“Will it help find Noah?” That was why they were there. So another little boy didn’t lose his family, like Jay had.
The men exchanged a glance. “It might,” Byron answered. “We’re certainly a lot closer to learning more about where you came from than we were this morning.”
Jay glanced down at the book, still held open in Byron’s hands, and the strange picture.
“I want to keep going.”
Chapter Eighteen
They were on the road again, Byron sitting in the backseat next to Jay and wondering what the Omega thought of all that had happened. Were they chasing ghosts following the clues left behind by an eight-year-old Jay? Or were they getting close to discovering the truth about his past?
Jay seemed ill at ease as they drove, shifting in his seat, tugging at the seatbelt Byron insisted he wear. Every few minutes something would catch his attention, the moon appearing from between the clouds. The lights of houses they passed. It was uncomfortable to watch him so unsettled and after an hour of it, Byron had had enough. He slipped off both their seatbelts before pulling Jay into his arms, holding him tightly.
“You need to get some rest. We’ll be driving most of the night.”
Jay tried to shrug out of his arms but Byron just took a firmer grip. “Rest your head against my chest. That’s it. Do you hear my heartbeat?” Jay nodded against him.
“Good. Focus on that and the sound of my voice. Close your eyes and know that you’re safe.”
In a matter of minutes, Jay was asleep against him. He met Odin’s eyes in the rearview mirror, sharing a look of relief. Jay was tough to deal with when agitated. Add in exhausted and it was like they were back to day one again, dealing with a frightened, wary, half-feral wolf who knew nothing but mistreatment.
In his time with Byron, Jay had learned a lot. Not least, what it meant to be loved. Soon, as soon as Jay was ready, Byron would show him what it meant to be mated, to form a bond. He knew Jay had grown impatient these past few months at Byron’s insistence they wait for his heat. But he also knew it was the only way to be certain Jay was ready. It was more than just sex, it was a lifelong connection, the forming of a family. Something Byron both longed for and regarded with apprehension. Since his brother’s execution and his father’s death, he had felt very alone. He wasn’t sure Jay would ever be ready to take on the burden of sharing all Byron’s worries. But neither was he prepared to treat his mate like a child. Jay had shown himself to be more than that. He was Byron’s protector as much as Byron was his.
As if sensing his thoughts, Jay woke, his eyes scanning the surroundings for threats before he settled against Byron again. His hand snaked up along Byron’s chest to his chin, stroking idly.
“You need sleep too, Byron. Don’t worry. Odin will keep us safe.”
“No truer words were spoken,” Odin said softly. “Get some rest. I’ll wake you when we get there.”
The library was a nondescript redbrick building with a small sign out front announcing its presence.
“Does it look familiar?” he asked Jay. The Omega was distracted watching Odin drive away. Byron followed his gaze. “He won’t be long. He’s just going to find a place for us to stay. There was a sign for holiday cottages a little way back.”
“Not camping?” Jay asked.
“Not around here. Too many people. Too many chances of meeting wolves from another Pack.”
He turned his attention back to the library. “How about we go inside?”
He had Jay’s book tucked under his arm. Jay stood by his side, so close they were almost touching. Byron didn’t move away but conscious that there were human eyes on them, neither did he reach out to touch Jay.
“Maybe I could stay out here?” Jay asked him, eyeing the building as he rocked back and forth on his feet, one hand twisting the hem of his shirt.
“No, if we go in, we go together,” Byron said. “It’ll probably be very quiet inside. It won’t take long. We’ll just go in, ask about the book, and have a quick look around to see if anything jogs your memory. Remember to whisper. There’s no loud talking in the library.”
“Why?” Jay asked, turning his head to the side as he regarded the building.
“People are trying to read. Talking tends to distract them.”
They stepped through the doorway. It was quiet and cooler than outside, where the sun was quickly building up the day’s heat. Byron spied a desk through the shelves and made his way towards it, Jay on his heels. He stopped before they got close, turning to Jay.
“Let me do the talking, okay?” he whispered. “Stay close, stay quiet, and whatever happens, don’t growl, Jay. These people are humans, they’ll get scared or angry or both.” He waited until Jay nodded before continuing.
The woman at the desk saw them coming, her head bobbing from Byron to Jay and her eyes widening. Clearly, they weren’t her usual customers.
Byron gave her his friendliest smile and kept his voice lowered.
“Good morning. We’re sorry to bother you. My cousin and I were just passing through the area and we were hoping you might be able to help us.”
He leaned on the desk as he spoke, watching the woman’s eyes light up at his words as she leaned towards him.
“Of course. What can I help you with? Do you need some directions?”
“Not exactly. My cousin Jay lived in the area when he was little. In a foster home. He can’t remember the name of the family and they won’t release the records. He has such fond memories of Mongrave that we were hoping to pay a visit to the family. But all we have to go on is this book.”
He held out the library book, sat in on the counter, and slid it towards her.
“I don’t suppose there’s any way you’d be able to use the book to help us find his foster family.”
