Page 182 of Broken Bonds

“Hi, everyone. My name is Jax Crowe, and I’m the Ocala Pack’s Pack Alpha. You already know my fathers, Mike and Pavin. I am so sorry for everything you’ve been through. I promise you that while you are here, we will protect and care for you. And once the threat has been dealt with, our pack will help you transition to your new home, wherever that is. But you will remain here until it’s safe for you to move on, no matter how long that takes. We already have people who’ve volunteered to be teachers, or to run arts and crafts programs, or assist you however you need. And if there’s anything you need while you’re here, please don’t hesitate to ask us.”

I look up at Alizée to see if she wants to speak.

She steps forward, smiling. “You’ve all met me before. I will also be on-site at all times. I’m currently staying at a cottage close by, and no matter what time you need me, day or night, please feel free to call me if I’m not here.”

I also introduce Chaz, who’s made a marked transformation, from his initial borderline hostile stance when I first talked to him, to today. The grizzled shifter looks like he’s close to tears, seeing the obviously terrified kids and shell-shocked adults. He drops to one knee, eye-to-eye with the smallest kids.

“I’m Chaz,” he tells them. “I’m the guy who will be the head butt-kicker if anyone tries to come in who doesn’t belong here,” he says, finally earning faint smiles from some of the kids. “My people will be outside day and night to keep you safe. I’m a big pussy cat to my buddies, like you guys, but I will be a raging tiger to anyone who tries to hurt you. I promise.”

“Can you purr?” one of the little girls asks.

He smiles. “Tigers can’t purr; we chuff.” He lifts his head and makes the sound, the little girl smiling in delight. “I only make that sound for my friends, though. Are you guys my friends?”

Nearly all the kids nod, at least a little.

“Want to hear it again?”

More nods.

Smiling, he does it again, and the little girl who’d asked if he could purr steps closer. “How do you do that?”

He shrugs. “I don’t know. Here.” He lifts his head and touches his throat. She puts her hand there and he chuffs again, making her giggle.

“Can you roar?” she asks.

“Ohh, I can roar, but I won’t do that in here.”

“Why not?”

“For starters, it sounds scary, and I don’t want to scare my friends.” His smile fades. “We’re not talking about this tonight, not until everyone’s here. But we’ll have a safety plan. If you do hear me roar, it means everyone needs to follow the plan immediately. Okay?”

She nods.

“But I’ll promise you something.”

“What?” she asks.

“As long as everything stays safe, before you go to your new home, before you leave, when we’re outside, I’ll roar good-bye for you. How’s that?”

Her smile widens and she nods. “Okay! I’m Maggie.”

He holds out his hand and shakes with her. “Well hello, Maggie. It’s nice to meet you, sweetie.”

I hear a soft sniffle from behind me and see Alizée wiping her eyes. “Okay, let’s show you around,” she says, taking over. “Follow me.”

Pops gives Chaz a head-tip in respect before he and Dad follow the group.

One of the female familiars falls back, and I can tell she wants to speak to us. She wipes tears away. “Thank you,” she whispers to me and Chaz, and she leans in and hugs us both. “She hasn’t spoken since…” She draws in a ragged breath. “That’s literally the first thing she’s said.” She hurries to catch up with the others.

Chaz blows out a long breath. “Well, shit,” he says so softly I’m certain they can’t hear. “Now I wanna go help you rip those fuckers’ heads off.”

I tip my head toward the door. We head outside, toward the large canopy tent that is our temporary staging area for the sentries. A large pre-fab shed about the size of a garage is on order and will be assembled when it arrives in a day or two.

“I feel like a real fucking shit now,” Chaz grumbles. “For hesitating to help. I promise if anyone in our pack so much as breathes a hint of resentment over this, I will clean their fucking clock, so help me I will.”

“That’s admirable,” I say, “but people are entitled to their opinions. Not saying their opinions are right, or that I agree with them, but we’re not the thought police. I don’t care what they think as long as they stay out of the way and don’t impede operations or put the refugees in jeopardy. If they come around, great. If not? Well, then we know things about them we wish we didn’t.”

Chaz nods. “Can we figure out a way to let the kids swim in the pool and use the playground? Maybe set up a temporary perimeter fence or something?”