The next few days passed much the same. The cub slept a lot, ate when he woke, and when he got restless at night, Thorn brought him outside on patrol. It satisfied both their needs, though he knew it was a little unorthodox. If there was anything dangerous out there, he’d have his hands full trying to deal with it while keeping the cub safe.
Kira and Oliver came to visit on the evening of the second day, in the hopes that they could try transitioning the cub’s care. Thorn was all for it. The little leopard was not.
“He’s just in the workshop,” Thorn said, leading them inside. “He was asleep, but he woke about ten minutes ago. He’s still more of a night owl than a daytime kid, but we’re working on it.”
He approached the little den box where the cub had been lying, only to pause when he saw it was empty.
“He was right here.” The cub, who had been huddled under the couch, launched himself out of his hiding spot and raced up Thorn’s front, claws clutching tightly to his chest.
“Hello there,” Kira said softly, coming closer. “It’s lovely to see you again.”
The feeling wasn’t mutual, as the cub pressed tighter to Thorn with a frightened whimper.
Kira backed off and let Oliver try.
“Hi there, sweetheart,” Oliver murmured. “You’re being such a good cub for Thorn.” He stretched out a hand to touch the cub, only to be met with hisses.
Thorn backed away, his eyes widening. “It’s okay, kiddo. Haven’t heard him hiss since the first day,” he said as an aside to Kira and Oliver.
“That’s a good sign,” Kira assured him. “And he’s eating and drinking?”
“Uh-huh. Like he’s making up for lost time. Prefers the solid food to the milk most of the time, so I’m guessing he’s not as young as all that.”
If he was younger than a year, he’d stick almost exclusively to milk while in his animal form. Thorn guessed he might be closer to three or four, and his small size was thanks to him being an omega.
“When’s your next shift at the firehouse?”
“It was the day after tomorrow. I’ve swapped it for next week instead. That buys us some time.”
Thorn was starting to suspect this was a longer-term problem than he’d hoped. He couldn’t put his life on hold indefinitely, but he’d give the cub as much time as he could to acclimatize.
“I’ll come again tomorrow,” Kira said. “Just me this time. Maybe at a mealtime? I’ll sit down and eat with you. That way, he’ll start becoming accustomed to my presence during normal everyday activities.”
“Sure,” Thorn said. He’d go along with whatever they thought was best, even if it meant sacrificing some of his independence. “We’ve been eating a little sporadically, but if you’re here around midday, we’ll eat lunch then.”
“Any food a particular favorite for him?”
“He’s quite partial to chicken,” he told her.
“Then I’ll bring chicken. I’m not above a little bribery.”
Thorn showed them out as far as the workshop door, sitting down heavily on the couch once they were gone.
“I know it’s tough, kiddo, but they’re here to help you. So am I. You know that, right?”
The leopard stared up at him with big wide eyes, mewling softly. Thorn stroked a hand through his fur.
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get there. There’s no rush.” From what the others had told him, no one had so far reported the cub missing or had any idea who he was. That wasn’t a good sign, but it meant he was in the right place.
That night, they kept up their routine and headed out into the woods. The cub was now used to his sling and happy to watch the world from the vantage point it gave him. But his favorite part of their adventures was always when Thorn would let him down so he could explore. Thorn picked a different spot every time, loving how the cub grew bolder in his inquisitiveness.
It was still dark when they returned home. Thorn crashed on the couch, the cub sleeping in his nest on the floor next to him. He kept one ear out for danger, as always, but managed to fall into a deep sleep.
He woke to the sound of giggles, blinking his eyes open as he tried to work out where he was. He sat up, his eyes going straight to the nest. The cub was gone.
“Kiddo? Where are you?”
The giggles came again. Very human giggles.
Moving cautiously, not wanting to spook his charge, Thorn got up and searched around the room. The sounds were coming from under his worktable. He crouched down and peered under.
