Page 16 of Dream Weaver (Spellbound in Sedona #3)

COOPER

The minute Walt called me over, I knew something was wrong. Abby’s breathless words confirmed it.

“I need someone to get over to Claire’s school right now,” she begged over the phone.

Abby never panicked. But she sure sounded close.

“I’ll be about fifteen minutes late, but I need someone there until I arrive,” she said. “Just in case. Please…”

I had no idea what that case might be, but it didn’t matter. If Claire needed something, I was there.

“I’m on my way,” I told Abby, running for the door.

The good news was, my mother had already left, so I could run out without a word of explanation.

The bad news was… Well, everything else.

The school was just off the main road and easy to find. Navigating release-time traffic was a little tricky, but most folks were leaving, so it wasn’t hard to find a parking spot. I slid out of my truck and hurried toward the entrance, a few steps behind a guy I assumed was picking up his kid.

As it turned out, I was right — and not in a good way.

A stout, no-nonsense woman waited at the top of the stairs with a couple of kids. She wasn’t wearing a badge, but her sensible suit and in charge aura screamed principal .

The guy sauntered up the stairs and lifted his cowboy hat, all smooth and cocky.

“I’m here to pick up Claire.”

Claire cringed, making my bear growl. I flew right up the stairs, passing him.

Claire dashed over and latched on to my leg. “Cooper!”

“Heya, kiddo.” I leaned over to shield her. Whatever was going on here, it wasn’t good.

“Now, just a minute,” the guy and the principal barked at the same time.

I stuck a hand in the air to indicate no ill intent. The other hand, I kept around Claire, who pressed her face against my thigh, a ghost of the happy, trusting kid I knew.

“Who the hell are you?” the guy demanded.

The principal gave him a scathing look that said, Watch your tongue, young man .

“I’m Cooper Lundsven, ma’am,” I kept my eyes on the principal, refusing to acknowledge the guy.

Not just a guy. A wolf shifter, my bear warned, catching his scent.

“Claire’s mom is on the way,” I said, leaning down to echo that to Claire. “She’s on her way right now. Don’t worry,” I murmured, patting her back.

Her hands clutched my jeans. She was worried, all right.

A tiny nod was her only reply.

The principal checked a clipboard. “I don’t see you on the authorization list.”

“No, ma’am. I’m not. Claire’s mom just asked me to wait here until she arrives.”

“Well, I’m Claire’s father, and I’m here to pick her up,” the guy declared.

I nearly bared my teeth. Make that, my fangs. This jerk was Claire’s father?

Brown hair, cold blue eyes. The guy was tall and athletic, but he had that worn-out look that said his glory days had been at least a decade back.

“Name?” the principal demanded.

“Jay Wilson.”

“You’re not on the list either,” she said.

“What list? I’m her goddamn father!” he bellowed, advancing a step.

The principal was a head shorter and thirty years older than him, but she didn’t retreat an inch.

“School policy. Students may only be released to adults on the authorized pickup list. It’s for their own safety. I’m sure that’s your priority, too.”

I wasn’t all that sure, judging by the way Claire clung to me.

“My priority? My fucking priority?” he hollered, making heads turn. “She’s my kid. Give her to me.”

His tone was that of a guy trying to claim an impounded truck. So much for parental warmth.

“It doesn’t work that way, sir.” The principal turned to me and bent down. “Claire, honey. I need you to come to me, please.”

Claire shook her head, and I gave the lady an imploring look. “I don’t want to take her anywhere. I’m just here to wait with her.”

Jay looked like he was about to punch me. I growled under my breath. Let him try.

But not with Claire there. I turned sideways, putting myself between him and her.

“I’m her father!” Jay yelled. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

The principal signaled to a pudgy security guy, who spoke into a radio before joining her.

Great. Jay was going to get us both arrested — and worse, traumatize Claire.

“I’m just a friend,” I said as calmly as possible. “Like I said, Abby will be here soon.”

Jay’s frown suggested he’d hoped to be gone — with Claire — by then.

“A friend? A fucking friend?” He shoved at my shoulder. “Well, let me tell you something, friend . You can sleep with that slut all you want, but you can’t have my kid.”

My fingernails ached as I fought to keep my bear under control. This was not the time or place to shift. But damn, did I come close.

“Now, Mr. Wilson…” the principal snipped. “According to our records, you don’t have custody.”

He scowled. “Custody? I’m getting it. I got me a lawyer and everything.”

Ha. I would love to see a lawyer argue his case, especially after this scene.

“Well, that’s a matter for the courts,” the principal said. “This child goes nowhere without an authorized adult.”

I nodded vigorously, making it clear I was on her side.

“I’m her fucking father!” Jay insisted. “You want ID?”

“I want you to stop raising your voice.” The principal couldn’t have known she was facing a wolf shifter, but even if she did, I doubted she would back down. The woman deserved a goddamn medal.

Things went on in that vein for a while, with Jay barely acknowledging Claire. My heart bled for the kid, who wrapped herself around my leg, boa constrictor style. I kept a hand on her back, letting her know I wasn’t going anywhere.

Over the next few minutes, parents hurried up to pick up the other three kids waiting with the principal. Loving, polite parents who apologized profusely and gave Jay a wide berth. Smart folks.

That left just me, Claire, Jay, and Wonder Woman.

The line of cars exiting the school gradually trickled out. I watched for Abby, but a couple of squad cars appeared first.

Shit. If Jay’s bullshit got me arrested, I would flip. On the plus side, they might lock me in a cell with him.

My bear snarled, vowing to make him pay for causing Claire distress. No kid should have to endure a scene like this.

“Police are on their way,” the security guy murmured.

That call was about all he’d contributed so far. Useless. The gray-haired principal, on the other hand, could hand Jay his ass, I was sure.

“You called the fucking police?” Jay backed away.

Wisely, they didn’t answer.

Jay watched the approaching patrol cars for another few seconds, then cussed and backed down the stairs.

“Don’t you worry, kid. I’ll be back,” he told Claire.

Her fingers dug into my leg. Oh, she was worried, all right.

And you, his eyes blazed at me. I will make you pay.

I let my canines extend a little bit to say, Try me, asshole.

A big group of fifth or sixth graders with sports bags exited the school from a side door and filed into a bus. That slowed the patrol cars’ approach, allowing Jay to rush to his truck. When the police finally got through, they approached us.

“Everything under control here?” one asked.

Jay sped away on the far side of the school’s circular drive.

“It is now,” the security guy murmured.

I snorted, watching Jay go. No, things weren’t under control. Not with Jay in the area. But at least he was out of Claire’s face.

When I squatted to check on her, she threw her arms around my neck and hung on.

“It’s okay,” I whispered again and again. “Everything is okay.”