Page 55 of Homecoming

“That’s awful. And truly, I know how devastating it is to lose a pup. Luka was taken by someone when he was born. Luckily, we got him back, but… I can only sympathize with the pain you’re in. Have you tried to trace where they are?”

“No. There’s no way to trace them. I mean, there aren’t any records or none I would have access to. But me and some of the other wolves meet up sometimes. In the forest, we have a little shrine where we go there to talk about our pups—what they might be doing now, or what their lives might be like. I guess we’ll never know for real.”

“There are more of you that had your pups taken?” Kat looks around at the women enjoying the sun and party. “I’msosorry… the pain must be awful.” Suddenly, Kat’s distracted by Digby’s voice as he calls across from the grill.

“Kat… Hey, you wan’ burger or steak?”

“Oh, uh… burger. Sorry, we’re coming now. What’s your name?”

“Kirsten.”

“Well, Kirsten, I think Luka has a great buddy there and you’ll both have to come up to the house for afternoon tea sometime soon. The boys can play, and we can talk more. I promise we’ll make a date, but if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. Please take care.”

Kirsten smiles at Noah and he nods in respect as the pair disappear across the lawn to meet with the others.

Digby frowns, watching as Kat gazes back to Kirsten as she sits on the grass with Luka and Elijah. “Did you say you wanted burger or steak? Hey Kat, are you okay?”

“Yeah, uh… Sorry, I was just talking to that woman. Did you know she had her pups taken—that the alphas took two of her pups? Digby, we need to do something to find them.”

“Kat… look, I don’t know what went on here, but we have to realistic. There ain’t no way we’re gonna find those pups. It can’t be done. Nowc’mon, forget about that, you need to eat.”

“But there are other women—other she-wolves. Digby, they need to know that someone is looking for their pups. Can you imagine if we’d never gotten Luka back?”

“But we did…” he sighs, seeing the look on her face. “Kat, I wouldn’t even know where to begin with all that, but if it really means that much to you, then talk to Darius. I’m sure he’ll have more of an idea of what to do. He might have some of Ezra’s old records and files.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I’ll talk to him.”

She sighs. Her head drops as Digby hands her a large burger on a plate, then leans forward and kisses her. “Try not to worry about it. Here big guy,” he hands Noah a plate, “I figured you’d probably want steak. Oh hey, look… there’s Helena. Wait, I thought you said she was takin’ care of Evelyn? So, where is she?”

“Hullo…Mrs. Kat, Mister Digby—Mister Noah. Are you okay?”

“Helena,” Kat kisses her cheek, “was everything alright?”

“Everything okay for now. Little one was stillsleepin’and I put her in the cage in the kitchen just like you asked.”

“And you left the note?”

“I did. I no sure that a good idea but I did it,” Helena sighs.

“It’ll be fine,” Kat smiles nervously.

“What’ll be fine?” Noah frowns as he and Digby stare at her. “Kat, what’s going on?”

“I uh… I thought Darius could do with some time alone with hispupand so I got Helena to leave Evelyn behind. She’s going to be waking up very soon from her nap and I figured that Darius could take care of her.”

“You did what?Fuck!” Digby chokes on his steak. “But you didn’t tell him you weredoin’that?Holy crap!” he laughs loudly. “And what about the cat? Helena, you were supposed to be looking after the cat too, so where'd you leave her?”

“Oh…moleyholy,” she places a hand to her mouth and gasps. “I forget about the cat. It was asleep on the window ledge.”

“Shit…So let me get this straight. You’ve left Darius alone in the house with not only a wolf pup but a cat? Holyfuckin’fuck! Are you orchestrating some kind of death wish?” Digby bursts into a loud and raucous fit of laughter as Zak gathers next to them.

“What’sgoin’on?”

“Zak, have you heard this?”

“Yeah, I caught the end of it,” Zak chuckles. “Digby’s right—your ass is toast.”

“What? Why?” Kat questions. “What’s so wrong with that? Oh, you’re exaggerating about Darius. I’m sure he can manage a pup and I don’t really believe he hates cats that much. He seemed fine. He’ll take care of them.”

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