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“He’s my stepdad,” Luke choked out. “He’s not nice. I didn’t want nothing to do with you children of the night, I swear it.”
I winced at his description of us and Dru’s mouth pulled to the side. “We’re not exactly children of the night,” she retorted. “Just another species.”
“I don’t care,” he said desperately. “I don’t want to be one of you. I don’t want nothing to do with any of you. I swear.”
“You can’t be one of us,” she informed him, patting his hand and I growled, feeling the hair on the back of my neck rise. She carefully pulled her hand back as Luke whimpered. “I respect your wishes, but I do need to know what you know before I can let you go.”
“Nothing. I swear. He didn’t tell me anything. He made me come with him. He didn’t tell me what you were or what we were doing with you.” His eyes were pleading. “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t want to be a werewolf.”
She smiled tightly, but didn’t correct him again. “Did he mention a location or any names? Someone he answered to?” She prodded and Luke shook his head, taking a bite of the jerky.
“Talk to Chuck. He was the one who planned all this. The only guy I met was someone named Strickland. He gave us the wolf,” Luke paused, glancing at Dru. “I mean, you, so I guess you know him.” She gave him a pained smile and he ducked his head in shame. “I don’t know anything else. I swear.”
“I believe you, Luke,” she said with a sigh. “You didn’t actually like Chuck, did you?” She questioned, her mouth making a moue of distaste.
He shook his head, staring at the table. “He married my ma, but he beat her and she died. Then he’d beat me and make me do stuff like this.”
“Oh, that’s good,” Dru replied, a relieved laugh escaping her and Luke’s head slowly came up as we all stared at her. “What? He’s dead. I’m happy you’re not going to be upset about his death,” she explained as Dom glanced at me and I lifted my shoulder.
“He’s dead,” Luke repeated and Dru nodded happily.
“You’re welcome.”
“What…what am I supposed to do now?” Luke questioned and Dru’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t have anyone else.”
“You’re free,” Dru told him. “You can do whatever you want.”
He stared at her blankly and a sigh gusted from her. “You won’t though.” She glanced around and shrugged. “You can stay here I guess. If you don’t mind children of the night,” she offered as her mouth widened in a broad smile, the sight semi terrifying.
“What? No,” Dom protested. “No, this isn’t a half-way house. You take him.”
Dru frowned at him. “You’re not very helpful,” she told him and I ran my hand over my face to hide my grin.
“I don’t want to stay with your kind,” Luke complained, eyeing her like she was crazy. “You eat people.”
Dru rolled her eyes. “People don’t feed a lot. Not enough meat,” she confided and Luke looked like he was about to piss himself.
She sounds way too matter of fact, Dom sent over our link and I scratched my eyebrow, not answering.
“How about this? You can go stay with my Gran.” She smiled and I recognized it as dangerous, but Luke didn’t have a clue. “She hates wolves, so you’ll be safe.”
Luke nodded slowly. “Okay.”
“Great. She can always use a strong pair of arms.” Dru stood up, motioning for him to get up. “Let’s go.”
“Now?” Luke questioned hesitantly and Dru glanced at him in surprise.
“I didn’t think you wanted to stay here.”
“I don’t.”
“Plus we need to go get a runaway wolf shifter,” she mentioned, nodding to Dom. “You coming?”
“Yes,” Dom muttered, trailing behind her as she headed for the door, giving me a pissed off look. “Let’s all follow the new girl.”
Chapter Nineteen
Dru
As we went outside, the woman who had come with the wolf shifters joined us and I saw the massive mountain of a man lean down to kiss her sweetly. “Dom and his mate, Jess,” Caleb explained. “This is their house, those are their kids.”
“He’s your Alpha.”
“Yes.”
I nodded at his confirmation as others came up to us. “I don’t think we should have a huge crowd,” I mentioned as more people continued to gather around and Caleb smiled.
“They won’t. They’re just curious about you.”
I frowned, puzzled. “Me?”
“You’re my mate.”
“Okaaaay,” I drawled, unsure why it mattered. Dom was explaining the situation to Jess as Luke huddled by himself.
“You think bringing him to your Gran is a good idea?” Caleb asked, eyeing him.
“She’ll keep him in line,” I answered with a shrug. “Or kill him.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“He made his choices, following Chuck even if he didn’t agree with him, whatever happens next is up to him,” I answered unconcerned. “We should run, it’ll be faster.”
