Arii blushed as he took her hand, looking for a ring. Her fingers were bare still—the ring was snug in my pocket—so he kissed her knuckles instead.
“Ever the gentleman.” Arii grinned.
“Don’t think you two are off the hook so easily. I still demand an explanation,” said Grey good-naturedly.
“And you’re gonna get it.”
He swung the door inwards, inviting us in. I breathed in the smell of my old home, the familiar apples-and-cinnamon of Mom’s potpourri in the kitchen and the sharp twinge of strong coffee. I smiled and relaxed a little. It was good, but strange, to be home.
Shae was in the kitchen, her hip propped up against the counter. She stirred sugar into a mug of coffee and breathed in the steam. I laughed at her. “My little sister’s growing up. Since when do you drink coffee?”
“Since now.” She stuck her tongue out at me, but her green eyes simmered with fire. She still hadn’t forgiven me, but I could understand.
Arii and I sat down at the kitchen table and I clasped my hands together. Arii played with a napkin, tearing off little paper balls and rolling them between her fingers. Grey plopped down across from me and Shae brought over four mugs of coffee. Mine was as dark as midnight and I poured a little bit of sugar into it, stirring it absentmindedly.
I looked at Shae. “So…what do you think Mom will say? Did you at least give her a warning?”
“I couldn’t get a hold of her, so you’re on your own. Expect hysterics—I can’t even mention your name and she goes ballistic, all depressed and weepy. And yeah, before you ask, I totally blame you. You could’ve left a note.”
“How was I supposed to know I was gonna get kidnapped by a bunch of werewolves?”
Greyson looked at me, deadpan, and Shae shook her head. “Oh, it gets better, Grey,” she assured him with a soft snort. “He believes he’s a werewolf.”
“You hit your head or something?” Grey’s voice wavered a little and his brows furrowed. Arii slid her arm across the table, her hand brushing mine.
“Don’t give me that pity-party look,” I said to him, a little peevishly, then took a deep breath. How could I expect them to just…understand? I hadn’t. I hadn’t believed a word of it, not until I saw it with my own eyes. I shook my head.
“Greyson, I know this sounds insane—it does. Werewolves logically shouldn’t exist, but they do. We do.”
I reached out for him, placing my hand on top of his. Focusing on my breathing, I nudged my wolf. Swiftly, my hand turned into a large, black-furred paw, the pad rough as my claws scraped against Greyson’s hand.
His eyes widened and he gave a yelp, shoving his chair backwards. It tipped and sent him sprawling to the tile floor. Shae’s eyes were wide too, one hand over her mouth.
“Holy shit. Please tell me that was just my eyes playing tricks on me.”
“It’s the truth, Shae,” Arii said. “We’re werewolves.”
“You too?” Grey was standing now, a little more relaxed. “I’m going to assume you’re not gonna go Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde on my ass and eat me, yeah?”
When I laughed, he eased back into his chair. “Show me again. Slowly.” He offered his hand. I placed mine in his palm and let the paw reappear. Grey’s fingers trembled as he stroked the dark fur away from my claws, fingering each one. I stayed still. “Damn and double damn.”
We all jerked to attention as the garage door went up with a screech of metal. Shae smoothed out her blouse, tucking hair behind her ears.
“Here she comes,” she said, in way of a warning, and my hands became clammy. I wiped them on my jeans and Arii touched my shoulder as the door swung open. “Greyson, I’ve told you a hundred times. Don’t park on the street. There’s enough room in the drive for—” Mom started in on one of her rants. Then she saw me and her jaw went slack.
“Mom?” I asked as she wavered. I shot out of the chair just in time, my arms catching her as she dropped like a rock. I eased her down to the floor and Shae got a washcloth damp with cool water. We dabbed at her forehead.
She came around, looking at me dazedly, and I could feel her heart kicking where my hand lay on her chest. “Mom, it’s alright. It’s okay,” I said, pushing graying bangs away from her face. She flushed, her eyes filling with tears.
“Oh, Kia. Kia, where have you been?” she asked, struggling to cling to me. I held her close, murmuring words into her hair and breathing in her smell—jasmine and rosemary, just like always. I hugged her as she cried for a few moments, noisy tears, before she pulled away. Shae handed down a Kleenex and she blew her nose.
