by Sydney Addae
“Thank you,” she murmured as he left the room.
“I’m glad you’re doing better,” Renee said while bending down to kiss his forehead.
“I’m glad you came, Aunty. It’s good seeing you. Tell Mandy hi for me when you talk to her.”
“You bet, speaking of which, I need to call her to check and see how the business is going. I’ll be right back.” She left the room, cell phone in hand.
“Mom, how long are you going to be here?” He looked out into the hall and then back at her.
“Until you’re much better.” She eyed him with determination. “Much better, so don’t count on me leaving anytime soon.”
He grinned.
His boyish smile wrenched at her heart. She longed to take him in her arms, hold tight and rock him like she’d done when he was little.
His smile fell away as he looked into the hall. She noticed and turned to look in the hall. It was empty. Frowning, she turned back to him.
The contemplative look on his face concerned her. “What is it?” She didn’t mean to sound worried, it was just hard to sit back, helpless.
Shaking his head, he smiled. But this one didn’t meet his eyes. “Nothing, just thinking about some things. Have you heard from Rese?”
Recognizing the change of subject, she let it pass and answered. “Not yet. I left him a message and so did your Aunt. Hopefully I’ll hear from him sometime today.” A chill skittered down her back and she pulled her sweater closer. “Are you cold?”
“No, Ma’am. I’m kind of warm.” He picked up the remote.
Sitting back in the surprisingly large, comfortable chair, she picked up her purse and pulled out her electronic reader. The earphones came out next. She didn’t bother hiding her grin when he zeroed in on some drama television program. Slipping the ear buds into her ears, she turned on her reader and tuned out the noise in the room.
Engrossed in the story, she felt a chill down her arms. She glanced at Tyrone. He’d straightened on the bed and appeared to be at attention even though he lay on the bed. She frowned. Pulling out the ear buds, she started to ask him a question. That’s when she heard someone’s footsteps leaving the room.
Confused, she looked at him again. He stared at the door without blinking. Alarmed, she ran to the bed and shook him. It took a few shakes and yells before he blinked.
“Ma. It’s okay. Don’t cry. I’m okay.” His voice lowered into a crooning sound. She had no idea she was crying. “I’m fine, just a little tired.”
“But…but, you didn’t respond. It was like…like you didn’t hear me.” She sucked in a breath, hoping her trembling would stop. Her heartbeat wouldn’t slow down and she tried not to become hysterical. But she’d never before seen him in a trance or whatever it was he’d been in He placed his hand over hers, looked her in the eyes and spoke. “Mom, you’re overreacting. I’m fine. It was nothing.”
She jerked back as though he slapped her. “Are you…are you kidding?” She snatched her hand from his. “You must be joking. How the hell…” She stood up and walked off to the wall. This boy just told me I was overreacting. He’s lost his mind. Calm down. Where was Renee?
“Ma?”
Without looking at him, she threw her arm back and held up her hand.
He remained quiet.
Closing her eyes, she inhaled and exhaled to slow her heartbeat. She visualized the boys when they were small. The twins had been a loving handful, but they’d filled her lonely days and nights. Now they were grown and she was overreacting. She pushed down the anger that threatened to choke her.
Renee was right.
She needed to do something with her life. Maybe go back to school, take up a hobby, do something so she wouldn’t overreact. Damn it.
She spun and stared at him. “I can’t believe you said I overreacted.”
He squirmed beneath the sheet. “Maybe that was the wrong word, but Ma, I’m okay. See?” He sat straighter.
“How the hell does that prove anything?” She hadn’t meant to raise her voice, but he was pissing her off and in a few minutes she really would be overreacting.
The devilish grin he sprouted was reminiscent from when he was a young boy trying to escape a punishment. “It doesn’t. I just didn’t know what else to say to keep you from going off on me.”
She stared at him and started laughing. “You were close to the line. Don’t do that. I want you to get well, not make you worse.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he said in a meek tone.
