Page 108 of Not Your Ordinary Shifter

“Thank you.” As an orphan of the pack, he remembered the day he was brought to Keeley and Danielle after almost dying in the middle of the desert—malnourished and dehydrated. There wasn’t a day that went by that he didn’t try to remember what exactly happened to his parents, but those memories never came. Nor had anyone filled in the holes. Sometimes, orphans were just that, orphans. Maybe the happy life he thought he had with loving parents never existed and he’d always been alone. Yet, the ache in his chest said that wasn’t true. He did have parents, but where they went or how he got to the middle of a desert...

Those memories were gone.

“Johnathan,” Kalkin said, standing at his office door, arms crossed. “Glad you could make it.”

The Alpha was huge. Imposing. He stood almost six and a half feet tall and muscular. His cobalt eyes tracked everythingand everyone with such an astuteness, a chill of recognition slithered down Johnathan’s spine. Though he had more greying at his temples and in his beard, Kalkin didn’t look at day over forty. As far as his wolf genetics were concerned, the Alpha was still in his prime. Anyone who thought they could challenge him for his pack was most definitely in for a very rude awakening.

Or maybe their death?

Either way, Johnathan always had a healthy fear and respect for the man who cared for him and the others in the orphanage. If it wasn’t for Kalkin and Keeley—Danielle and Caden too—he wouldn’t have honed his tracking skills to become the very best the pack had.

“Your message sounded urgent,” he said, stepping into the office. The scent of warm peaches and spice, along with the hint of wildness only a wolf could produce in such dense quantities, enveloped Johnathan. “I didn’t want to delay.”

“To be honest,” Kalkin said, following him, then taking a seat behind his desk, “I’m not surewhatwe have, or if we’re in danger. That’s why I called you.”

He handed Johnathan a stack of yellow slips. Some written in his handwriting. Others penned by different deputies. He studied each one. A theme appeared the deeper into the stack he read. “Screaming? At night?”

“During the day as well,” his Alpha replied. “I thought at first the children were telling tales after our little pre-Halloween countdown social. Or I had frightened them with too heavy of a story. Regrettably, these aren’t from the children. Nor are the missives from any of the adults at the orphanage.”

“Have you heard the noise?” Johnathan tilted his head. Each message was the same. Crying, howling, and screeching, only not a “person” making the sound. Each resident who called described the sound as mournful and broken too. They said it tugged at their soul, which frightened them more. Unfortunatelyfor them, no one saw what animal could have made the noise, nor had anyone captured the culprit on their security cameras.

“No. I’ve asked my family the same question,” Kalkin stated on an exhale. “None of them have either.”

He frowned. “This could be an elaborate hoax since we’re so close to Halloween.”

Kalkin rubbed his chin as he nodded before drumming his fingers on the hardwood surface. “I thought the same. A prank. Just a bunch of kids who have time on their hands. Sadly, that isn’t the case here. The boys are keeping their noses clean because of football season, and I highly doubt any of the girls would cause such a commotion.”

“So, it has to be something injured, or lost, or frightened.”

“Or a combination of all those things,” Kalkin stated. “You’re the best tracker we have. You’ve come in clutch every time we’ve needed you, especially while trying to find Jochi’s parents in China. Can you help us out on this case?”

Like he’d say no. If the Alpha needed him, he was of service to his pack. “Do I have a partner?”

Kalkin shook his head. “Maxine found her mate last month. We’re giving her time to adjust to her new arrangements.”

Johnathan stood then. “Alone is fine. Not like I’m going far. I’ll be in town. I can do this.”

His Alpha frowned. “You’re not alone, Johnathan. You’re never alone.”

He wouldn’t say he was jealous of all those who’d found their mates. Or even the families within their community and their pack/pride. He figured when the time was right, he too would be blessed with a person who’d match him. Until then, he did as his Alpha asked, protecting the pack the only way he knew how. “Understood. I’ll start looking now. Maybe if I catch people off guard someone will cop to starting the rumor.” No way a hurt animal, shifter or not, could make such a racket without theAlpha or others hearing them. Something about the case didn’t sit right with Johnathan, he just didn’t know what part.

“Right,” Kalkin said. “Remember, if you need any help or you get stuck somewhere you shouldn’t be, and need extraction, call me. I’m here for you. Always.”

Johnathan nodded starting for the door. He stopped midway and glanced over his should before he said, “Could you do me a favor?”

“Of course,” Kalkin answered, the squeak of his chair noted he stood.

“Could you tell Maxine I’m happy for her?” Johnathan didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he exited the Alpha’s office and strode toward the exit.

“Have a good day, Johnathan,” Loraine said, gifting him with a smile.

“You too, Loraine. Don’t let the Alpha give you too many issues,” he teased, winking at her.

Stepping out into the tepid mid-day sun, he raised his face to sky and exhaled. He didn’t understand the itch under his skin. Or the aching knot in the pit of his stomach. He wasn’t a jealous person by nature, nor would he ever be. Nevertheless, hearing about Maxine finding her mate did something to him, he couldn’t explain.

There was also the fact he like men more than he did women. Still, the ugly craven or perhaps yearning spreading it inky tendrils through his veins, left him off-kilter. His heart was in his stomach. Sadness closed his throat. He wasn’t being abandoned nor had he been rejected. He just... He felt lost.

The day he’d been brought to Danielle, so had Maxine. They’d spent more time together as children than the others did, and they formed a familial bond. He couldn’t say she was his mate, because what they had was stronger than a mating—or at least he thought it was. He hadn’t heard a word aboutMaxine mating anyone, let alone been told by her. Was that the problem? Did she think he’d get mad if she told him the truth? He snorted. Not even close. He’d have celebrated with her.

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