by Mel Corbett
"Mikey, this is our mom, Megan," Naomi said, though of course he already knew that."The men are here because she's decided it's time for me to pick a mate."
"Bry was clear, your mom she'd–" Mike whispered in Naomi's ear.
"Don't bother whispering. We can all hear you." Mom turned to Naomi. "You trusted our secret with this?" She jerked her chin towards Mike.
"Yes. I trust him and Bryan loves him."
She snorted. Before Naomi could respond, Ian said, "Aunt Megan, our job right now is to find Bryan. Let's go interview their friends." He took one page of the list from Naomi's mom. Naomi was impressed. Farm-boy had actually taken the lead. Maybe he wasn't useless after all.
"Marcus, why don't you go with them?" Jeff said, but the pretty boy hesitated. "It makes sense to have two groups of three, and these two can't really go with Megan right now, can they?"
"I guess not, but…"
"Better hurry, they're getting away," Naomi said. He nodded and trotted off after Mom. When he was out of earshot Naomi whispered, "They think he'll be an alpha?"
Jeff shrugged. "I suppose he's leader enough. Worries about the family."
"He so whiny though," Naomi said. She found Marcus somewhat distasteful.
"She's not going to kill me, is she?" Mikey asked when they were further away.
"Not today," Jeff said at the same time as Naomi said, "I won't let her."
"Thank you." Mikey wrapped his arms around her. She hugged him back, but felt Jeff's gaze on her, heavy and full of appraisal. She wondered if she measured up to whatever stick he was judging her by. Then the moment passed and he asked Mike to take them to see Bry's study buddies.
CHAPTER NINE
BRYAN'S CLASSMATES WERE ALMOST USELESS, but Jeff had a knack for asking penetrating questions. He wasn't a pretty boy like Marcus, but he flirted with the girls and made the guys feel comfortable. They were on the fifth name on the list and still had nothing particularly useful. The blonde girl – was her name Amy? – had agreed to meet them at the library.
"I have to admit, I had a crush on him when we first started hanging out," the blonde girl said. She was sitting in a window whose sill doubled as a bench. "When he came out I was so disappointed, but he seems so much more comfortable with himself."
"I see, so you've known him for a while?" Jeff asked. Naomi squeezed closer to the wall, trying to be out of the way of anyone who might be looking for a particular stack, but no one seemed to come this way.
"Yeah, I've known Bry since freshman year and he always seems so damn observant. Picked up on everything, you know?"
"Yeah, I get you," Naomi said to the blonde girl.
"So when that flower truck almost hit him, and then he didn't even acknowledge it, I knew something was wrong." The blonde girl set down the book she'd been studying and sighed. "He really hated hiding what he was," she said. "I was so disappointed when he came out, I wasn't going to be his girl, but you could really see how much of a relief it was to him. He'd comment more on what I wore and stuff, but it was more… As a fashionista than an interested man. You know?"
"He almost got hit by a van?" Jeff asked. "That must have been so scary."
"I thought so," Anna – or was it Andrea? – said. "But he just blew it off. I mean we were in the middle of the street and this giant van with flowers plastered all over comes out of nowhere and almost hit us. I had to grab his backpack to keep him from walking smack into it."
"Hmm–maybe we could work in a gag about how worried he was about school for his birthday party. Make cut out van and pretend to run him down with it," Naomi said, playing into Jeff's game.
She laughed. "You think that's a good idea? I mean if he's under that much stress…"
"He could use a laugh," Naomi said. Mike agreed, nodding.
"Yeah sure. It was big and white, but the sides had these huge bouquets painted on them." She paused, leaning into Jeff. "I think it was, uh, Sacramento Florists or something like that."
"Perfect!" Jeff said. "That'll be great. Mikey will make sure you get an invite."
##
They regrouped in Bryan and Mikey's apartment. Naomi's mom frowned at the cheap furniture and paced through the living room. Mike sat as far away from her if he could, making sure Jeff and Naomi blocked him from Mom. Marcus and Ian sat on the couch. They looked from Mom and back to Naomi as if they didn't know who to follow.
