then Kate realized what was bothering her about the woman. She didn’t carry a purse. Nor a bag of any kind.

  Joey pushed the button again, sending Elmo into another fit of laughter.

  Pushing the doll aside, Kate bent down to her son. “What did you tell her?”

  “Tell who?”

  His six-year-old mind was already on to the next thing. All the while, Elmo kept giggling.

  Frustrated, Kate pulled the stuffed toy from his hands and forced his eyes to hers. “The woman, Joey. What did you tell her about you not being in school?”

  “I told her I couldn’t go to school till the bad guys are caught.”

  An honest answer that anyone would question. Swallowing the lump, which formed in her throat, Kate continued her interrogation. “What did she say?”

  “Nothing, she gave me him.” He reached for Elmo. Kate kept it from him. “Is it mine?”

  It wasn’t right. Call her paranoid, but who would ask a kid about his school and say nothing at a reply like his. “No, Joey. He isn’t yours. Do you remember what I said about talking to strangers? If anyone comes up to you and starts talking, I want you to walk away.”

  “But she was nice, she gave me Elmo.”

  Kate placed both hands on his shoulders, her fear kept her hands rigid, and her voice firm. “I don’t care if she gave you a million dollars. You should never talk to strangers.”

  “But...”

  “No buts. Never! Do you hear me?” Her voiced reached higher octave, almost a shout. James dropped his book and Janet started her way.

  Joey’s lower lip started to tremble, his eyes filled with unshed tears. “I’m sorry, Mommy. I didn’t mean to make you mad.”

  “What’s the matter?” Janet put down her bag, concern etched in her face.

  “A woman was just here quizzing Joey about school.”

  Seemingly unconcerned, Janet asked, “What woman?”

  “She walked off that way.” Kate pointed to the retreating woman’s path.

  Hearing their conversation, James left their side in search of the stranger.

  “Most kids are in school, Kate. I’m sure it was nothing.”

  She stood up, taking Joey’s hand in hers. “I don’t think so.” Less assured of being outside the safety of the house, all Kate wanted to do was get back.

  Someone’s watching us. All around them, women and the occasional bored husband shopped the store. No one watched them. Still, Kate felt the weight of someone’s eyes.

  “I think we should leave.” The fun in the shopping trip was over. Fear of losing her son returned like the first day after the shooting.

  Perhaps if Richard were at her side she wouldn’t be so anxious. Without him, she felt wide open. Vulnerable.

  Chapter Ten

  Max flipped his phone closed and tossed it on the dash. “They’re on their way home.”

  “Why, what happened?”

  “Kate got spooked. Janet didn’t think there was a problem, but Kate wigged out when a strange woman started asking Joey about why he wasn’t in school.”

  “Maybe we should head back.”

  Folding up the useless map in his lap, Max tossed it next to his phone. “It’s not like this is getting us anywhere.”

  “I could use a break anyway. Maybe I should take Kate and Joey to my place for a few days. Give you and Janet a few days of peace before the baby comes.”

  “You guys aren’t a bother. If anything, Kate and Joey have been a blessing. I would never have been able to talk Janet into taking her maternity leave if it wasn’t for them being at the house.”

  Richard merged onto the Golden State Freeway and left the Santa Clarita Valley. Their leads were coming up cold.

  Both men talked of throwing in the towel until the next full moon. With the light of the full moon, and the changing of their human form to wolf, tracking would be much easier.

  “I’d like to show Kate where I live.”

  “You just want to get her alone.”

  “Since the boys upgraded my system, my security is almost as good as yours.”

  “Not to mention you won’t leave her side.” Max sat back and closed his eyes.

  Richard concentrated on the road for a while, keeping his thoughts to himself.

  He wanted her alone there was no denying that. He also wanted to show her his life. Not his brother’s. He wanted to pull out the boogie boards and hit the beach with Joey. Build a sand castle or two and have a bonfire on the beach. Then curl up next to Kate and watch the sunset.

  Plainly put, he wanted Kate Davis and all she brought with her. He enjoyed tossing Joey around in the pool and coloring crazy pictures of pirates and maps.

  He even snuck out and bought a pair of Nintendo DS’s with a half a dozen games for Joey’s birthday. The gift was burning a hole in his pocket, and the big day wasn’t for another three weeks. Richard could hardly wait to see his face when he gave it to him. Buying two meant he could play with him.

  Kate gave him a reason to come home. And it wasn’t only about the mind-blowing sex, although he wasn’t complaining. Just the thought of her shot heat to his groin. Since the change, his will power to ignore his urges was nil. Max was right about his libido. Lucky for him, Kate proved as explosive in bed as him.