“So what happened?” She returned to the side of the bed just in time to see his face shutter closed.
“Nothing. I was caught in a daydream.” He didn’t look at her.
“Tyrone Bennett.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“You know the penalty for lying to your mama, right?”
He released a long, drawn out sigh. “Yes. But I can’t tell you.”
“Why didn’t you just say that? You think I’d try to make you tell me everything? You’re grown and entitled to your secrets. Everybody got secrets. I was concerned that’s all.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not up to par. Could you get the nurse in here, I need something for pain.”
Her stomach dropped. “If I left you alone for a while would you still need the pain meds?” she asked in a soft voice.
“No.” His voice rose, and then he gave her a sheepish grin as if afraid to admit he wanted his mama. “I’m glad you’re here. My side is sore and I want to sleep. I can’t do that without the pain meds. Have you eaten?”
The change in topics threw her for a loop. “What?”
“Have you had anything to eat? You or Aunt Renee?”
She thought back and realized she hadn’t had anything since early that morning. “I can’t remember and I don’t know about Renee. I’ll ask her when she comes back.”
A few moments later, Renee and the nurse strode into the room.
The nurse stuck a needle into his IV and checked a few things. Jasmine noticed the nurse bend down and talk quietly with Tyrone. When they were done, the nurse turned, smiled at her and Renee, and left the room.
Jasmine itched to ask what the nurse said, but remembered her earlier remarks. “Is everything okay?” She stepped close to the bed and looked him over with a critical eye.
“Yeah, she wanted to know how bad the pain was.” His eyelids drooped.
She gave into the urge to touch him, to reassure herself he was okay. The back of her hand stroked the side of his face. He sighed as he fell under the dominion of the medication.
“He’s asleep?” Renee asked, coming to stand next to her.
Jasmine nodded, leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead. “Hungry?” she asked her sister.
“Yeah. You?”
Jasmine nodded as she backed away from the bed. “I am. Is there some place here where we can eat?”
“I think I overheard someone talking about a cafeteria. I’ll ask the nurse, and we can grab a bite before he wakes up. Have you talked to the doctor about Tyrone’s next step? It’s good to see him healing, but what happens next?”
Jasmine hadn’t asked that many questions because the doctor had been so forthcoming about Tyrone’s condition. Before she could answer, Renee had walked off and was speaking to the nurse behind the counter.
“Thanks,” Renee said to the nurse as she waved Jasmine over.
“There’s some place here?” Jasmine asked as she caught up with her sister.
Renee nodded. “Yeah, a couple of floors down. Stairs or elevator?”
Jasmine was tempted to take the stairs, but didn’t feel up to it. “Elevator.” Following the signs, they took the elevator and walked into the cafeteria. Scents teased her nostrils, her stomach growled. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was before,” Jasmine said, heading toward the line for the grill. There were steaks, burgers, and prime rib on the menu. Her brows rose at the selection. No chicken or fish?
Renee picked up a pre-made salad and wa
ited for her.
“I’d like a steak, medium rare. There needs to be some pink in the middle. But I don’t want a big steak.”
The chef never spoke, he simply held up a raw piece of meat.
“Do you have anything smaller?”
He cut the steak in half and held it up.
Smiling, she nodded. “That’s perfect, thank you.” Jasmine stepped to the side and grabbed a small salad and garlic toast while waiting for her steak.
“What do you want to drink?” her sister asked.
“Water. A bottle, so I can take it back to the room.”
“Good idea.” Renee grabbed two bottles and picked up a large brownie.
“A salad and a brownie? How does that work out for you?” Jasmine teased as she accepted the plate with her steak from the chef. She slipped a tip in his jar and headed for the cashier. When they’d walked in the cafeteria earlier, it had seemed empty, but during the time they’d taken to grab their food, most of the tables had filled.
“Wanna sit outside?” Renee asked.