I got to my feet and offered her my hands. She took them and I pulled her up, where she stood. Anger sparkled in her hazel eyes, months of withheld emotions as she grabbed my shoulders and shook me.
“You—You don’t just disappear on us! Not without warning. I could’ve understood, I would’ve listened to your problems, Kia!” She began to pace. “I know I wasn’t the best mother, but I could’ve gotten better. I thought you were happy here. I tried to make you happy and—”
“Mom!” I reached for her, but she smacked my hands away. “It’s not your fault—I was happy. I was. I promise. It wasn’t you, it was never you. Things just…they happened. I believe they happened for a reason and I’m going to explain.” I looked up. “To all of you, but maybe you should sit down.”
“Why should I—”
“He’s a werewolf,” Shae said, so brazenly that I could’ve smacked her. I shot her laser-eyes and she sneered back, arms crossed over her chest.
Mom damn near fainted again. I groaned and led her into the living room, helping her down onto the couch. Shae and Greyson padded after us, sitting down together on the loveseat, their knees clacking together.
Arii stood apprehensive at the doorway until I motioned her in. “Sit, Arii. You get to help me with this.” I grabbed her hand, which she gave easily. “First things first: No, I didn’t run away and elope with this beautiful girl, though the thought has crossed my mind.” Arii’s face turned pink, but she smirked at the idea.
“Arii’s my girlfriend. She’s been through heaven and hell with me…and I love her.”
I took a deep breath. “Do you remember Dad’s stories, the tales he used to tell me when I was a little kid?” Her face went from flushed to ash white and she slowly nodded. “He told me stories about a great wolf king and his son. The night he left us, he told me a story…he told me that the great wolf king had to go back to his world, to stop an evil man from destroying his family. He kissed me goodnight and the next morning he was gone. And he didn’t come back.
“Mom. Dad’s a werewolf. Don’t look at me that way—it’s true. I didn’t believe it either. I thought it was just my concussion when a wolf girl attacked me back in October. Arii saved my life. She tried to convince me to come home with her, to her world. That Dad had gone missing and I was supposed to become king. I thought she was insane. But she’s a werewolf too, and so am I.”
Mom shook her head, her lips a grim line. “No. I may collect unicorns and believe in faeries, but werewolves?” She let out a bark of hoarse laughter. “Kia, please. Just come clean. I’ll believe you. I won’t judge you, I promise.”
“No, Mom. Believe this.” I stepped forwards and felt my wolf tug at my heart. His head lifted, regal golden eyes surveying the land before he came forward. I arched my back as the change overtook me, swiftly, rapidly. I fell to all fours, hands and feet becoming large paws, and I folded back my ears as Mom let out a shriek.
She pulled herself up on the couch, as if I were a big, scary spider, and whimpered. “No, no, no. No! This is insane. This isn’t real. It’s a dream,” she chanted to herself.
Shae hopped away from Greyson and tried to pull Mom out of it. Grey knelt down and reached a hand out. I wagged my tail and butted my head against his outstretched palm. “It’s okay,” I said to him, but my thoughts merely bounced back into my head.
“It’s true,” Arii said, leaping to her feet. �
�Kia’s no more dangerous now than he was as a human—he’s just got two forms. He’s strong and powerful, but he’s still Kia.”
I went to her and she wrapped both arms around my neck. I looked Mom in the eye and whined a little and Mom rubbed at her face. I eased out of Arii’s grip and placed a paw gently on Mom’s knee. She flinched—she truly was still afraid of dogs.
“Look into his eyes. It’s still Kia,” Arii said.
Mom slowly placed her hands, tentative, on either side of my head. I looked deep into her eyes, whined, and wagged my tail, thumping it against the carpet. Slowly, she gave a shaky smile and I pulled away, changing back to human so I could tell the entire story from start to finish. I told them everything, Arii jumping in at points to add her two-cents worth. We had a rapt audience and by the time I’d finished, Greyson and Shae were grinning.
“Mom? There is one thing you need to know.” When her brow lifted, I reached for her hand. “I brought Dad home. He’s hurt, but he’s alive. And he wants to see you again. He still loves you, Mom. He has…” What did Sikta say? “Stars in his eyes when he talks about you.” I smiled.
