Page 5 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

“Sam? Are phones scary?” Ollie asked, pulling Sam from his memory.

Sam huffed and pretended he wasn’t flushed just from remembering Vaughn’s big hands on him and all the embarrassment and anger that had followed, and then reached out to goose Ollie’s knee to reassure him that phones weren’t scary at all.

Ollie flinched, and Sam went from embarrassed and angry over having to call the guy who’d used him for a quick fuck to just plain angry. He knew exactly what that defense mechanism meant. Someone had hit Ollie, and bigger than him or not, if it had been Vaughn, Sam planned on decking him first and reporting him to the police second.

“Ollie, you’re safe here, okay? I’m not going to hurt you or let anyone else hurt you. I promise. Now, are you sure you want me to call your family?”

Ollie’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t have a family. But I need to talk to the alpha, Sam. It’s really important.” Such big words for such a little guy.

“Okay then. I’ll help.” Sam dialed the emergency number for the Jerricks’ clinic and was a bit surprised when the line was picked up on the second ring. “Jerrick Animal Clinic. Dr. Vaughn, speaking.”

“Um. Oh. Hi. Vaughn. Because yeah, two Dr. Jerricks would be confusing. So you’re Dr. Vaughn and not Dr. Jerrick.”

“Who is this?” Vaughn didn’t sound happy, not that Sam could blame him.

“Yeah, um, this is Sam. Sam Baker?”

There was a long pause before Vaughn spoke again. “Uh…who did you say? Do you have an emergency?”

Sam sighed. “Sammy Baker? From high school?” And that one night in the bar parking lot Vaughn had obviously forgotten.

“Sammy? I didn’t know you had a…pet?”

“I’d rather you call me Sam.” Sam took a deep breath, ignoring the bit of anger still writhing in his gut at Vaughn’s treatment. “Look. Here’s the thing. I need to ask you a crazy favor. Is there any way you could come over to my house? Um, I have… okay, I actually think I’m insane right now. Or possibly dreaming? But then again, I’d never actually dream this because it sucks so incredibly bad to actually have to talk to you again. So if you could come over, like, right away, it would really help me out.”

Vaughn didn’t respond for a moment. “Sam, are you okay?” He paused again. “Is someone there with you?”

“I’m okay. And, uh, yes. I was asked to call, uh, you? I think. Anyway, if you could—”

“Tell me your address. I’m on my way.”