“He’s a…” Deirdre’s face went whiter than Nina’s as she pointed at the small bear. “That isn’t right. It isn’t natural.” She shook her head and put her hands on her cheeks. “It’s just wrong.”
Panic filled the small bear and before Nina reached him, Wes turned around and ran out of the kitchen door and disappeared out of the yard.
“No.” Nina went after her son followed by Jonas. “Wes. Wes, come back, it’s okay.”
“Damn it, Mother,” Saffron rounded on her mom. “Why would you say that?”
“He… He’s a bear.” She shook her head, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“He is your grandson and you’ve scared him away. When will you ever learn?” Saffron followed Nina outside and grabbed her phone from her pocket. Tapping the screen, she called the one person she knew could help them. “Mac. I need your help. Wes shifted for the first time and my mother scared him off.”
“I’m on my way,” Mac said, and the line went dead.
Saffron turned and glared at Deirdre. Under her gaze, Deirdre turned around and went to the kitchen table and sat down heavily. Saffron could imagine what was going through her mom’s head. Disbelief followed by her logical brain convincing her what she’d seen couldn’t be real.
But it was real and poor Wes would pay the consequences of Deirdre’s actions unless they could find him and bring him home.
As Jonas led Nina back toward the house, Saffron’s heart broke for her sister. She’d already lost her husband, Saffron doubted she was strong enough to lose a child as well.
Chapter Twenty-Two – Mac
“Kelos!” Mac called to the dragon shifter and beckoned him over. “I might need your help.”
Kelos dropped the log he was carrying and crossed the yard to Mac. “What’s wrong?”
“Wes, one of Nina’s boys, has shifted for the first time and run off.” Mac gritted his teeth as he attempted to keep calm. The panic in his mate’s voice had set his nerves on edge and his bear was fighting to be set free so that he could hunt the boy down.
Saffron’s mom is lucky I’m too focused on finding Wes or else I would be giving her a piece of my mind. His bear flexed his claws and opened his mouth, letting out an ear-splitting roar of anger.
“Let’s go,” Kelos said. “Although I can’t fly for another couple of hours. It’s too light and even for the boy, I can’t risk being seen.”
“I understand,” Mac said as he jogged toward his truck where Hex and Beck were already waiting.
“Ready?” Hex asked and yanked the truck door so hard he nearly pulled it off its hinges.
“We all need to take a breath and calm down,” Mac told them as he climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“What we need to do is find Wes,” Beck said savagely. “The first shift is always hard, worse if it’s unexpected and the boy is unprepared.”
“I coached both boys a little last night,” Hex told them. “We practiced breathing. I tried to teach them how to calm their minds so that they can picture themselves clearly. But if Wes shifted when he was angry or upset, he’s likely seeing red right now.”
“We’ll go to Saffron’s house. I figured I could give them a ride into the mountains while you try to pick up the trail.” Mac glanced sideways at the others. “Is that okay?”
“Sure, I’d rather be on the ground doing something.” Beck’s hands curled into fists.
“When we reach Saffron’s house, I suggest you three go and pick up Wes’s scent.” He glanced back toward the road.
“I could handle the mother, if you want,” Hex offered, his voice strained.
“Wow, little brother, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this angry.” Beck forcefully uncurled his hands.
“I guess this hits too close to home,” Hex admitted. “I remember what it was like when we lost Dad. These kids are even younger than we were. At least we had Dad around when we first shifted. Wes must be terrified.”
“You’re right. We did have Dad there to guide us.” Mac sucked air into his lungs and exhaled slowly as his temper flared. He could not afford to lose control. He had to stay calm for Saffron’s sake. “We have to take on that role for Wes and Jonas.”
“After we find Wes,” Beck replied.
“We will find him,” Kelos told them confidently as he ducked his head and looked out of the window. “As soon as it’s dark enough I can fly over the mountains. You can tell Nina and Saffron that I will not stop until the boy has been found.”
