Page 19 of Wolves’ Midlife Reunion (Shifter Nation: Enchanted Over Forty #3)

Dex burst into the Heywood packhouse. He turned down the hallway to check his father’s den, but it was empty.

Next, he hurried upstairs to his mother’s reading and sewing room.

It, too, was empty. Most of the pack that lived there were off at work, apparently, and the place felt eerily quiet.

It bothered the hell out of him, especially because he didn’t feel quiet at all.

The front door slammed, and he charged down the stairs to see who it was. Debbie was just coming in, her cell phone braced between her cheek and her shoulder. “No, they said they had to move the talent show. I know a lot of people were bummed, but it’ll work out well for us.”

She glanced up as Dex came rattling down the stairs. Her brows furrowed for a second. “Hey, honey. Can I call you back? Yeah. Okay, that sounds good. Love you.” She pulled the phone away from her cheek and hung up.

“How’s Tom?”

Debbie gave him an appraising look. “I think the real question is how are you. The pissiness is just rolling off of you in waves right now.”

“That bad, huh?” He sat on the bottom step and then got back up again, too aggravated to sit still at the moment.

She snickered. “Yeah, I’d say. What’s going on?”

Dex had automatically come to the packhouse after he’d left The Crystal Cauldron. He needed a place that felt calmer and steadier, a place where he could just let it all out. It was harder than he thought, though. “I don’t know where to start. My feelings around all of this are pretty complicated.”

“Then let’s go for a run,” she suggested. “I was just popping by to drop off some kitchen stuff I’d borrowed from mom, but I’ve got a little free time.”

He shook his head, suddenly feeling guilty at the idea of taking up her time, but Dex knew he needed to get all of this off his chest. If he could do that with anyone, it would be his twin. “All right.”

They went through the house and out the back door.

The packhouse had an expansive backyard, surrounded by lush trees.

It was the perfect place for young pups to practice their shifting, wrestle and play with each other, and learn how to tap into their lupine selves.

When they were in their human form, there was also a large jungle gym for them to play on. It was a paradise for a child.

Dex wished he could have the simple life of a child, of not having to worry about much more than what shirt he’d wear to school or what kind of jelly to have on his peanut butter sandwich.

He stepped off the deck and brought his wolf forward.

It came quickly, both from practice and from need.

It’d been boiling inside of him ever since he’d left The Crystal Cauldron.

His bones cracked swiftly into place, and his furry ears shot forward.

As soon as his paws touched the grass, he took off.

I’d say you really needed this, Debbie said, a short way behind him, but holding steady.

I don’t know how humans get through the hard parts of life when they can’t do something like this.

There was no better way to work through his emotions, to release anger and frustration, and then dig deep into the real problem.

Even when life was perfect, there was something invigorating about feeling the wind ruffle through his fur and pushing off against the bare earth.

Debbie was starting to catch up to him now as they hit a curve in the path. They punch pillows or yell at their coworkers. Or drink.

I could drink all I want, and it won’t make this go away. He slowed down a little. A recent storm had left a large branch over the path, and he squeezed underneath it.

Tell me. She cursed as a smaller twig on the branch caught her fur.

This was why he went to Debbie. When she said, ‘Tell me,’ it wasn’t a command. It was an invitation, but one that she expected him to accept. It was just another part of their connection, and he cherished it.

Now, he was trotting, moving quickly enough to still let some of his energy out, but making it easier to talk. Sage misused her magic last night.

Debbie moved slightly to the side in surprise. Did she hurt anyone?

No, nothing like that. He explained how Sage had thrown her toy against the wall in frustration. I just couldn’t believe she’d used her magic like that! It’s not like this isn’t something we’ve discussed.

She’s a kid, Debbie reasoned. They do all sorts of things that don’t make sense. I’ve been through the gamut with my two. It doesn’t always matter how much you’ve talked about something, either. It needs to be repeated a million times, and they probably still won’t get it.

You’re not making me feel any better. If she can’t listen and do the right thing, she’s not going to be allowed to use her magic at all. He sent the words to her with all the firmness he could. Someone had to take him seriously.

