I refused to glance at him and he sighed tiredly.
“It is my fault. I was responsible for him. I should have known he’d try something with Trent. It’s his nature.”
“Bullshit.” Dad’s hands wrapped around my shoulders and my head jerked up as he gave me a hard shake. “Don’t do this to yourself. It could have happened to anyone, myself included. Like you said, it’s his nature to push boundaries.”
“And I know that! So, I should have realized –”
Dad shook me again and my mouth snapped shut as he shouted. “You can see the future now? Hmm? I didn’t realize you were omnipotent.”
“Dad,” I stuttered, taken aback by his anger. “I’m sorry.”
“I know, Bunny. And it’s fine if you’re sorry that you lied and were in your room alone with Dom, but not because Monster ran off. You didn’t tell him to go play outside. You left him with a responsible adult.” His grip eased as he stared at me gently. “Do you blame Trent for losing him?”
“No, he was in the bathroom and Monster took advantage.”
“Exactly. If you don’t blame him, then you can’t blame yourself.”
“Dad,” I swallowed hard to try to prevent the sobs that threatened to break through. “If they have him….”
“They don’t and if they do, we get him back,” Dad answered fiercely, dragging me forward in a tight hug. I clung to him desperately, needing him to be right. I remembered what it was like to be held by the Hanleys and I could only imagine what they’d do to my brother.
Sudden howls startled us and I called out to Dom through our bond. Monster?
We’ve got him. Headed your way now.
“They found him,” I told Dad, as relief flooded though me. I felt the tension drain from him as he tightened his arms around me.
“Thank God,” he murmured as we stumbled back toward the motel in the glow of my flashlight.
A few minutes later, a dark shadow separated from the forest as a large black wolf trotted toward me, Monster clinging to his back. I ran to them as Monster lifted a tear streaked face, snot dripping onto Dom’s fur.
“Sissy,” he cried, arms outstretched as I reached for him. “I’m sorry. I got lost.” I hoisted him up as he wrapped spindly legs around my waist. “I was trying to shift into a wolf.”
“Shh, it’s okay,” I whispered as Dad wrapped his arms around us both. Thank you. I added as Dom headed back to the cover of the woods. I glimpsed the weaving shadows as the other members of the Pack headed back home. Thank them all for me.
I felt his acknowledgement right before he slipped from the connection. I knew he was probably talking to other members of the Pack and I tightened my arms around Monster.
“You can’t run off like that, Theodore.” His head came up at my use of his real name and I kept my voice firm. “There are bad people who might hurt you. You can’t go wandering the woods by yourself and you definitely can’t go shifting into a wolf by yourself.”
He nodded and I pressed a kiss to his forehead. “Let’s get you inside and take a bath. You’ll have a busy day tomorrow telling everyone thank you.”
One bath later and an exhausted little boy slept burrowed in the middle of my bed as I leaned against the open window. Dad had offered to take him, but I wasn’t ready to let the little Monster out of my sight yet. The fear that the Hanleys could have taken him wouldn’t leave me. I thought I’d come to terms with my kidnapping but when Trent had said Monster was missing, it had all rushed back.
An angry growl startled me from my thoughts and it took me a second to recognize it was Trent. “What the hell did you think you were doing?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” a low voice denied and my forehead wrinkled as I tried to figure out who he was talking too.
“Like hell you do. You were headed straight for the Hanley line,” he accused and in the silence that followed I deduced he must have interpreted the situation correctly. After a minute, it dawned on me who the other person was; the voice had been feminine, and the only female who’d been out hunting for Monster was Anna.
“Until you stopped me,” she snapped and I was positive it was Anna.
“Yes, I stopped you because it was suicide.”
“We needed to know if they had him,” she argued in a whisper shout. “Time was of the essence. No telling what they’d do to a little boy.”
“Initiate him into the pack. That’s what they would have done.” He paused as I wondered what he meant by initiate. “You know what they would have done to you if you’d been caught?” The silence was loud as Anna refused to answer. “They would have beat you, raped you, and done their best to break you.” I heard his throat clear as I leaned further out the window to hear his words. “You are a magnificent wolf, Anna, but you are just one wolf. You can’t go against a pack like that alone.”
“I just wanted to see if I caught his scent. If they’d come onto our land. Grabbed him.”
“I can appreciate that, but this isn’t the place for lone wolf shit,” Trent told her.
Anna snorted, “Said by the only lone wolf here.”
His next words were so low I almost missed them. “Not by choice.”
“I came to check on Jess and Monster,” Anna said quietly. “Then I’ll go home.”
“I’ll take you home.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I wasn’t asking,” he said sharply and I heard Anna suck in a sharp breath. “I don’t trust you and the last thing we need is you getting kidnapped. It would destroy what’s left of the Pack.”
“You act like you know us,” Anna retorted angrily. “But you’re not Pack.”
“I know. Trust me, I’ve been made well aware I’m not Pack, but you know what? I can see things just a bit clearer than you because of that fact. And I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure you or anyone else doesn’t destroy it because of stupidity.” Anna made a choked sound and he sighed. “Let’s go. You can check on the kid in the morning.”