A little boy stared shyly back at him, his hands covering his face.
“Hello, little one,” Thorn said warmly. “Are you okay under there?”
The little boy was naked, for obvious reasons, and the room was a little chilly. Thorn tugged off his jacket.
“How about you come on out of there?”
The kid shook his head, a flash of fear crossing his face.
“That’s okay,” Thorn told him, easing down to sit cross-legged on the floor. “There’s no hurry. But if you’re cold, I have this nice jacket here. And we could go to the kitchen for some cocoa.”
He was sure cocoa had been in the supplies Alice had dropped off. It had seemed pointless when he was dealing with a leopard, but now that he had a little kid on his hands, he could see she might have been onto something.
The boy eyed him cautiously, then crawled forward. He stopped, watching Thorn closely, then moved again. Thorn made sure to stay still, letting the kid come to him in his own time.
“I’m really happy to see you,” he told him softly. “I was beginning to wonder if there was a little boy in there at all, or if I’d taken in a real leopard by mistake.”
The kid giggled at that, and Thorn revised his age upward. At least three, maybe four. Too small for five. The cub moved within arm’s reach and pushed out from under the table to stand in front of Thorn.
Thorn got his first good look at him, from his curly blond hair and green eyes, to the handful of mottled bruises on his skin. They were mostly knees and elbows, nothing unexpected in an active shifter kid.
Thorn slowly held up his jacket. “What do you think? I bet you’d look pretty cool in this.”
He let Thorn wrap it around him, and then Thorn gently drew him into a hug. When his arms tightened around Thorn, the alpha knew they were doing okay.
“I’m going to pick you up now,” he said before lifting the kid into his arms as he stood. The boy clung to him, burying his face against Thorn’s neck. His fingers gripped Thorn tightly, reminiscent of his little leopard claws.
Thorn took a seat on the couch and sat the little boy on his lap.
“Let’s get a look at you,” he said, brushing a curl from his face. “I think maybe a bath might be in order. We have to make sure there’s a little boy under all this dust.”
That brought another smile and a giggle from the nervous kid.
“My name is Thorn,” he said slowly, tapping his chest twice. “What’s your name?”
The little boy stared at him long and hard before answering. His voice was so quiet, Thorn almost had to strain to hear it.
“Sammy.”
He smiled, and the kid beamed back at him.
“Well done. Hi, Sammy. It’s really good to meet you.”
Chapter Six
Dawn arrived as Daniel sought Sammy’s trail, fretting when he couldn’t find any hint of where his cub might have been taken. He was so engrossed in his search that the crunch of footsteps on gravel made him jump. An old man stared at him suspiciously. He’d clearly come from the nearby farmhouse.
“This is private property.”
“I’m sorry.” Daniel stumbled to make his apologies. “I’m leaving.”
It wouldn’t do to have the police called on him. If they figured out who he was, then his pack would be their first port of call. He picked up his moped and pushed it onto the road, pausing and glancing back at the old man.
“I— I’m looking for a cub.”
&nb
sp; The man’s expression turned from suspicion to understanding.
“Little leopard, was it?”
Daniel nodded frantically. “Yes. Have you seen him? Where is he?”
The man regarded him thoughtfully, and Daniel reined in his impatience.
“He was stuck up my tree, poor devil. All day and all night. Local firefighter rescued him on his way home.”
That explained the alpha scent around the tree.
“Where did he take him?”
If it was to a hospital, there was still a chance Daniel could get to him before Harrison did.
“He took him home with him, I think.”
“Who did?”
“The firefighter.”
Daniel thought he’d heard wrong.
“He took him home?”
Why would an alpha take an omega cub home with him?
The old man looked suddenly uncertain. “Well, maybe not to his home. He took the cub with him and drove off that way.” He pointed along the road. “He lives in the old packkeeper’s house. Follow the road and take the right fork. It’s about two miles away. You’ll find it easily enough. If the leopard’s not there, there’s a sort of children’s home further on. He might be with them.”
