Page 22

Days go by, and even though Clara doesn’t return my declaration, she is obviously more comfortable with me, and it’s more than I could have ever hoped for.

I don’t want her to say it unless she truly feels it, and it’s an honest expression of how she feels now, not tangled up in the loss and longing from our past.

We settle into a comfortable routine of eating breakfast together in the morning, taking Nico to school, going our separate ways during the day, before picking up Nico and spending time with him exercising his powers before we go home to make dinner. It’s so comfortable and blissful, I could almost believe that it’s real.

But it’s not. Not until she can look at me with love, and no fear in her heart.

I try to get Clara involved in some pack business, mostly just so I can spend more time with her, but she isn’t comfortable with the older, more judgmental members, and I don’t blame her at all.

Especially since I want her around to distract me from their mundane bullshit. How did my father even deal with this on a daily basis?

I hate it, but the answer is obvious. Father created drama, sending out patrols, strengthening our border, and attempting to take territory outside our own. The pack was so caught up with the action, they didn’t have time to bicker, and even though it’s tempting to do the same, I’d rather focus on building community.

And Clara is the key. If she can bring the pack together in balance, all our rifts will be healed.

She attended a few meetings, and even though there is no outright hostility, which I wouldn’t tolerate—she still finds it difficult, and I love her too much to insist she do something she isn’t comfortable with. While I continue to navigate the ongoing issues, Clara hangs out with Winnie and takes up some of her old hobbies, like sewing and cooking.

Every day, she looks happier and more relaxed, and my hope soars, even as I tell myself not to assume anything.

Early one Saturday morning, I get up with Nico and head straight out for a run. We shift and race through the forest, bounding and playing together until he’s panting with exertion. I’ve found that tiring out his wolf is essential to him being able to focus on his magic and stay calm during school.

“Jeez, Dad,” Nico gasps as we shift back to our human shapes in the back garden. “That was a hell of a run for first thing in the morning!”

“I didn’t hear you complaining,” I answer, tapping him on the shoulder with a mock punch. “Not until it was time to turn around and come home, anyway.”

“My paws get sore,” he answers. “I love the running, but then my paws start to hurt, and I can’t draw a breath.”

“That will get better the more you shift,” I reply. “Your paws need to get harder and develop calluses, and your lungs will get stronger, too. We have to introduce some hunting soon, and when you’re on the chase for prey, your body will harden up more naturally. You won’t notice the pain when you’re hunting. All you’ll think about is the kill.”

“That scares me, Dad,” Nico admits. “After that day in the valley—”

“That was not your fault!” I say, stopping him and looking into his eyes. “That’s on me. We should never have left you alone in such a vulnerable state. I’m sorry you had to go through that, son.”

Nico gulps and throws his arms around me. I hold him against my chest, closing my eyes to draw in his scent. Having my son close to me is just pure magic—soothing for both my human soul and that of my wolf.

I ruffle Nico’s hair, wishing that I could shield him from all harm and berating myself for letting that incident occur. I had to send a significant amount of money to the affected farmer, but that didn’t bother me.

The only thing that matters is that I put my son in danger, and I need to make sure that never happens again.

We head inside, and I throw a robe around Nico’s shoulders as we go into the kitchen. To my surprise, Clara is awake, humming to herself as she twirls around the kitchen.

“Good morning,” I say, smiling when she pauses and smiles back at me, my heart soars.

Careful. One smile doesn’t mean she’s in love… although the way her eyes are eating up my naked body is a really good sign.

“Good morning, Galen,” Clara answers, quickly looking away into the frying pan. “I saw you boys out for a run and thought I'd have breakfast ready for you when you got back.”

“I appreciate it,” I reply, putting on one of the robes I keep by the door. I roll it slowly up my shoulders and take my time wrapping it around me and tying the sash. I get another little ego boost when Clara’s eyes linger on me again.

“What are we having, Mom?” Nico asks, sitting down at the table.

“I’ve got pancakes and corn biscuits, as well as sausage and eggs. Do you want some of everything, baby?”

