by LynnLorenz
Ted trailed him. “It’s not your fault. I’m just as much to blame as you. What was I thinking, taking Timothy to get his nails done at a salon! I should have known I was wrong. I should have just let him cry about it, but I couldn’t stand the whining and the sobbing.”
“Ginnie’s right. We don’t know what the hell we’re doing with these kids. Now this.” Scott flung open the front door and turned back. “If I’m not back in an hour, call Bobby and tell him what happened. We might have to call out the pack to search for him.” Scott groaned. “The moon is almost full, so he should have enough light to see, but I’m scared he might shift. If he’s out of control emotionally, his wolf could surface.”
“And if you’re not there?”
“I don’t want to think about it.”
“But you went through it with him, right?”
“Just let him see me shift. That’s all.”
“Find him, wolf.”
Scott bolted out of the door. Ted walked over, stepped out, and leaned on the railing, trying to see into the darkness. The moon did give off light, and for the werewolves with their improved vision, it would be enough.
He prayed it would be. The darkness of the woods was scary at the best of times.
This was not the best of times.
Ted went inside, closed the door, and fell into Scott’s chair.
This was a disaster.
What would the pack say when they found out Charles had run away—from them? No way would they say he and Scott were responsible parents.
He tapped his foot. One hour before he called out the cavalry. He grabbed his phone off the charger and hit Contacts, scrolled down, and pressed the number of the only person he trusted to keep this quiet.
“Maman? It’s Ted. Can you come over?”
“Now, darling? It’s late, and I just saw you and Scott at the meeting.”
“I know. But this is important.”
“What is so important you have to get an old woman out of bed?”
“I’ll tell you when you get here. Just come, okay?”
“Mais oui. I’m coming.”
Ted put down the phone on the coffee table, went to the kitchen, and grabbed a shot glass. He took down the bottle of whiskey and poured a drink. Then he downed it.
They’d messed up bad tonight.
Ted retuned to the sofa and sat down, his gaze fixed on the front door, waiting for Maman to arrive.
Twenty minutes later, heavy footsteps tromped up the stairs. Ted rose and rushed to the door. He opened it just as Maman knocked.
“Merde, son. What the hell is going on around here?”
Ted dragged her inside and shut the door.
“Charles ran away. Scott’s out looking for him.”
“Oh no! Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” She clutched her chest and staggered over to the sofa and collapsed onto it. “Where’s the little one?”
“In bed, asleep. Scott told me if he’s not back with Charles in an hour to call Bobby and get the pack out.”
“Right. How much longer for that?” She glanced at her watch.
“Forty minutes, give or take a few.” Ted sat next to her. “We screwed up, Maman. It’s all our fault. We never should have taken in those—”
“Hush! Don’t be silly.” She patted him on the knee. “If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I cast the spell that killed Wyatt and Marie. I was selfish. Wanted grandkids and look what I’ve done!” She sobbed into her hands.
“Oh no, Darlene! How can you think that? You don’t have that sort of power. Those spells, I mean prayers, they didn’t cause that wreck. It wasn’t your fault.”
“No, it was!” She snuffled.
This was not what Ted needed now. He’d called her for support, not to support her in this crazy idea her spell got Scott kids by killing their parents. If this situation weren’t so serious, he’d laugh.
“Darlene! Snap out of it! I need you here, in case we have to search. I need you to be calm and take care of Timothy.”
“But you’re here.” She blinked at him, her lashes holding fat drops of tears.
“Not if there’s a search. I’m going to look for my boy.”
Maman smiled and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re the best thing my Scott’s ever had, Ted. Thank you for loving him.”
“Not much choice. Mates, remember?”
Darlene gathered herself. “Should I make a pot of coffee?”
“Good idea.”
As Darlene puttered in the kitchen, Ted watched the time crawl. At this rate, he’d go crazy before Scott returned.
Charles ran until his chest hurt so bad he had to stop to breathe. All around him, the woods cast eerie shadows. He tried to be brave, like Scott, but he was just a kid.
