Page 23 of Abundant Moon
Donna winced, realizing how this must sound to someone else.
“I’m afraid so. I warned him years ago about the need to shift on a regular basis, and made him promise to do so at least once a month. Other than that, nothing.”
Ben stood to pace, unable to sit any longer.
“I believe what you’re saying, but can’t wrap my mind around it. I take it the only reason he’s coming here is to see you?”
“Partly, yes. He’s on a work assignment in the area and we haven’t seen each other since before I moved here. I’ve already warned him to be on his best behavior. In the past, my family lived close to the hospital instead of with the local pack, leaving us the only shifters he ever encountered. Being literally surrounded here by other shifters will be unbearable and I don’t know how well he’ll handle it.”
Ben did not, and in factcouldnot, respond immediately. Thankfully, Donna let him think for a minute without interruption. He’d never imagined or heard of a situation like this before. It certainly wasn’t Donna’s fault, though he might like to have a few choice words with her parents and former Alpha. Robert sounded like a hot mess, maybe even dangerous in a way, with his wolf locked up for so long. Gladstone’s reputation of accepting lost souls meant welcoming someone as unique as Robert, yet there were lines Ben allowed no one to cross.
“I appreciate your honesty, Donna. Your brother’s choices bother me more than I can say, but for your sake I’m glad he’s coming. Do what you can to keep a lid on things, but if there’s trouble he may have to leave. Fair enough?”
Donna sagged in relief.
“Thank you, Ben. I want you to meet him when he gets here, even if he won’t like it. Maybe some of Gladstone will rub off on him.”
Donna left the office with a small smile – her last comment starting the wheels turning in Ben’s mind. He appreciated her genuine concern for Robert, but this situation required a team effort. Opening the mind-link, he found Evan ruminating on a new Delta school module idea and surprised to be hearing from his mate just now.
“I thought you were working on a new home design. What’s up?”
“I am, but Donna needs some help with her brother and he’s due any minute. What are we doing for supper tonight?”
“Supper? Nothing special. Why?”
“Ask Cody if he’d be willing to throw together a meal for a few guests on short notice - something worthy of a food critic’s attention.”
Ben launched into a thumbnail sketch of Robert’s situation and what he wanted to do, promising more details later. Intrigued, Cody agreed to up the “wow” factor and put on a fancy spread. Evan chuckled at his mate’s machinations.
“Donna’s going to see right through you, and as for Robert...”
“Donna won’t mind, and the man has no idea what a pack can be. We’re going to show Robert what he’s missing.”
Chapter 13
WITH SEVERAL MILESyet to go, the air filled with the scent of shifters and Robert’s wolf noticed. His already-jangled nerves produced a sharp rebuke for his lupine counterpart, and the poor creature snarled in frustration. This was one of the reasons he purposely stayed away from his people and packlands. If his wolf ever got the upper hand, Robert wasn’t sure he’d be able to control him. He didn’t know exactly what that meant, but it certainly threatened to upset his carefully crafted life.
On the left, he spotted the cell phone tower he’d been told to watch for. A quarter mile further on brought him to the unnamed access road and he turned, heading south. Ahead, yellow security gates completely blocked the road and a guard stepped out of the small adjacent booth. Robert stopped the car and rolled down the window as the muscled man walked over to speak with him. Scores of shifter scents assaulted his senses, including a match to the one on the road earlier. His wolf squirmed and yipped like a pup, distracting him from the delectable guard.
“Good morning. May I help you?”
“Robert Atherton, here to see Donna Follett. I believe she is expecting me.”
“Welcome to Gladstone, Robert. Allow me to double-check, and when the gates go up, follow the road directly to the central compound where someone will meet you. Enjoy your stay.”