  Merging onto the 405, Richard thought of Kate’s dingy apartment as he crossed the valley. Streets, overrun with the crimes of drug dealers and addicts, weren’t where Kate belonged. He didn’t want her going back. Ever. She didn’t belong there anymore, and Joey deserved better.

  Was he falling in love, or was it the cha
nge?

  Trying his best to ignore the nagging voice in his head, Richard straightened behind the wheel and went around a slow moving SUV in a rush to get to Kate.

  “Why the frown?” Max asked from the passenger seat.

  Cursing his brother’s ability to read him, Richard tried his best to relax his shoulders and sink into his seat. “Nothing.”

  Max grunted.

  “Tell me…” Richard rubbed the stubble on his cheek, unable to form the question he had for his brother. Not completely sure he was ready to hear the answer.

  “Tell you what?”

  “About that soul mate thing. You know, when a werewolf meets their soul mate they know it. How did you know with Janet?”

  Max lifted his brows and pulled his sunglasses from his eyes. “I think I knew the minute I laid eyes on her. With our first kiss, I knew.”

  “How did you know?”

  “I don’t know, I just did.”

  “Well, thank you very much for all the details.”

  “Geez, give me a break. I just knew. I couldn’t be apart from her without feeling it, even for a few hours. Imagining life without her to come home to hurt, you know?”

  He did know. That’s what scared him. He was getting a very clear picture of what Max described.

  “You think Kate is the one, don’t you?”

  Richard wasn’t ready to admit it to himself, let alone his brother. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, if she is… take it from me; tell her sooner rather than later about the wolf thing. Janet wasn’t too happy to find out about it the way she did.”

  Max had changed in front of Janet before she knew he was a werewolf.

  She left the next day and refused to see or talk to him for over a week. Richard remembered his brother’s obsession during those days. He didn’t sleep, didn’t eat. Max reached stalking status and cornered his father-in-law to get Janet to come around. According to Max, Janet wasn’t upset about the werewolf deal as much as she was the lies.

  If Kate was the one, Richard knew he would have to tell her soon. Keeping your identity from your mate was impossible, and even dangerous.

  If she wasn’t the one—he dismissed the thought. He couldn’t even go there in his own mind.

  What did that mean?

  ****

  “Pack up.” Richard tossed a suitcase on Kate’s bed and turned to open her drawers.

  “What?”

  The alarm in her voice had him spinning toward her and gathering her in his arms. “We need to get out of here for a few days. You and Joey will love my place on the beach.”

  She sagged against him in relief. “Sounds good.”

  “You didn’t think I was asking you to leave did you?”

  “Well…”

  Richard lowered his mouth to hers, wiping the worry from her face. Her hands clenched his shirt and her lips parted to accept his probing tongue.

  She was honey, thick and sweet. He could taste her all day and never bore.

  He reluctantly moved away when he hardened. “We can finish that later,” he promised.

  A light knock on the door turned their attention to James. “I’m sorry to interrupt. There’s a Mr. Davis at the gate to see Miss Kate.”

  Kate’s hand went instantly still and cold in his.

  Pivoting, he brought both her hands to his. “You don’t have to see him if you don’t want to.”

  Sending him a quick shake of her head she said, “It’s okay. I knew this day would come eventually.”

  Richard nodded to James who left to let Kate’s father onto the property.

  She shuddered and took a deep breath.

  “I could send him away.”

  “No. I could use a minute. Would you mind showing him in?”

  Oh, wouldn’t I? “No problem.” I’d like to give your Dad a piece of my mind. Maybe even give the man your current address and ask if he would allow his dog to live there, let alone you and Joey.

  He turned to leave before Kate could read his thoughts.

  “Richard?”

  “Yes?”

  “Stay with me… when I’m talking to him. Please?”

  Saddened by the forlorn expression on her face he stepped to her side, took her hands in his again, and kissed her fingertips. “I won’t leave you.”

  The chime of the front door told them both that he stood outside. “Take your time.”

  ****

  Her hands shook while she splashed water on her face. Why is he here? What does he want? She leaned against the cold porcelain pondering the thoughts while the water ran freely into the sink. She had to pull it together. This self-defeating behavior would get her nothing but heartache. Pushing away from the counter, she cut the water off and reached for a towel.

  Looking into the mirror, Kate saw the seventeen-year-old girl she once was, pregnant, scared and completely alone. Her father’s voice booming over the halls, he laid blame for the pregnancy squarely on the shoulders of her mother.

