She led them into a spacious classroom. The walls were covered in colorful cutouts of numbers, days of the week, pictures of different topographies, mammals and birds. Ryan walked into the room without hesitation, drawn by the visuals, a cluster of soft cushions on the floor and a neat row of cubicles. He ran his finger over the names taped above each one until he found his then he turned back to Fina, beaming. He hung his lightweight jacket on his peg then headed for the tidy baskets of toys arranged beneath the large, bright windows.
“Miss Lee will test Ryan’s cognitive skills this morning,” Principal Smith said to Fina, drawing her attention back to her. “You explained you didn’t have his kindergarten transcripts or notebooks and didn’t want to send for them.”
“Yes,” Fina replied firmly. “The pack that took over our lands is still in the area and…not you!”
Fina growled and bared her teeth when a tall black-haired woman stood up from behind the desk at the far end of the room. The principal stepped back nervously. Even Ryan looked at her and blinked.
The black-haired, blue-eyed female who had challenged Fina in the diner and again before the mating run two nights before walked toward her slowly.
“No.” Fina’s mouth snapped shut. She turned on her heel, grabbed the principal’s elbow and dragged her out of the classroom and away from Ryan’s ears. “That bitch isn’t getting anywhere near Ryan,” she hissed once they were outside.
Principal Smith’s mouth dropped open. She closed it slowly. “Of-of course. If you wish,” she whispered then glanced up at Fina from beneath lowered lids. Even though she was a good three inches taller than Fina, Fina felt like her body towered over the other woman’s. “But Melinda is one of our best teachers. I know she…” She took a deep breath. “She challenged you.”
Fina snarled and the principal paled.
“Of course,” Principal Smith repeated. “Melinda is our only first grade teacher but there are a few weeks before the start of the school year. We should be able to get a replacement as long as you don’t mind a non-were teaching your surrogate son. Otherwise we can have one of the other teachers switch—”
“Please.” Melinda Lee stepped up to them. Despite her height, which was impressive, she dipped her head in submission to Fina. She was wearing a pair of summery pants and a modest, brightly patterned, short-sleeved shirt. She exhaled nervously. “Okay. I was angry when you showed up. More than angry,” she admitted and shoved her hair behind her ear. “But the simple fact is my pack has a new top bitch. I may have perceived you as an interloper but you’ve demonstrated you’re tough enough to handle the job. He’s bonded with you. They both have. I can’t compete with that.” Melinda held her hands out in a helpless gesture. “I had three options. The first one was to challenge you…been there, done that, lost,” she admitted without rancor. “Two, leave this pack for another—not with the great pension plan I’ve got here,” she added dryly. “Or three, start making friends in other packs, try to find my own mate and haul his shaggy ass back here.” She lowered her voice, glanced into the classroom to make sure Ryan wasn’t listening and whispered when she said the word ass.
Both Melinda and the principal looked at Fina warily.
“If…if I decide I can’t trust her around Ryan, you’ll fire her?” Fina asked darkly, directing her question to Principal Smith.
“Yes.”
She turned to Melinda and scowled. “Make me believe I should trust you.”
Melinda exhaled slowly. “I’m good at my job.” She held out her hand and led them back into the classroom. “I’ve set up a few key tests which will measure Ryan’s language and math skills.” Stepping up to a cluster of child-sized tables, she handed Fina the papers sitting on one. “Like all students, he will have forgotten some of what he learned last year but he should still function at a certain level. I’ll test his comprehension and problem-solving skills as well. That’ll give me an idea of his general cognitive abilities.” She lifted her chin. “Children respond to me, Ms. Whitesage. They like me and I like them. I’m firm but fair. I provide structure, individual attention, encouragement and discipline when necessary. I’ve also got a kick-ass,” again she lowered her voice, “file full of group games that teach cooperation and are physically and mentally challenging.”
Hands on hips, Fina looked into Melinda’s wary eyes and considered what she’d said.