A table near the exit opened and Jasmine headed for it. The idea of swatting flies while trying to cut her steak held no appeal. “No, here’s one.” They each took a seat and looked out the large window. It was a beautiful day, maybe after they ate, she’d take a quick walk to stretch her legs.
“Jazz?”
“Hmmm?” She swallowed the garlic bread and took a deep breath.
“Have you noticed there’s a football convention going on here?”
“What?” She looked up at Renee.
“I mean, have you noticed how frigging big all the men are in this place? Even the women are tall. Plus, there aren’t any black people working here. We’re in Maryland, how the hell can there not be any blacks working in a hospital.”
Jasmine hadn’t noticed the shape, size, or color of anyone. Her sole focus had been on Tyrone. Truthfully, she didn’t care if the people were zebras, Tyrone was getting better and that’s all that mattered to her. But Renee was different. She was an anthropology professor back in St. Louis. Noticing people were her stock and trade.
“No. I hadn’t noticed. I’m just glad Rone is getting better. Have you heard from Rese?”
Her sister cut her eyes at her. “No, I would’ve told you. And I’m glad they’re taking good care of Rone, too. I owe them more than I can say. It’s just weird being in a place so…so sterile. There’s no diversity. Everyone’s the same. Big men, tall women. All pale.” Renee shivered. “It’s just strange.”
Jasmine looked out the window. Her eyes locked with a pair of turbulent bluish-green eyes. A chill snaked down her spine chased by a flash of heat. Her heartbeat stuttered and then picked up in speed. Warmth radiated through her and settled in her belly. A tingling started between her thighs. The alien feelings surprised her.
“See, they’re big.” Her sister tugged at her attention.
With reluctance, Jasmine pulled away from the fascinating eyes. “Huh?” A curl of warmth fluttered lower, tempting, and teasing.
“That guy you were looking at, did you see how big he was?”
She hadn’t noticed anything but his eyes. “No, not really.”
Renee sat back in her chair and stared at her. “That conversation we had back at the house a few days ago, you thinking about it?”
Jasmine fought through the fog clouding her mind. “No. Give me a minute to remember.”
Renee chuckled. “Okay. What time do you want to head back to the room?” “I’m not sure, Rone was in pain and the medicine helps him sleep.” She was done eating and slid back from the table. “Wanna take the scenic route back upstairs?”
Renee nodded as she joined Jasmine at the waste bin to dump their trash. Renee linked her arm in Jasmine’s and headed toward the glass door leading to the gardens.
For the first time, Jasmine took note of the people in the room. The men were huge. It could’ve been a linebacker convention. She was glad when they walked out into the sun, but she was haunted by the clarity of those turquoise eyes.
Chapter 3
Silas watched the only humans in the building walk arm in arm through the gardens. With half an ear he listened to another Alpha discuss plans for his pack. The Alpha was building a school on their land and was trying to find a way to keep it limited to just pack.
“Make it private,” one Alpha suggested.
“We did that and still had outsiders apply for enrollment,” another Alpha said. “We found ourselves in a discrimination lawsuit and settled out of court. The laws are changing and it’s harder and harder to be exclusive.”
“But we have to allow some interaction among humans. The problem is once that happens, friendships develop and all kinds of other things.”
The Alphas mumbled their agreement.
Silas understood their dilemma. As their Patron, or lead Alpha, he required each of them to stay current with the time period. Pups were to be provided the best education, which spawned superior companies. Each pack had to invest in real estate, and own their land. The members of the pack were to be trained in either a trade or continue to college. Bottom line - all had to utilize their skills for the advancement of the pack.
Unfortunately, there was a downside. The packs under his leadership were vast, wealthy and powerful. Their schools had the best academic programs, which provided the top test scores in their respective states. Humans wanted their children to attend those schools, but to date were not allowed.
“Why not say the schools are for the descendants of…your original Alpha, that would stop the lawsuits,” Silas said into the silence.
