Page 81 of Fangs
She tried to say something but was crying too hard to make it out. I shifted to kneel on the cold ground, holding her tightly as she continued to cling to my neck. I could feel her tears dampening my shirt, but I didn’t care.
The other kids surrounded us. More than a few were crying, and I tried to comfort them with one arm as I held Apple with the other. The lump in my throat threatened to choke me.
“It’s alright,” I promised over and over, smoothing back tangled hair and wiping tears. “I’m alright.”
“Don’t suffocate her now,” Leda scolded as she approached with Jet on her hip, but she was beaming when I met her eyes. “Oh, honey, I’m so glad to see you.”
I got to my feet with Apple in my arms, and Leda wrapped both of us in a warm hug. Jet squealed and clumsily patted my face with his chubby hand, drooling around a little tooth I could see peeking out of his gums. The other kids were clinging to my clothes and legs and all talking at once, but despite the complete chaos, I smiled, misty-eyed. This washome.
Leda released me, sniffling a little and tucking her long, curly brown hair behind her ear. Then she groaned, “Oh, I’m so sorry, Bones. Jet drooled all over your shirt.”
“I don’t care,” I laughed, gesturing to where Apple had cried all over my other shoulder.
“Alright, kiddos, looks like Neena’s about to open the door,” Griz announced.
They all pulled back, but Apple’s arms tightened around my neck. Griz held his hands out and raised his eyebrows, silently offering to take her, but I shook my head with a smile. The doors opened with a creak, and Neena appeared, grinning at the kids.
As we began to file inside, I glanced around us, and my heart skipped a beat when I realized Wolf and his entire crew were standing off to the side, watching. I quickly looked away.
“Hey.” Mac appeared seemingly out of nowhere, scanning me. “You okay?”
I honestly wasn’t sure, so I shrugged.
“I knew it was bad, but that…that was way worse than I thought.”
His voice sounded pained, and I glanced at his face to see pain reflected in his eyes.
“I’m sorry you had to hear all that.”
“What?” His eyes narrowed.
“I know it’s awful to hear?—”
“That’s not what I meant.”Anger snapped in his voice now.“I’m not talking about howIfelt hearin’ about it. I’m talkin’ aboutyoufucking goin’ through all that.”
I fiddled with the collar of his jacket I was still wearing.“Oh.”
“The only reason I’m angry right now is 'cause I can’t rip Juck into little shreds.”
I tried for a smile, but it felt flat.
His eyes softened, and his hand twitched like he would reach for me, but then he stopped.“You did good today.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep it together.“Thank you…for everything you said.”
“I just called it like I saw it.”
“You two having a moment?”
Both of us looked at Sam, startled. He glanced between us, eyebrows raised, and I realized Mac and I had been silently staring at each other. Griz was watching, too, and he had a funny look on his face. My heart started galloping in my chest, but Mac grinned.
“Yeah, we were. Rude of you to interrupt, Sam.”
“My bad,” Sam replied, but he was studying the two of us closely in a way that made me nervous for some reason.
“Don’t tell them yet,”I begged.
Mac shot me a brief look full of frustration, but in my head, he replied,“Alright.”
