Page 52 of Jack of All Trades

“I know. You were scary!”

“Me? You were amazing!”

In the limo, Rodney poured them all drinks and they toasted to their achievement. Trudy was smiling from ear to ear and Maltin leaned over to take her free hand in his. “Mother…I can’t tell you what that meant to Jack and me.”

“You’re my son. If you ever think I’m as uncaring as those two? Just use those powerful jaws and take me out.”

“I could never hurt you.”

Jack said, “He’s right. You were amazing. I just saw lights and furniture breaking, and it was incredible.”

Rodney said, “I think you both felt threatened. The magic being thrown about, you took that fear and caused your first shift. Bravo to you both!”

Maltin was happier than Jack had ever seen him, and Trudy noticed something else. “Malty, you…look younger.”

Rodney noticed it too. “Maltin, you…are you immortal now?”

“What? No! I couldn’t be.”

“We never got that far in the book,” Jack said.

Rodney snapped his fingers,, and the book appeared on his lap. With a wave of his pointer finger, the pages began to flip.

Maltin chuckled at his uncle, but Trudy only rolled her eyes. “Rodney, showing off is so…gauche.”

“So was that house. Sorry, Jack.”

“I’ve never liked that place. It was a little obvious.”

“A little?” Trudy asked. “Say what you will, though, I think they were hurt. Not physically, but knowing their child had died, and knowing you were not theirs.”

“Please, Mother,” Maltin said, but she disagreed.

“You wouldn’t see it, Maltin. You will, one day, when you have children. A parent sees the pain of another parent. In her eyes, I saw it. It’s why she’s still breathing.”

Jack wanted to believe that but had trouble with it. “I can’t believe it, but I hope you’re right.”

“Get this to where we’re going,” Trudy told her brother.

“A moment, Trudy, dear. I can’t believe it, but Maltin’s kind…he’s mentioned here.”

“What?” The three of them said in unison.

“A hellhound shifter can mate with another powerful being, and if that occurs, that half-blooded hellhound will take on the powers of both and be stronger in each. They will become…”

Maltin was at the end of his rope with the dramatic pauses. “Rodney, I swear, if you don’t finish…”

“A super alpha, possessing the strongest of each of his halves. It’s a coveted degree, Maltin.”

Trudy covered her mouth with her fingers. “Oh, Malty.”

Jack’s pride in Maltin grew a thousandfold. “Maltin! Your powers aren’t finite anymore!”

“No, they’re not, Maltin,” Rodney said in awe. “Damn! You might be more powerful than I am!”

Jack kissed Maltin and Maltin could only stare at him. “I’m…a little afraid right now.”

“Maltin, you’re my super-alpha. You’re…you’re amazing.”

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