Page 116 of Not Your Ordinary Shifter

“I’ve been tracking the area with Luka, the eldest Novikov son. We’ve caught Ilariy’s trail several times over the last twenty-four hours, but finding his tracks has been near impossible. Andwhen we do happen to spot a footprint...” He glanced at Ilariy’s parents and grinned. “Mr. and Mrs. Novikov taught Ilariy well. They disappear within three steps.”

“That’s my boy,” Anastasiy murmured. “Always had to be perfect. Always wanted more. Not practical like our Luka.”

“Kids,” Kalkin said. “They get a wild hair up their ass, and they think they know more than us.”

“Da,” Mr. Novikov said. “Headstrong. Reminds me of me at his age.”

Luka glanced at Johnathan and mouthed, “thank you,” before grinning at his parents. Since bringing them to their new home, the Novikovs had showered, gotten new clothes and rested. He wouldn’t say he was glad Luka shaved or got a haircut, but seeing his square, sharp enough to cut glass jaw and hollow cheeks, Johnathan was in over his head. His hare’s foot thumped in appreciation of his mate, and the magnetic pull tugged at him incessantly to claim the man who held his mother’s hand.

“Since we’ve figured out the cause of the noise complaints, I’d like to form a few search parties to cover the desert. Sign-ups are in the house. Pick the times and locations you’d like to help with and remember your duties to your families and jobs, as well.” Kalkin directed his attention back to Tatiana and Anastasiy. “I understand how difficult your life must have been in Irkut, but it’s not the same here. I’d know if we had poachers in our desert. Agent Blackhorn, my mate Keeley, and my niece, Hayden, would know if anyone attempted to kidnap any of the children. We have systems in place to make sure no one in Widow Rock is harmed ever again. Ilariy is in our desert somewhere. I can feel it. Where he is, we’ll find out. That is my promise to both of you.”

The play of emotions across Tatiana’s face had a lump forming in Johnathan’s throat. She wanted to believe Kalkin, but doing so also left her vulnerable. He’d seen it before when he saved children and young adults from brutal situations. Theyearning to believe. The trepidation and fear. There were so many questions to be asked and answered. Even then, when he’d exhausted all their misguided options, there was a hint of mistrust. Because, as one child he’d saved put it, there was always the slimmest possibility Johnathan was still lying.

“I will go with you,” Anastasiy said. “He is my son. One of us should be at our new home, waiting for him to return.”

“Understandable. The sheets will be available every day until we bring Ilariy home to his family,” Kalkin said. “Also, Hunter’s Moon festivities and trick or treating are next week. Let’s make sureallthe Novikovs can enjoy their first fall festival with us.”

As the Dryers and Rafertys filed back into the house to gather their sleeping children and sign up for search and rescue parties, Luka pulled Johnathan aside. The worry and hopefulness bled into an unsettled mien. His lips were flat, and exhaustion filled his eyes. He was keeping up a good front for his parents but allowed Johnathan to see the weariness consuming him.

“Thank you,” Luka murmured. “Thank you for believing me and wanting to help us find Ilariy.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Luka. This is my job.” His heart pounded and his hands trembled. Excitement and wariness settled in the middle of his chest. If only he could give over to the riotous emotions swamping him. Regrettably, he wouldn’t complicate an already tangled situation. “I’m glad I was able to help so far. I know we’ll find your?—”

Before he could say another word, Luka swooped in, crushing his mouth to Johnathan’s. A muffled moan floated between them before he grabbed the sides of Luka’s neck and tilted his head like Johnathan wanted him. He groaned as the richest ambrosia teased his senses, causing his dick to rise and strain against the denim of his pants. This wasn’t how he expected things to go between him and Luka. He wanted the newarrival to have time to adjust to the town. Explore. Be free. Then after he’d done that, Johnathan would’ve claimed Luka.

Now, with his cloying scent imbuing Johnathan’s system, demanding he act on the gift given to him, he couldn’t break away. Instead, Luka broke the kiss first, gasping as his chest heaved. He stared at Johnathan a little too wide eyed for his liking. However, when Johnathan thought the dhole would apologize or run off, he kissed Johnathan again with the same fervor and lust. He was drowning on the arousal pouring down his spine and settling in his balls. The full moon was still days away, yet he could feel the pull demanding he give over to his nature and rut.

Unlike wolves, hares had stamina to rival any Alpha. In a twenty-four-hour period, the number of times he could mate was unlimited. Matched with a dhole, a species ruled by the moon, their mating would leave them exhausted and raw. Not that Johnathan cared. Right now, all he had eyes for was his mate, who seemed to be in agreement with him.

“I want you.” Luka’s rough growl sent a shiver down Johnathan’s spine. “So bad. You taste like the darkest of chocolates infused with the juiciest of pears, like the ones I’ve seen on cactus.”

He exhaled a shaky breath. “You have the richness of whip cream with the sweetness of cloudberries.”

Luka grinned. “They are my favorite. I ate them until I had bellyache as a child.”

Johnathan snorted. “Sounds totally plausible.”

Luka smirked and bent his head. “I want to eat you too.” He bit Johnathan’s bottom lip and snarled. “I can’t keep my hands off you.”

“Well, you better,” Kalkin said. “I know the full moon is close, however your brother is out in our desert and the temps tonight are going to dip into the thirties.”

Luka frowned. “Understood.”

“Johnathan, you and Luka team up with Nico and Henry. Show them where you’ve been and see if you can find another footprint,” Kalkin said. “Nico will have his radio, and he’ll call it in if you find anything.”

Johnathan nodded. “We’ll start at Jerome and Annabelle’s house and circle back around. Let everyone know to stay clear of that area for a couple of hours.”

“I will. Good luck, Luka. I hope we find your brother.”

“Da,” he replied. “Thank you, Alpha.”

Luka stared at Johnathan for a moment more, then groaned. “Later. We will finish.”

The lusty fog cleared slowly from Johnathan’s head as he took several deep breaths to clear his senses. If he was going to find Ilariy, he couldn’t do so if all he smelled was Luka. He motioned for the dhole to follow when Nico exited the house with Henry in tow. The wolf looked better. Beefier. Stronger too. Several new tattoos colored his scared skin, most of them included something from his mate Sarina and their son Thiago and newborn Tatum.

“Looks like we’re paired together,” Nico said, glancing between Luka and Johnathan. “Between the four of us I think we can find your brother, man.”

“Yeah, out of all of us, Nico and Johnny have the best noses. They’ll find him.” Henry held his hand out. “We didn’t really get to meet before. My mate just had a baby a couple of weeks ago, so she’s sticking close to home. I’m Henry Dryer-Lopez, Rapier’s son and the adopted brother of Nico and Hayden.”

---