Page 17

Chapter Sixteen

M o wasn’t sure how he was supposed to stay awake for this meeting, but apparently Noah had requested him, so coffee it was. He hadn’t even had a chance to process what had happened during their weeklong sex-fest, and guilt swamped him. If Khloe hadn’t gone missing, he never would have met Zack or Victor and it was wrong that anything tied to her disappearance could make him so happy. Because he was. Both his mates were incredible. It was true that he loved Khloe and had spent a long time trying to find her, but this family was all he’d ever wanted when he finally acknowledged his own wasn’t gonna cut it. Khloe would love them as well, or at least the Khloe he remembered would.

He looked up as Noah came in and sat down just as he heard a car in the driveway. “Just remember, nothing you feel is wrong.”

Noah scoffed.

“And if you need some backup with whatever decision you make, just squeeze my hand.”

“And sing songs?” Noah said.

“I see the sarcasm is strong with this one,” Mo said in his best Yoda voice and for a moment Mo got a genuine smile. Or he did until Riley walked in.

“I’m subbing for Asher, who would normally take point, but as he’s been away, we thought this would work better.”

Noah shrugged as if he didn’t give a crap, but Mo knew differently. He knew Noah was all bluster and defiance because he was nursing his heart, and Mo doubted his presence was going to help. He didn’t know why Noah kept asking for him because the couple of times they’d spoken, Noah had seemed resentful. In fact, the only person… Mo opened his mouth before he judged the irregularity of it. “Noah, would you like Alex to sit in? He wouldn’t be able to participate, but—”

“Yes,” Noah blurted out and without a word, Riley got up and left. In a few seconds, Alex returned with Riley and deliberately walked around the table to sit next to Noah.

“If Noah’s father objects to your presence, you will have to leave.”

Alex nodded once, then got up and helped himself to juice, getting one for Noah as well without asking, and setting it down. Mo just had time to take his seat as Asher showed Helen Reynolds and a man Mo knew was Sean Pearson into the kitchen, before Asher then left. He greeted Pearson friendly enough, but he didn’t stand and neither did Riley. He was too busy watching for Noah’s reaction. It was telling when he leaned a fraction closer to Alex.

He caught the subtle shake of Victor’s head to tell him Pearson wasn’t a shifter.

Then he acknowledged how obvious it was that Pearson was his father. One blue and one golden brown eye. Mo sighed internally.

Helen started. “Mr. Pearson, we’re here to discuss the best thing for Noah going forward. Your business travelling and long absences are, I admit, my biggest concern.” The only reason family services had any sway was because Pearson had on paper abandoned Noah.

Sean Pearson barely so much as flicked an eyelash, which to Mo seemed very strange. He expected the businessman to seem insulted when Helen didn’t pull any punches, and apart from an off-hand greeting hadn’t so much as tried to hug Noah. “Yes,” he said mildly. “I realize I’m not in the position to offer the most stable home life for—” he hesitated, “a troubled teen, but as he is my son, I had no choice.”

Mo gaped and shot a stunned look at Riley. The man just told Noah he was an obligation, and nothing more, and if what they suspected had happened with Noah’s foster-mom was true, Pearson was lying. He sensed Alex move slightly and knew if Alex was going to become the alpha everyone expected him to be, his protective instinct toward Noah would be off the charts.

Even Helen seemed a little taken aback. Riley cut in smoothly. “Then perhaps we can offer a compromise, with Noah’s consent, obviously. As you know, Mr. Pearson, we are a fully registered foster home and have been for over twenty years. My suggestion is that Noah live here while your business commitments remain so pressing.”

Helen frowned and Mo understood. People couldn’t use the foster system as simple childcare when it was convenient, but Noah was a shifter and as such, needed to be with other shifters. Helen knew that. He assumed that while he’d been otherwise engaged upstairs, Noah still hadn’t shifted, which meant they still didn’t know what type of animal he was.

And for a long moment Mo wondered how his life had changed so much that he wasn’t shocked that Noah would become an animal, but was more concerned with what type he would change into.