“Thanks, Kelos,” Mac told the dragon shifter as he stopped the truck outside Saffron’s house. “It means a lot to all of us.”
“My pleasure.” Kelos bowed his head and then opened the truck door and climbed out. “We can try to pick up the scent on foot. I cannot fly safely for another hour or two.”
“I’m sure between the three of us, we can track him,” Beck said confidently. “I think I have a fair idea of where he might be headed.”
All four men had gotten out of the truck. All four men knew where a bear would run to if he was scared. The mountain. And he would take the most direct route.
“Let me know if you pick up his scent,” Mac said as he strode toward the house. “And don’t put yourselves in danger.”
“I have not lived this long without learning the art of self-preservation,” Kelos told Mac and then turned his back on the house and headed along the street before cutting along a back alley toward the rear of Saffron’s backyard.
“Take care of your mate, Mac. And don’t do anything stupid.” Beck leveled his gaze at his brother for a long moment, his thoughts unreadable. Yet Mac heeded his warming, Beck had seen firsthand how things could quickly end in disaster.
“Have I ever done anything stupid?” Mac asked but then raised his hand to stop them. “Don’t answer that.”
“Pity, I can remember plenty of stupid things you’ve done,” Beck answered.
“Perhaps you can enlighten me as we track Wes,” Kelos suggested.
“That’s not necessary,” Mac called after them as they walked away.
“Go check on your mate,” Hex waved Mac toward the house. “Leave the rest to us.”
“Call me.” Mac watched them until they disappeared around the corner of the house and out of view. He used the time to compose himself. He didn’t want to enter the house with all guns blazing and tell Saffron’s mom exactly what he thought of her. That would help no one.
Although, it would make him feel a whole lot better.
His bear agreed, but neither of them wanted to make this worse for Saffron and her family. He had to be the voice of reason. He needed to convince Saffron that they would find Wes and bring him home.
Mac composed his features before he lifted a hand and knocked on the door. He sensed and then heard Saffron approaching. As she opened the door, he’d half expected her to be in tears. He was wrong.
“Mac. Thank you so much for coming.” Her expression told him of her anger which he suspected was aimed at her mother rather than at runaway Wes. “Come in.”
“How are you?” Mac stepped inside the house, he could sense the others in the kitchen. “How is Nina?”
“She’s okay. Upset but she knows that you won’t stop until Wes is home.” Saffron grinned sheepishly. “No pressure.”
“No pressure at all.” He followed her into the kitchen. Saffron had told him how Nina was but had kept her feelings to herself and he wasn’t going to push her.
“Cavalry has arrived,” Saffron told her sister, who turned to face him, her face pale with blackened rings around her eyes. “Mac, this is my mom, Deirdre.”
Before he had a chance to meet Deirdre, Nina spun around and came to him. Flinging her arms around his neck, she hugged him close. “Thanks, Mac, for coming straight over. I’m so sorry, I know how busy you all are.”
“Don’t be silly.” Mac patted Nina’s back. “Family is the most important thing in the world.”
“Are you alone?” Nina a
sked, looking over his shoulder.
Mac shook his head. “The others have all gone around the back of the house to see if they can pick up Wes’s scent.”
“His scent?” Deirdre stood up from her chair at the kitchen table and crossed the kitchen. She stopped a couple of feet away from him and placed her hands on her hips. Looking down her nose as if he was something she’d like to scrape off her shoe, she said, “You must be Mac.”
“And you must be the person who frightened a young man into running away.” The corners of his lips twitched as he held out his hand to her.
With a sigh, Saffron’s mom slipped her hand into his. “I didn’t intend to make him run off.”
“Okay, well, since we’re going to be busy clearing up your mess and tracking down Wes, why don’t you go home, Mom, and let us get on with repairing the damage.” Nina glared at her mom, although she looked as if she were emotionally drained and running on her energy reserves.
When Nina crashes, she’s going to crash hard, his bear said.