  “It’s your fault! She never would have ended up this way if you didn’t choose that stupid charity to dedicate so much time too.”

  “Calm down, Jack. She can go away to have the baby and return after the adoption. Everything will be fine.”

  “See what I mean. You’re talking about our daughter, Elizabeth. Not some whore on the street that has babies like cattle.”

  “Stop yelling. She’ll hear you.”

  Kate lay on her bed sobbing into the pillow while her parents went at it.

  “I don’t care. She is just as irresponsible as you.”Jack slammed the door. Footsteps pounded in the hall as her mother chased after him.

  “Well maybe if you were around once in a while instead of hung up at your precious office all the time, you could have been more of a father for her. Maybe she wouldn’t have slept with the first boy who showed her some attention. Don’t lay this at my door.”

  Kate pressed her eyes closed and shook the painful memories from her head. She was twenty-four years old. The time had come for her to face her demons. Below her the wooden floors creaked, she cast a pained glance at the floor. One of those demons was currently downstairs talking with her lover.

  She dried her hands, straightened her shoulders, and left the sanctuary of her room.

  Jack Davis’s voice traveled up the stairs, stopping her in place. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Once I learned who you were, I saw no need to own any stock in your company.” Richard’s voice was thinly controlled. The tension in the room grew thick. “Do you have any idea how your daughter has been living, Mr. Davis. Where your daughter has been living?”

  Kate’s eyes widened and her hand flew to her throat in surprise.

  “If it wasn’t for the newspaper article I wouldn’t have found her,” Jack said.

  “Right.”

  Kate’s feet moved faster. She hurried downstairs. The sounds of her steps echoed on the hard floors. From the steps, she could see into the living room. Her father stood by the door. Richard gave him very little room and appeared as if he was about to pounce on the man.

  His desire to protect her sent a small shimmer of pride straight to her heart. Still, she didn’t want him coming to blows with her dad. Stepping off onto the floor, the boards squeaked announcing her presence.

  Jack’s head popped up. He had aged. His dark hair now sprinkled with grey and silver. His eyes narrowed when they found her watching them.

  Kate swallowed the lump in her throat and with an unsteady voice said, “Hi, Daddy.”

  His shoulders slumped. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came.

  Finding strength in Richard’s eyes, Kate stopped beside him. He laced his fingers with hers, giving no doubt as to their relationship to her father.

  “I see you’ve met Richard.”

  “Yes, yes I have.” The mighty Jackson Davis skirted his eyes to Richard. “Would you mind if I spoke to my daughter…alone.”

  Kate felt Richard�
�s fingers grip hers.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do.”

  “Anything you have to say can be said in front of Richard,” she told him.

  “Very well. Can we sit?”

  The three of them moved over to the two large sofas that sat in front of a massive fireplace dominating the room.

  Jack stared at them both.

  “Why are you here?” Kate asked after a minute of awkward silence.

  “I wanted to see you. Make sure you were all right.”

  Was that concern in his voice, or were her ears playing tricks on her.

  “I’m fine.”

  “I read in the paper that you were shot.”

  She glanced down at her arm, which only wore a large bandage at this point. “It was nothing serious.”

  “Good.”

  Odd, her father, the master negotiator, owner, and CEO of one of the largest companies in Southern California was reduced to one word sentences.

  He was just as frazzled as she was.

  “Why are you really here?”

  “Can’t a father check on his daughter?”

  “You lost that right when you shunned me,” she snapped

  “You ran away.”

  “I wasn’t going to give up my baby.”

  “So you ran,” he argued, not about to give up the point.

  “Yes, I did. And you never looked for me.”

  Jack shook his head. “That’s not true. I knew you went to that house in Arizona. Your mother spoke with the staff nearly every day while you were there.”

  Kate felt a tingle race down her arms. She had no idea. But a simple admission to knowing where she was wasn’t going to erase her pain.

  “Liz sent checks.”

  Everything ended with that…money. Jack Davis solved everything with money. The sorrow within her turn to anger. Eyes flaring, she hissed out in blind fury, “Money,” she spat. “What I needed was loving and supportive parents, Daddy.” Her finger poked toward her chest. “To stand by me! In case you didn’t know, money doesn’t comfort the soul.”

  Jack lifted his chin. His voice cold, “We did what we thought we should do. Maybe it wasn’t right, maybe we could have done more. It isn’t like there is a manual on what to do when your teenage daughter gets pregnant.”