"Any luck?" Mom asked. She crossed her arms. Naomi nodded and told her about the flower truck.
"He didn't notice the truck. So what?" Ian said.
"Could you almost get hit by a truck?" Naomi asked. Ian shook his head."He should have heard and smelled it before he even saw it. I think they used some sort of magic to keep them from noticing they were following him."
"Magic?" Marcus asked." And you just want to march up to this flower shop and do what? Get our asses handed to us?"
"Last night, Mindy–"
"The vampire," Mom snorted.
"Her friend gave me magical protection. I should be okay."
Jeff shook his head. "What about normal weapons? A bullet, strong rope, you're still theirs."
"What friend is this?" Mom asked sharply.
"I don't know what he is, definitely not human and he was very careful not to ask what I was, but he gave me protection."
"They we will go to see him right now." Mom turned towards the door, expecting everyone to follow.
"I don't know if that's such a good idea." Naomi was unsettled by how deferential Mindy had been to Mac.
"Why not? It's the only thing we can do." The whole room was on pins and needles, waiting for Naomi to answer.
"Look, I can go to the flower shop alone. Mindy seemed… almost frightened of offending him or him playing a prank. I think he's dangerous."
"I thought you said they were friends." Her mother stopped pacing in front of Naomi. Mike drew back into his chair, frightened by her proximity. "Besides, we'll only be a few minutes."
Naomi touched the headband he had given her and shook her head. "He seemed old and I–"
"I'm sure the group of us can handle the little prank." Naomi's mom smiled. "I know what I'm doing."
"You know she drove. It was the full moon, I don't think I really know how to get there." Naomi figured she'd try a different tack. Mac did not deserve to deal with their dominance fight.
"Naomi," her mother said her name as if it were a threat.
"Look, I don't feel right just barging in on this guy. I'm the only one who knows where he lives, so you can just deal."
"Don't you dare talk to your mother that way." Naomi stood, her face inches from her mother's. Mike scooted away. The male weres braced themselves.
"You know what? No! You've been nothing but mean ever since you come down here. We're not the undisputed rulers here. We have to follow society's laws, not yours."
"Shut up!" Naomi's mother snapped.
"Maybe we should get this sorted out before we go anywhere else. No one deserves to put up with this bickering," Marcus said.
"I'm with you, Mark," said Ian. The farm boy stood, ready to drag the two women outside.
"Why don't we just go back to Naomi's house?" Jeff asked. Naomi can get her car back from the vampire and that will be that that. Then, the vampire comes and shows us where this guy lives, especially if Naomi is really worried about us getting lost."
"We only have so much time to find my fucking son or is everyone else not worried about that?"
"Cool it Aunt Meg. We'll find him. We won't let them kill him. Everything will fall into place–"
"Why?" Mom interrupted Jeff. "It won't just fall into place because we want it to be that way."
"You know what Mom? Maybe you should just go home. I'll handle it without you."
"I am NOT going home."
"Then you will listen to reason and you will shut up and we will drive back to my house. We need to regroup and stop this arguing."
"If you respected your alpha, there would
be no fighting."
"If you acted reasonable I would," Naomi said.
"My son has been fucking kidnapped."
"Yeah, that son is my brother and I'm doing my best to try to find him and you're sabotaging us by acting like such a bitch." Naomi knew that one would sting. Between wolves, bitch was not an insult. They were supposed to be dominant women. They were wolves, technically bitches, but to her mother that would mean the human world was taking her over. At least, Naomi hoped her mother would react that way.
"Let's go settle this now," her mother said gesturing outside.
"It's not dark yet," Jeff said. "There's too many people that could see right now."
"Then our only option is to go to Mac's." Her mother smiled triumphantly.
"I could still go to the flower shop by myself." Naomi fingered the headband. Its magic should protect her.
"I already lost one child. I don't need to lose my daughter, too."