“Yes, please, Mom!” Nico exclaims, picking up his knife and fork and drumming them on the table. “Your cooking has been so good!”

“Thanks, baby,” Clara says, laughing. “I didn’t have much time to cook when we lived out at West Glacier, I was always working. But now I can take the time to indulge my passion for cooking, expect a lot more of it!”

“No complaints here,” I reply, going over to the counter. “Do you need any help?”

“Not at all,” Clara says. “I’m almost done. Go ahead and sit down, and I’ll bring it over.”

When she sets the trays down, the room is silent except for the scraping of cutlery on plates for a good ten minutes. Nico and I inhale a full plate each before piling up for seconds.

“Glad you guys were hungry!” Clara laughs. “I thought I made too much.”

“Nico will need excess amounts of protein for a while,” I reply. “He’s growing fast, and his wolf is very strong. It will help settle his mind and make the shifting much easier if he has high energy levels. He will have to hunt for prey soon to get the amount of nutrients he needs, too.”

“Hunt?” Clara echoes. I can see she’s worried about the day he lost control, and I pat her hand gently.

“Don’t worry. I’m going to be there the whole time. He needs a little guidance, that’s all. I screwed up before, and I should have taken him out to test his skills before it crept up on him like that.”

Clara nods, with worry still lurking in her eyes.

“You sure you’re feeling up to this, kiddo?” Clara asks. Nico nods, shoveling a huge bite of pancakes into his mouth.

“It’s scary,” he answers. “But I trust Dad. So far, every outing makes me stronger, and my mind is clearer.”

“Okay,” Clara says, leaning over to kiss his forehead. “If you’re okay, then that’s all that matters.”

For a few moments, I just watch my wife and child, wondering how I got so lucky. Not just to have them, but that I was able to find them, even after I stupidly let Clara go.

“I’m thinking of planning another date,” I say, breaking the silence. “Something for just the two of us. What do you think, Clara?”

“Don’t want me to come, huh?” Nico asks, grinning. “Trying to get rid of me already?”

“You stop,” I laugh, giving him a little shove. “I’ve got plenty of family activities planned, don’t you worry about that. I’d just like to spend a bit of time with your mom, too.”

“What are you up to?” Nico asks, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Well, I’ve decided I’m going to woo your mom—just like the old days. Showering her with gifts, taking her out to nice places, and just generally treating her like a queen.”

“You’re already married,” Nico laughs. “Isn’t that supposed to be done beforehand?”

“Yes, usually,” I answer. “But I didn’t get the chance, so I’m doing it now.”

“That sounds like a great idea, Dad,” Nico says, grinning. “Mom deserves the best!”

“Do I get a say in this?” Clara asks.

“No,” Nico and I answer in perfect unison. All of us laugh, and I’m so happy my chest aches.

This. This is all I want, for the rest of my life.

“What should we do today?” I ask. “There’s a craft show in town, so there will be some fun stalls, food, and games. Or we could hike up the mountain to one of the lookouts. I can give you a few pointers on tracking, son.”

“We can take a picnic,” Clara says. “And maybe find a spot over the lake?”

“Sounds great, Dad!” Nico says, grinning.

“We can stop in town on the way back for a nice dinner, too,” I answer. “Maybe have a family movie night after.”

Nico’s smile grows, and the love in his eyes is enough to almost knock me off my chair.

“Thanks for coming to find us, Dad,” Nico says softly. “I knew you would, and it would be just like this.”

Clara looks up at him sharply as if he wounded her, but before anyone can react, a soft beep begins to emit from a speaker above the door.

“What is that?” Clara asks.

“Security breach,” I answer, leaping up from the table. I hurry to the panel and flick my hand across the screen to bring up the camera feed.

The first few slides show empty corners of my garden, but the last two show shifters I don’t know stalking into my property. They are still on the outskirts, so I have time to intervene.

They obviously don’t know I have heavy security, and I doubled it up after those drifters got in.

