Page 3 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Hi, Lucy, I’m Mary Westin.”

I nodded. “Yes, they let me know that Vanessa wouldn’t be in today.”

I had already met Vanessa who would be Vada’s regular teacher and we’d hit it off well enough. And I’d met Stephanie, the director of the program. I didn’t know Mary, but as the former Pack Mother I felt like I should be able to trust her, at least for a few hours. That did nothing to tame my nerves though.

“First time leaving her?” she asked.

“First time ever,” I admitted.

“Well I would say you are much overdue for a break then.” Her smile was easy and somehow calming. “You look exhausted dear. Here is my personal cell phone number. When you start to freak out, simply video message this number.”

I stared at her in shock as I reached out and took the card from her.

“Won’t I interrupt class or something?”

“They’re two, Lucy. I think it’ll be okay. I was a first time mom once upon a time too. I still remember how hard it was to let go.”

“You’re the Alpha’s mother, right?”

Her smile brightened proudly. “I am, and I have a whole mess of grandbabies now. I promise you, I’ll take good care of her.”

I hesitated then slowly nodded. Before I could stop myself, I threw my arms around the woman’s neck and hugged her.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

It took every ounce of willpower in me to force my legs to move, but I did it. I walked back to the car, sat in the driver’s seat and cried.

When the tears had run dry, I drove home, climbed into bed and fell fast asleep.

I awoke several hours later and started to panic. It took me a moment to get my bearings straight and remember where I was, but more importantly where Vada was.

I pulled out my phone and video messaged the number Mary had given me.

I was certain I looked a wild mess, but Mary answered on the second ring with a smile. She put her finger up to her mouth and then turned the camera to show a floor of six sleeping kids, including Vada.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Mary’s face came back onto the screen and gave me a thumbs up.

“Thank you,” I mouthed and then disconnected the phone.

She was fine, sleeping soundly even. It suddenly felt like the first normal thing I’d ever experienced with my child.

CHAPTER 2

MICAH

“What is wrong with you?”Grant asked me as I missed the fourth basket in a row.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “For some reason my wolf has just been restless for days now.”

Baine snorted. “You’re the doctor, diagnose yourself.”

I glared at him as he passed the ball and I shot it right back to him.

I liked the guys on Westin Force, a special ops team of shifters. It was like Westin Pack’s own private army.

I’d gotten to work on several missions with them and on Wednesday afternoons, when they weren’t out on a job, I joined them for a game of basketball. Today my heart simply wasn’t in it.

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