Pack Secrets (4 page)

She had to pull herself together, for her son. “We can get his phone number from Blake and give him a call. Maybe you can make him a thank you card and we’ll mail it to him.”

He shot to his feet so quickly the dog actually let out a yip. “Can I start right now, Mama? I can use the crayons and scissors, it’ll be the bestest card ever.”

“Sure, but you’ll have to be quick because we have to go to the store and buy food and a bed for the dog.”

Carter stomped his foot indignant on the dogs behalf. “His name is Gunner. You have to call him by his name, Mama. How would you like it if someone called you lynx? And I think he should sleep in my bed or he’ll get lonely.”

Touché.
She smiled a little. “I’m very sorry. You’re right, Carter, but what did I tell you? No one is supposed to know I’m a lynx. And the puppy can’t sleep with you.”

He looked sheepish for a moment before asking, “Oh yeah, but why? Lynx’s are cool too.”

“We’ll talk about it later, at home.” She smacked his bum playfully, “Now, don’t you have a card to make?”

The freaking puppy was going to be the straw that broke her back. He had to go outside, to do his business like fifty times a day, and when she got him outside all he did was sniff everything. Not to mention he shed everywhere. Yes, his fur was soft, and he was cuddly and cute, but when she left the house she was covered in his hair. He refused to sleep in his doggie bed in the corner, insisting on sleeping outside her door or Carter’s, and he would drag that heavy bed to the location he wanted. She’d tripped on the bed coming out of her room twice, landing on a ball of fluffy puppy.

Her son had taken great care of the puppy so far, just like he said he would. He fed Gunner twice a day, not to mention all the scraps he slid under the table. He was proud of himself, which created a self confidence that made her less angry at Justin for getting the dang puppy. Truthfully, she wished she’d thought of it.

After receiving the puppy from Blake they’d planned on going to the store to get supplies, but when they got in the car all of the supplies that they could ever need were there with a note:
Here’s everything you’ll need for Gunner. Keep him close and he’ll keep you safe. Call me if you need anything.

It was written in her alpha’s handwriting, but it was signed Justin and she was comforted that she wouldn’t have to do this alone. She’d never had a pet and was nervous as heck that she’d harm it. Carter was ecstatic: he now had Justin’s phone number.

Since then, Carter and Justin spoke every day. Every time they spoke Justin asked if she wanted to talk to him. She didn’t know what to say, so she always responded with a firm no.

Her days were full of work, dog walking and laundry, not to mention vacuuming. She took Carter to the flower shop everyday not trusting that he’d be safe without her, which meant the dog came with them. One morning, after a slow start, she decided she’d leave the puppy home. She just couldn’t cope with the destruction such a small puppy could cause in a flower shop. Not knowing what else to do, she shut him in the bathroom where he’d be safe and contained.

Coming home was usually the highlight of her day, but Carter had been on edge all day today, jumping every time someone came through the door. It made her suspect he’d done something naughty and he was waiting to get caught. He denied that he’d done anything wrong, of course, so now it was a matter of waiting to find out what he’d done. It always came out one way or another.

Walking into a quiet house was eerie. Carter took off for his room immediately and she strode toward the bathroom door where Gunner was whining to get out.

Before she got to the bathroom, the doorbell rang causing Gunner bark like the hounds of hell had just arrived. Sighing, she pivoted around to get the door. Opening the door she was shocked when she saw Justin standing on her porch in a pair of faded well-worn blue jeans with his hands in the pockets. He looked great, a button up shirt graced his upper body, the top two buttons were open and she wished he’d have left a few more open. His hair was a bit longer than she’d remembered, but it appeared nice and shiny, unlike the dull tone it’d taken when he’d been ill. His eyes peered into hers as he said, “Hi, can I come in?”

Shaking the naughty thoughts from her head she was glad she’d applied her scent blocking perfume or he’d have known exactly what she was thinking. “Uh, sure, I thought you’d gone back to your pack. Blake said you couldn’t come back here.”

He gave her a gentle grin, almost like he knew she was on edge. “We worked things out. When my alpha was informed of the situation he almost demanded Blake take me back. Blake wasn’t happy, but he understands.”

“What situation?”