Sean Pearson flicked a glance at Noah, then seemed to focus on Alex. “I’m sorry, but why is another child here?”

Mo felt Alex stiffen and could imagine what it was costing him to stay quiet.

“Alex is one of our permanent residents, and now a very much-loved adopted son,” Riley said. “I’m sure you’re aware that stable peers are instrumental in helping a new child settle in a strange environment.”

Pearson sneered. “That’s what you do here, huh?”

Mo saw Riley tense at whatever insinuation Pearson was going for, but this time Helen interrupted. “Hunter’s Creek has the full backing and trust of Montana Family Services.”

“Fine,” Pearson muttered and stood up. “What do I need to sign?”

Mo didn’t get angry very often. He’d been in many meetings just like this one. As a reading specialist, he often saw a different side of a child because he spent so much one-to-one time with them, and so he was often included in case management meetings. He’d seen parents that didn’t give a damn. He’d seen parents that loved their children but struggled with their own demons. He’d seen parents that were at their wit’s end because of whatever physical, emotional, or psychological problems their child was experiencing. He’d seen those that genuinely loved their kids and just needed help.

And he’d seen entitled assholes like Sean Pearson.

Mo stood and shot a look at Alex, who immediately understood and nudged Noah. “Let’s get out of here before we tackle homework, huh?”

Noah seemed frozen for a few seconds until he turned and followed Alex out. Neither son nor father said goodbye.

Alex led Noah straight to the mudroom and started pulling on boots. He knew Noah had been given a pair and didn’t bother issuing instructions. Noah seemed to wait it out for a very long time, but then sighed and sat, pulling on his own boots. “Where’re we going?”

Alex stood. “Out of here. I need to run, and I’m pretty sure you need to as well.”

“Run?” Noah whispered, a wealth of meaning in his words.

Alex didn’t bother with a useless confirmation. Noah knew exactly what he meant, and he was sick of Noah pretending he didn’t. They both walked outside, and Alex jogged past Daniel’s house and to the open forest. As soon as they were clear from prying eyes, he stopped and turned.

“I just need to know if you’ve shifted before.”

Noah stared at him, but didn’t attempt to pretend like he didn’t understand. “Never properly.”

Alex studied him. “What does that mean?”

“It means I was forced,” Noah bit out.

Alex nodded. “By an alpha?”

Noah shuffled a little. “Yes,” he said quietly.

“I bet that hurt,” Alex said. It would. Your first shift was scary and painful. Having it forced would be tons worse. He knew he was skating on thin ground. But he’d been here nearly seven years. Seen kids come and go. His best day was the one when he realized he was here to stay, and he wanted to give that to Noah.

And more. He needed to talk to Riley, or maybe Christopher, but Christopher wasn’t here. “I hated this place when I first got here.”

Noah stayed silent, even though Alex expected a sarcastic comment.

“In case you didn’t know, I’m a wolf. Dad left the pack after Mom died and took me with him, then decided to leave me at a human police station. He said he’d be back, and that was over six years ago. I hung around in a group foster home until someone scented me and I was immediately transferred here. And I hated every second of it. I was convinced if I moved, Dad wouldn’t be able to find me when he came back.” Alex huffed. “Dumb, huh?”

Noah didn’t respond.

“So, I’m guessing you have a choice, although I think your dad’s a dick, but I understand he’s your only blood relative.”

Noah still didn’t reply. Alex waited. Christopher had taught him patience, and it had been a hard lesson. He knew he was an alpha. He knew he wanted nothing more than to protect Noah. They were both kids in the eyes of most people, even though his eighteenth birthday was in four weeks. Noah certainly was. But Alex knew Noah was also something else that he didn’t know what to do about.

“Let’s run,” he said and stripped, shifting smoothly. He watched Noah gape and knew he was looking at a large wolf, larger than most, large even for an alpha. Soon, when everything was back to normal, he was going to talk to Raschid as well. See what he thought. If he was honest, he was feeling more and more the call for pack . And he didn’t know exactly what that meant. He had no intention of leaving his family, but it was almost as if when Noah had walked through the door, Alex had scented pack. His pack. The urge to protect Noah was nearly overwhelming, but for now, Noah needed to connect with his animal. Alex waited and watched. He could tell the pull from Noah’s animal was strong, but Noah was afraid. In an instant, Alex reverted back to human.