"Fine. We can go to Mac's, but I drive and I talk." Naomi bit her tongue to keep from saying anymore.
CHAPTER TEN
NAOMI STOOD IN FRONT OF Mac's door, reluctant to knock. She glanced back at her mother and the three men behind her. Now that she had driven to his condo, she was certain her original feeling was right. Dropping in unannounced on Mac was not a good idea.
"What are you waiting for?" her mother asked. "Just knock."
Naomi knocked. Although she thought if Mac's pranks scared Mindy, who was far older than she looked, then it was probably bad news to be here without his permission. Still, she obeyed her mother. She didn't have much of a choice. Either she had to stop trying to fight her mother or she had to have the chops to declare herself alpha. Naomi had no real intention of that, she was just frustrated that her mother's judgment seem to be so clouded because she was out of her element.
Mac opened the door. He wore the same red sweatpants and apron he had on last night. Naomi wondered if he ever changed clothes.
"Naomi!" he said smiling. "I take it none of these fine young men is your brother?"
Naomi shook her head no.
"Well, come in! Come in!" Mac said ushering them inside. Maybe her mother had been right, maybe this wasn't such a stupid idea. He had invited them in easily enough.
"Thank you, Mac," Naomi said. She introduced her mother and, for lack of the better word, her suitors. Mac took them all in and nodded. She explained that the men and her mother wanted his protection like he'd given Naomi. Her mother actually hung back and let her talk.
"Of course," Mac said. He grinned and had them sit them down on the slick black leather couch. The apartment smelled like cookies. Naomi didn't know if he'd been expecting them, but clearly he had been expecting someone or maybe he simply knew when people were coming. Maybe he had some sort of warning spell in place. Naomi didn't know how such things worked or could work.
"We looked for my brother and talked to his friends," Naomi said. "Didn't find much."
"Except, there was one lead," her mother said interrupting her. Naomi frowned. The woman couldn't contain herself. "There was a florist's van that almost hit him. We're going to follow up on that."
"As you should," Mac said to her mother just as his oven started to beep. "I know I can't do anything to ease your heart in your search, but I'd like to offer you all some cookies. If I don't know if Naomi's told you, but all of my guests get a cookie when they visit."
"Thank you," Mom said. Mac brought out a tray of chocolate chip cookies from the kitchen. The men were polite enough thanking him, even whiny Marcus seemed to appreciate the fresh-baked cookie. Naomi relaxed. Her mother had been right, coming here had been the right choice.
Mac offered her mother first choice. Mom took a cookie and started eating it right away, then he offered to cookies to the men, and finally to Naomi. Her mother bit into her cookie and started coughing like she were choking.
"Are you okay?" Jeff asked as Naomi's mother kept choking on the cookie. Mom shook her head, coughing and clutching her throat. Her mother stopped coughing, but kept clutching her throat. Naomi shoved passed the men as her mother's face turned blue.
Marcus and Ian also started coughing. Naomi tried slapping her mother on the back, but nothing. Mac was laughing now. Naomi put her two fists pinky side down on her mother's navel. She rolled her fists up so that her thumbs pressed against her mother's stomach, and yanked her hands in and up.
Mom spluttered and coughed, a piece of cookie flying out of her mouth.
Now that her mother could breathe, Naomi turned to the men. Jeff was doing abdominal thrusts on Ian, and Marcus's face was pale and he was choking, too. She repeated the same procedure on him as she had on her mother.
Mac roared with laughter. "How did you like my choking chip cookies?" he asked.
"What… was… that…" Mom gasped. Ian and Marcus wiped tears from their eyes.
"Oh, come on," Mack said if he continued doodling. "Just a little spell for a harmless prank."
"Harmless prank?" Naomi asked, shoving him. "You could've killed them!" Mac just laughed in her face. "They're fine, aren't they?"
"We came to you for protection!" Jeff said, his face red with anger.
"I'll still give you my protection. I didn't mean to offend anyone." Mac shrugged. "It's just so rare that anyone who visits me now doesn't tell me no jokes or no pranks."
