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“Theo,” James’ deep voice calls from the kitchen as I step into the Lodge. “Bring it here. Don’t think I was so preoccupied I didn’t see you out there.”
Walking through the long hall that runs through the main house, I turn to step into the large kitchen. James is pouring two cups of coffee, black like his soul, as he is fond of telling me.
“What is it?” He asks, looking at the creature in my arms. I gently set her on the counter, my hand resting on her back.
“A shifter of some kind, but not a natural shifter. I couldn’t force a shift and couldn’t leave her out there.”
“Give her here.” James reaches out to pick up the bunnymoth, but she swipes out hissing and scratching him. “A bit of a temper, have you?”
“She got my nose and then hand earlier. The teeth are worse.”
“Hmm, well let’s see what we can do.” James walks around the corner to stand next to me, his hand resting on her back. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath in, slowly blowing out. On the exhale, he says “Shift”. I feel the draw, the desire to shift, and howls fill the forest and house as the other shifters can’t deny what James is calling them to do. But our little blue Bunnymoth sits on the counter, trembling.
“Odd. Are you sure she is a shifter? I can’t sense her, just chemicals and the forest.” James looks at the bunnymoth. “Where did you find her?”
“In the Reserve. I was blowing off steam when I caught her scent. She was holed up in the hollow of a tree.”
“The Reserve?” James looks at me, concern evident on his face.
“Yeah, that is the weird part. It’s pack land and fenced in for our and the public's protection. So how did she get in and where did she come from?” This creature is a mystery that I desperately want to unravel. Something about her triggers my protective nature. I even had to keep my wolf from growling at James, which wouldn’t have gone over well. Growling at your Alpha and older brother is a good way to start something that ends with lots of sore muscles, broken bones and possibly death or expulsion from the pack.
Grabbing the mugs, James starts walking toward his office. “Come in so we can talk.”
“Don’t you think we should call Arlin? Let him know of her, at the least. The fact that neither you nor I could force the shift is concerning.” I really don’t want to call the prick in. He might be the warden of the forest, but he has a way of making every male in the pack bristle the whole time he is here.
James gives me the look, the one that says, “What are you, the stupidest wolf alive?” Shaking his head, he asks, “You really want me to call him? He won’t take kindly to being accused of negligence. He is so full of himself. His dick thinks for him half the time.”
A low growl escapes me before I can get a grip on my emotions. “So, Sensei. What is our plan then, if neither of us can make her shift?”
“Theo, shut the door.” James orders me and I respond before I have a chance to think. Damn Alpha arrogance. I glare at him as I sit down, Bunnymoth in my lap. “I don’t think that she is a shifter at all. Just some creature created God only knows where.”
“James, you’re wrong! I can sense her, and she needs the pack’s help. Even if she isn’t a shifter, shouldn’t we find out what she was doing out there? Who did this to her?”
“No, Theo. We hand her over to the human police and let them figure it out. We don’t have the resources for this. I will make the call for them to come out.” James turns from me to look up his contact on his laptop.
“James! That isn’t right! She is a shifter.” I glare at him, trying to keep my breathing normal to not trigger Bunnymoth’s flight instinct.
James turns to look at me. “Theo, she isn’t. My decision is final, and you need to prepare to leave with Brittany.”
“No! I refuse to accept that she is just some science experiment. If you won’t help her, I will.”
James stands to his full height, his voice taking on a tone that makes my wolf bristle. I can see in his eyes how close his wolf is to the surface. “I am not talking as your brother but your alpha. You will do as you are instructed.”
My wolf pushes towards the surface, my claws pushing to rip free from the skin that covers them. I growl, “James, don’t make me fight for this.”
We are both Alpha’s, twins sharing the same power, except birth order dictated who took the pack when father died. Family has always been more important to me than a title, so I stepped back to be the Beta. But now I can’t back down. My wolf won’t let me.
I stare at James, a silent war raging between us as we each fight for control of our wolves. Bunnymoth arches her back, hissing, then scrambles down to hide under a low chair in the corner. Smart to get out of the battle zone.
“You want to challenge me for the packs?” James growls, fighting to hold onto his wolf.
I bite my tongue, literally. The taste of copper fills my mouth as I grind out, “I don’t want this between us, but I can’t do this.” Taking a deep breath, I calm myself enough that I can go pick Bunnymoth up without scaring her. Stopping at the door, I don’t turn to look at James. “I’m leaving the packs. I can’t live the life you want me to, and my wolf won’t accept it.”
I look back at my brother, trying to figure out what to say. Everything that comes to mind will burn a bridge that I am not ready to sever, so I just walk out.
As I leave, I can feel the tension in the other shifters; it makes my skin itch and my wolf wants out. Raining him in, I silently tell him he can come out once we are away.
“Theo! Wait up!” Tristan yells running down the stairs.
I ignore him as I walk out of the Lodge, and away from the pack.
“Hey man! Stop!” He grabs my arm and I turn growling.
“Don’t get involved, Tristan. This isn’t your fight.”
“No can do, bro! We have been together since we were pups. I am with you. Now give me the keys. You can’t drive like this, especially with her in your lap.”