Justin’s scent changed immediately to a combination of fear and embarrassment. He didn’t answer her, instead he countered, “Where’s Carter, and Gunner? You’re supposed to keep him with you at all times.”

“I have been, but he’s like a bull in a china shop. He’s marked his territory all around the store, and the house. At work he eats the flowers and knocks the vases to the floor: he’s broken six so far.” She knew she sounded defensive, but the shock of getting an unasked for puppy came back full force.

She let him into the house, and immediately went to check on the barking ball of fur.

“So, you left him here to roam the house? Those dogs are high energy, I hate to say it, but he’s probably broken a few things here too.”

“Nah, I locked him in the bathroom.” Opening the bathroom door slowly she noticed why the puppy was crying. She couldn’t hold in her gasp. It appeared that the dog had bitten through part of the door and taken chunks out of its frame.

“Oh, well…why’d you shut him in the bathroom?”

“I had to leave and I couldn’t let him roam the house. I haven’t doggie-proofed it yet. He could have gotten into something he shouldn’t have.”

“Don’t you have a four year old son?”

She looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Duh, you know I have a four year old boy, he’s the one you bought the dang puppy dog for. Why are you here if you’re just gonna ask me stupid questions?”

“Well…I’m just saying that, maybe, if the house is child-proof it’s probably doggie-proof. As long as you don’t leave chocolate or rat poison out on the floor then he should be okay.”

She threw her arms up in the air. “How the hell am I supposed to know that? I’ve never had a flea bag before you walked into our lives and had your brother, oh-so-graciously drop off the bag of bones.”

Without giving him a chance to respond she narrowed her eyes at him making him take a step back. “You should take him with you. I’m not bitter or anything, but I hope he shits a splinter after what he did to my door.”

Justin smiled before replying smartly, “Actually that paneling isn’t solid wood. If it was it would have been too hard to chew through.”

Her brows furrowed in confusion so he continued to explain. “It’s not wood so he won’t get a splinter.”

She remained looking at him with wide eyes and a look of utter irritation. “So…no splinters as punishment?”

“No splinters. I’m sorry. I’ll fix it tomorrow if you want, after I get the tools and supplies.”

“Don’t worry about it, you’re still recovering. I’m not extremely concerned about appearances anyways. I was just annoyed and a bit surprised at all the destruction one dog can cause.”

After a brief hesitation in which the dog whined, she asked, “So, what’s his problem anyway?”

Justin’s grin lit up the room and he laughed. “I’m sorry again, but I don’t speak dog. I’m a wolf.”

Sighing dramatically, she rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “You know what I mean.”

Justin shrugged, “If I had to venture a guess it would be he has to go to the bathroom, or he’s teething, or he simply didn’t like being locked up.” He paused for a moment before leaning toward her and sniffing, “Or you’re perfume is too strong and he doesn’t like it. Dogs have very sensitive noses.” He tapped his nose in sympathy.

“Did you just smell me? That’s creepy, don’t do it again.”

Justin pulled back and asked, “Well, I came to pick up Carter for the moon run. It’s time. Do you want me to take the dog out before we go?”

“Carter isn’t going to the moon run. We’ve never gone and we don’t intend to start now.”

Just then Carter came bounding down the steps and stood right in front of Justin. Throwing his arms around Justin’s legs he almost toppled to the ground. “I can’t wait. This is fixin’ to be real fun, Mister Justin. Can we go now?”

Justin looked searchingly into Carter’s eyes and truly only saw the boy’s enthusiasm. “Uh, Carter, remember we talked about telling you mom about the moon run? You said she said it was okay, but by the way she’s staring daggers at me, I’m gonna assume you didn’t ask.”

His little chubby cheeks turned red and he looked down to the ground shuffling his feet. “Well…see, Mama don’t like the moon run and says it’s only for big boys and girls. But my friend Trevor, he says that its fun and the big boys and girls stay together and the little ones stay together. It’s what yer supposed ta do in a pack.” He turned pleading eyes to his mother, “Right, Mama?”

Justin watched with fascination as she smiled at her son, her teeth grinding before she ventured a response. “We’re a part of a pack, but we’ve discussed the moon run and you’re not going. It’s for adults and I can’t supervise you there-”

Justin interrupted, “Sure you can. I’ll take you both-“

She hissed, almost sounding like an annoyed cat, causing Carter to stomp his foot and yell. “It’s not fair, Mama. I never gets to do pack stuffs ‘cuz you won’t let me. I’m tellin’.”

