Page 115 of Not Your Ordinary Shifter

“Shit.” Johnathan stood then. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

Johnathan ran out the door toward the front of the sheriff’s department where he knew Kalkin and Aurora were. Kalkin used Jace’s desk to make the phone call. He stood there staring out the window looking over the gated lot where the new Enforcers resided, waiting to be decked out by the Department. The phone was at his ear, and he looked bored.Probably on hold—one of his least favorite activities.

“Emersyn,” Kalkin said, shifting his stance. “It’s great to hear your voice, too. I have a situation here. I wonder if you could help me?” He grinned. “Great... Thank you. I have a Luka Novikov in my office said he and his family are political refugees. Unfortunately, no one told us they were on the way. Is there anyone you could prod to get me some answers?”

Emersyn Lake took over the remaining year and a half of Winters’ senatorial term when he retired from congress a little over two years ago. She was, at the time, the mayor pro tem of Window Rock and had two young children. To say those in District 5 were a bit nervous when she was introduced as his replacement, was a bit of an understatement. However, the campaign she waged against the outsider who had flashy cars and money, solidified her place within the community and with the shifters in our district. She wasn’t some sell out. Nor would she allow some interloper come in and destroy the legacy Jefferson Winters created, and she championed. Kalkin also hit the ground running at her side, introducing her to the different prides and packs in the area and the state. Sure, there’d beenminor hiccups along the way, but when they were in a pinch, Emersyn could be counted on.

Like now.

“Two weeks,” Kalkin said, his frown deepening. “Someone sat on it? Are you serious? No, it’s okay. I’ll make arrangements. Can you send what you have to Keeley? Or maybe your assistant? I know you’re busy.” He chuckled. “Yeah, me too. Guess that’s part of being a badass, huh?” He laughed again. “If you find anything else, let me know, please. I appreciate your time. Thanks.”

Kalkin hung up the phone and shook his head. Johnathan hated dumping more on him, but he had a feeling he just solved the case the Alpha assigned to him, without having to do too much work. “So, about the whistling...”

Kalkin snorted. “Let me guess, the Novikov family?”

“Bingo,” he replied. “There’s more. The younger son, Ilariy? He’s missing. Looks like the family has been searching for him.”

“And they didn’t come to town for help because they’re refugees...” Kalkin exhaled. “Fuck. Some days it doesn’t pay to get out of bed. Today is one of those days.” He strode back to his office and took a seat behind his desk, folding his hands on the surface. A pissed off Kalkin wasn’t someone people wanted to mess with. Harming someone who might be part of his pack/pride or already claimed by his pack/pride, even if he didn’t know them, made fucking with Kalkin even worse. “Kid, Johnathan tells me you have a missing brother. Want to tell me what happened and why you sought asylum exactly.” The gruffness in Kalkin’s tone rumbled across Johnathan’s flesh, causing goosebumps to form in its wake.

Luka sat up straighter, his eyes widened before he cleared his throat. “Da. Sorry. We came here because our kind is hunted. Our pelts bring millions on the black market. We are dhole, and we are almost extinct. My parents used political asylum becausehow do you fill out a form that asks why you seek shelter when it doesn’t include going extinct, as a reason?”

Johnathan’s chest ached. His heart hurt for the Novikov family. He couldn’t imagine having to leave his home, the only place they’d known, because hunters were killing his kind. Then, after they should feel safe in their new home, Ilariy goes missing. Johnathan didn’t want to think about the undue stress and worry Luka’s parents were under. Or how much they must have missed their young child.

“You’ve got a point,” Kalkin relented. “Will you show me where your parents are now?”

Luka nodded. “Yes. Will you help us find my little brother?”

“Believe it or not,” Kalkin replied, “I’ve been fielding calls about whistles in the middle of the night and during the day, for the past few days. I think we’ve been looking for each other all along. I’ll help you any way I can. As long as you continue to be truthful with me.”

“I will.”

Kalkin stood and extended his hand to Luka. “Let’s bring your parents to town and then you can fill us in over dinner. If I know my mate, she’s already planning a feast and gathering the troops.”

“But how?” Confusion filled Luka’s handsome features. “She’s not here. How does she know all this?”

Kalkin chuckled. “Kid, there’s a lot you’re going to learn in the next few hours. I’m about to blow your mind and open your world to all sorts of new things.”

Chapter

Three

Dinner went... About as expected. Kalkin shouted. Keeley reprimanded him. The brothers laughed, mocking him. Just another normal Wednesday night for the Raferty family. Until the children went to bed, that is. Once those under the age of ten fell asleep on their cots, the meeting began—outside, so not to wake any of the kids.

Luka and his parents, Tatiana and Anastasiy, kept to themselves mostly. They answered when spoken to, but mostly, they seemed content to watch the others. Johnathan didn’t blame them. Going from hiding to escaping to hide once more because they weren’t sure if they’d been safe wasn’t easy on the body or the mind. He hoped by being with the Raferty and the Dryers families, they’d see they were finally free.

“Now,” Kalkin said, drawing the attention of Tatiana and Anastasiy. “We’re here tonight to not only welcome the newest members of our pack and pride, but also offer our help to find a missing child, no more than thirteen, and probably wandering the desert in his dhole form.”

Tatiana took her husband’s hand, along with Luka’s. A single broken tear rolled down her cheek. Johnathan wouldn’t admit it out loud, but Luka’s good looks came from his mother,especially his russet red hair and striking amber eyes. His severe features came from his father, combining with the softness of his mother. Ever since he bumped into the guy, Johnathan couldn’t stop thinking about him. He pushed the inappropriate thoughts aside, focusing instead on finding Ilariy. He wouldn’t allow his lusty thoughts to cloud his judgement or put Ilariy’s life at risk.

After, though?

He couldn’t say.

Johnathan guessed it depended on whether or not the Novikov family stayed in Window Rock. As it was, after Kalkin met Luka’s parents, Keeley arrived with a van to transport the family to one of the bigger duplexes used for new arrivals. See, when Rapier built the duplexes years ago, he made an entire section of them just for new families arriving in Window Rock who sought safety. Now, they housed orphans who grew up in the system, but still weren’t ready to be on their own. New families like Luka’s and sometimes, if the space was available, they turned two or three of the homes into Airbnbs. It brought in extra revenue for the pack/pride, while allowing visitors to Window Rock to experience what the town offered during tourist season.

“How long has he been missing?” Danielle asked, frowning. As the pack/pride’s healer, she’d spent most of her day helping the children. When she wasn’t working on them, she liked to make house calls to visit growing families and those who experience traumatic injuries.

“We believe at least five days by now,” Kalkin said. “The whistles and baleful sounds you heard were the Novikovs looking for their son. I suspect the boy, too.” He glanced at Johnathan and inclined his chin, giving him the floor.

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