She shook her head, a grimace on her lips. “Oh, it’s been too long, Kia. I don’t even know what I’d say to him.”
“Do you still love him?” I asked. “Despite everything that’s happened? Dad—he went through hell and back, fighting for his people, but it killed him to leave us behind. Please, just hear him out. He’s at Rockfell General. Room 510. Please.” I squeezed her hand in mine. “You can accept your son being a werewolf, for God’s sake. You might not like it, but you accept it. Give Dad a chance.”
Slowly, she nodded and took a shaky breath. “Alright. I’ll visit him in the morning, before my shift. Will you come with me?” she asked, nibbling on her lower lip. She smiled when I nodded, then drew me into a hug.
“Lord, Kia…I’ve missed you. I was so scared someone had kidnapped you. I only thought of you being strangled to death or stabbed and maybe buried in the woods somewhere we’d never find you.” Her voice caught and she was quiet for a moment. “You’re going back, to the other world, aren’t you?”
“I have to, Mom. They need me…and that’s my home now. But I’ll come visit, I swear.”
“We both will!” agreed Arii, wrapping both arms around my neck and hugging me. I grinned.
“I guess I’ll head to bed, then.” Mom shuffled down the hallway.
Shae stood and flicked me on the nose. “I’m coming with you in the morning, Kia, so I’m gonna shower and crash. Night Arii, Grey,” she said, and hurried off as well.
Greyson sat cross-legged on the floor, a peaceful smile on his face. “So you love her?” he asked with a wink to Arii.
She grinned and I huffed. “I do,” I said, tugging her closer. She rested her chin on my shoulder, her arms clamped firmly, almost possessively, around me. I sighed with relief—relief that everything was almost back to normal. I met his gaze “What about you? That Sam kid and you ever turn into something?”
He shot me a secret smile and I laughed.
“Details!”
A blush crept over his face. “Sam and I…are a couple. Um. I came out to Mom shortly after you disappeared and she was actually pretty chill with it. Sam and I started dating, seriously, and… I don’t know.” He let out a whistle, leaning back against the couch. “Sure, I’ve had crushes before, but this… This is love, Kia. Really. I want to marry him and have his babies.” He grinned and poked me. “Or adopt one. Maybe a werewolf cub?”
I swatted at his head and he laughed.
“No. Really. I kinda already proposed to him. He’s wearing my class ring until I can save up and buy him a real engagement ring. Of course, Mom doesn’t know about this turn of events.” He flushed again, a smile on his face. “But it will work out. He’s working on moving out and I guess when he’s got a place, I’ll move in with him. It’s gonna be great. Really.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m glad, Grey. Really, I am. You deserve happiness.”
“We all do,” Arii smiled, linking her hand in mine.
Greyson stood. “Hey. I’m gonna get home. You’ll come visit, yeah, Kia? We’ll be here and I’d love for you to meet Sam. Both of you. And I’d love for you to be the best man at the wedding a few years from now. I’m thinking Cancun. Or the Bahamas. Whaddaya say, can you hold off turning furry for my special day?” His eyes gleamed with an ornery sparkle and I punched him on the shoulder.
“Of course, Grey. Always. And yeah, we’ll visit. Just promise me you don’t have kids until you’re at least twenty. You’ll lose your boyish figure.” I smirked and he smacked me back.
Then he wrapped me in a hug. “I missed you, Kia. Don’t be too far.”
Arii and I stood on the porch as he pulled out of the drive. We waved, he waved, and I turned back to Arii. “Wanna catch a movie marathon on TV?” I asked, tugging her close enough to plant a kiss on her lips.
Those lips curved devilishly upward. “And skip a full night of sleep? Bring it on.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Arii and I ended up crashing on the couch, snuggled up next to one another; it was nice when I woke up and felt her head nuzzled against me, heard her soft sigh of happiness. Contentment. I smiled.
I could easily imagine waking up next to this girl for the rest of my life. I thought to the ring box nestled snug in my pocket and pulled Arii closer, one arm wrapped around her waist. My fingers played with the hem of her shirt and she opened those blue eyes at me, her lips gently curving.
