"Come on, Mom. It's summer vacation." He covered his head with a pillow from the sofa.
"Now."
He grumbled, barely audible from underneath the throw pillow. "Just because you're used to working all the time doesn't mean I want to get up early." Despite his arguments, he sat up slowly. "Can I get breakfast first?"
Marala smiled, obviously giving him a hard time for fun. It was true that she wasn't accustomed to not having to go to work every day. "Sure. I'm hungry, too." She headed into the kitchen with her son close behind. "I can't believe how much of a slob your father is. How hard is it to hit the hamper?"
"Yeah, I noticed that. Good thing I'm not messy."
"You know better." She told him as she took down a few bowls from the cabinet and filled them with a generic brand of cereal labeled Fruity Circles. After adding the milk, she slid him a bowl.
"I guess, but if I lived by myself the place wouldn't be this bad. Definitely less bottles of booze sitting around." He dipped his spoon into the cereal and took a bite.
"Well, like you said, it will give me something to do while we're on house arrest."
Jak frowned. "House arrest?"
"Kaden doesn't want us out of this house when he's not around until they find out who took Mason and Taylor." She sat down on a bar stool beside him, eating her breakfast.
"Makes sense."
Marala laughed. "No protesting or pouting? I shouldn't be surprised."
"Nope. I found the record player in a closet. I'll lose myself in the music." He seemed like he wanted to say something else by the way he grew quiet and chased a red loop around in his bowl with a spoon.
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"Jak, spill it."
"You ever get bad vibes off people?" he asked.
"Only almost everyone I meet." She gave a half smile.
Jak rolled his eyes. "We are an anti-social duo."
"Why do you ask?"
"That Levi guy. Something seems off with him. He's nice … almost too nice. And he makes my skin crawl."
She thought for a moment then shook her head. "He's a good guy. He and his wife were a big part of my life."
"Okay."
"What do you think about Nashoba?"
Jak grinned. "He is a badass. I'd like to meet the rest of the wolves."
"You will when things settle down. Kaden has a lot on his plate right now. He wants to keep you safe."
"Okay," he said again. "You know I'll always be thankful for you, Mom. I know things are changing with the move, Dad being in our lives, and the fact that I will be a wolf soon. Just wanted to throw that out there. Don't get all mushy on me."
It was too late for that. Marala dotted the corners of her eyes and nodded. "Right back at you." She focused on her breakfast, trying her damnedest not to cry.
~*~
The house had been cleaned top to bottom and there was still no sign of Kaden. Marala was alone with her thoughts again. Jak had wandered off to his room to read a book about lycans he'd found when they were cleaning.
An idea came to her she couldn't push away. She wanted to go speak to Mason's parents. They were in a bad spot, one she didn't want to imagine, and she was going to be the alpha female soon. It was her place to be there for the pack.
Of course, Kaden would be none too happy about her leaving the house, but it was daylight and she wasn't going far. Convincing herself all would be well, she ran her fingers through her hair and headed outside.
A man was climbing a nearby tree. She couldn't see who it was since he was so high up, but he appeared to be adjusting some solar panels. Life out in the sticks had definitely become more advanced in the years since she'd run away.
Marala doubled-checked the door and headed toward the house Mason's parents had lived in when she was a teenager. She knocked on the door a couple of times and stuck her hands in her pockets as she waited.
Josie Yunger opened the door. Her swollen eyes widened and she reached out, hugging Marala without warning. Stiffly, Marala removed her hands from her pockets and patted the woman on the back. They'd met a few times, but they were barely acquaintances. Josie had been a few months pregnant when she and her husband had joined the pack. Only a little farther along than she had been.
"Hey. It'll be okay," Marala said, knowing full well it probably wouldn't be.
The woman let her go and bowed her head respectfully. "It is good to have you home, She-Wolf Dakota. We females need a strong woman to lead us. It's been far too long. I was so happy to hear you were bonding with the leader."
Gossip travels fast. Marala frowned, but quickly decided her own problems meant little when the woman before her was missing a child. "I'm here for you and the others. Anytime you need anything. Speaking of which, how can I help you through this tragedy?"
Josie invited Marala inside. The house was tidy, but outdated in style like most of the homes. She had a frail frame, more so than most females in the pack. Marala figured the woman probably hadn't eaten much since her son had disappeared. That certainly wouldn't help the situation. Josie poured her a cup of coffee which was accepted with a gracious smile and a thank you.
"Marala, the moon will return my son to me. This is a test of faith. A test of the pack's strength."
Marala doubted the kidnapping had anything to do with the moon or any other spirits, real or imagined. "They'll find him."
Josie nodded, moving to the kitchen window and looking outside into the dense forest. "Martell searches from dawn until late into the night. His paws are blistered and he's fatigued when he returns home. The other wolves hunt, too, but if they've not found him yet … ." She cleared her throat. "All we have left is faith."
A debate about whether the moon was some sort of Goddess or a chunk of rock orbiting the Earth would be a bad idea. The only thing any of the wolves knew for sure was that their life cycles were tied to the lunar body. Marala decided to veer away from the topic. The last thing she wanted to do was crush the woman's last bit of hope that her son would be returned.
"I don't know what to say to make this better. There is nothing." She sipped her coffee. It was shockingly sweet like candy. "Just know I'm here for you if you want to talk or go for a ride. Whatever you want." She'd said something similar when she entered the house, but it was the only thing she could think of and it was the truth.
"There's something I need to give you."
"Give me?"
Josie left the room and walked down a short hallway. When she returned, she carried a dress by a hanger. Plastic was draped over the white material. "This dress had been chosen by your mother soon after you were promised to Kaden. His mother kept it safe after your parents were … you know … anyway, before the alpha female passed she left it with me."
"She must have respected you." Marala stood and accepted the item from Josie as she spoke.
"I think it was because I'm the least threatening or aggressive female in the pack." She managed a short laugh before immediately frowning as if any sort of joy was unacceptable now.
Marala lifted the plastic slowly, examining the dress. It was a simple gown. Silky with a sheer covering and a few flowers for embellishment. Life had made Marala a tough woman, but tears came to her eyes at seeing the gift. It was like receiving a present from the grave. A blessing. Hope.
"Thank you, Josie. You've honored me and the pack by keeping this safe."
The petite woman bowed her head in service. "The honor was mine."
After a quick, hopefully inconspicuously clearing of her throat, Marala covered the dress with the plastic once more. "Well, you know where to find me. I will visit again."
"My door is always open to you." She extended her arm, palm open.
Taken aback at first by the gesture of respect common among the females, Marala froze. Then she remembered her manners and placed her palm against the woman's briefly. Palm to paw, heart to heart.
~*~
Now that daylight had arrived, Taylor could observe his surroundings clearly. Or lack thereof. He was in a hole. He'd known that much. Unfortunately, the pit was far deeper than he'd expected and the walls offered no means to climb out. The boy rested curled up in the corner with only dirty jeans on. No shirt. He was thin.
"Hey, kid," Taylor said. "I mean, Mason. What do you do when you need to … go?"