Page 40 of Same One
“Why did he come at me like that?” Bay asked.
“Because we’ve been at war. We’ve been taking hits to establish a Pack. Some bad stuff has happened to some of our members, and it’s fresh. Bridger is protective of this Pack. Stranger werewolf in our territory toying with the idea of fighting me or anyone here? You’re lucky you got to Change before he was on you. No more Changing here ever unless I say. Do you understand?”
Bay shrugged and dropped his gaze. “Whatever.”
“No whatever. You understand or you don’t. You can play by the rules, or you can stay out of this territory. You stressed your mom out tonight—”
“I told you, she’s not my mom.”
“Yeah, yeah, she’s not your mom, but she’s the one over there going crazy because she can’t stitch you up, worried over you scarring, standing in the middle of a Pack of werewolves pleading for them to spare you.” Tabian made a click sound behind his teeth and shook his head, then turned back for the bathroom. “Tru, you want to doctor someone, come here. Leave that one alone.”
“But…” She got stuck, wanting to follow Tabian, but unable to leave Bay while he was hurt.
“Mmm,” Tabian said, appearing in the doorway again. “That looks like momma instincts to me,” he said pointedly to Bay. “It’s a lucky thing,” he said disappearing back into the bathroom. “Lots of kids don’t have moms who give a shit about them, but I’ve heard how Tru talks about you. To you, you’re her kid. You can keep throwing that ‘you’re not my mom’ bullshit at her to hurt her, but it’s going to get old fast. Probably just tell her thank you for giving a shit instead.”
“Can we go home now?” Bay asked, his eyes flashing bright gold again.
Defeated, Tru sighed. “You don’t want to stay a little longer?”
“And do what? Get more lectures from that guy? I don’t even know him.”
Tru wanted to cry. Tonight had gone so wrong. She’d known Bay would be difficult, but she hadn’t been prepared for the trauma.
Tru’s shoulders slumped. “I’ll drive.”
“Hold up for a minute,” Tabian said.
“I’m ready to go,” Bay said.
“Then go,” Tabian snapped, standing in the doorway. “I haven’t seen Tru in days, I finally get to see her, you tornadoed that meeting completely, the least you can do is give her a minute to say hi to me. Go wait in the car. No one is stopping you.”
“But…” Bay said, hesitating.
“But what?”
“But there are other wolves out there.”
“Try not to start a fight with them.” Tabian arched his eyebrows.
Bay left and slammed the door behind him.
Whooo, they did not like each other at all.
Tru’s heart felt like it was breaking. She couldn’t put Tabian above Bay. This wouldn’t work.
She had been hopeful and felt alive for a few days. It was going to be so lonely going back to her quiet life revolving around this strange monotony she and Bay had settled into.
Tabian took the towel he’d been using to put pressure on the cut on his face and settled his hands on his hips. For a loaded moment, they just stared at each other. It was Tabian who broke first. He huffed a laugh and shook his head. “You’re raising a werewolf.”
She pursed her lips and traced the woodgrain in the floor with the toe of her flipflop. “Sometimes I wanted to tell you.”
“Sometimes?”
“Well, we’ve got a little system going. He’s trying to fit into the human world—”
“Why?”
“Because his dad got them kicked out of a bunch of Packs and he’s…well…”
