“No. Mist is on his way to the Market Square. Jester doesn’t have enough food for the four of them—and certainly not enough human food. We can ask the female pack if Meg kept any spare clothes at the office.”
He could sniff out any clothes that belonged to Meg. But if there weren’t any, the females would be better at guessing what to pick up from the Market Square stores. And Meg and the brainless Wolves would need something to do, especially if Sam shifted to human form. Which meant packing shirts and shorts for Sam too.
As if I don’t have enough to do, Simon thought as he bounded down the stairs. Someone was going to get a sharp nip for the worry those three had caused—even if the worry hadn’t lasted more than a few minutes.
Turning toward the stock room, he almost slammed into a human male he didn’t know. He bared his teeth and snarled a challenge before realizing there were two females with the male—one of an age to be the mate and the other a grown pup.
“You must be Mr. Wolfgard,” the man said with a smile that wobbled. “Michael told us to come through the back door of the coffee shop, but there’s a pony blocking that door, and he didn’t seem inclined to get out of the way.”
“Michael . . . ?”
“Debany. I’m Michael’s dad. This is his mom and his sister.”
Simon gave the younger female a quick but thorough look. This was the sister who wanted to work with animals—the sister who might be suitable to go to Bennett and work with Tolya.
Wishing he hadn’t been quite so quick to snarl, he ran a tongue over his teeth before he tried a smile. “Sorry I snarled.” He wasn’t, but that seemed like the right thing to say.
“You’ve got a lot on your mind,” Mr. Debany said.
“You can come this way to reach A Little Bite.” He led them to the archway that connected the two stores and almost ran into Officer Debany.
“Dad. Why did you . . . ?”
“Mist is in the way,” Simon said, figuring he could distill an entire conversation with those few words. “Where are Ruthie and Merri Lee?”
“They’re here. Any word from Meg? Karl and I were about to go out and help you look for her.”
Touched that Meg would matter to them enough that they would leave their own pack, Simon felt easier about having Debany’s family in the Courtyard. “She’s with Jester at the Pony Barn. Sam and Skippy are with her. Mist is here to bring supplies.”
Debany turned and raised his voice enough to be heard over a buzz of human voices. “Karl! Lieutenant! They found Meg. She’s okay.”
Now Merri Lee and Ruthie rushed toward him. “She’s okay? You’re sure? Does she need anything?”
“Change of clothes. Clothes for Sam. Books. Food for Meg. Boone Hawkgard will make up a package of meat for Sam and Skippy. Mist will deliver it.”
They stared at him for a moment, blinking. Maybe thinking. Then they both rushed past him, calling out greetings to Debany’s family and leaving him feeling less sure of who was in charge. At some point, he was going to have to take the time to establish dominance.
First he would see just how big a human pack he was dealing with now.
<Boone?> he called to the Hawk who ran the butcher shop. <I need some meat for Sam and Skippy. They’re at the Pony Barn. Mist is waiting at A Little Bite.>
<Give me a couple of minutes. I’ll bring it over.>
The sky darkened. Wind tossed a fistful of hail against the coffee shop’s windows.
Vlad walked into the shop leading Commander Gresh and what Simon assumed were the man’s mate and offspring. Behind them were Captain Burke and Agent O’Sullivan.
And pushing past them came Merri Lee and Ruthie. They dodged everyone else crowded into the coffee shop, had a hurried discussion with Nadine Fallacaro, who was behind the counter, then headed for the back door, where Mist waited.
“Arroo!” Even from a human throat, a Wolf howl silenced humans quite satisfactorily. “There is food here and at Meat-n-Greens. There are books in the library, and you can read anything in the store.” Simon gestured toward the archway to indicate Howling Good Reads. “Pups are staying in one of the efficiency apartments with Miss Twyla and the Sierra. They have books and movies and food up there. You humans need to pick a place where you’re going to wait out the storm and then stay there. When the storm arrives, we’ll be locking the doors because anything in the open is prey.”
Silence.
Burke stepped forward. “I appreciate you offering shelter to some of our families. Lieutenant Montgomery will remain here with his team to give you whatever assistance they can, and to respond to any calls in the area. I’m going back to the station. The rest of my men are there.”
Simon looked into Burke’s eyes. The man knew—or knew enough—of what was coming with the storm.
“Stay inside until it’s done,” Simon said. “That won’t guarantee your safety, but you’ll have no chance in the open.”
You’re going to have to let some humans die if you want to survive and save the rest. That was the real message.
Burke nodded. “I’d better be on my way.”
Louis Gresh looked at his mate. “I’m going to the station too. You and the children will be safe here.”
His mate didn’t look sure of that, but she nodded.
“Elliot Wolfgard gave me permission to remain in the consulate and maintain contact with Governor Hannigan,” Greg O’Sullivan said. “He suggested that I pick up food and drink before the storm hits.”
“Do that now,” Simon said.
“People.” Burke’s voice boomed in the coffee shop. “While there is comfort in numbers, you need to consider what has been said. Two places are stocked with provisions and other supplies. You need to split up between them so that one place doesn’t run out of food while the other place has food spoiling.”
The older Debany male looked around. “The captain has a good point. So where can we be the most use?”
Simon stared at the humans who seemed to be waiting for him to issue instructions.
Where can the humans be of use? He hadn’t anticipated any of them wanting to be useful, just wanting a safe place to shelter.
“I’m working with Nadine here,” Merri Lee said. “Ruth and Eve Denby are dealing with the food at Meat-n-Greens.” She looked at Simon. “We filled the baskets and tied on a carry sack with things for Meg. Mist is on his way back to the Pony Barn.”
“How long do you think the storm will last?” Kowalski asked.
He looked at the humans crowded into the coffee shop. They were there because they, or their mates, understood the need to work with the terra indigene. They deserved honesty.
“How long the storm lasts will depend on how much hatred Namid’s teeth and claws hold for the humans in Lakeside,” he replied. “A lot of human places in Thaisia will be gone when this is done. A lot of them are already gone.” He looked at Vlad, who nodded grimly. “Like fire that destroys in order to make room for new growth, the earth natives who are coming in with this storm come to destroy. Hopefully we’ll be among the survivors who will make something new.”
“I’ll go with Captain Burke,” Nathan said from the archway leading into HGR. “They might leave the police station alone if one of the Wolfgard is there.”
<Are you sure?> Simon asked.
<Meg is safe, and you and Blair need to stay here and protect the Courtyard. I have been to the police station before.>
None of the humans spoke. Then Burke said, “Thank you. I hadn’t expected any of you to . . .” He stopped, then continued brusquely, “Lieutenant, with me a moment.”
Burke walked out of the coffee shop, followed by Louis Gresh and Lieutenant Montgomery.
The humans huddled together, the females talking with Nadine and Merri Lee, the males talking with the police, and the juveniles huddled together looking lost.
Simon joined Vlad, who said, “You’re staying here?”
He nodded. “John is at Meat-n-Greens to help with the humans. Blair is guarding the Utilities Complex. Henry is staying at his studio, so he’ll be nearby if there is any trouble. Jenni, Starr, and Jake are at Sparkles and Junk. Julia and Marie Hawkgard and Allison Owlgard are keeping watch in the Market Square Library.”
Vlad looked around, frowning. “Has anyone seen Tess?”