“Yeah, that should work,” Alpha Lyle, one of the attorneys present, said. “If the schools were built for a den, and it was specified for that purpose, it might work. However, you may not be able to participate in state competitions.”
“How many schools do we have in this country?” Silas asked.
“Over three hundred that comes to mind,” Lyle said.
“Then plan our own academic competitions. Start at the state level, then regional, and then national. This way the barometer of academic excellence has greater meaning. Let’s face it, the public schools offer no competition and the private schools are not that much better. But to pit a shifter school against another for scientific or mathematical excellence, that is a real contest. And I would participate in the judging on the national level,” Silas said, knowing his involvement would settle the matter.
“That would be great. We can have all those who win your scholarships attend as well. That way they can extend their thanks as a collective voice,” another Alpha said.
Pleased, Silas nodded as they discussed the change in the educational trajectory of their packs. Their energy and excitement was a tangible thing.(too vague) For the most part, Silas acted as moderator, giving input when ideas became stalled. Each Alpha was responsible for his pack, and Silas was responsible for the Alphas who wore his insignia and carried his last name. Once the room quieted, Silas waited for the men to bring up what he felt was an obvious, urgent issue. Instead, they began discussing dinner destinations and frivolous pursuits for later that evening. Withholding a sigh, he reminded himself that these men only concerned themselves with their individual packs. He bore the weight of broader issues affecting all wolves and had to bring them to the table.
“I wonder why no one has mentioned the humans on the grounds of this hospital,” Silas said, looking around the room. The shocked expressions on the faces of the men who were collectively responsible for thousands of lives were comical. He’d bet they still didn’t see or understand his concern.
“What have I missed, La Patron?” Jadyen, the Alpha for Maryland asked. The other Alphas sat forward with intense looks, thoroughly prepared to remove any threat.
He looked at them and then spoke, sad that they still had not seen the challenge. “The mother of the shifter is human.” He watched, waiting for them to get it. Some did, most did not. “The young wolf-shifter was
not in our system and is an adult wolf who has changed on numerous occasions. In fact, he has a great relationship with his wolf. He has a twin, who is also a wolf. However, his mother is not, and she does not know her son is wolf.”
The silence in the room was deafening. Frowns furrowed the brows of his Alphas. He could hear unspoken questions through their links.
“How is that possible?” One Alpha asked. “Wolfs cannot mate with humans.”
Silas nodded. “And yet a man lays in this facility. He is wolf. I have talked with him. His wolf acknowledges me. His father was a wolf, but not in a pack. It was his father who taught him and his brother how to change, and how to keep their wolf side hidden. The father was a military man and his sons followed in his steps. However, the woman did give birth to them. This is not an adoption scenario; her blood runs in his veins.”
No one spoke. Silas wondered how long before the importance of this discovery hit the Alphas.
“Well, damn,” Jadyen said.
“That about sums it up,” another Alpha said.
“Could there be more?”
“Don’t they need a pack? How did they survive without a pack?
“Do they breed true?”
“Have they turned anyone?”
“Can they turn someone?”
“If we kill them, will that solve the problem?”
Questions swirled around the room, which was good for healthy discussion, but they had no answers. And that’s what they needed.
Silas held up his hand. “Tomorrow at ten, a test will be scheduled for the young wolf. Lyle will ask these questions and we will know more. It’s important that we separate him from his mother, she is over-protective and will take issue if we go to his room.” He paused and looked around. “Certainly, destroying the wolf, his twin, and his mother would solve a temporary problem, but how did it happen? I want answers, and so far, the young wolf and his family are the only ones who can provide them. They die by my order only.”
The wolves nodded.
Silas stood and the Alphas stood, bowed slightly and filed out of the room. He sensed their disquiet and hoped for all their sakes the young man’s answers will fill in most of the blanks. But there was one question he couldn’t answer. How had his mother carried not one, but two, pups to full term. She was an enigma, and even now his assistants were performing a thorough background check on Jasmine Bennett and her family.
