Real Love

by Sophie Martin

  As soon as they came inside, Jack noticed Toby waiting for them.

  “Hey, Jack!” the alpha’s young mate called and waved at them. “Are these Brian and Ruby? It’s good to meet you. Jay-Jay took some kids for dog-walking, but he should be back soon. Would you like to come and meet some of our cats? We have a play area ready. You can play with them and brush them, or, if you’re feeling brave, you can change the litter trays!” Toby chuckled when Brian wrinkled his nose in distaste. “Okay, so no litter trays. Come with me then. The pens are this way.” The young man led them through the building to where the pens were located, all the while chatting happily. “It is amazing, what a turnout we’ve got. All the pack members are coming at one time or other during the day. Morton is already here, and he promised to stay the whole day and help. He’s such a good guy.” They reached the room where the cats were housed. There were ten pens, twelve cats in them. “Here,” Toby said, leading them to a small room to the right where a play area was set up. “These are all the toys you can use. Now choose which cat you want to play with.” He motioned for the kids. Brian took Ruby’s hand, and they went to look at the animals. “Are you staying with them?” Toby asked, and Jack shook his head.

  “You know it’s a bad idea.” Toby only grinned.

  “Cats and dogs, I swear.”

  “Hey, I don’t want to stress the poor animals any further,” Jack said, trying to look offended. He must have not been successful because Toby only laughed.

  “Right.”

  “Okay, so maybe I’ve had enough of cats for today,” he finally admitted.

  “Oh? Ross visiting you again?”

  “Yeah, I swear the spooky shifter has too much time on his paws. Or claws, whatever.” Toby chuckled, and Jack added, “He told me to say hello to the crazy tiger.” Toby grinned even wider as he shook his head. “By your reaction, I take it Ty is still wary of the owlcat?”

  “Wary? That’s one way to put it. I swear he still believes Ross is a demon-cat out to get him.” Jack laughed. Just then the kids came back, and Jack said, “Okay then, Brian, Ruby, I leave you in Toby’s capable hands. I’m gonna go outside and wait for Alpha Jason there.” The children gave him questioning looks, and he explained. “I’m a canine shifter. Cats react poorly to my presence.” Their faces filled with understanding, and he nodded at them before leaving.

  * * * *

  All in all, the meeting went fine. As soon as Jason came back from his first dog-walking, he took Brian and Ruby to walk a different pair of dogs. Jack trudged after them, a leash of a Doberman in his hand. The dog was obedient, sensing Jack was more dominant. Jack tried not to listen to the alpha’s chat with the kids. Whatever they discussed, though, it must have gone fine. By the time they came back to the shelter, Brian had announced his willingness for them to join the pack. They took the dogs to their pen, where Jason showed the kids how to take care of the animals. Finally, they finished.

  “I’ve got a break if you want me to accept you now?” Jason asked the kids.

  “Sure.” Brian shrugged. “But there’s one thing I don’t understand. Is it necessary for me to join the pack as well? I told you, I’m not a witch.” Jason frowned at the kid’s words.

  “Really? My understanding was that the both of you are witches.”

  “No, it’s only Ruby. I’m human. How else would I not be affected by this territory thing?” This time, Jack thought to interrupt.

  “I don’t know how it’s possible, Brian, but I know you’re definitely not human. I told you, you smell like a witch to me.”

  Brian huffed and rolled his eyes.

  “And I think it’s probably because I spend so much time with Ruby. I’m not a witch. I can’t do magic!” He threw his hands in the air in the gesture of exasperation. Jason only watched the exchange with an unreadable expression. Suddenly someone cleared their throat behind them, and a quiet voice spoke.

  “Alpha, if I may?”

  “Morton. I didn’t see you there.” Jason turned to the young witch who looked nervous. Jack smiled at the young man, trying to reassure him. Despite being a part of the pack nearly from the beginning, Morton was still nervous and shy.

  “I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation, Alpha, and I might have an answer.”

  “Yes?” Jason’s face seemed to take on a softer expression whenever he spoke with the skittish witch.

  “I believe you are both right,” Morton addressed Jack and Brian after clearing his throat.

  “What do you mean?” Jack asked, not understanding.