She frowned, and Byron thought for sure she was about to put them out on their ear.
“I’ve only been working here a year or two. How long ago would this have been?”
“Jay was seven or eight, so more than ten years.”
She flipped open the book to the front page, where the library’s name stood prominently.
“Hold on, I’ll go check with Nancy. She’s been working here longer than I have.”
She disappeared through a door into an office and the soft sound of voices followed. Only a minute passed before she returned, shaking her head as she set the book back down.
“I’m sorry. We were still using paper records them and they got rid of all that after we switched to computers. If you had the family name, we might be able to look them up, but the book isn’t going to help us.”
Byron turned back to Jay who merely shrugged a shoulder.
“There were other kids in the family. A boy and a girl, Kyle and Jenny. The family were quiet, from what Jay here says, kept to themselves. Home schooled.”
The woman bit her lip as she considered Byron’s words. “No one comes to mind but then like I said I’ve only been here two years. Nancy wouldn’t be much better, she’s only been here four years.”
“Okay. Well, thanks anyway. We appreciate your help. Have a good day.”
Byron picked up the book, putting his other hand on Jay’s shoulder and turning to leave.
“Wait.”
He turned back, hoping she wasn’t going to ask for the book back. He had hoped to read it to Jay, to see if it helped jog his memory further.
“There’s people living a few miles north east of here. Folks say they’re some strange religion or other. Keep to themselves, their kids don’t go to the school nearby. But some of them come to the library for books now and then.”
“North east?” Byron said.
“Follow the signs for Brerton and take the second left past the church.”
“Thank you for all your help,” Byron said.
“Thanks,” Jay added, giving the woman a small smile.
“I hope you find what you’re looking for,” she called softly after them.
&nbs
p; Byron hoped they did too.
Chapter Nineteen
Byron bought them ice-creams from the small store across the road and they sat outside the library to eat them as they waited for Odin to return. Every few minutes, Jay would look around, trying to see if a different angle, a different moment, would help him remember this place. Had he been here before? Or was the book just something someone had given him?
Byron was disappointed that Jay didn’t remember though he did his best to hide it.
Restless, Jay stood, picked a direction and started walking. He heard Byron follow behind him, his pace slower. Giving him space. Right then, Jay wanted nothing more than to bury himself in Byron’s arms but there were already a lot of eyes on them and he knew that would only make things worse. Humans were funny about those kind of things.
They left the library behind as they walked past a scattering of buildings along the road. Here and there a store, a few houses. There was a bigger building further on and as Jay passed it, a bell rang out. Seconds later the doors opened and children streamed out into the yard, laughing and shouting as they played. Jay closed his eyes, focusing only on the sound. It was strangely familiar. He stepped close to the wire fence that surrounded the yard, crouching down as he reached it and peering through.
Byron was at his side a second later. “Jay?”
“I remember this place.”
“You went to school here?”
He shook his head, looking up at Byron. “No. I remember being here, outside. Watching them play. I wanted to play too.”
Byron was momentarily distracted by something in the yard before his hands surrounded Jay, pulling him to his feet.
“Let’s go. We’re attracting a bit of attention.”
Jay followed Byron’s gaze to see a woman standing in the center of the yard, her arms folded.
Byron turned them back towards the library.
“We had better keep a low profile from here on in. I really don’t want the local sheriff asking questions.”
“Why? We were just looking.”
“Adult males around schools, especially strangers in a small place like this, people tend to overreact.”
“Because they’re scared?” Fear seemed to be the cause of a lot of what people did as far as Jay could see.
“Exactly. They want to keep the children under their care safe.”
They sat back down outside the library. Jay heard their car in the distance and looked up at the same time Byron did. From another direction, a second car rolled to a stop in front of them.
“Speaking of sheriffs. Let me do the talking again, Jay. And whatever happens, do not growl.”
A man in a uniform got out, setting a hat on his head as he ambled towards them. Jay turned his attention to finishing his ice-cream cone and listened.
“Good morning, gentleman.”
“Good morning, sheriff.”
“Are you boys new to the area?”
“Just visiting for the morning. Looking up a family connection.”
“Is that right?”
“My cousin Jay spent some time here as a kid with a foster family. We don’t have the details so we’ve been trying to jog his memory by having a look around at the library and the school. I hope we haven’t caused any unease.”
“Close knit town like this, people notice change,” the sheriff said. “What was the name of this family?” he asked, clearly directing the question at Jay. Jay swallowed hard, glancing towards Byron.
“My cousin’s not much of a talker, Sheriff. Went through a lot of foster homes, didn’t have the best experience in a lot of them. Remembers Mongrave well because it was such a happy time. Can’t remember the name of the family, though. A lot of the bad stuff happened after.”
“I’m sorry to hear that but I am glad he’s got good memories of our town. We’re a friendly place. Have you got ID with you?”
“Of course,” Byron said easily. “It’s in my pocket.”
He pulled it out and handed it over.
“Jay, do you have yours?”
