Page 118 of Not Your Ordinary Shifter

Danielle sighed. “How long did it take for him to wake up?”

“Two days,” Willow winced when Danielle said her name in that “mom” tone of hers. “You should have come and got me.”

“We didn’t know he was a boy,” she said. “All of us thought he was just a wild dog. We all agreed if he didn’t wake up, we’d have brought him to you. I promise, mom. Swear.”

“But he woke up,” her father said. “What happened next?”

“We told him where he could shower. Gray got him some food. Alex brought him some clothes. I waited with Summer and Liam in the clubhouse in case he was too weak.” She shrugged. “After he ate, he told us who he was, but he said he couldn’t gohome. I thought...” Her head fell forward. “I thought he was in danger, and I was doing the right thing.”

Danielle pursed her lips. “Your Aunt Keeley heard everything. She’s relaying the information to Johnathan and Luka so they can go get Ilariy.”

“Your Uncle Kalkin wants to see you in his office, right now.” Danielle frowned. “He’s upset.”

“Not surprised one bit,” Caden muttered. “Willow, star, you can’t hide stuff like this from us. I know you thought you were doing the right thing, but his parents...”

“I know,” she yipped, her heart beating wildly in her chest. “I feel horrible. They’ve been sick with worry and feared the worst. I can’t shake the awful feeling consuming me. I know I did the wrong thing, even if I believed it was right. We should have told you. I know better.”

“We’ll figure this out,” her mom said, taking her hand. “But self-castigation isn’t the way either. You did the right thing, then you did the wrong thing. It happens. We all make mistakes. We’re both glad you helped, Ilariy.”

“I’ll take her to Kalkin,” her father said. “You stay with the boys. I’ll call you when I can.”

Silently, she followed her father out of the house to the waiting enforcer he used for work. “Sorry, Daddy. Didn’t mean to disappoint you.”

“I’m not disappointed, star. Not in the least. I wished you would have trusted us enough to help Ilariy.” He opened the door for her and waited for her to get in. “No matter what he told you. However, after everything we’ve experienced in this town, I understand why you did what you did.”

She nodded, slipping on her seat belt. “I know.”

They drove to the sheriff's department in silence. Her heart hammered. Anxiety rippled across her flesh. She was afraid of what Kalkin would say to her. She never wanted to be adisappointment or bring shame to the Raferty name. Had she been able to discern the truth from Ilariy when they met, she’d have gone to her parents straight away. Now, she’d suffer the consequences of worrying a family for no reason at all.

Her father pulled into the gated parking lot and shut off the car. She wondered for half a second if he thought she’d run. The idea made her laugh a little. No, she’d never run from her punishment. Not after everything she’d witnessed over the years. She’d take her lumps like the rest of her family and pack mates had.

Willow walked beside her father, holding his hand like she used to as a little girl. She didn’t fear her uncle. However, what she’d done was wrong, so she knew that the anger he exuded, he’d direct at her and the others. It was weird. Over the years, she never hit his radar. Now, at seventeen, she finally had her moment.

Not that she was proud of herself.

If anything, she kind of didn’t like herself, given the circumstances.

Kalkin and the others were in his office. Ilariy and his parents, along with Luka, were off to the side. Grayson, Liam, Riley, Alex, and Summer sat front and center with chair left open for her. Caden stood behind Willow with Rapier, Jasmine, and her aunt Keeley. Mackenzie was near Kalkin. Displeasure slathered with anger and disapproval coated her in a repulsive sludge. Kalkin didn’t have to say a word. Her vision blurred. Her heart thumped in a heavy, sickening way. Willow’s stomach was in her throat. She wanted to curl up into a ball in her seat and disappear.

She never wanted to feel like that again.

“Tell me the story from the beginning,” Kalkin said. The calmness in his voice shook Willow more so than if he yelled.

Grayson took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “It was my fault. I should have told you, Alpha.”

Willow gasped, surprised by her cousin’s statement. “No, Gray. You’re not taking the fall for this. We all decided to do this together.”

“That’s right,” Summer said. “Alex and I were there when we agreed.”

“Same as Riley and me,” Liam stated, lifting his chin.

Kalkin exhaled. “I swear I am way too fucking old for this shit.”

Caden snickered behind them, fortifying Willow minutely.

“It’s my fault, Uncle Kalkin,” she said. “Not theirs. We found Ilariy in the desert while foraging for hackberries for a snack. When we saw him, we didn’t know he was a boy. We thought he was a wounded wild dog.”

“That doesn’t make this any better,” Kalkin said. “The wild dog could have bitten you or your cousins.”

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