Then let’s not let her crash. If we find Wes, it’ll give her the lift she needs. Mac focused his attention on Saffron’s mother who was objecting to being asked to leave.
“I came here for the boys. I’m certainly not going to leave now when Wes needs me.” Deirdre looked as determined to stay as Saffron was for her mom to leave.
“Let’s not waste time arguing,” Mac said bluntly. “Deirdre, if you stay, you are expected to help or shut up. Those are your two choices.” He held up two fingers just to reinforce the message.
Deirdre opened her mouth to reply but then thought better of it and went back to her seat at the table. With a sigh, she sat down with as much dignity as she could muster, although no one else was watching. They were all focused on Wes’s disappearance.
“So, they are going to try to pick up his scent?” Saffron asked. “Is that possible? You know, if they don’t…” She glanced at her mom. “Shift.”
Deirdre sighed theatrically but Mac ignored her. “Yes, even in our human form, we have heightened senses. I think between the three of them, they will catch Wes’s scent and be able to track him.”
“So, what do we do?” Saffron asked. “And don’t say stay here and make hot tea.”
Mac smiled. “No, I was thinking we would go up into the mountains. We have a rough idea of where Wes will head. There is a trail about a mile outside of town that leads directly across the lower slopes. It seems the most obvious route to take.”
“Wes has been studying maps of the trails,” Jonas told them. He looked at his mom and then Mac. “He knew he was nearing his first shift and said he wanted to get to know the mountains.”
“Then he’ll take that trail for sure,” Mac said. He inclined his head toward the door. “I can’t fit you all in my truck.”
“I have my car,” Deirdre jumped up from her chair and jingled her car keys. “I’m ready to go.”
“You don’t look ready to go,” Saffron told Deirdre as her eyes lingered on her mom’s four-inch heels. “Those shoes are not made for hiking.”
“I have a pair of Converses in the car. I use them for long-distance driving,” she explained as if anyone cared.
“We need to get changed and then we can go.” Saffron looped her arm under her sister’s and they headed toward the stairs, leaving Deirdre and Mac alone.
“I know what you probably think of me,” Deirdre began.
“No, you probably don’t,” Mac answered. He did not want to have this discussion with her now. He just wanted to get out there and find Wes.
“I only want what’s best for my family,” Deirdre continued.
“That’s not how your daughters see it,” Mac replied.
“They misunderstand my actions. They have ever since their father died. They blame me for him not wanting to be part of their lives.” Deirdre studied Mac closely as if she was trying to understand the workings of his mind.
“That’s between you and your daughters,” Mac answered curtly.
“Aren’t you part of their lives now?” Deirdre asked. There was something insidious about the way she spoke, as if she were trying to figure out how to get inside his head.
“You’re successful in business, aren’t you?” Mac asked, which knocked Deirdre off balance.
“I am. Very good.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you after my daughter for money?”
Mac laughed. He’d met people like Deirdre before. People who thought their position gave them the right to trample all over other people’s feelings so they could get their own way. “You could not be further from the truth.”
“Really? Because most people have a price.” Deirdre took a step closer. “So, if you are trying to date my daughter because you think you’ll exact your price from me then you are mistaken.”
“I don’t want your money and if you knew your daughter, you’d know that isn’t what makes her tick either. All Saffron and Nina want to do is raise two happy boys. And what Nina really needs is your support in that since Evan went missing.” Mac held Deirdre’s gaze until the woman looked away.
“I know you might not believe me, but I’ve always tried to act in my children’s best interest. I saw how Nina suffered after Evan died. She never accepted the truth. She always believed he was missing, not dead. She’s delusional. Which is why when Jonas told me Nina had told him he would one day turn into a bear and that was why they’d come to Bear Creek, well, I had to come and save the boys.” She turned away from Mac and went to the back door.
“That’s not exactly what happened, though, is it?” Mac asked. “Perhaps if you started to see things through Nina’s eyes, you might have been kinder. You can’t treat family in the same way you treat a business deal.”
