“My wolf won’t hurt him,” I assured them. “But it’s a calling I can’t ignore. She’s never met Lakota, and part of his spirit comes from her. Please…”
This was crucial. It was custom for a mother to introduce her wolf to the infant right away. The shifting would not only restore her body and heal after childbirth, but it was equally important for the two spirits to bond. Wolves were highly protective of their human children and loved them just as much as the human side. If this couple refused me, I didn’t think I could manage to hold it together.
They looked between each other and finally nodded.
I gave them each a hug and kiss to the cheek. “I won’t be shifting back, so this is good-bye. Thank you for not turning me away.”
Cross reached out and touched my head. “A mother should know her child. And what of the father?” he growled.
I pushed thoughts of Fox away, but the Chitah dropped his arm and his expression altered.
“I can scent emotions better than most,” he said with a twitch of his nose. “Should you ever want to seek vengeance, I’m only a call away.”
“That problem’s taken care of,” I said, looking up at Lorenzo. “It’s why I’m here. The father made a threat, and I wanted to make sure Lakota was protected. We had someone locate your address to make sure nothing had happened. The father won’t be coming here, not ever.”
Blue light leaked from the Mage’s fingers and she drew back.
“Level it down,” Cross whispered. “He’s safe now. She’s telling the truth.”
They both held each other close when I turned around to face Lakota. I didn’t know when I’d see him again, but there was no more sorrow. It melted away while I watched him staring into the eyes of the silver wolf. Contentment filled me up knowing he’d be cared for, loved, and no longer a stranger to me.
Lorenzo helped me kneel, and Lakota set the cane on the chair.
“You got long hair like me,” he said, reaching out to touch my braid.
I clasped his hand and kissed the top. “Promise me you’ll grow up to be brave.”
“I promise.” His eyes glittered with curiosity, and he tilted his head.
“Promise me you’ll grow up to be kind.”
“I promise.”
I held his small hand and touched his face. “Someday your wolf will be free, but I can see his spirit in your eyes. He’s wise and strong, so you listen to him. Okay?”
Lakota nodded and reached out, touching my cheeks. “Your face is just like mine…”
Quicker than a heartbeat, I shifted. For just a few fleeting moments, I experienced joy and elation when my wolf met her spirit child for the first time. He giggled and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her snout as she licked his face.
“I want to keep her, Mommy,” was the last thing I heard him say.
Chapter 24
The drive home to Austin didn’t seem to take as long as the one to Cognito. We spoke little of what had happened, but as we began to get closer, Lorenzo pulled over into the parking lot of International House of Pancakes. It was two in the morning, and only four customers were inside eating. After the waitress took our order, she left a pot of hot coffee on the table.
“Isn’t it a little late for humans to be out?” I asked. The restaurant smelled like fresh bacon, and I ran my finger over a tear in the vinyl seat.
Lorenzo lifted a small bottle of syrup and gave it a glance. “Humans work different shifts, just as we do. On the weekends, drunks come straight from the bar to sober up on coffee.”
“This doesn’t seem like your kind of place.”
He poured a cup of piping-hot coffee from the silver pot. “Sometimes I like to eat without the pack watching my every move. Being around humans is a way to become invisible for a while. They don’t notice me as an alpha or Packmaster.” He took a sip of his coffee and added more sugar.
“I thought Thunder liked attention.”
Lorenzo filled my cup and his brows sloped down. “Privacy is underrated.”
I could see that. Lorenzo had all the confidence an alpha could carry, but he was also introspective and often quiet. Packmasters were rarely left alone in Breed bars. Other Packmasters would approach them, sometimes wolves looking to join a new pack, and most definitely women looking for a mate. I glanced at two young men eating pancakes and an older man reading a book. Around humans, Lorenzo could simply enjoy the little things that most of us took for granted.
Like anonymity.
It was nice to share silence with him, just as much as it was having deep conversations. When the waitress brought our plates, he sat up straight and eyed his meal like a hawk.
“Careful not to inhale too deeply,” I said with a short laugh.
He peppered his eggs and folded his napkin across his lap, but Lorenzo didn’t eat. He poked at his food, sipped his drink, and even arranged the syrup bottles in their holders. All while stealing glimpses of me.
Was he waiting for me to eat first?
I got my answer when I took a bite of my turkey sandwich and he finally dug in.