Only a light scrape against the concrete told me they’d left as I eased my window shut. I glanced once more at Monster, grateful they’d found him and Trent had stopped Anna from making a dangerous mistake. I crossed to the bed and smoothed a dark copper lock off his forehead. There had to be a way to fix the broken bonds that surrounded us. Otherwise, I was afraid we might not survive the coming days.
***
The morning light streaming through my window caused me to blink. It took a second to realize it was late, really late. I shot up as I checked the time on my alarm, wondering why it hadn’t gone off.
“Your dad turned it off.”
I’d like to say the reason I didn’t shriek was because I’d instinctively known he was there, but that would be a lie. Instead, I blinked at him bleary eyed and repeated dumbly, “He did?”
The brilliant smile he gave me did nothing to get my brain working as I stared at him in stunned admiration. It wasn’t often I got a full smile from him and my barely awake brain didn’t know what to do with it.
“I think I like seeing you first thing in the morning,” he murmured, bracing his forearms on the bed as he leaned over me. His lips skimmed my cheek and I frantically tried to decide if bad breath was worth the risk when he added, “You’re much quieter than I expected.”
I smacked his chest and exhaled right in his face, deciding he deserved a shot of morning breath after that comment. His chest rumbled as he rolled over onto the bed next to me.
“Why are you in such a good mood?” I asked rhetorically, dragging the covers back over my arms as I snuggled back into the bed. If Dad had shut the alarm off then I was taking full advantage.
“Because I’m in bed with my favorite girl?”
“Only girl,” I corrected, grinning up at him.
“Only girl,” he echoed.
“And why are you in bed with me and not at school?”
“It’s Friday,” he offered in explanation, crossing his arms behind
his head as he laid back and giving me a great view of his biceps.
“Okay, then, why am I in bed and not at school?”
“Your Dad thought it might be a good day to play hooky since you were up so late last night,” Dom answered, cutting his eyes toward me as he literally hogged almost every square inch of my bed.
“Dad? My Dad? Decided it was okay for me to play hooky after losing Monster.”
“You didn’t lose him,” Dom chided and I tensed. “You didn’t. Your Dad said so. I say so. Trent said so.” I crinkled my nose, not quite ready to let the guilt go. “Anyway, don’t you have a party to get ready for?” His question was an obvious bid to change the subject and it worked.
I groaned, staring up at the ceiling and wondering if I could pretend to be sick. “That’s tonight,” I said flatly.
“Yup.”
“Frick.”
He chuckled, shifting so he faced me and using a finger to turn my head to look at him. “It’s a good thing you’re doing.”
I chuckled mirthlessly. “If no one kills each other or calls the cops.”
“I think the odds are in our favor,” he said, his enigmatic smile making eyes narrow.
“What do you know that I don’t know?”
“That my dad may have been sworn in as the acting Sherriff this morning while you were being a lazy bones.”
“Okay, I object to being called a lazy bones and what the hell?” My question ended on a shriek and at Dom’s hasty glance at the door, I realized his visit was completely unauthorized. “Also, are you trying to get on my Dad’s bad side?” I dropped my voice to an almost intelligible hiss but he heard me. He placed a fast kiss against my lips before rolling off the bed right as the door swung open.
Dad stood there, glaring suspiciously around the room. “Who were you talking to?”
“No one,” I managed, fighting not to look at the side of the bed where Dom laid.
“I heard you shout, Bunny,” Dad informed me.
“Yes,” I agreed to his surprise. “You did because I saw what time it is and how late I am.”
“Oh,” he replied, relaxing slightly at my explanation and I ignored the twinge of guilt at how easily I lied to him. “I turned your alarm off.” I barely repressed saying, “I know,” and giving myself away as I nodded and tried to look surprised. “I figured you deserved a break. You’ve been a trooper through all of this, especially with your brother.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I said, swallowing back choking amounts of guilt as I ignored the presence of my boyfriend…mate?...hiding next to my bed. “I appreciate it.”
“I’m making pancakes with chocolate chips,” he offered, hovering next to the door as he made to leave.
“Because they look like cookies?” I added, smiling and he nodded sheepishly.
“It seemed healthier than feeding him cookies for breakfast.”
“Pro parenting tip right there, Dad,” I teased him. “I’ll join you in a minute.”
I waited until the door shut before rolling to the side of the bed and looking over the edge. Dom was squashed half under the bed, his legs drawn up comically as he attempted to fit in a space two sizes too small for him. I pressed my lips together, fighting a smile and he sighed.
“Go ahead and laugh.”
I did, pressing my face into the pillow to muffle the sound of my laughter and swiping away tears as he straightened to his full height.
“I should go. You have pancakes to eat.”
“You could always go around and knock,” I offered and he considered it for a moment before shaking his head.
“Too suspicious.” He gestured to the window. “I wanted to take a walk in the woods anyway.” The way he said it made me think it was more than an early morning stroll.
“Why?” I asked curiously as I sat cross legged on the bed.
“Your brother’s scent was all over the woods last night.” My forehead wrinkled as I tried to figure out what he meant. “More than if he’d just wandered off,” Dom clarified meaningfully.
“He’s been in the woods before?”