  “The boy says he’s not a witch. He’s right. You say he smells like a witch, and while I don’t have your heightened senses, I believe that is true as well.”

  “I don’t understand.” Brian looked confused. “If I’m not a witch, then how comes I smell like one? Is it like I thought, because of spending time with Ruby?” But even as he asked this, Morton shook his head, his expression serious.

  “No, that is not the case. You are right in that you’re not a witch. But you aren’t human either. You’re an exceedingly rare creature indeed. You’re a warlock.”

  “A warlock?” Brian frowned in confusion. “But isn’t it the same thing as a male witch?”

  Morton smiled, suddenly looking younger and carefree. The expression changed the young witch entirely.

  “No, it isn’t,” he answered. “I’m a man, and yet I’m a witch. Being a warlock is not about your gender. It is about the kind of power you wield. If I were to guess, you’re unable to access your magic, because the magic of witches is vastly different to that of a warlock. I believe I’ve got some books on the matter that I could lend you. I think it will help you understand the nature of your magic, help you access it.”

  Jack focused on Brian and saw the longing and trepidation in the boy’s expression.

  “Do you really think so?” he asked, and Morton nodded thoughtfully.

  “Yes, it is obvious to me that you’re a powerful, if untrained, warlock. I believe with time and a lot of studying you can become a skilled magic user. I will help however I can, and I suspect Tim will offer his help as well. Fey magic is different to the witches’, but warlocks’ is different still. I think with both our help we can manage to figure it out.”

  “Wow,” Brian breathed. “Just wow.” It was Ruby who broke the silence.

  “I told you, you had powerful magic!”

  “Yes, Ruby, looks like you were right,” Brian admitted, looking dazed.

  “Ha! I’m always right!” She grinned. They all chuckled at that.

  “Okay, so should I accept the two of you into the pack now?” Jason asked suddenly.

  “Yes, please!” Both kids answered in a chorus and laughed. Jason did just that. It was over in seconds.

  “Wow.” Ruby’s eyes were wide with wonder. “I can feel it. It’s like a weight was lifted I didn’t even know was there.”

  “I felt it too,” Brian said, sounding surprised. “But I wasn’t affected by the territory clause.”

  “Well, we don’t fully understand it yet,” Jason answered. “You weren’t feeling the effects, and neither did Ross, yet both your siblings were suffering from it. We can only assume it affects different paranormals differently. It might be your symptoms were merely delayed in coming.”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter now, anyway,” Jack said lightly. “You’re a part of our pack now. There will be no more magical health issues.”

  Chapter Five

  It was several weeks after the open day in the shelter when Jack got the phone call. Disconnecting the call, he put his phone away and sat staring dazedly into space. He wasn’t sure what to think. His brain certainly hadn’t settled on one thought since he heard Lucas’s voice over the phone.

  “Hey, Jack, is everything all right?” Toby’s question brought him back to present. Jack shook off his thoughts and lifted his gaze at the alpha’s mate.

  “Yeah, it’s fine. I just got a call from Lucas Cartwright, the youn
g witches’ father?” Toby nodded and Jack continued. “He invited me to dinner.” Jack still couldn’t believe it. Sure, Lucas did say something about catching up when they met all those weeks ago, but Jack thought it was just pleasantries. Toby’s eyes widened, and the man smiled.

  “Wow, that’s nice. Are you going to go?”

  “Yeah, I already agreed. We’re going out this weekend when the kids are visiting their grandparents.” Jack’s voice was still dazed. Toby frowned.

  “You don’t sound excited. Don’t you like the man?” Jack saw the young man’s concern, and he pulled himself together.

  “It’s not that,” he answered. “The thing is, I knew Lucas Cartwright during uni. We were even a couple for a while there. The dinner is probably just a way to catch up, discuss the old times. I’m just surprised he invited me at all. He’s still a busy man so soon after his move, changing jobs, and Ruby’s health problems…” Jack finished, not sure what he was saying.

  “You don’t think it’s a date?” Toby frowned.

