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Victor’s eyes darkened suddenly and Mo got a sudden lungful of something that reminded him of dried grass, with a woody undertone and a barely there rich, smoky feel. A teacher he’d worked closely with a few years ago had requested a bottle of bourbon as a gift when he retired, and as Mo had never tasted the stuff, he and a friend went to try some. The only one he liked tasted almost like a mixture of chocolate and smoke. It certainly managed to set his throat on fire.

Mo’s lips parted, because that thought, that scent, seemed to be having the same effect on his body, and he leaned forward, needing to be closer.

“Whatever you’re willing to give.” But Mo didn’t just hear the words, he seemed tofeelthem. They swirled around and mixed with the chocolate and smoke until he could nearly taste them on his tongue.

“Whatever’s happening, I can’t let it get in the way of me finding Khloe.” He felt like he needed to warn them both.

Victor closed the gap between them and bent his head.

**

“I didn’t ask to come here! You can’t make me.”

Mo jumped at the yell and Victor took a step backwards. They both looked to the open door to see a kid in scruffy, ripped jeans—not the expensive kind—a tee that looked way too big, and a jacket that was way too small. He was practically snarling every time Riley or the woman he assumed was the social worker tried to reason with him.

Mo’s gaze narrowed as he took in the blond, scraggy hair pulled back in a hair tie. Then the kid glanced toward them, and he took in his startling, different colored eyes. One was a pale blue and the other a golden brown. Mo knew heterochromia was mostly a benign condition present from birth, but he’d learned in college it was always something that needed to be checked out.

“How about you come with me, and I’ll show you your room?” Mo glanced over at Alex, who was standing on the stairs, but Alex’s mild words seemed to anger him even more.

“Who the fuck are you? They paying you to be my welcome committee? Or maybe you just get down on your knees every time one of them asks and suck—”

“Don’t be a prick,” Alex snarled the response, and even the adults went quiet. Mo assumed Alex losing his temper was rare. Alex walked down the last three steps and right up to the boy. “I get that you’re scared.” He ignored the scoff. “I get that each place melds into another. I know what you expect because I’ve been there and stood in exactly the space you’re in now. But if youeverspeak like that to one of these guys like thateveragain, you and me are going to have problems.” Alex didn’t wait for an agreement, just assumed he would be obeyed. He pointed to a plastic bag that the kid had dumped on the floor. “Now pick that up and follow me.” Then Alex turned and headed back up the stairs, and wonder of wonders, the boy picked up the bag without a word and followed him.

Zack, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange, stepped up to the social worker whose mouth was hanging open after that little display from Alex. “Coffee? Tea? You might as well come in while we check over the paperwork.” She nodded and seemed to pull herself together. Then she noticed Mo and paused.

“He’s trusted and aware,” Riley said, which shocked Mo, but kind of felt nice as well. Mo stepped forward and nearly offered her his hand before remembering Victor’s reaction from yesterday. He settled with just introducing himself. Zack stepped very close to Mo, and she smiled, then relaxed.

Mo saw her take a quick inhale when Victor moved nearer, but she didn’t offer her hand and neither did Victor. Zack pulled out a chair for her, then one for Mo, as well. Mo sat gratefully, because he was still trying to process what had happened, orwashappening, between him and Victor,and Zack. They really had to talk more. This whole thing had gone from zero to sixty in a moment and whatever he might want, he couldn’t lose sight of his main goal. He wasn’t about to forget about his sister just because—well, just because he had two gorgeous guys telling him they were his mates, apparently.

“That’s one powerful alpha up there,” Helen said, accepting a coffee from Riley, and suddenly Mo understood. She was a shifter, and that was what Riley had meant by Mo being aware. And probably why Zack had pressed close and maybe why she hadn’t offered to shake Victor’s hand. Although, surely they didn’t think she was a threat to him? And just how many shifters were there here?

Riley chuckled. “He’s been getting more dominant, certainly, but that was a first.”

It was Victor’s turn to scoff. “And he isn’t even eighteen.”

Helen grinned. “Well, I hope he can help settle Noah. We knowwhohe is, but he’s never been on any alpha’s radar. He was in court yesterday and one of Daniel’s team was there giving evidence on another case. Kent Kursman. You know him, I think?”

“Kent?” Zack said. “Yeah, he’s been here a few times. Good guy.”

“Well, he immediately flagged Noah Watkins as a shifter, but wasn’t sure what kind, so I became involved. He has a human father but he’s in trouble all the time, and as far as I know the father is unaware of shifters. I can’t take him back because the father is out of the country on business and the housekeeper charged with looking after Noah quit her job.”

“How come you have him now?” Riley asked.

“Mall cop caught him shoplifting. He had an iPhone on him we’ve returned to the store, and the cops arrested him. He was about to be sent to juvie, as it’s a second time, but Daniel interfered because he got a call from Kent, so they persuaded the judge to release him to them until the father returns. He didn't have any spare clothes and we can't get access to the house as Noah says he doesn't have a key. The judge is disgusted that the father doesn’t seem to care, and he’s even threatening prosecution for abandonment even if Montana doesn’t have a minimum age for that. Daniel wasn’t there. Kent says he’s looking into a missing person case, but he said he’d fill Daniel in when he saw him.”

Mo met Zack’s eyes and felt Victor cover his hand protectively. Daniel’s missing person case was Khloe. He sent Zack a tremulous smile and caught Victor’s fingers with his and didn’t let go. Helen glanced at Victor. “Are you the reason there are gammas patrolling outside?”

Victor nodded his head, but didn’t say anything else.

“We can’t explain at the moment, Helen,” Zack said, “but the case Daniel’s working on is connected to us, and Alpha Raschid is providing protection. If you could have found somewhere else, we’d have said it wasn’t a good idea to bring him.”

Helen sighed. “Sorry, but we're stuck.”

“And he’s here now,” Riley said as if it was a done deal.

“And I imagine this place is heavily protected.” She sighed. “I’m asking a lot, but we don’t know if he has control of his shift or even if he can shift at all, because he isn’t speaking to us. I didn’t dare place him anywhere else.”

“How can you guys know he’s a shifter, but can’t tell what kind?” Mo asked without thinking and then apologized. “Sorry, I really should have a filter.”