“Thank you.” Daniel wasn’t sure what to make of all that, but he was one step closer to Sammy and two steps ahead of Harrison.
He started the moped and drove on, keeping his eyes peeled. The fork in the road was right where the old man said it would be. Daniel spotted the house in the distance through the trees and stopped the moped, climbing off. It wasn’t far.
He pushed the bike into the forest, hiding it behind some thick bushes just off the road. Then he shifted. The less noise he made, and the more stealthily he moved, the better.
The trees thinned closer to the house. There was an adjoining barn, and he could hear noise coming from inside. Chickens, maybe? He pushed his leopard instincts to one side, ignoring his hunger, and focused on Sammy’s scent. It was faint, but he’d definitely been there. There was a scent trail leading into the house. Sammy might still be inside. Daniel couldn’t hear anything; there were no sounds of anyone moving around within the house. Too early, maybe?
He considered going inside but hesitated. There was an alpha in there. Daniel wouldn’t be able to break in without being heard. His best chance was to hide out and wait for an opportunity. He could stay in the forest, but given how sparse the trees were close to the house, he’d be too far away to spot Sammy if he was inside. The barn caught his eye. There was a high window leading to the rafters below the roof. As vantage points went, it was a good one. He’d be able to see the house from up close but could stay hidden up there, unseen by anyone else.
His mind made up, he raced to the barn and leaped up. The chickens weren’t too happy to see him, but once he settled on a beam and stilled, they stopped making such a fuss. Daniel kept watch on the house, searching for any sign of his little boy and the alpha who’d taken him. He needed to get Sammy out of there, and quickly. As soon as he got the chance, he’d grab him and run. They’d get on his moped and drive away.
The door to the house opened, and a tall, well-built guy strode out. Alpha, definitely. Daniel was too distracted searching for any sign of Sammy to notice that the alpha was headed straight for the barn.
The door opened below him, and he froze, curled up tightly to stay out of sight. The alpha paused when he stepped inside. Could he scent Daniel? Did he know he was here? But the alpha started moving across the floor of the barn, pausing now and then. It took Daniel a long moment to work out what he might be doing. Was he collecting eggs? It was such a bizarre idea that Daniel forgot himself and almost leaned over to get a closer look. He pulled back just in time, forcing himself to keep still. It wouldn’t do to get caught now. Not when he and Sammy were so close to freedom.
When the alpha left, Daniel went to the window and watched him head back inside the house, leaving the door open. He waited and waited, but the alpha didn’t return. This was his chance.
He jumped down to the floor, scattering the chickens, most of whom ran out the open barn door. Shifting back, he crept out into the yard. There were clothes hanging on a washing line, and he grabbed the first thing that came to hand, pulling it on over his head. The back door was open and inviting, and there was no sign of the alpha.
He started toward it, only for the alpha to round the side of the house.
Daniel froze, looking from the alpha to the door. Could he get to Sammy before the alpha got to him? He raced for the door as the alpha ran toward him with a shout. At the last second, realizing he’d never make it to Sammy, he whirled around and tried to run away. In his haste, he tripped, crashing hard onto the ground. He cried out in pain, yelping as his arm was grabbed. Instinct made him fight, flailing his arms and legs.
“Let me go. Let go.”
The hands holding him flipped him over onto his back, the alpha looming over him. The fear and adrenaline only heightened his exhaustion and pain.
“No, please,” he sobbed out, even as his vision darkened.
Chapter Seven
Thorn felt tired but triumphant. Sammy had stayed in human form for over a day. He wasn’t the chattiest of kids, but Thorn was learning how to draw him out of his shell. He’d been too big to sleep in his nest box for the night, so Thorn settled him on the couch instead, sleeping on the floor next to him. It wasn’t the most restful night’s sleep he’d ever had, but it was worth it when he woke to see Sammy sleeping peacefully above him.