You don’t really mean that, do you? she asked after a silent moment.

Absolutely. If she were old enough to have a driver’s license and got a speeding ticket, I wouldn’t let her drive. Magic is something she has to learn to handle responsibly. He noted a few other limbs that were down and would need to be taken care of.

They looped around the path, careful not to get too close to the property line and risk being seen.

Debbie looked up, a little more cautious there where the trees were thinner.

Dex, I can’t claim to understand what you’re going through completely.

I know having magic makes things complicated.

But driving a car is a privilege, and magic is something she was born with.

That doesn’t mean she can wait to control herself until she’s old enough, he snapped.

Maybe if she learned—

Then she’d end up just like me, Dex told her, finally getting out the point he’d been beating himself against this whole time. A plastic snake is one thing, but what if that’d been another kid who took her toy? No. I won’t have it, and that’s why she’s not seeing Tina anymore, either.

Though Debbie didn’t immediately say anything about that, Dex could feel the tension through their psychic connection.

What about you? she finally asked. Are you seeing Tina anymore?

I highly doubt it. He brooded on that last conversation with Tina. No, not conversation. Argument. She’d been trying to keep her calm, but she couldn’t control the fury that flew from her eyes.

They were heading back toward the house now, although they could continue to make loops on the path for as long as they wanted to. Debbie took the first turn that would keep them going instead of bringing them to the yard. You’re torturing yourself.

No, I’m not.

You are, and you’re dragging Sage into it. Don’t you dare lay into me for being honest, either, she shot just as Dex was getting ready to do exactly that. You know me, and you wouldn’t come to me for anything but the honest truth.

Yes, but I can’t just let her lessons continue if they’re not good for her. And I can’t keep seeing Tina if she doesn’t understand what’s really going on with Sage. We’re a package deal. We can’t be split up.

Debbie angled to the side, taking a narrower path so they could avoid the downed branch this time around. I think Tina is the last person who’d try to separate you. From everything you’ve said, she genuinely cares about Sage.

I thought so, too, but not after the conversation I just had with her. This was their ‘secret path’ as kids, one that deer had made. It twisted and turned before rejoining with one of the larger trails.

Ah, so that’s why you were still so angry when you got here. Sage threw her toy last night, but the showdown with Tina happened today. She’d pushed ahead of him, keeping her pace slow and steady, forcing him to do the same.

That only made him feel like running again. I wouldn’t call it a showdown.

An argument, then? It couldn’t have been a calm and reasonable conversation, or your head wouldn’t be boiling over. When you first shifted, I thought my own head was going to explode just from what’d made it over here to me.

Pfft. He took a long stride so his front paw came down on her back one, tripping her.

Shit! You’re such a brat. I mean it, though. I haven’t seen you that mad in a long time, Debbie told him.

They emerged onto a wider trail again, this time on a loop that led near a small creek. She refused to listen to reason.

And did you come in there like a steam engine, the same way you came here? Debbie challenged.

His vision had been so red with anger and frustration that Dex could hardly even remember driving to The Crystal Cauldron. He only knew that he had to talk to Tina about this, and he couldn’t wait another second. Probably, but I had a right to be.

She left the path and descended to the creek, letting her paws sink into the shallow mud on its bank. Debbie’s sharp wolf eyes bored into his. If she had thrown the toy with her hands, would you have reacted the same way and burned down your connection with Tina?

He lifted his chin defiantly. If I thought Tina was the reason she threw it, then I might.

Kids make mistakes, Dex. Debbie stuck a paw in the water experimentally, shaking it out when the water was too cold.

Just to show her up, Dex trotted across the shallow creek. It was cold as hell, a sign of the coming winter, but he didn’t show his discomfort. Sure, but this wasn’t just a normal fit. She used magic to make it happen. I don’t think you can compare the two situations.

Debbie walked a little way along the creek, looking for a narrow spot. Do you remember when she first started to play soccer?

He didn’t want to answer that. Debbie would lead him down some logical path where she would prove him wrong. Of course.