Page 10 of Midnight Rules
Dad wouldn’t take offense to anything Cass Huber said, especially being called an asshole. It didn’t bother him unless Marric said it to him.
“My help, huh?”
“With the pack. Stand in as alpha until we can find the right alpha.”
His dad sighed. “Must be pretty bad if you’re coming to me.”
“It’s not good.”
“I wish I could, but I’ve got a lot going on here.” His dad was sincere. He would have helped if not for the illness and Regan being with them. Both needed to stay a secret. Because most likely they were connected. Telling one secret opened the other one too.
Marric watched the barn door, making sure Regan didn’t come out.
“Can I send you the date and place to our next pack meeting? Just in case you change your mind.”
“I’ll attend if things change around here.” And by change, he meant finding a cure.
“We appreciate any help you could give us.” There was a pause, as if the deputy and Vince McKenzie stood to leave. Cass Huber spoke again. “We’d like to be allies. That means help goes both ways.”
Sensing the men would leave soon, Marric left the porch and headed toward the barn.
He was halfway there when they came out of the house.
Marric didn’t stop walking until Cass Huber said, “Hey, kid.”
Marric turned, meeting his gaze. He raised his eyebrows. “Deputy.”
He wasn’t in his uniform. “You’re Ransome’s kid, right?”
“So he says.”
He heard his dad say his name, followed by, “Smartass kid.”
Marric grinned.
Dad might have acted as though Marric annoyed him, but if Marric was as smartass, it meant he felt better and that came as a relief for his dad. They both knew the illness would come back in a few days. Marric liked to let his dad know how he felt. He figured he might as well shake his dad’s tree a little while he was at it. Life was a little more fun that way.
“Your smell is unique.” Cass sniffed the air.
Marric smirked and turned toward the barn. “Tell the sheriff I said hi.”
Marric sent a silent thank you to the gods for scent suppressant. If he hadn’t sprayed himself before burglaring they might have caught him. No one but Emery had a scent similar to his and Cass Huber would have known in that moment who the perpetrator was.
Marric had to remember to be careful in the future.
Regan stood at Sparks’ stall, petting his nose. “Is Grandpa done talking to those strange wolves?”
Marric nodded. “Do you want to go back inside, or do you want to go for a ride?”
Regan snapped his gaze to Marric. “Really? You’ll take me?”
“Emery’s a better rider. If she felt well enough, she would take you. You’ll have to settle for me as a teacher.”
“Can we go see Emery first? I bet she’s lonely in her room all the time.” As if they didn’t spend hours with her. And Dad carried her down the stairs all the time.
Marric wrapped an arm around Regan and hugged him close as they left the barn. “You know I love you, right? We’re hiding you because we want to keep you safe. Not for any other reason.”
Marric didn’t like to think about Regan having to leave them. They would give him up so long as he stayed safe. It might break Marric’s heart, but he would do it. Marric’s gut told him to keep Regan close and to keep him hidden. But he didn’t know enough about where Regan came from to know if that was the right thing to do.