“I don’t,” Deirdre insisted.
“Are you so sure?” Mac asked. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks as if you barged into this house without any thought for what other people wanted. All you saw was how to best get what you wanted. That sometimes works in business but seldom works in real life.”
“I just wanted…” Deirdre hesitated. “I overreacted. I was just so shocked when Wes… It’s not natural.”
“It’s completely natural if you are a shifter,” Mac explained.
“You are one of them, too?” Deirdre asked in a hushed whisper as she turned around and stared at Mac. “You can shift into a bear?”
“I can. And part of being a shifter is knowing when you meet your mate. The person you are supposed to be with for the rest of your life. For me that is Saffron. I hope that shows you that I am not interested in your fortune at all. Neither was Evan.” His eyes flashed with anger and Deirdre shrunk away from him.
“I always thought he wasn’t good enough for Nina. I always thought she could have done so much better.” Deirdre covered her face with her hands and sobbed. “Their father always said I was cursed. He said I ruined everything, and I think he’s probably right.”
“Then let it go.” Mac went to her but didn’t touch her. She was like a prickly porcupine and he didn’t want to get stabbed by her quills. “Let it go and help your daughters. Help them all to find a way to happiness.”
Deirdre nodded. “I’ll try.”
Chapter Twenty-Three – Saffron
“My mother looked a little subdued when we came back downstairs.” Saffron glanced sideways at Mac who was driving them into the mountains. He’d handed her his phone as he got into the truck so that she could answer it if his brothers called with new directions.
“We had a heart to heart.” He cracked a smile when her eyes widened. “It was very civilized. I did not growl at her.”
“I didn’t think for one moment that you did. I was more in shock that you found her heart,” Saffron replied drily.
“Saff,” Nina warned as she side-eyed Jonas.
“Sorry.” Saffron sighed. “I just wish she’d left us alone.”
“She loves you.” Mac kept his eyes on the road as they turned a sharp corner an
d began climbing steadily higher. Despite the urgency of their journey, Saffron could not help enjoying the view of the mountain above and the town of Bear Creek below. The presence of her mother following behind them in her car was not enough to spoil it.
“I don’t think she knows the meaning of the word,” Saffron murmured, knowing that Mac would hear her but hopefully Jonas would not. Deirdre might have alienated both her daughters, but she had managed to forge a relationship with her grandsons. Even if it never seemed totally without an agenda.
“She does. She’s just forgotten what it feels like to open her heart.” Mac’s jaw tightened. “Give her a chance to put it right.”
“I am not going to let her come back into our lives and trample all over us,” Saffron said firmly.
“That’s not what I said,” Mac replied.
Saffron looked down at her hands and the phone she clasped so tightly the whites of her knuckles showed. “I know. It’s just hard to let go of everything she’s done and I’m so worried about Wes.”
“He’ll be okay.” Nina reached over and placed her hand over Saffron’s. “I’ve got a good feeling about this.”
Saffron angled her body so that she could take a proper look at Nina. “You’re surprisingly calm.”
“I am,” Nina agreed. “Ever since we began our climb into the mountains, I’ve felt calmer.” She nodded even though her brows were knitted together. “He’s here. We’ll find him.”
“You have a message,” Saffron stated the obvious as the phone beeped loudly, and they all looked down at the small device. As she tapped the screen and opened the message she added, “It’s from Hex.”
“What does he say?” Mac eased off the gas and the truck slowed as he waited to hear the news.
“Picked up Wes’s scent. Heading in the direction of Crag Point. Meet you there.” Saffron glanced at Mac as he put his foot back on the gas and steered the truck along the mountain road. “Are we close?”
“Five minutes out.” Mac lifted his gaze from the road ahead and glanced in the rearview mirror at Deirdre’s car. “She’s still with us.”
Mac (Winter - Shifter Seasons Book 3) Page 17