Wolf Tales 12 (20 page)

She was so tiny with her stunted body and shriveled legs that she barely weighed anything at all, but her spirit was amazing and her mental chatter nonstop.

Having spent a life trapped without a voice, suddenly discovering such a simple way to communicate after so many years locked in a body that wouldn’t obey had to feel like a miracle to her.

He had to guard his thoughts—the last thing he wanted this child to hear was pity, but dear Goddess! How could anyone remain this upbeat, this beautiful inside, after the horrible nightmare of a life she’d led?

Then he glanced at Manda, smiling as she teased Keegan about flying in Anton’s jet all the way to Montana, and he realized how very strong these women were. All of them. Manda had survived even worse than Sunny, who at least had social services looking out for her.

Manda had had no one, yet she was a healthy, happy, well-adjusted mother of two. After fleeing an abusive home, Beth’s life on the streets had been a nightmare. Now she was a personal bodyguard to the First Family.

If they could rise above such awful beginnings, there was just as much hope for Sunny to lead an amazing life one day.

A life as Chanku. Bay had no doubt that Adam and Logan could repair at least some of the damage to Sunny’s spine, which meant there was a chance she’d walk again. Once she had the nutrients, she’d be able to shift.

And damn it all, if Oliver could grow a set of balls after his first shift, there was no reason on earth Sunny couldn’t be made whole. Bay settled her into a comfortable seat where she could look out the window. Her wheelchair was already stowed in the back and an attendant was bringing the rest of the luggage on board.

Bay checked her belt. “You going to be okay, sweetie?”

She nodded and her eyes sparkled.
I’ve never been in an airplane before.

“This one’s special. A friend of ours chartered it just for us. You’ll meet him when we get to Montana.” He patted her shoulder. “Just a few hours and we’ll be there. It’s a beautiful place, and you’re going to love it. You’ll be able to talk to everyone the way you can talk to us.”

That will be ...
She sighed.
I can’t imagine what that will be like. I’ve never been able to speak to anyone before.

“You’ll probably be wishing for some quiet before long.” Bay stroked her spiky, pale blond hair. He wasn’t about to tell her what their hopes were, that they all wanted to see her shift and hoped she’d be able to run as a wolf.

But what if she can’t? What if she’s still paralyzed even after she shifts?

Baylor turned and caught Manda’s worried look.
We’re not even going to think that. Look what happened when you shifted for the first time. Your body was stunted, twisted like Sunny’s. Now you’re perfect.

She smiled at him.
No, I’m not.

We’ve had this argument before. I always win. Remember?

Donovan started to fuss. Manda turned her attention to the baby, but Bay didn’t miss her very satisfied smile. She was always uncomfortable with praise, but he knew she loved it just the same. Taking the seat across from Sunny, he buckled himself in as the pilot began to taxi away toward the runway. They’d be home in a few more hours.

Home.
He’d thought of Maine as his home for over seven years, but suddenly he was looking west when he thought of going home. He turned and smiled at Manda. She was nursing Donovan so the pressure changes as they took off wouldn’t bother the baby’s ears as much.

She blew Bay a kiss.
Me, too. I’m anxious to get home to Montana. I miss my mom and my brother, our packmates. I can’t believe I already miss Shannon and Jake.

Nick and Beth had the two seats in the back. Nick glanced up and smiled at Bay.
Feels right, doesn’t it? I’m really excited about seeing Deacon and Matt and Jazzy and Logan. It’s been a while since we’ve all gotten together.

It has.
Bay turned around in his seat. Nick was right. It had been too long since they’d gathered. After a month-long trip to Montana when Manda gave birth to Donovan on Saint Patrick’s Day last March, they’d not been back. They’d missed Lucia’s birth at the end of April, but Manda and Bay had been anxious to return to Maine. Nick and Beth had missed both births, as they’d missed many of the others.

Duty with the First Family took priority.

Bay wondered how knowledge of their Chanku heritage might change their work—or if it even would. The news last night had painted Nick as a hero, but only the White House press corps knew any of the facts about them, so it had been totally one-sided.