  “Nah, he’s a recently widowed man. I’m sure he’s not up to dating, yet. And even if he were, he wouldn’t date me. We didn’t work out when we were younger. Why would we now?” Jack was telling the truth, but his heart ached. He had loved Lucas back then. He still felt a spark of something for the man. Toby opened his mouth as if to say something but then simply shook his head.

  “Well, at least you’re going to go out and have some fun. You work too hard, Jack. You should do something to relax more often.”

  Jack smiled but didn’t say anything, and Toby changed the subject to a funny story with one of the shelter dogs. Jack tried to follow it and even laughed at the animal’s hilarious behaviour, but his thoughts were still swirling.

  He wasn’t sure how he felt about a dinner with Lucas. Jack was sincere when he’d said that the man probably just wanted to catch up. Lucas must be lonely, having moved to a new place where he didn’t know anyone. Seeing a friendly face, the man probably decided to rekindle their friendship. But Jack wasn’t the same person he had been as a student. He was changed, damaged. He never went out. He busied himself with work because he was still uncomfortable being in public. He kept a tight grip on his fear when at work, but every time he left the safe haven of the alpha’s house, he went through a horrible stress. The nightmares that woke him up at night didn’t help. All in all, he was a mess. He simply didn’t want anyone to know it. Alpha Jason and his mates had already sacrificed so much to help Jack. Becoming a leader of a pack of paranormals when he had never wanted it was only one of the things Jason had done for him.

  Jason had invited Jack into his house, changed his whole life to accommodate him, and never once complained about it. Jack only hoped that, with time, he’d find a way to repay his alpha’s kindness. Hiding what a hot mess he truly was, was the least Jack thought he could do. Jason had more important things to worry about than dealing with Jack’s trauma.

  * * * *

  Jack was nervous waiting for Luc to pick him up. He wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t a real date after all. Or so he kept telling himself. Still, nervous butterflies took residence in his stomach and he kept fiddling with the collar of his shirt.

  “Whatever did that poor shirt do to you?” Tyler asked as he passed Jack where he stood in front of the hallway mirror. Jack sighed, gave himself another quick once over in the mirror, then followed Ty to the kitchen. He sat at the table watching Ty fiddle with the new coffee machine they recently bought for all the caffeine addicts in the house.

  “So, I hear it’s the big date tonight?” Ty’s voice rose in a question.

  “It’s not a date!” Jack snapped reflexively. “Just two old friends catching up.”

  “Right, of course.” Ty’s face was completely serious, but his eyes twinkled with mischief. “Just two old friends who used to bang each other going out to catch up when the children aren’t home. Completely innocent. Not a date at all.”

  Jack only rolled his eyes. There was no winning with Tyler. A bell rang and Jack jumped to his feet. He gave Ty a warning look which the tiger mostly ignored, then went to answer. Smoothing down his shirt and trousers one last time, Jack reached for the handle and opened the door.

  Lucas looked magnificent. He wore a teal polo that offset his blond hair and green eyes, and dark jeans that fit perfectly. Suddenly Jack had a hard time remembering this wasn’t a real date.

  “Um, hi!” he said, then waved like a lunatic. Luc didn’t seem to mind, though, as he grinned at Jack.

  “Hi back. Are you ready?”

  “Oh, right.” Jack shook off his stupor and waved for Luc to come in. “Let me just grab my wallet and keys.” He wandered off into the kitchen where he left them. Grabbing them off the table he rushed back, but it was too late. Ty had followed him.

  “Hello,” the big tiger said to Luc, looking as menacing as he could. “So, you’re the one taking our Jack out. You make sure to look after him and don’t bring him back too late, you hear me?” Ty pointed a threatening finger at Lucas with an impressive scowl. Jack noticed Luc’s raised eyebrows and rolled his eyes.

  “Luc, meet Tyler, one of my housemates. Tyler is not my dad and he doesn’t tell me what to do,” he said in an even voice. Getting upset or flustered would only encourage the tiger-shifter. He lived to stir trouble. Jack grabbed Lucas’s arm and steered him out the door before Ty could come up with anything else. Still, he should have known better. Tyler loved to have the last word.

  “Be good boys and stay safe!” The big man shouted through the door before shutting it after them, loudly.

  “What was that about?” Lucas asked curiously as he led Jack to his car.