“You don’t have to do anything. I wanted to show you the woods, but we can do that on two legs, not four.”

Noah tried to hide the tremor, but Alex felt it. “We can also walk back,” he said gently.

“I want to,” Noah rasped, “but it hurt so much last time.”

Alex nodded. “It would have. No one should have their first shift commanded by an alpha.” He knew it hadn’t been his dad as he wasn’t a shifter, but he’d like to know who had done it.

“But what if I can't?”

Alex leaned against the nearest tree. “Close your eyes.” He tried desperately to tamp down the satisfaction when Noah obeyed, knowing the feeling came from his alpha wolf. “Tell me what you can hear.”

Noah frowned but stilled. “There’s mice under the trunk of the tree to your right.”

“Very good,” Alex praised. “Now tell me what you can smell.”

“Grass. Trees,” Noah said, then inhaled. “An animal to my right.”

“Good,” Alex praised again, wondering if he would scent the deer. “Can you tell what it is?”

Noah dropped a hand to his belly and Alex almost smiled, but then he saw a quick swallow of revulsion, which meant he was hungry, but maybe not a meat-eater. “Deer?” Noah said cautiously.

“Yes,” Alex confirmed. “How many?”

Noah opened his eyes in shock. “How on earth would I know that?”

“Different, but nearly the same scent signatures. Close your eyes and try.”

Noah obeyed. Opened his mouth but closed it.

“What was that thought?” Alex asked.

“I thought three, but one seems smaller, if that’s even the right word. Like the scent is tiny.”

“That’s great,” Alex enthused. “It’s because one’s a fawn, and I can’t tell you how difficult it is to tell the difference between a similar scent in a smaller animal and the same scent but at a greater distance.” Alex grinned and was pleased at Noah’s answering smile.

“I heard the guys say you were going to be an alpha,” Noah stated abruptly.

Alex kept the easy smile on his face. “I’m already an alpha,” he said honestly. “I have a ton to learn, and I want to be as good an alpha as Raschid.”

Noah glanced down and then back. “But don’t you need a pack to be an alpha?”

Alex shrugged. “Yes and no. Victor is an alpha but chooses to submit to Raschid.” Noah seemed to think about that.

“Although,” Alex added. “I might have lots to learn, but I’m not submitting to anyone.” He knew that. Felt it in his bones.

Noah’s gaze was steady. “When you have your pack, will it just be wolves?”

“No,” Alex confirmed, knowing they were finally there. “I will be alpha to every shifter who submits to me.”

“I—I’m a deer,” Noah whispered, and Alex smiled. “My—” But Noah clamped his mouth shut.

“That’s great,” Alex said, guessing what he’d been going to say but ignoring it. “Deer can run really fast, probably faster than me.”

Noah looked skeptical, and Alex remained silent. He’d sensed the boy had kept his animal hidden for far too long and understood being scared. Of everyone, he should know. He stepped forward and let his hand fall gently on the younger boy’s back. “Be free, Noah. Let him out.”

Noah gasped and shuddered, curling into himself, and then arching his back as if something else was controlling him. Alex understood. He could teach him control. He could teach him to love his animal, love himself. It was a lesson he’d finally learned.

With a cry Noah grew fur, but what happened next shocked even Alex. For a moment Noah’s head changed shape dramatically, even before the rest of his body altered, and Alex watched in stunned silence as Noah finally stood before him, trembling, but fully in his shifted form.

Alex knew deep down that his first reaction would determine everything else. He was Noah’s alpha. He’d felt that the second Noah had walked through the door. Slowly, carefully, he reached up and smoothed the small patch of fur on Noah’s head.

The small patch between two massive antlers.

Because Noah Watkins had just transformed into one of the rarest shifters on the planet. Noah shook his fur out and bent his head, and Alex cupped his muzzle and instinctively accepted his submission.

Submission of the only true white stag he’d ever seen.