“What’s happening, Galen?” Clara asks, her voice high.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” I say, tapping a few buttons to call for backup. “I’ve got a few wolves stalking towards the house, but I can take them. I’ve sent messages to the others, just in case, but I’m going out to intercept right now.”

“Don’t leave us alone!” Clara cries.

“I won’t. I’m only going to the backyard, just a couple of feet away. If you need me, then holler, but I’m not going to just sit here and wait for them to kick the door in.”

I tear off my robe and walk out into the yard. I stay against the back of the house so they won’t immediately see me when they come through from the woods and wait for the first one to come into view.

As the big, black wolf crawls through the low shrubs on his belly, I circle around the yard, catching him just as he sticks his head out. I get him in a sleeper hold before he can even see me coming and squeeze gently until he passes out in my arms.

Three to go.

Staying in my human shape, I run along the garden bed, keeping to the shadows as the next wolf enters the garden. With a swift kick, I slam my heel down on his skull, and he drops like a stone.

I’m getting into position for the next two when I realize they’ve changed course. I stand quietly, stretching out my senses so I can tell which way they’re going.

Shit! They’re headed for the back door!

With no time to waste, I shift into my wolf shape and bolt across the yard towards the back of the house. There is no point in being stealthy now, so I round the corner with teeth bared, ready for a fight.

What I see as I come into the yard makes my heart sink like a stone. The other two wolves have surrounded Nico, who is also in his wolf shape, spinning between them, snarling and snapping.

A howl rips from my throat as I attack, charging into the nearest wolf and knocking him off his feet. I go straight for his throat and rip open the jugular in one swift move. The wolf yips and kicks his legs a little as his life bleeds out on the ground.

I spin back around, blood dripping from my jaws as I fix my eyes on the other wolf. He’s starting to back away, but that isn’t going to save him.

Tried to take my son! I’ll kill you!

A shudder runs through the other wolf as he flattens his ears and tries to spring away. I leap at him, crashing into his shoulder so hard we both roll across the ground, snapping at each other and growling as I try to grab his ruff.

The other wolf tries to slither away, but I manage to get on top and pin him to the ground. I can hear the pattering of paws all around me, and I know my pack has come. I glare into the other wolf’s yellow eyes, enjoying the fear I see in them. He yelps and wriggles, trying to get away, but I have no mercy in me.

With one sharp jerk of my head, I rip open his throat. Blood sprays across my face, but I pay no attention to it as I spin around and shift, running towards Nico.

“Nico!”

“Dad!” my son screams, running to me and throwing his arms around me. I pick him up, spinning him around and holding him tightly against my chest.

“Oh my God, son,” I pant. “I thought I lost you.”

“I’m okay, Dad, I’m okay! It was really scary, but they didn’t hurt me.”

“Thank God.”

“Galen,” Sherman speaks from behind me. “We’ve cleared the area. Were there any others? It looks like we missed some.”

“There were two others,” I say, putting Nico down and running to Sherman. “I knocked them out. Each on the west and south corners.”

“They aren’t there now, alpha.”

“Shit! They got away?”

“Looks like it.”

“Fuck!” I run a hand through my hair, berating myself for doing a poor job of this. They got too close, and now I can’t find out who they are, or why they’re here.

A faint trickle of unease runs through me. At first, I can’t place it, but then, while I’m looking at Nico, the realization hits me like a blow to the face.

Where’s Clara? Why isn’t she here comforting her son?

“No,” I mutter, turning to run towards the house. “No, no. This can’t be happening!”

I slam the back door open, hoping to see her standing by the counter, drawn, worried, but safe.

The kitchen is empty.

“Clara!” I scream, running through the house. Her scent is all around me, so thick that it feels like she must be here, somewhere, but all I find is empty space.

Finally, I run to the front door, looking out over the lawn. Pain and loss open up inside me, dropping me into a well of despair—and sparking a desperate, burning rage against those who would hurt my mate.

“What happened?” Sherman asks from behind me. “Are we secure?”

“No, we’re not,” I growl. “They took her. They took my mate. And now I’m going to kill every last one of them.”