He decided some breakfast was the order of the day. When he got up, Sammy remained asleep. Thorn knew he needed the rest. He’d wake him once breakfast was ready. He searched the supplies sent from the house, then considered Sammy. Fresh food would be better to start the day off right. And what better than homegrown eggs?
Mindful that he shouldn’t leave the cub alone for long, he grabbed a bowl and went out to the barn in search of eggs. The chickens clucked in greeting as he opened the door and let them out into the yard. They seemed a little more frazzled than usual, and he wondered if the foxes had been nosing around again. Once most of them were out, he stepped inside. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he froze. Someone was watching him. He took another step into the room, casting his gaze around without being obvious about it. Among the smell of chickens was a scent, out of place but a little familiar. He couldn’t see who or what was there, but he was certain of their presence. If a fox had gotten into the chicken coop, he needed to work out how.
He crouched down and picked up an egg, setting it in his basket. As he stood, he let his gaze drift around. He couldn’t see anything out of place, just catching the faint hint of a stray scent that didn’t belong. He collected a few more eggs to send up to the packhouse and headed outside, leaving the door open. A quick headcount of the chickens in the yard confirmed none were missing, but Thorn knew that might not be the case for long if there was a predator hanging around. When they were done with breakfast, he’d have to check the barn over, make sure nothing had found its way inside.
He found Sammy awake when he headed back inside, smiling shyly at him from the kitchen door.
“Morning, kiddo. Eggs for breakfast. Tomorrow, you can help me find them.”
The kid squirmed and stayed in the doorway.
“Let’s go wash up, huh?” Thorn said, heading his way.
Once they were finished in the bathroom, Sammy ran back into the workshop to play. Thorn made sure he was settled. He’d been feeling uneasy since visiting the barn. Something just didn’t feel quite right. He stepped out the front door, deciding to walk the perimeter of the house to ease the wary restlessness he felt. As he rounded the corner into the backyard, he faced an unexpected sight. There was a man in the middle of his yard, wearing his shirt.
“Hey!” Thorn yelled.
The man took off running toward the back door, and Thorn raced to head him off. Sammy was in there. Before the man reached the door,
he changed direction, turning right and running along the side of the house. Thorn sped up, intent on catching him. This was his house, his pack’s territory. Whoever this man was, he didn’t belong here.
“Stop!” Thorn shouted, watching as the intruder slipped and fell. He grabbed him before he could get away, shoving him over to get a good look at his face.
“Let me go. Let go!” the man yelled as he was flipped onto his back. Thorn pinned him down.
Scared green eyes stared back at him, dulled by exhaustion. “No, please.”
“Who are you?” Thorn demanded, shaking him a little. But he was already putting the pieces together. The scent in the barn had been familiar for a reason. This was Sammy’s father.
Before he could get an answer to his question, the omega went limp. Thorn caught his head before it could hit the ground, easing the stranger down. A closer look found telltale bruising along the omega’s jaw and neck. Damn it.
He lifted the stranger into his arms and carried him inside. He brought him to the guest room, determined to keep him away from Sammy for now, at least until he figured out what was going on. He laid the omega down on the bed and phoned Brax.
“Gonna need you to pay a house call,” he said. “No, not Sammy. I’ve got an injured omega on my hands. At a guess, he’s Sammy’s dad. He’s unconscious and pretty bruised up.”
Brax promised to be right there. Thorn heard Sammy’s voice and went to the door. He glanced back, concerned about leaving the omega alone, but there was no sign of him waking. A complicated situation had just gotten even more complicated.
He closed the door to the guest room and, after a moment of hesitation, locked it. He had to put Sammy’s safety first.
“Hey, kiddo,” he greeted from the workshop doorway. “Want to help me make breakfast?”
Sammy nodded, setting down his toy and racing over.
Sentinel (The Lost Pack Book 3) Page 3