“Now, I’m your Mama and you better show me some respect.”

Carter spun on his heel and looked at her. Sticking his nose in the air, he said. “Respect is earned and you have to give respect in order to get respect.” His eyebrows rose, “Right, Mama?”

Justin chuckled at Carter’s mimicry. He knew it was a perfect imitation, because his mother had given him that very same lecture a time or four. “Carter, maybe we can go next time. I’ll leave you both to sort things out.”

As agile as a woman he’d ever seen, Dee jumped in front of him to halt his forward progress toward the door. “Oh no you don’t, mister. You’re responsible for this mess, so I expect you to fix it.”

Lifting his shoulders in a shrug he shot back, “Okay, lil’ Buddy, let’s go.”

His little grin split his face and he ran towards Justin again jumping into his arms. “Thanks Mister Justin, I knew you was a good boy ‘cuz Trevor says so. Come on, Mama, it’s gonna be super fun.”

Shaking with rage, Dee just stood there. The pulse at the base of her neck was fluttering wildly like she was afraid. He attempted to scent her, but that disgusting perfume was permeating the air and messing with his nose.

She crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot in annoyance before asking, “Blake will be there?”

“Of course, he’s the alpha. Why wouldn’t he be?”

“He’s a newly mated male, so I thought he’d be over the moon runs by now. I doubt his mate would enjoy what they do there.”

Justin felt his grin fall away as his lips puckered in annoyance. “What is it you think they do there?”

Now she was smiling, taunting him and he wanted to be annoyed, but he was secretly glad she was engaging him. “Well…They’re wolves. You know what they do.”

“Yes, we’re wolves. What are you trying to say about your own people?”

“Oh Mama’s not-“

Carter was cut off by his mother’s icy stare, “Go on, I’ll sit this one out if you don’t mind. I trust that you’ll get Carter back in one piece.”

It was Justin’s turn to shoot her a frustrated look, “I think I’ve proven to you and everyone in this pack that I will protect him with my life. In addition, you would have known of our plans if you’d spoken to me on the phone even once.”

He picked Carter up and walked out the door, shutting it quietly.

She almost wished he would have stormed out of the house in annoyance. Lord knows she would have. Honestly, he was right. There was a point that she felt Justin was going behind her back, but truly he was as open and honest as he’d always been. It was her distressing attraction to him that got in the way. Not to mention Carter’s clever trick of using Justin against her. The kid was too smart, so she’d have to be smarter.

After taking the devil puppy out she, once again, locked him back in the bathroom. It’s not like he could get into any more trouble. She washed quickly, making sure to get all the disgusting perfume off in anticipation of being in her natural form.

She felt her pulse quicken as she thought about running as her lynx. It’d been too long and if she kept to the boarders she’d be able to watch Carter while he experienced his first moon run.

Her pulse was not speeding up at the thought of seeing Justin in the nude before the run, or of seeing his powerful wolf form as his muscles bunched and flexed. Attempting to convince herself that Justin was off the market because she didn’t date, especially not a wolf, she went into her yard and allowed the change to take over her body.

Her lynx came out to play in record speed: it had been denied too long. Her fur was a golden color with light brown spots on her limbs and a lighter color on her chest. Her body mass stayed the same, which meant she was a large lynx. Normally a non-shifter lynx was a maximum of forty pounds. She knew what she looked like, black tufts of hair jutting out from the tip of her ears, a beard like ruff of fur at her neck, and huge paws which helped when walking on the snow. Her tail was short, but she didn’t need a long tail to get in her way. She was the size of a female wolf and just as deadly.

Running the entire way to the clearing, stopping only long enough to chase away a hungry fox, she made it in record time. Hanging back to watch would be easy, as long as she didn’t allow anyone to pick up her scent. She didn’t want to become the prey during the run, although it would be fun to let the wolves chase their tails looking for her a while.

Ultimately, this was risky. She wished Carter understood that lynx were solitary creatures. A sudden thought brought her to a screeching halt:
Yes, lynx were loners, but wolves belong in a pack.
Her son was a pack creature by nature and she’d been denying him his nature.