“The two weeks Ryan and I were on the road, after our pack was killed,” she whispered, directing her question to Melinda, “Ryan’s ability to form complete sentences diminished. We’ve been working hard at it at home and his speech and reading are back to where they were.”
Melinda glanced at the principal then turned back to Fina and nodded. “Homeless children start to lose their communication skills,” Melinda said quietly. “He’d have started to shut down, even without the trauma.” Something in her expression softened. “I also know you got him out of Tennessee alive.
You’ve protected him, cared for him like he was your own cub.” She glanced over at Ryan. “That child is also my Alpha’s surrogate son. That means I’ll defend him with everything inside me…maybe even more than you would because he isn’t mine.” She grinned crookedly. “I always take better care of other people’s things than I do my own.”
Fina looked at the principal, who was nodding hopefully, then back at Melinda. “All right. You can be his teacher. I will however be monitoring your treatment of him. If I catch so much as a whiff of animosity or hostility, I’ll drive you out faster than a pneumatic nailer.”
Melinda blinked then dipped her head in a submissive pose. “Thank you. I’ll get started on his testing now. It shouldn’t take longer than twenty minutes.”
“I’ll wait outside,” Fina replied. Within hearing distance, she added mentally and stepped out of the classroom.
“Melinda designed the tests to run twenty minutes,” Principal Smith explained as they left. She was talking faster and her voice was pitched a little higher than before. “Students his age should be able to focus that long. It’s another test she’s built into the others…” The principal rambled on, selling their first grade teacher to their new top bitch and explaining the different programs the school offered while Fina kept one ear tuned to what was going on behind the door.
When it opened again, exactly twenty minutes later, Ryan beamed up at her and handed her a drawing. She hugged him and smiled when he excitedly pointed out the horse, Cutler, Nath, her and him. Fina rolled it up carefully and said she’d tape it on the refrigerator, unless of course Cutler wanted to take it to work and put it on the board in his office.
Ryan promised to draw another if Cutler wanted this one. He ran back inside to get his coat.
“I’m probably not the first one to tell you you’re a greedy bitch,” Melinda harped good-naturedly, albeit warily, when she joined the other two women. “You just had to claim both brothers, didn’t you?”
Even Principal Smith grinned.
“Now, unless you have any more questions, I’ll finish grading Ryan’s tests.” Melinda stood up straight. “But from what I saw, everything looks good. He shouldn’t have to repeat kindergarten or any part of it. In fact his reading is better than what I would have expected. You’re probably responsible for that.”
Fina nodded, accepting the rather shameless compliment in the spirit in which she hoped it was intended.
“And when I’m finished that,” Melinda continued, “I’m outta here. There’s a pack two counties over having a dance tonight and I’ve got my high heels shined and ready to go.”
Fina grunted noncommittally. “Well, bring back a plumber if you can. And make it a good one. Cutler says he’s tired of calling in some human whenever the sinks get stopped up in the town hall.”
“I’ll check their resumes at the door,” Melinda promised with a grin, nodded and walked back into her classroom.
“So Ryan’s fully integrated into the pack now.”
Fina sat in front of he
r laptop, rereading the last emails she and Owen had exchanged, waiting for him to come online. Cutler and Nathaniel were in the backyard with Ryan, catching worms by moonlight. They were going fishing in the morning.
“He starts school after Labor Day. He drew a picture of the barn for you. Send me your snail-mail address and I’ll send it to you. He’s a lot livelier (read loud and boisterous) now that he’s got a pack and a place in it. (grin)”
“What about you?”
“I feel like a cheat. What if they like me only because I’m strong, the daughter of Alphas, and I’ll bear them worthy cubs? Is it the money? My business acumen?”
Fina shook her head as she re-read her words. Why could she be so honest with Owen and not with her mates?