That strange feeling hit again, and for a moment, his vision went all fuzzy and he itched all over. He scratched his arm and tried to figure out where he was in the woods.
He thought he’d go home first. Back to his own house, get some stuff, and leave town. But out here in the dark, he couldn’t tell which direction to go. He looked up. The moon hovered almost right above him.
This might not have been a good idea. He scratched his leg. He needed to keep moving. No telling how long before Ted or Scott found him gone.
He shivered. Scott was going to kill him. For sure. Well, not really, but he’d get punished and yelled at by Scott and Ted. They’d probably take turns.
And Timothy would fuss at him too.
But he wasn’t going back, and he’d never see them again. Now the Freemans could take Timothy and give him a good home.
Charles started walking, just to move. He needed to keep going.
The itching got worse. And that feeling inside, like something wanted to get out of him. Maybe he was going to puke. Maybe the burger had made him sick, but he rubbed his belly as he stumbled along what he thought was a path.
If he stayed on the path, he’d get there.
The moon guided him. Follow the moon.
He wished Scott were here. Or Ted. Even that crazy old lady, Maman. He didn’t wish Timothy were here because he’d just cry and whine. No way was his little brother big enough to run away in the dark, in the woods, like he—
A pain hit him hard in the belly, and he staggered into a tree trunk. Clutching it, he bent over as a wave of pain washed over him.
“Oww.” He caught his breath and swallowed down gulps of air as he squeezed his eyes shut tight.
“Scott!” Barely above a whisper, his voice sounded odd, like all the sound had been sucked from it. He took a deep breath and yelled as loud as he could, “Scott!”
The change. Oh boy, was he in trouble. Scott was supposed to be here. Supposed to help him change. Without him, Charles might shift and not shift back.
Stuck as a wolf. Forever.
Fear ramped up, racing up and down his spine like never before. He tried to remember what Scott had told him about it, but he couldn’t focus. It hurt. Bad.
Charles fell to his knees, and then to the side, wrapping his arms around his stomach. Fighting it all he could, pushing down the wolf inside him.
He wanted Scott. He wanted his mother. Right now, he’d even take his dad, if he could just help him.
He was going to die.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Scott sniffed the air. He wasn’t making enough progress this way. Time to shift.
He let the wolf out, and it surged to the surface.
Now the wolf could see, hear, and smell everything. Snout to the wind, he inhaled deeper. No sign of wolf, but a faint odor of man. Of sweat and fear.
He raced off in the direction of the smell, and it got stronger. Then it faded, and he had to double back and pick it up again. He whined at the mistake.
Found it. Now it came in clear, and he bounded through the woods, over fallen trees and through brambles.
“Scott!”
He slid to a stop, ears alert.
“Scott!”
His cub ca
lled to him. Which way? He cocked his head to the side, waiting.
No more sound, but he couldn’t stay here. He dragged the air deep inside his chest. Got it.
The wolf charged on as the scent strengthened.
Almost there.
He burst from the bushes and slid to a stop.
A boy lay on the ground, curled up, panting and whimpering.
Scott shifted.
“Charles!” He fell to his knees and ran his hands over the child. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“Scott.” Charles grabbed his arm. “It hurts. You said it would only hurt a little.”
Merde. He was changing for the first time.
“Listen to me. You’re fighting it. Just let go. I’m here now. I’ll keep you safe.”
Charles looked up at him, terror in his eyes. “Pro-pro-mise?”
“I do. You’re doing great. Just let go and let the wolf come out. It’s hurting ’cause you’re fighting it so hard.”
“’Kay.” He shut his eyes and exhaled.
For a moment, the air quivered.
And Scott stared down at a wolf cub. He laughed and ran his hand over the cub’s head. “You’re a fine-looking pup, boy. You did good.”
The pup wagged his tail.
