Page 2 of The Bull's Head

And he did. Deep down, Teddy knew no one thought of him how Hiram had. Still, after twenty years, it was hard to think of himself in any other way.

“Thank you, First mate.”

“Alp,” he insisted. “We’re family, you, me, Mal—everyone here. We all owe you our lives. We went through hell together, and you can’t be calling me by a title. Okay?”

Teddy did like the bunny. He was a breath of fresh air.

“Yes, Alp. Now, where should I start?”

“By giving me a hug,” Cece said. “As soon as we finish unpacking your stuff, I have to get back to the pack.”

“Oh, but you just got here,” Alp complained, his pink lip jutting out. “Can’t you stay the night? My mom sent some recipes to the cooks, and they’re going to be making her pasta primavera tonight.”

“I’d love to, but Damon and the boys won’t be back until Wednesday, so I’m in charge and?—”

Alp held up a finger as he fished out a shiny phone from his pocket. He touched the screen with one of his slender digits, then held it up to his ear for a moment. “Damon? Hey, it’s Alp, and I was wondering if you have a second?”

“Alp, hang up that phone,” Cece insisted.

He ignored her, which amused Teddy to no end. Cece was a warrior who had beaten him and Ivan, even when they were in bear form. She was not one to be messed with. She wasn’t even cowed by her husband.

“They got here like five minutes ago, and now she wants to drive all the way across country again because you’re out camping with the boys.” His eyes gleamed when he held the phone out to Cece. “He wants to talk to you.”

The glare Alp got spoke volumes. She held the phone to her ear.

“I’m headed back tonight, and … but … Damon, I … I’ve driven through the night before, and—” She glared at Alp. “Yes, First. I’ll be staying here tonight, and you’ll contact the council to let them know.” She sneered at Alp and mouthed, “I will get you for this, rabbit.”

After she handed the phone back, she growled when Alp chuckled, as he held the phone to his ear again. “Thank you, Damon. Say hi to the boys for me. Let Micah know everyone loves his painting and ask if he’ll consider working his magic on some other walls. See you next month.” He snapped the phone closed, and his smile was radiant. “You’re staying over! That’s so cool.”

“I will take you out and hunt you down, Alpin Dawkins. Then I’ll call your mother and tell her you were fucking delicious.”

Alp waved a dismissive hand. “You say that now, but wait until we get some popcorn and cuddle up in the media room with the kids to watch Frozen. Again. You haven’t lived until you have a bunch of kids screaming at the screen and singing ‘Let It Go.’”

Cece cocked her head as Alp led the way through the garage, into the proper areas of the Wald compound, and then into a large room with an enormous television set mounted to the wall and beanbag chairs spread throughout, in addition to the sofas and love seats. “You love it.”

Alp pinched the bridge of his nose. “Maker help me, but I do. Most of these kids have never seen a movie before, let alone had buttered popcorn. It’s like we’re opening up new worlds for them and showing them that this place isn’t something to be terrified of. The people who’d done the shitty things here? Yes, them for sure, but the building is just that—a building.” Alp chuckled. “I even dragged Mal in to watch with us one night, and by the time the credits were rolling, we had a mob of kids surrounding us, climbing into our laps, winding their small arms around our necks, and Mal was sniffling along with the rest of us.”

“I would like to watch with the children,” Teddy said. He’d never seen Frozen either, though he’d heard from…. His throat tightened, and he found it hard to breathe.

Cece crossed the room in less than a moment. She put her hands on his shoulders, and held his gaze. “Teddy?”

“Alana, Dmitri, and Casper will never again see a movie.”

Cece squeezed Teddy harder. He knew she was trying to keep him from flying apart, but it wasn’t working. He was once again falling into despair, knowing that those who’d trusted him to protect them were now rotting in their graves, and it had been his fault.

“No, sweetheart, they won’t. You did your best to keep them safe, but Hiram’s betrayal destroyed them, not you. There was no way either you or Ivan could have protected them, because you were good men who had a shitty leader who lied to you. He set you up, and nothing could have changed that outcome.”

Her words made sense, but Teddy had seen and laughed with the kids a few hours before Hiram murdered them. He’d been amused by Casper and his gap-toothed way of talking. How Alana had cuddled him to her and told him his teeth would grow back in soon, and then he’d be able to shift and have sharp and strong teeth. She assured him if he ate right, he would one day be big like his brother, who was a small child.

And now he never would.

“Cece?” The word was torn from his throat as he cried out.

“I’m here, Teddy bear. I’ve got you.”

He pulled her to him and buried his face in her neck, sobbing. Why couldn’t he let it go? He’d done nothing wrong, and everyone knew that. Everyone but Teddy. Every time he tried to convince himself, the faces of those children rose up accusingly, telling him in no uncertain terms he was the reason they were dead now.

Teddy was used to Cece holding him close, but he was shocked to feel another set of arms encircle him.

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