“In the car, with Odin.” Odin who had just pulled up across the road and was watching the interaction carefully.
Jay looked on as the Sheriff checked the ID and in amongst it was one of Byron’s business cards.
“Your family own that hotel chain?”
“That’s right.”
“My sister stayed in your place in Toscan, said it was the nicest bed she’d ever slept in.”
He handed Byron back his papers.
“Well then.” Byron picked up the business card, pulling a pen from his pocket and scrawling a number of the back. “If you or your family are ever considering another stay in one of our hotels, give this number a call and they’ll get you a special rate on your rooms.”
He held out the card, and the Sheriff took it. “Appreciate that,” he said with a smile, tapping the card against his hat.
“If you need to see Jay’s ID, it’s just across the road in my friend’s car.”
He gestured to Odin. The Sheriff turned to look, taking in the gear visible in the back of the car. “Camping trip?”
“At the edge of the Acorn Forest Reserve. Some beautiful hiking trails. We were so close to Mongrave we said we’d do it all in the one trip.”
“Well, then. I won’t keep you from it. How long will you be staying?”
“A few days, most likely. Our friend was just arranging accommodation at the cottages down the road.”
The sheriff smiled at that.
“That’s my sister Sally’s place. You won’t find nicer cottages in the area. You boys take care. If I can be of any help for county records and things, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll let folks hereabouts know you’ll be around the next few days.”
“Thank you, sheriff, we’d appreciate that.”
He tipped his hat at them, gave Odin a wave, and returned to his car.
As he drove off, Byron stood, helping Jay up before they crossed to the car and climbed in.
“What was that about?”
“Three strange men wandering around a small town. Sheriff just wanted to make sure we were on the level.”
“Better that than the locals coming after us with shotguns,” Odin joked. “Do you want to go straight to the cottage?”
“Actually, we got a lead of sorts from the library, if you’re not too tired. Not the name and address we were hoping for, but there’s an area which seems like it might have a population of shifters not far from here.”
“Then let’s go check it out,” Odin said.
“What if they’re not friendly?” Jay asked.
“Then we’ll beat a hasty retreat,” Byron assured him.
Jay sat back in his seat, struggling to sit still as his stomach flip-flopped. A cool hand slipped behind his neck, Byron’s fingers kneading gently across his skin.
“Hey, it’s all going to be okay. You’re doing so well, Jay. The librarian, the sheriff. It must have been scary for you but you kept your cool.”
“No growling,” he said, echoing Byron’s words from before.
“No growling,” Byron replied with a smile, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Jay’s forehead.
Chapter Twenty
The followed the librarian’s directions, taking the turning past the church. Jay stuck by the window, watching the outside world carefully as Odin slowed down.
“What are we looking for?” Odin asked.
“Something Jay finds familiar,” Byron replied, resting a hand on his Omega’s back. Jay couldn’t stay still, his head whipping around, staring for a few moments at a house or a tree before turning his attention to the next thing. His muscles tensed and relaxed repeatedly beneath Byron’s hand as he twisted.
They had just drive past a turn when Jay called out. “Wait. Go back.”
Odin put them into reverse and Jay peered down a long road that forked into two a few hundred yards ahead.
“What is it Jay?” Byron coaxed.
&nb
sp; “The tree down there. I… I remember it.”
Byron looked over Jay’s shoulder. Where the road forked a large oak tree grew, taller than any other tree around.
“Let’s go that way then,” he said.
Odin turned the car, and they trundled slowly down the road, waiting for Jay’s next instruction.
“Left or right, Jay,” he said eventually when it became clear Jay wasn’t going to volunteer another direction.
“I… I don’t know.” He turned back to Byron, his expression forlorn.
“Hey,” Byron said, pulling Jay into his arms. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. This was a very long time ago. Most people wouldn’t remember what we’re asking you to.”
“I want to. I just don’t know how.”
“Okay, close your eyes.”
Jay made a face but did as Byron asked. Byron brought his fingers up to Jay’s face, drawing circles across his temples. Jay scrunched his nose and gave a murmur of surprise.
“Picture walking down this road in your mind. It’s a warm day and you’re thirsty. Ahead of you, you see the tree, big and tall and you’d like to climb it, but not today, because you’re thirsty. You want to go home. Which way, Jay, which way is home?”
“Left around the tree and follow the road behind the big farmhouse.”
“Great, that’s great,” Byron said, letting Jay so as he opened his eyes.
“How did you do that?” the Omega asked.
“I didn’t, you did. I just helped you relax a bit.”
They drove on, taking the left fork, and following the road as it looped around behind a farm.
“It’s different,” Jay commented, pointing towards the farm. “There were two buildings there, not one.”
“Times change,” Odin said, “people and places with it.”
The road kept going another half a mile before a little pocket of houses appeared.
“I think this might be it,” Odin said. “All I can see beyond are fields. Jay?”
Jay shrugged, before asking a question that was clearly bothering him.
The Alpha's Kiss: Lost Omegas Book Six: A M/M Shifter Romance Page 9