“And you didn’t even need me to help you shift.” Scott grinned as the pup tried to nip his fingers. “Hey, don’t get too cocky. I’m still your alpha.”
“Yip! Yiipp!” The little wolf sat on his haunches and tried to bay.
“I’ll teach you how to howl at the moon another time. Right now, you need to shift back, and we need to go home. Ted is worried about you. We both were.”
The pup sat and stared at Scott, its head cocked to one side, ears alert.
“So, now it’s time to tell the wolf to go home. In your mind, tell it to go home.”
The little wolf closed its eyes and whined. Nothing.
“It’s okay. It might take you a time or two to get it right, but you can do it. Trust me. I’m not going to let you get stuck. Focus. See the wolf?”
The pup shook its head.
“Try again. See the wolf in your mind. It’s running away, running back home. It’s getting farther and farther away.”
The pup whimpered. The air shimmered.
Charles appeared.
He slumped to the side and gave a weak laugh. “I did it. I shifted!”
“Yep. Knew you’d do it.” Scott got to his feet and put out his hand for Charles to take. Charles stood, wobbling, but then steadied.
“That was…awesome!” Charles grinned up at Scott.
Scott smiled, then sobered. “Charles. I’m not happy about this stunt you pulled. At all.”
Charles had the good sense to look embarrassed. “Sorry, Sheriff.”
“I don’t want to hear sorry, son. I want to go home. Ted’s worried sick. We’re going to have a talk about why you ran away.” He put his hand on Charles’s shoulder to keep him from dashing off again.
“Yes, sir.” Charles nodded. “I just thought—”
“Keep it to yourself for now, so you don’t have to repeat it to Ted.”
“Okay.” He bent down and picked up his flashlight and shoved it in the backpack.
Scott pulled his cell phone and called Ted. He answered on the first buzz.
“Did you find him?” Scott heard the desperation in his mate’s voice.
“Got him. Safe and sound.”
“Thank God.” Ted exhaled. “I called your mom. She’s here.”
“Why?”
“In case I needed to search for him too. Did you think I’d just sit here while you and the pack hunted for our boy?”
Scott cursed himself. “No, of course not. Good thinking to get Maman.”
“Anyway, I figured we could trust her to keep a secret.”
“Yeah, she’s good at secrets. I know she’s got that Jesus in the tree somewhere.”
Ted laughed. “Hurry home.”
“On our way.”
Scott closed the phone and got Charles started walking in the right direction—home.
The door opened, and Charles walked in, followed by Scott. Ted rushed up to the boy and gave him a fierce hug, then let him go.
“What were you thinking?” Ted wanted to shake the boy and hug him and die from relief.
“I’m sorry.” Charles huffed as he dropped the backpack to the floor.
Ted looked at Scott. A mix of anger, happiness, and relief. Ted knew the feelings.
“The poor thing! Running around in the swamp half the night. Are you hungry?” Maman came up behind them and muscled her way between the men to scoop Charles up. She herded him toward the kitchen.
“Yes.” Charles accepted her fussing and doting.
Ted sighed. “Did he shift?”
“Yes. He was fighting it, but once I found him and he relaxed, it went well. He had a little trouble shifting back, but he got there.”
“With your help, wolf.” Ted kissed his cheek.
Scott grinned. “After she feeds him, we’re going to have a talk.”
“Good idea.” Ted nodded.
At the kitchen counter, Maman filled Charles’s plate with scrambled eggs. Charles gobbled them down before they got cold. She poured him a glass of cold milk, and he chugged it down in one long swallow.
“Better?” Ted leaned on the counter. Charles nodded. “Good. Now, get to the couch. Time to explain yourself.”
Charles nodded and slipped off the stool. He slunk to the sofa and sat.
Maman finished cleaning up and wiped her hands on the dishcloth. “I’m going home now. I think you men have this situation under control.”
Ted walked her to the door. “What do you say, Charles?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Dupree.”
“You’re welcome, son. I’m sure I’ll see you later.” She winked.