Once the other networks got hold of more details, Bay didn’t expect everything to remain as positive, especially when the cable networks started digging—and making stuff up. There’d be a lot of misinformation over the next few weeks—they had to expect that. Misinformation that would lead to fear, and fear could bring all kinds of unexpected problems.

It was probably a good thing they were leaving for a while. Nick was supposedly recuperating from severe injuries at an
undisclosed
location.

He just hoped they could keep Anton’s spread in Montana
undisclosed.
He hated the thought of their privacy being lost, of reporters and curiosity seekers swarming them. Of crazies wanting to hunt them.

They’d discussed all the possible scenarios. Some were good, most weren’t, but he didn’t want to dwell on those. Nick felt bad enough for outing them, especially after so many successful years in hiding.

Bay tightened his seat belt. He’d concentrate on the good things. On the young woman sitting across the aisle, staring raptly out of the plane window. Sunny Daye was the first newly discovered Chanku in over five years, and he couldn’t wait to turn her over to Adam and Logan for treatment.

He’d think of the fact Nick had survived. He’d not only saved hundreds of lives, he’d helped catch a terrorist, stopped a plot that would have had disastrous consequences, and he’d acted with bravery.

Bay turned far enough in his seat that he could make eye contact with Nick and Beth. They had their heads close together and were obviously deep in conversation. Without prying, Bay could almost bet Nick was agonizing over the fact he’d allowed their existence to become public knowledge. The guilt was obviously weighing on both of them.

Interrupting the two, Bay said, “Ya know, Nick, for what it’s worth, I think it’s a good thing the world knows about us.”

Nick’s head popped up. He stared intently at Baylor.

“Think about it. It’s stressful to keep a secret this big. We’ve all been worried about one of the kids accidently giving us away, or the wrong people in the government learning of our existence. We’ve talked about going public for years, but no one’s been willing to take the chance. You just solved the problem for us.”

Beth laughed and poked Nick’s arm. “Yeah, but don’t you think he could have found a smaller stage? I mean, making your first public shift is one thing, but to drop your pants in front of the world’s top news organizations with all those cameras? I think that’s pushing it, even for Nick.”

Manda glanced at Bay, and her eyes were twinkling. “Oh, I think Nick just wanted to show off his package to the biggest audience possible.” She dipped her head and focused on the baby.

After a moment’s stunned silence, all of them laughed. Even Sunny obviously got the joke, which made Bay feel a bit uncomfortable at first. He had to remind himself that even though she looked like a child, she was almost twenty years old and most definitely an adult.

Still chuckling at Manda’s uncharacteristic comment, Bay turned around and focused forward. For someone who was usually so quiet and shy, Manda could—and did, on occasion—throw out a zinger. Laughing was good. They were facing an uncertain future. He had a feeling they were going to need as much laughter as they could possibly get.

Anton stepped through the astral gateway Eve opened for him into the silent cavern beneath his home. He hated the thought of what he had to tell Keisha, that Lily was still not able to return. At least now he knew she was safe. He’d seen her, though he’d not been allowed to speak to her.

She lay as still as death on a soft pallet far beneath the room where the scrolls still gathered dust. She’d not changed a bit, and the Ancient Ones had assured him that, for Lily, only a few hours had passed.

She was almost done. When she left the monastery, she would know all there was to know of their beginnings, their life before they’d fled their home world, and how the first Chanku had settled into this frightening new world.

It was a huge responsibility for such a little girl, but the Ancient Ones assured him she was more than capable. He honestly didn’t know whether to burst with pride or crumple to his knees and weep.

She would always be his baby, his first, his favorite. He knew parents weren’t supposed to favor one child over another—he loved each of his children unconditionally. The others would never know the special bond he felt with Lily, but he and his first child had connected almost from the moment of her conception.

She had saved his life, his soul, his laughter.

“Anton? You’re back!”

He jerked around at the sound of Keisha’s voice. “Keisha? Where are you? What are you doing down here?”

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

He saw her then, sitting in the dust, wearing faded jeans and a tank top. She leaned against the cavern wall with her hands looped over her knees. “How long have you been here?” He walked over, took her hand, and pulled his beloved wife to her feet. She stood and wrapped her arms around him.