“Yeah, multiple times.”
“But why? How?”
“His scent was mingled with another.”
“Someone was walking around the woods with him?”
“Yeah, female.”
“Wren?” I cried in disbelief and he gestured for me to keep my voice down. “Sorry. Wren?” I whispered more quietly but no less disbelief. “You think she’s been taking him walking in the woods?”
“I can’t be sure without checking her scent, but if she’s the one taking care of him….I don’t know who else it might be.”
“But why would she take him out there?”
“I don’t know, but the trails we found,” Dom paused, squatting until he was eye level with me. “Not a single one crossed a path created by the patrols.”
My lips parted as his meaning sank in. “She’s avoiding them.”
He nodded, his expression serious. “We would have found him a lot sooner if his scent hadn’t been everywhere. It could explain why he was comfortable wandering into the woods at night by himself.”
“We need to talk to Wren,” I murmured, absently rubbing my arms. He nodded, curling his fingers around my hand, stilling it.
“I’m going to follow the trails. Find out how far they go.”
“How far?” I repeated and he shifted uncomfortably. “How far do you think they go, Dom?”
He met my eyes and sighed. “It’s possible they go all the way to the Hanley border.”
Chapter Ten
I managed to get through breakfast, Dom’s words haunting me as I pretended the chocolate chip pancakes we ate were giant cookies instead. Monster’s giggles eased some of my fear as I fought to keep a happy face. Why had Wren been taking him into the forest? Where were they going? What were they doing?
I was desperate to talk to her but when Dad gave me that helpless look he’d perfected, I knew what he was going to ask before he even spoke.
“Can you watch Monster,” I stated at the exact same time as him. He smiled sheepishly, scratching his nose.
“How did you know?”
“I can read you like a book, Dad,” I answered, smiling at him fondly. “Why can’t Wren watch him?” I asked, fishing for information.
“She is going into town with some of the others to buy party supplies,” he replied absently, his mind already at the office and working on expense ratios and spreadsheets.
“Oh, that’s a little surprising.”
“Why?” His head came up, something in my question sparking his curiosity and I shrugged hastily.
“I just thought she’d be watching Monster instead of shopping. She seems to take her responsibility seriously.”
“She does. I actually told her she should go. Get out a little more.”
She seems to get out plenty, I thought privately, but gave Dad a bright smile. “You’re right and I’m here to watch Monster so it worked out perfectly.”
He beamed, obviously proud of himself and I let go of my plan to interrogate Wren.
At least for today.
Dad disappeared out the door as I turned to the little troublemaker. “Alright, Monster, you going to help me set up tables for tonight’s party?”
He stared at me speculatively. “Will there be cookies at this party?”
“Yes,” I said definitively. “More cookies than one little boy could ever eat.” His eyes widened for a second before narrowing in determination and I knew he’d accepted the challenge.
A knock on the door interrupted us and when I peeked through the peephole I was surprised to see Sam standing there, bouncing on her heels.
“Hey,” I greeted her as I pulled the door open quickly. “I thought you’d be shopping with the others.”
She looked startled but recovered quick as she answered. “I am. Well, I’m supposed to meet up with them. I need a favor.” She spoke quickly, the words almost tumbling over one another
in their rush to get out.
“Sure,” I answered slowly, feeling like something was off but not sure what. “What do you need?”
“Can you watch Nicky for me?”
“Uh, yeah, sure, I guess so,” I stuttered out as she let out a relieved sigh.
“Great!” She scooted backwards, waving as Nicky stood next to the door. “Bye, be good for Aunt Jess, Nicky.”
She disappeared around the corner as I glanced down at Nicky and muttered under my breath, “Aunt Jess?” He shuffled his feet, shoulders hunched and I knew I needed to do something to put him at ease.
“Hey, Nicky,” I said cheerily. “We were just going to go play out back.”
“I thought you said we were setting up for the party,” Monster accused, crossing his arms.
“We can do both,” I told him, locking the door and following where Sam had disappeared. I scanned the parking lot and field but she was nowhere in sight. “Nicky, do you know where your mom was going?”
He shook his head, bashful in my presence and I smiled gently. “Okay.”
“I thought your name was Bunny,” he whispered and I laughed.
“I answer to a lot of names,” I informed him, using the hand I held to twirl him around. He giggled, relaxing, as I rattled them off. “Jess, Bunny, Sissy, and now Aunt Jess.”
I took a deep breath as the title rolled around my head, suddenly feeling way to young to be someone’s aunt.
I like it, Dom’s thought echoed in my head, amusement coating it.
You would, I retorted. Find anything?
She was meeting someone.
What? The thought came out more like a shriek and I felt him flinch. Sorry.
Her trail goes all the way to the Hanley border. He paused and I sent an impatient thought his way. She didn’t cross to Hanley land. Whoever she met stayed on Hanley land and she stayed on Navarre. I can’t get a good read on the scent though.
So, Wren is meeting someone.
We don’t know for sure its Wren, he reminded me. I still need to verify its her scent.
Its hers, I replied, knowing it down to my bones. The question was who was she meeting? And why?
The Challenge (The Pack Book 2) Page 8
