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A loud scraping noise preceded the door flying open. “I’m sorry, Dominic,” she cried, throwing herself at him. He rocked back at the force but managed to stay upright as he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m so sorry for all of it.”
“You don’t need to apologize, Sam. I’m just glad you’re home.” He patted her back as I lowered my gaze to my feet, rocking back and forth.
“I’m going to go,” I murmured, pointing to the stairwell. Nicky’s head popped out at that moment and I offered him my hand. “Want to get some breakfast while your Mom and Uncle Dom talk?” He nodded, one finger hooked inside his cheek as he watched his Mom cry all over Dom. “She’s fine,” I reassured him. “Happy tears. You’ll understand when you get older.” He nodded solemnly, popping his finger out of his mouth and placing the damp digit in my hand. “Come on. We’ll wash our hands before we eat.”
Thank you.
The words caressed my mind, more emotion behind them then I could process without bursting into tears of my own.
You’re welcome, I replied, ducking my head so he wouldn’t see the dampness in my eyes as Nicky and I walked past them.
Chapter Fourteen
“We’re going to be late,” I declared, shooing Monster ahead of me as Dad juggled his keys, phone, and the door behind us. Trent nodded to me as we flew past him. He’d agreed to stay behind and keep an eye on the motel. I thought it was mainly because he wasn’t sure he’d be welcome at the Pack House.
“Do you really think we need to be there?” Dad asked again, jogging to catch up to us as I hotfooted it to the path in the woods.
“Yes,” I stressed, slowing so he could catch up as we reached the canopy of trees. “I’m with Dominic and Monster is a…” I stuttered to a stop as I realized no one had told Dad.
“A shifter?” He mentioned sardonically, shoving his glasses up his nose as he stuck his hands in his pockets. “Yes, I’m aware.”
“How? Who?” My thoughts short-circuited at seeing how calmly he was taking the news.
“Monster told me,” Dad answered as we watched him wander down the path ahead of us. “He seemed quite proud of himself.” I chuckled, easily imagining Monster strutting like a rooster as he told Dad he was a big bad wolf shifter. “Wren confirmed it.” He worried his lip as he strode along side of me and I waited for him to decide what he wanted to say. “I’m the reason. My genes are what make you a…,” he paused before clearly saying, “A shifter mate.” My laugh interrupted him.
“You can say breeding female, Dad. I’ve come to terms with it.”
“I haven’t,” he declared, shaking his head. “And Monster is a shifter. Are you sure?” He glanced at me so optimistically that I hated to shatter the hope staring me in the face but there was no point denying it.
“We’re sure.” I nodded to where Monster had stopped to examine something on the ground. “He knew the moment he met Dom that he was different. He can smell them and Dom confirmed that he’s a shifter.”
“It’s a good thing your Mom sent him to us then.” He frowned. “I still can’t believe she sent him via courier.”
“Better than the bus,” I muttered. “He would have destroyed a bus.”
Dad gave me a sideways glance. “Good point.”
“It’s going to be better for him. Easier,” I murmured watching Monster pocket a leaf he’d picked up. “He’ll grow up knowing he belongs.” Dad wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I leaned into him. “He’ll grow up with others like him. Be a part of the Pack.”
“And you, Bunny?” I felt his gaze on the top of my head, but I didn’t look up. “Do you feel like you belong here?”
“Yeah,” I answered thickly. “I do.” I squeezed his waist before stepping away. “For the first time in a long time, I’m not biding my time until I leave. I’m not waiting for college or my life to begin. It’s here and it’s now.”
“This fight…is it Caleb’s fight or Dominic’s?”
“It’s the Alpha’s,” I replied and he hummed. “Caleb,” I spit out. “Caleb wants to fight. Dom supports him.”
“That should make you feel better,” Dad said carefully. “That Caleb is fighting and not Dom.”
“If the Council supports the decision.” I rubbed my hands together, the temperature low enough I wished I’d remembered gloves. “They don’t think Caleb is ready.”
“I can’t imagine what’s going through that young man’s mind. He’s grieving for his father, responsible for an entire community, and now he’s expected to defend it without their support.”
“It’s kind of depressing when you put it like that,” I mumbled, stuffing my numb fingers in my back pockets. “Dom supports him.”