“Thank you for coming out in the middle of the night.” Ted gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Anything for you boys.” She glanced at Charles. “Go easy on him. He’s had a rough time.”
“Don’t worry. Night.” Ted closed the door and leaned against it.
Charles watched as Ted approached. Scott sat in the chair opposite the sofa, and Ted took the other end of the sofa.
“Am I in a lot of trouble?” Charles’s mouth twisted as he clutched the edge of the couch.
“Well, it could have been worse.” Scott blew out a breath. “We could have called out the pack to search for you. You could have fallen into the swamp with the gators. You could have shifted and not shifted back.”
Charles winced. “I know.”
“I believe you. I know whatever you were feeling had to be powerful. So let’s talk about it.” Scott sat back to give the kid some room. Ted glanced at him and nodded.
“I heard you and Ted talking. About no one taking me. About how the Freemans wanted Timmy, not me. And I guess I just figured if I was gone, then it wouldn’t be a problem anymore.” He shrugged. “Then Timmy could have a good life. Get adopted.”
Scott shook his head. “Running away never solves anything. It only makes it worse. You leaving would have made Timmy miserable. He needs you so much, Charles. He’s your little brother, and he’s lost. That’s why Ted and I insisted on not splitting you boys up. You’ve got to hold on to the family you have, not tear it apart.”
Ted nodded. “And we want both of you, despite what you might think. We want to help you. You’re pack, and that comes first. We want you to stay with us.”
“But what about the Freemans? They said they had a lawyer.”
Scott snorted. “We can get a lawyer too, if it comes to it. But if the Freemans don’t take you both, you guys stay with us.”
“But the pack? They’re going to vote on it, right? What if they vote for the Freemans?” Charles twisted his mouth again.
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it. We have a week to work on it with the pack members and get them to see we’re the best cho
ice. And if the Freemans take you, Ted and I want you to know we are here for you both, no matter what. I’m your pack alpha, remember?”
“And I’m not going to stop working with you on your art. I want to keep teaching you because I can see your abilities. And Timmy too. He’s young, but he’s got the beginnings of talent.”
“Thanks!” Charles grinned up at Scott. “We can keep working on my change, right?”
“Sure. Until you’re comfortable with it. Whether or not you’re living with the Freemans.”
“Okay.” Charles nodded, then yawned.
“Tired?” Scott rose. “Come on. Off to bed. For real this time.”
“For real.” Charles stood. For a moment, he hesitated, but moved toward Ted, stopped, started, and then went in for the hug. Ted stiffened, but then wrapped his arms around the boy and hugged him back.
“Night, Charles.” Ted patted him on the back just before Charles pulled away.
The boy turned to Scott, and their gazes met.
Scott held out his arms. “Bring it in, son.”
Charles threw himself into Scott’s arms, and Ted grinned. They broke apart, and Scott cleared his throat. “Hey, go on to bed. We all need to get some sleep.”
Charles rushed off.
Ted laughed. “That was sort of sweet.”
Scott exhaled. “Guess he likes us.”
“Come on, wolf. Bed.” Ted rose and stretched. “I’m beat.”
“Go ahead. I’m still wound up from shifting and the hunt. I’ll be there in a few.”
Ted leaned down and kissed Scott on the mouth, lingering. “Don’t take too much time. I won’t stay awake for long.”
Scott smirked. “Maybe I’ll just wait for morning and then claim my mate.”
“Morning sounds good to me.” Ted left the living room.
Scott leaned back in the chair. He smiled at his breakthrough with Charles. It was a start, but if the Freemans took the boys, Scott worried Charles would revert, let his anger take over, and be the bully he’d become under his father.
And Timmy? Scott shuddered. The thought of the little boy’s spirit being mashed down or beaten out of him or even being told who he was and how he felt was evil and wrong, just angered him so much he wanted to punch something.
These thoughts weren’t getting him any closer to falling asleep. He had work in the morning and had to come up with a plan to garner the pack’s votes.
