Bastian grabbed his discarded jeans from the floor and yanked them up. More pounding on the front door had Hudson really worried now. “You can stay here?”
“I might be able to help,” Hudson replied. He hurried to get his own pants on.
Bastian looked like he wanted to say something.
Hudson buttoned his pants. “I’m trained for emergencies.”
“This isn’t the type of emergency that you’re used to,” Bastian responded. “I just hope you don’t hate me after this.”
“What?” Hudson had no idea what Bastian was talking about.
Bastian was already stomping to answer the door where pounding had resumed.
Hudson ran behind Bastian as he unlocked and swung open the door.
“Bas! I’m sorry. I’m sorry to interrupt—” Levi looked panicked.
“What’s going on?” Bastian demanded.
“A little boy in the state park went missing,” Levi told him. “He was supposed to be in his tent; his parents were in a tent right beside him. Dad woke up to take a piss and saw the boy’s flap open. No one can find him. It’s been two hours.”
Bastian nodded.
“How old?” Hudson asked. A missing child in the middle of the night was a big deal.
“Six,” Levi said. “We’ve been looking for hours but his scent is being blocked by something.”
“Fuck!” Bastian spat.
“Scent? Do you have dogs out there?” Hudson questioned.
Levi looked from Hudson to Bastian.
Bastian turned and pulled Hudson into his arms. “I was going to tell you. I swear I was leading up to it.”
“Tell me what?”
“I’m Bas,” Bastian said.
“I know?” Hudson was confused. “You named your cat after you.”
“No, baby.” Bastian gave him a sad smile. “I am the cat.”
“Huh?” Was he so tired that he wasn’t understanding words?
“I’m a shifter, Hudson,” Bastian said.
“Shifter?” Was this a joke? They didn’t have time for this when there was a missing child! Hudson shook his head.
“This family that lives here? It’s made up of men from the paranormal world,” Bastian said. “I wanted to find a better way to tell you but I’ve run out of time. I need to go.”
“Go?” Go where? What?
“No one can track from the trees like I can. If the boy’s scent is being blocked that means magic is being used. I’m sorry.” Bastian did look sorry. He stepped out onto the porch with Levi.
“Wait!” Hudson followed. “What is going on? Bastian! What are you talking about?”
Bastian just shook his head.
