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The collar was just the minimum punishment that could be inflicted on them if they didn’t behave. Sarah could throw caution to the wind for her own sake, but not for her daughter’s. “If you’re up there causing trouble, then it’s too much of a risk, Ava. I can’t have anything happen to you.”
Ava’s eyes sparked once again. “I’ll be fine, Mom. See, I—” She stopped, and her eyes flicked over to the stairs.
Sarah had been focusing on her too much to notice the quiet thump of the basement door. She turned to see her mother, carefully setting her feet down in just the right places to make as few creaks and squeaks as possible as she descended the staircase.
Janice glanced back up at the door when she reached the bottom of the steps, then hurried over to Sarah, holding out a single cupcake on a small plate. “Happy birthday, dear.”
“Oh, Mom.” Sarah took it in her hands as though it were made of gold. They weren’t allowed niceties like this. A sugary treat might be an everyday occurrence for others, but not for her. She knew just how big of a risk her mother had taken by doing such a thing. “You didn’t have to.”
“Yes, I did.” Janice looked like she was going to cry as she pulled a lighter and candle out of her pocket, even though she was trying her best to be brave. “Everyone deserves to have their birthday celebrated.”
Holding the cupcake as her mother put the candle down through the frosting, Sarah felt tears burn the backs of her eyes. She’d tried not to think about it, but it was impossible. This was her son’s birthday as well. How could she ever forget the day he came into the world and made her a mother for the first time? He’d changed her entire life, but Sarah knew she’d probably never get the chance to tell him so. At forty, she always thought she’d be driving her kids to soccer practice and looking at colleges with them. Instead, there she was, demoted to the lowest member of her pack, living a life of servitude with her daughter. “I’ve been trying not to think about it.”
“I know, dear.” Janice reached out to touch Sarah’s hair, her sad eyes whisking over her face. She must not have liked what she saw because she soon returned her attention to the cupcake. “What are you going to wish for this year?”
Sarah closed her eyes. She remembered a time when she still believed in birthday wishes, when she’d sat at the dining table upstairs with the rest of the pack around her, trying to decide to wish for a pony or a kitten. There were times as a child when she’d resented the way the adults ran her life, when they wouldn’t let her go where she wanted in the woods, or when she couldn’t spend the night at a friend’s house or participate in a pack run because she hadn’t brought up her grades. Life had seemed so unfair, and she’d been bitter about the way she’d been imprisoned by rules and regulations.
Independence had come to mean something so much more than that.
Sarah didn’t want a pony or a kitten. She wouldn’t wish for a new designer dress or a gorgeous car. There was only one thing she wanted as she opened her eyes and focused on the flame. Freedom.
With a long, slow breath, she blew out the candle.
2
The wind whistledpast Max’s ears and rippled through his fur. The day was too beautiful to waste, and he lifted his muzzle to inhale as much of it as he possibly could. After all, his son was only going to turn eighteen once.You sure this is the only thing you wanted to do today?Max asked through their telepathic link.
I didn’t say it was theonlything,Hunter reminded him.It’s a great start, though.
Brody pulled alongside them, easily flying through the woods on all fours.I can’t argue with that. There’s nothing more freeing than this.
Even so, we might want to turn and head back toward the packhouse. We’ve been out for a long time.Not that Max would’ve minded spending the rest of the day like this. He’d gladly stop thinking about his job at the rock club, Selene’s, and his duties as the Glenwood pack beta, just allowing himself to be a wolf for a while. He was forty-four now, but remembered what it was like to be young, and he wanted Hunter to enjoy it while he still could. But Max’s mother, Joan, had planned plenty of festivities for the day, and he knew she’d never forgive him if they skipped out.
Fine,Hunter relented.Let’s at least go up here first.
Max and Brody followed him up a steep and rocky path. Considering the trees in the way, it was barely a path at all, but wolves didn’t need nicely groomed trails. Max bounded from one rock to another after his son, feeling a little of that youth himself, until they emerged into the sun of the ridgetop.
This is one of my favorite spots,Hunter admitted as he moved almost all the way to the edge and then sat on his haunches.You can see it all from here.
Stepping up on his left, Max had to agree with Hunter’s assessment. They could see a vast amount of the Glenwood pack’s territory, save what was naturally hidden by the trees. He knew they were fortunate to have so many wild acres to run on without much interference. Any hikers who came through there were probably lost, and seeing a pack of wolves running by would ensure they never returned. He thought of the packs who lived more modern lives, settling down in big cities and keeping their wolf forms at bay most of the time. Every pack was a bit different, but he was grateful to be a part of this one.
Brody came around on Hunter’s right.So, what are you thinking? You’re eighteen now. You’ve got the rest of your adult life ahead of you. What are your plans?
Oh, come on. I don’t have to decide all of that right now,Hunter hedged.
Of course not, but you should at least pick a direction that you want to try out. You’ll be graduating soon. Are you going to college?
Max gazed out over the treetops and let his mind wander while Hunter explained his plans to his uncle. He and Hunter had already had this conversation, and more than once. His son had been rather stubborn about it at first, insisting that school was a waste of time and there was nothing he was interested in pursuing as a career.
Somewhere along the line during his senior year, that had changed. He wanted to go to college but stay local so he could still be close to the pack. Eugene University was at the top of his list, and Max had no doubt that was thanks to Conner. Hunter’s cousin had come into the pack only recently, but the two young wolves had bonded quickly. While Conner was able to pursue his degree on a football scholarship, Hunter would be paying his own way. He was still exploring a few different programs, but he was leaning toward environmental studies. Max wouldn’t be surprised if the kid stuck with it. He loved the land he’d grown up on.
Brody jostled Hunter’s shoulder with his own.If you ever decide you want to become a tattoo artist, just let me know. We could use more stand-up guys like you in the industry.
I can’t see anyone paying me to draw stick figures on them,Hunter retorted.
Hey, you never know what someone might want. You could specialize in shitty handwriting and awkward stick figures. You’d be the talk of the town. You just couldn’t let anyone know that we’re related. I have a business to uphold, you know.
Max loved seeing how close Hunter was with the rest of the pack. Most kids that age didn’t want to be around their families, especially adults. Hunter was really starting to mature, though, and it showed. He didn’t want to ruin their good time, but he knew he had to be the dad right now.We’d really better get going.