“Not long. Only about an hour. You’ve been gone for so long, but I had a feeling you were coming home today. Where’s Lily? Did you find her?”

He nodded. “I did. She’ll be home soon. It’s a long, amazing story, but Lily is safe. I saw her not an hour ago.”

Keisha let out a long sigh of relief. “Good. That’s good. I’d rather have her home, but knowing she’s safe takes some of the pressure away. Things have happened while you were gone. Stefan’s headed to Kalispell to pick up Manda and Bay and their kids. Stefan chartered the corporate jet. I hope that was okay, but Nick and Beth are with them, and a young girl with severe physical disabilities. She’s Chanku. Adam and Logan are hoping they can help her.”

“Of course it’s all right. Chanku? How did they find her?” He leaned back with his arms still hooked around her waist and stared into Keisha’s eyes. She smiled at him.

“It’s another long story. Maybe one not so good. She was an innocent victim in a terrorist plot. Nick was a hero. He was able to get a bomb out of a room filled with kids, including the girls, before it exploded.”

“The president’s daughters? Crap. What happened?” He led Keisha to a low stone formation by the pool and tugged her down beside him. “Tell me here, before we go up.”

“It sounds so scary. It was really close. Beth sensed something wrong about the same time Nick made a telepathic connection with a young girl in a wheelchair. She was being used to smuggle an explosive device into a room filled with kids. Nick got the backpack with only seconds to spare. But the only way to get it far enough away from everyone . . . the only way . . .” She shook her head. “Oh, love . . . the room was filled with reporters and cameramen, but he had no other choice.”

For some reason, Anton suddenly felt like laughing. “He shifted on camera, didn’t he? Crap. I bet that got everyone’s attention. Poor Nick. He must be tearing himself apart.”

Blinking, Keisha stared at him with her mouth open. “You’re not upset? Anton, the whole world knows about us. It couldn’t have been more public—we got outed on the nightly news—every major network and cable station was there.”

He kissed her very quickly, but his mind was spinning. “It was bound to happen sooner or later, with our children reaching an age where they’re ready to shift, with cameras everywhere and everyone carrying cell phones with video. Don’t you see? This is wonderful. Nick shifted in full view of the public, doing something heroic. He saved lives.... He’s okay, isn’t he? He did get it far enough away, right?”

“He did. He was injured—some shrapnel wounds. The device was filled with nails and would have done horrible damage. Beth went with him to the hospital. He was still in wolf form, still unconscious from the blast. She figured, since their secret was out, if he could shift back to human the doctors wouldn’t have to operate because he’d lose the shrapnel. She managed to link with him, helped him shift, and they avoided surgery.”

He lost it then. The visual was just too much, especially since he remembered Beth’s story of Nick’s very first shift, when he’d saved Tala from an attacker. He’d had a Jacob’s Ladder piercing—tiny silver barbells running the length of his penis—and all of them had fallen out when he turned into a wolf.

“Anton? Are you okay? Honey?”

He raised his head. Keisha held his face in her hands and he was laughing so hard there were tears running down his cheeks. She stared at him as if he might be crazy. Maybe he was, just a little, but it was a better crazy than he’d felt when he heard Lily was missing.

He’d found his daughter, sort of. Their secret was out, definitely. They’d survived much worse, really. What else could possibly happen? “Ah, Keisha, my love. I’m perfectly okay. Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

She held him close. “Yes, you have. But I never get tired of hearing it. Tell me again.”

He kissed her, running his lips over the soft fullness of her mouth, pulling her close enough to fit their bodies together, two pieces of a puzzle that clicked perfectly into place. Where he was hard, she was soft. Where his body dipped, Keisha’s curved. They stood up and he tugged her cotton tank top off and unsnapped her jeans.

She helped him. When had she not helped? They were a team, a perfect combination of male and female, of man and wife. He slipped his hand inside her open fly, found her damp curls, her soft feminine lips, and the wet heat of her sex.

She was ready for him—always ready, and she tugged at his jeans, pulling them down over his butt until they tangled around his ankles. His blood surged and he thrust his hips forward, his cock rising hot and hard against his belly.