“Sorry it took me so long to get back. I had to ask somebody what acumen meant. Look, you don’t make these guys sound like idiots. Not to be insensitive but I’m hearing a lot of grief talking. I feel the same way. Big boys aren’t supposed to get all emotional and cry about the dead mother they haven’t actually seen in two years. Mom flew to Germany when I had leave. I guess she never told anybody back home.”
“I didn’t know.”
“We’re hurting, Fina. All three of us. You’re young and you have choices. This pack has taken you in and accepted you as one of them but that doesn’t relieve me of my responsibilities to you and Ryan. I can’t believe I’m saying this after I screwed my position in our old pack so I’d be able to get out but I’m the lone male adult in our pack now. Where you are, you’re safe and provided for. But if it doesn’t work out or you change your mind, you’ve got something to fall back on. Me.”
Her laptop chirped and she clicked on the instant message icon. The image of Owen’s face filled one-third of the screen.
“Hey, cowgirl. Aren’t you sick of seeing my tired old mug?”
Fina grinned. “Yes. But I’m polite.”
“Nice. Is Ryan still up? Thought he could show me that picture before you mail it.”
Fina turned away from the screen, bellowed, then smiled back at Owen.
“So have you decided what you’ll do?”
“Other than fantasizing about kicking back on a tropical beach next time I’m on leave and counting in my head those millions of dollars we have?”
“Seriously.”
“Seriously. If it’s okay, I’m going to stay where I am. You know if you need me, I’ll hop on a plane as soon as I can. The work here keeps my mind off what happened. Besides, if you don’t need me, there’s nothing for me to come back to.”
“Hey, honey.” Cutler walked into the office, carrying Ryan on his shoulders. He ducked so Ryan’s head could clear the doorway. “You screeched?”
“I did. I’m talking to Owen and he asked if Ryan would show him his drawing before I mailed it to him.”
“Yeah. Sure.” Ryan scrambled off Cutler’s back and raced down the hall to his room.
“While I’m here, can I talk to him?” Cutler asked.
Fina’s eyes widened then she nodded and stood up. Cutler sat down in the chair she’d vacated.
“Hmm. Warm,” he teased and leaned toward the laptop, scanning Owen’s face. He started pecking at the keyboard with two fingers. “Owen, my name is Sheriff Cutler Powell. Fina may have mentioned me.” He glanced up and winked at her. “I’m the pack Alpha. I can’t invite you to join without meeting you first. You know how it is with established packs and outside, adult males. But you’re always welcome to visit. When you’re ready, come out and stay for a while. Fina tells us how much she likes talking to you about old times.”
The two men looked over each other’s images.
“Thanks, Sheriff. I appreciate the offer. Maybe I will sometime.”
Cutler nodded, said “good” out loud then sat back in the chair and hauled Ryan onto his lap when the six year old raced back into the room. Ryan held a drawing up to the pinhole camera.
“Back it up, cowboy,” Owen typed. “It’s too close.” There was a pause. “That’s a great drawing, Ryan. You’re really good. I can’t wait to show my picture off to the other fellows. Can I hang it up in my quarters?”
Owen spent the next five minutes explaining what quarters meant, what he did on night patrol and asking about Ryan’s day.
Cutler stood up, kissed Fina and let her take his place so she could type out Ryan’s responses for him. Nath came in, winked at her and thumbed through his paperwork for the next day’s trek.
“Fina, I wanna go home.” Ryan’s strident tone echoed through the room. He started to cry.
Owen’s face was frozen in surprise, then the furrow in his forehead deepened.
“Stop it NOW. Just because you’re my cousin does NOT mean you can throw a temper tantrum. Do you understand me, Ryan?”
Fina read back Owen’s response. Ryan stopped crying but his lower lip shook. He nodded at the screen.
“Better. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I can’t wait to get my picture. Give Fina a big hug and kiss good night for me. Bye.”
His image faded off the screen. Both Cutler and Nath glanced down at Ryan worriedly.
“Okay. Bedtime, big guy,” Nath said with forced enthusiasm. He ruffled Ryan’s hair. “We’re getting up early to go fishing, remember?”