“Hello there.” Her voice was husky with sleep.
“Hi.” With that simple word, I kissed her. She smiled against my lips, her hands trailing up around my neck, her fingers twining through my hair. I broke away first, looking up as Mom, showered and dressed in a nice blouse and jeans, headed into the kitchen. I gave Arii one last, lingering look—this would have to wait—and headed into the kitchen. She padded barefoot after me.
“Need some coffee?” Mom asked lightly, filling a couple of cups. I noticed the way her hands shook. I took the coffee pot from her grip, filling the mugs the rest of the way. Then I pulled her into a hug. She resisted for a moment, then melted against me, taking deep breaths.
“I…I’m scared, Kia,” she admitted. “I don’t even know what to say to him.”
“What about ‘hello’?” I asked around a smile. “I’m sure he’s nervous to see you too. It’s been a few years, yeah?” I hugged her again and then eased away, picking up a mug and sipping at my coffee. I took the others to the table and we sat around and chatted until a little after ten.
Shae flounced down, all pep, her hair braided neatly. She grinned and poured herself a cup. “Shotgun!” she announced with a wicked smile when we piled into Mom’s beater Ford. The ride seemed to drag on forever, though it was only a few miles, and I noted the way Mom’s fingers jumped against the steering wheel.
When we parked, Arii looped an arm in Shae’s. “She’s coming with me to visit Aliel.” Shae blushed a little and grinned it off, waving to us as Arii tugged her down the hall.
I reached for Mom’s hand. “You ready?”
“No,” she said, nibbling on her bottom lip. I took her hand anyway and we signed in and made our way to room 510. I squeezed her fingers in mine once in reassurance, then pushed against the door.
Kitane laid in bed, reading a tattered Nora Roberts paperback, his eyes skimming up to greet us as we walked in. He grinned at me. “Well hey, Kia—” he started, and then his gaze locked with Mom’s and his lips broke into a wary smile.
“Tasha,” he breathed out, struggling to better sit up. Mom’s hand dropped away from mine as she moved forwards, staring down at him in surprise. “You’re still as beautiful as ever.”
“Ever the flatterer.” Mom chuckled, nervous. “Mind if I…” She motioned to a chair.
“I’d love it.” When she sat, he reached out for her hand. She gripped his, tears brimming in her eyes as he kissed her knuck
les. “There hasn’t been a day when I didn’t think of you. It’s been so long, love,” he whispered. “I know you must hate me. I hate me sometimes for leaving you like that, without warning, but I couldn’t tell you the truth.”
“Kia told me…everything. That you were kidnapped and…abused.” She winced and dropped her gaze. “Can I see?”
Kitane slowly nodded and I helped him pull up the sheets to reveal his amputated leg. Mom sucked in a breath and again her eyes watered. “That’s horrible.”
“I’m alive, Tasha. That’s the important thing. I prayed, so hard, that I would be alive long enough to see my son. And I did. Our son saved my life. And I’m sorry—I’m so sorry for leaving you all those years ago. You were my world. And Shae… How old is she now? Fifteen?”
“Fifteen going on twenty.” Mom grinned through her tears. She gripped both of his hands in hers. “So…what now? Are you going back, too? To your other world?”
Kitane frowned. “No. Perhaps that’s foolish of me. They’re my people, my family but…my time is over there. Maybe it’s the bad memories, but I think I’d rather live a happy life with a prosthetic leg and a loving wife than go back there.”
At his words, Mom froze and Kitane slowly smiled. “If I could get down on my knees right now, Tash, you know I would. I want to try again. If you’ll have me. I want to be a doting husband. I want to make you—us—happy together. I swear to God I’ll never leave you alone again.”
Mom’s eyes flashed. “What if I’m seeing someone?”
It was Kitane’s turn to look nervous. “Then if it’s serious, I’ll let you go. Even if it kills me inside. You deserve happiness, even if it’s not with me.”
“Then you’re lucky. Because there hasn’t been another man in my life since you left. I want you, Kitane. I’m terrified, I’m confused, but I want you. I want to wake up in the morning with your arms around me. But you have to promise you’ll never do that again. No more secrets. Please.”
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