"I told you no pranks!" Naomi shoved Mac against his own wall.
"Actually, my dear, you didn't." Mac shook his head and kept laughing.
"Maybe we should just go," Naomi said. "I don't feel safe."
Mac fell to the floor when she released him, convulsing with laughter and clutching his sides. She left, and the others limped out after her.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MOM SET THE KEYS ON Naomi's kitchen table. Naomi was done, she wasn't going to sit at home with her mom and the boys until dark.
"I'm going to the flower shop," Naomi said, reaching for the keys.
"No, you're not." Mom snatched the keys away.
"I'm not sitting around here."
"You're not driving by yourself to a dangerous place with the moon–"
"The shop should be empty," Naomi said as her mother slipped the keys into her purse. "I'm not a child. I don't need you."
"You're my daughter and a member of my pack," Mom said, tucking the purse under her arm. "You will do what I say."
"Yeah, that worked so well at Mac's." Naomi snorted and reached for her mother's purse.
"What do you think you are doing?" Naomi's mother stepped backwards, moving her purse out of Naomi's reach. Her face was pale with anger. "You will obey me."
"If you were in your right mind I would listen, but you've just bulled through everything and everyone. You can't just do that."
"Excuse me?" her mother asked softly.
"You heard me! You think you can bully everyone here." Naomi swallowed hard, fighting the urge to spit at her mother.
"That's enough." Her mother stood up straighter and puffed out her chest.
"You don't act like this at home," Naomi said. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her head. "Please, trust me. Trust my judgment."
"I can't trust you. You let your brother tell that boy–"
"You mean Mikey? Who loves him–"
Naomi's face stung. It took her a second to realize she had been slapped. She balled up her fists, and stomped towards her mother.
"There it is, you think you're a little alpha strutting around here." Mom barred her teeth. Goosebumps rose down Naomi's back. "But you are part of my pack. You're alpha of nothing."
"I'm leaving." Naomi flung open the door. "Mikey is a great guy. He loves Bryan." She slammed the door behind her.
##
Naomi walked a few steps down her driveway, hoping to physically distance herself from the situation. Had Mom always been this controlling? Naomi realized her nails were digging into her palms. She forced her hands open and tried to focus on her breath liking yoga as she walked aw
ay. The sun was just starting to sink, turning the sky orange.
Naomi nodded to a couple she'd seen before walking their dog. The dog started jerking at his leash to get to her as soon as she passed by. The couple apologize sheepishly, but Naomi shrugged them off as she wandered past the purple house. Clearly, they weren't the owners. No way that husband had agreed to have a big butterfly the garage. Naomi had just left a voicemail for Mindy to take her to the flower shop, but she knew she was being followed. Jeff by the smell of him. Naomi turned back to face him, and recoiled a step. He was much closer than she had expected.
"What are you going to do? Tell on me?"
He shook his head and laughed as if that would be ridiculous. His laugh was warm and inviting. Naomi could imagine him as a wolf, tongue hanging from the side of its mouth, relaxed and open. She smiled.
"Sounds like you got a ride. Do you have room for one more?" Jeff said.
"Why?" Just because he laughed at the question, didn't mean he wasn't spying for her mom.
"Just thought you could use a little help." Jeff shrugged. "Besides, I don't want to sit around your house either."
"And my mom?" Naomi asked.
"Doesn't have to go."
Okay, she could agree to that. They walked in silence a little while before Naomi began to feel uncomfortable.
"What's it like being a detective?" Naomi asked after a while.
"A lot of paperwork. Getting information from county records and stuff like that. Just fact checking mostly."
"Sounds like my job. It can't be that boring though." Naomi heard a faint rustle as a deer behind someone's house e caught their scent and bounded away. Jeff and Naomi's eyes met then they both smiled at the thought of the hunt.
"Occasionally, I get a stakeout. Cheating husband, that kind of thing. You just have to have a good eye for detail."
"That's it, really? I have to do that already. Well, mine is staking out a cheater."