Ryan stuck his thumb in his mouth as he followed Nath out of the room.
While the brothers helped Ryan get ready for bed and listened to him read, Fina stayed in the office, writing another email to Owen. He’d read it later that day when he could book more computer time.
“I wish I knew more about this parenting stuff. Today Ryan and I were in the grocery store and he was telling the clerk that his mother always buys apples and bananas. Present tense. He knows they’re dead but sometimes I think he imagines they aren’t. I’m going to ask the local doctor for a referral to a counselor. This is way beyond my skill set and I don’t want to screw him up.” She hit send and started a virus scan before calling it a night. To her surprise, the laptop chirped at her. It was Owen.
“You won’t. You take too good care of him to let that happen.”
“Thought you’d logged off.”
“Have a couple of minutes left before the friendlies start throwing live ordnance at me. I didn’t want to reward Ryan’s bad behavior by staying online with him.”
“Clever. Looks like you’re the one developing some parenting skills.”
“Bite your tongue, woman. I’m a religious believer in bachelorhood and keeping the old trouser snake firmly wrapped in latex whenever there are ladies around.”
“TMI.”
“Yeah, yeah. Anyway I really do have to go in a minute. Let me know what the counselor says but I’m sure Ryan’ll be fine. He’s just hurting and acting out. Sorry you have to take it. Remember, if it’ll help, I’d be willing to leave the service when my tour is up in a few months. The three of us can start up again in a new community back east. We’ll be smart, we’ll be safe and we’ll grow a large pack around us. The two of you won’t be anybody’s charity. You’re my responsibility. I’m not saying these guys poached you. They took you in and I’ll always be grateful for that. I just want to be sure you’ve taken an opportunity to step back and assess what it is you want.” Owen’s head came up and he looked around. “Getting off my soapbox now. Gotta go. Send that picture express. We can afford it.”
The corners of Fina’s mouth turned down as she touched the blank screen. A part of her was lured by his offer and the picture he painted. It was also the part of her that grieved, that was still in shock and denial. She sat back in the chair and looked at the dark window, surprised she recognized those feelings in herself. A few weeks ago the subtleties of what motivated her had been beyond her comprehension.
In so many ways she still felt like a victim. She didn’t want to love again. She also wanted her old life back, wanted the things that had been taken from her. Talking with Owen made that seem real at least.
She closed the laptop. Now she was thinking like Ryan
. Maybe all three of them were. She couldn’t blame Owen. His grief was fresher than hers or Ryan’s. He was a good man. A responsible soldier. A were. He’d commit to doing the right thing. She was also sure he’d commit to doing the wrong thing if she said that’s what she wanted. Fina felt the truth of that in her heart.
What she couldn’t understand was the feeling of suffocation that had begun to settle on her. She rubbed her chest. Cutler and Nath had planned her life out for her. She didn’t know if she didn’t want it or if she was simply running away from yet another thing that could be taken from her.
“Are all the payments in?” Cutler nodded his thanks as Dorothea Pike handed him a cup of coffee. They were sitting around her kitchen table.
“The last ones came in this week.” She served him, Nath, Fina and her husband Gil slices of blueberry coffee cake.
“Payments?” Fina asked.
Gil nodded. “All weres in the pack with a regular paycheck contribute five percent of their net to a business development fund. Pack members are invited to submit startup proposals and budgets for seed money. Or grants if existing businesses have a capital shortfall.”
“What support do you give them?” Fina’s head tipped to one side.
“Support?” the older man asked.
Fina frowned. “Yes. Within the first two years, startups without mentoring in place have about a sixty-four percent failure rate. That percentage is higher if the business is in the food-service industry.”
Cutler jumped in. “The pack’s large, Fina, but we don’t have experts in every area of business. Look at Nath,” he explained, giving his brother a nod. “Before he started his outfitting business there was nobody but old-time trackers leading a few guys from the city into the woods during hunting season.”
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