  “Ah, don’t mind Ty, he loves to take the piss out of people and needle them on just to see their reaction. The best thing you can do is ignore him. He gets tired and leaves you alone then,” Jack explained. Lucas frowned.

  “Sounds like a difficult person to live with.”

  “What? No! Under all the trouble-making Ty is just a big kitten. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He just possesses an interesting personality.” Jack rushed to his friend’s defence.

  “I see.” Lucas opened the door for Jack and waited for him to get in before closing the door then getting in the driver’s seat himself. He was quiet as he started the car. Once he pulled onto the road he said, “He seemed very protective of you. Is there anything between you two?” Jack just gaped at him for a minute before the question finally made sense. He spluttered, then laughed.

  “Between us? God, no! I would go crazy within a day. It takes a special kind of man to keep up with him. No, Ty is in a relationship with the two other guys I live with, Jason and Toby. It takes them both to keep that man in line.”

  “Ah, a threesome, huh? Well, more power to them, I say.” Lucas commented and seemed to relax. “So, where did you want to go? Do you have any favourite places?”

  “Not really.” Jack fidgeted, his nerves returning. He decided to just blurt it out. “A little while ago, soon after moving out of my old place, I went through a traumatic experience. I still suffer from some side-effects. I don’t go out much.”

  “I see. Well, I checked out some of the local places online and there is this carvery nearby that has really good reviews. We could go there if you don’t mind.” He half-turned in his seat and covered Jack’s hand with his giving it a little squeeze before turning back to focus fully on the road again. “And if at any time you feel uncomfortable you just let me know and we’ll leave, ok?” He gave Jack’s hand another squeeze, then took his hand back. Jack blinked, emotions closing his throat until he had to clear it. His voice still sounded hoarse.

  “Okay, thank you. And the carvery sounds good. Nothing better to soothe the soul than a proper roast, huh?” he joked trying to lift the mood. It worked. Lucas laughed and their conversation continued in a light tone.

  The place was maybe a twenty-minute drive away in the countryside. They parked in front
of a charming old-style brick and wood building. Inside the hostess led them to a table in the corner and offered them a drinks menu. Soon they had their selected beverage in front of them and walked towards the carvery section. Jack salivated at all the mouth-watering smells. It’s been a while since Jack had a proper Sunday roast. Not since his parents had died, he thought. He knew how to cook, but a roast wasn’t one of his specialities.

  “What are you having?” Lucas asked him as they eyed the meat selection.

  “Beef and turkey, you?”

  “Lamb and pork.”

  “Ugh, you heathen!” Jack grimaced, pretending disgust. “I’ll never understand how you can eat lamb.”

  “You just wait until I make you my famous Moroccan lamb stew. You’ll convert in no time.”

  “Never!” Jack fell into familiar banter with ease. “I’ll never go to the dark side, as long as I live.”

  “Never say never, at least until you tried my stew or the lamb bhuna I make. Spicy, but totally worth it!”

  “Ugh.” Jack shuddered theatrically. “Weirdo!”

  “Wimp,” Lucas retorted, and then it was their turn to order.

  They returned to their seats, plates overflowing with meat and all the trimmings. For a long while silence reigned, interrupted only with noises of appreciation for the food. Jack had to admit, it was all very tasty. The glowing reviews did not exaggerate. It wasn’t until their plates were cleared that the conversation resumed.

  “So, how long have you been here? Did you move here straight after uni?” Lucas asked.

  “Um, no. It’s quite a recent development. You know how I always said I wanted to go back and teach in my old school? Well, that’s exactly what I did. I’ve been there most of this time. And then I got into a spat with my ex-student’s father. He was quite a powerful guy in the community and had friends in all the right places. They forced me out. Fortunately, they didn’t manage to ruin my opinion with the school, so I was able to leave the job amiably enough. Soon after leaving I had that traumatic experience I mentioned. After that, I met Jason, Toby, Ty, and their friends. Jason offered to rent me his spare bedroom and the school had an opening for a history teacher. It was like fate. I’ve been here a bit over a year now.” Jack finished the sanitized version of his life story and took a sip of his drink. Just then a waitress came to offer them a dessert menu and they gladly accepted.