Page 117 of Not Your Ordinary Shifter

Nico snorted. “On account of him having mine and Hayden’s blood running through his veins. That story, however, is for another time. Let’s get going. Kalkin said something about going to Jerome and Annabelle’s house first.”

“Yeah,” Johnathan replied. “It’s where I found the fur the day I started tracking.”

“Good of place as any,” Henry said. “While we’re driving, why don’t you tell us what Ilariy looks like. It might help us find him out here.”

“Agreed,” Nico added. “We need to know what his dhole looks like and his human appearance.”

Henry came to a stop a few feet from the Enforcer Nico had been using for as long as Johnathan could remember. “Hey... Do you think your brother met up with any of the kids around here? Might open our search grid if he did.”

Why hadn’t Johnathan thought of that?

“Give us more places to search too,” Nico muttered. “Which honestly isn’t a bad thing. It means he could have shelter and wind up being safe.”

Several emotions played across Luka’s features before he shut them down. “Perhaps. He watched them. The children. Wanted to go to school. Be will older kids. Mama told him not yet. I think he was upset.”

“Expected,” Nico said with a small chuckle. “I’m learning with the twins and our eldest two, saying no is not something children like.”

“Da. Ilariy is very stubborn, like our father.”

“Well then,” Henry added, “I guess we have a few more spots to check while we’re out. Maybe we’ll get lucky tonight.”

Johnathan cut his gaze toward Luka. If only they could be so “lucky,” as Henry said. “I like this optimistic side, Henry. It looks good on you.”

He chuffed. “That’s because of all of you. Even if you guys don’t realize it. Plus, my mate and my children. Every single one of you saved my life. I’ll never be able to repay any of you for what you’ve given Sarina and me.”

Willow paced the length of the house. From the front door to the laundry room and back. She had to tell her father the truth. She knew where Ilariy was. Obviously, none of them knew who he was when they found a starving wolf-fox-cat-hybrid shifter in the middle of the desert, but they also knew they couldn’t leave him there to die. Grayson carried him to the old club house Nico and the other dads slowly rebuilt over the last few months. It wasn’t the prettiest place, but it would keep the animal safe for the time being until he woke up.

Then they’d get their answers.

When he shifted two days later, he surprised everyone, including Willow, Riley, and Summer. Alex, Liam, and Grayson all agreed they needed to tell their parents about the boy. Obviously, they’d all heard about the strange noises in the desert over the last few days, but none of them would’ve imagined it could’ve come from the boy who stared at them with wide, golden eyes and stunk of fear or his family who’d been looking for him.

As it was, it’d taken hours to get the boy to calm down and trust them. He said he didn’t want to go home. So, until someone gave them a good enough reason to tell the adults, Ilariy stayed in the clubhouse. Willow packed extra for lunch while Grayson took more breakfast pastries, with the excuse he was a growing boy. Something that was truthful and a lie. Before school, they brought Ilariy the food and a clean change of clothes from the orphanage. Clothing, Alex said, no one would miss.

Now, Willow worried they’d get into trouble when her parents found out what they’d been doing. Her bottom lip trembled as she continued to pace. Upstairs, Mads and Aaronslept peacefully, unaware of how much of a screw up their big sister was. She wished Nicolas and Aiden had been there. They could at least tell her what to do to fix the situation.

The front door open and she came to a startled stop. Her mother and father stared at her with curiosity and a bit of worry. Danielle went to her first, wrapping her in a hug, then her father, the man she mirrored in so many ways, kissed the crown of her head. She couldn’t hold back any longer. Willow had to tell them the truth. Ilariy’s parents were worried sick about him. It was wrong to keep them waiting as they had. Plus, it was selfish on all their parts. She’d known all along what the right thing to do was. Willow just ignored the voice in her head telling her to do the right thing and reunite a family.

“I’ll make some tea and warm milk,” Danielle said, always saying the right things at the right moment. “Then we’ll talk.”

Anxiousness swallowed Willow whole. She needed to vomit the story to release the sludge-like feeling enveloping her. “I need to tell you something.” She winced, hating the wildness in her tone. In a way, she and Hayden mirrored each other. Hyper, but also very astute. Quiet even. She listened to everyone, watched from afar. She stuck close to Grayson, who felt more like a twin than her cousin because he was her safety net. “I’d rather do it now, please.”

Tears blurred her vision as her mother rushed to her side. Her father gathered her in his arms, hugging her tight. “Whatever it is, sweetheart, we’re right here. You can tell us anything.”

“I-I don’t know how,” she sobbed. “I’m sorry. So sorry. I should have told you sooner. When we found him. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Hey now,” Danielle said, enveloping her with warmth and understanding. “I’m sure whatever has happened, you had the right intentions at heart when you did whatever it is you did.”

“Come on,” Caden whispered, “let’s go sit on the couch. You can sit on my lap like old times.”

She very much liked that idea but feared the moment he understood the depth of her misdeed, he’d get so furious at her. “I’m sorry.” The words slipped from between her lips once more while her father carried her to the couch.

“We’ll figure this out,” her father said against her temple. “You’re breaking my heart, star.”

Willow released a shuddered breath. She’d procrastinated long enough. “I didn’t know who we found in the desert a couple of days ago until tonight. I thought he was an abused kid who ran away from home.”

Caden cursed softly under his breath while he rubbed Willow’s back. “Where did you find Ilariy, Willow?”

“Way out by the bluffs. Grayson, me, Liam, Riley, Alex, and Summer had gone for a hike to pick some hackberries for a snack. He was in his wild dog form? I guess. I don’t know what he is, but he looks like a wolf/fox/feline hybrid. Pretty cool. Red too, with white on his chest, and a little black on his face.” She was rambling. “Grayson carried him back to the old clubhouse Nico built for Hayden and that the dads are refurbishing. We all thought he’d be safe there until he woke up and could go home.”

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