“Hates? No, don’t be silly. He loves you.”
Katalina’s eyes widened.
“Well, maybe ‘loves’ is a little strong. Erm, he…well, he really likes you, Kat, and you kinda hurt his feelings.”
“So he stomped off, too?”
“Yep, it’s just me, you and Arne.”
“So does this house have a TV or is that too high tech for shifters?”
“Course we have a TV. Who doesn’t have a TV?” he laughed.
“So can we go watch it? I’m going to go insane if I have to stay locked in this room another day.”
Toby frowned, guilt clouding his eyes. “Kat, I would can’t really, but—”
“Oh, come on, Toby, pleeasse. Don’t be a bore. You’re the only fun one around here, pretty please?” She smiled her sweetest smile.
“Urgh, Kat, you are going to get me in trouble. All right, come on then; I’ll help you down the stairs.”
Katalina slipped out of bed, using the metal stand her drip was attached to as support. “Yes! Thanks, Toby! You’re the best,” she said, ruffling his hair.
“Ay!” he moaned, ducking. “Don’t push your luck!”
“I’ll be on my best behavior, promise. Just the sofa and TV, what could go wrong?”
Several hours later, Katalina regretted her words as a police car pulled up to the house.
“Shit!” Toby muttered as Arne barked. “Shit, shit, shit!” He ran his hand through his hair.
“Toby, calm down. You’re just a kid. They can’t do anything to you. I’ll just tell them you saved me if they are here for me. But honestly, how would they know I’m here. It’s probably about something else.”
Toby looked around in panic and then locked eyes with Katalina. “Stay here! Do not come out, even if it is about you, got it?”
“Toby.”
“No, Kat, I’m serious. I might just be a kid but I’m also a shifter, and your dad, my alpha, would kill me if I lost you, and I mean that literally! Or worse, he’s probably out there watching the house and when they take you away, he’ll come out and start fighting the cops!”
“All right, all right, you’ll never know I was here.”
There was a knock at the door. Toby glanced at Kat, looking as if he might be sick. Taking a deep breath, he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Kat moved closer to the door so she could hear them properly.
“Looking for a Jackson Song. Is he here?”
“No, sorry, he’s out.”
“Are you his son?”
“No.”
There was a pause. She could imagine the cop, bristling, his feet tapping with impatience.
“Look, son, this is important. There’s a girl gone missing. Her parents are dead, and there was a report of someone carrying an injured girl a few blocks over from where she lived. These people saw the girl being driven away in the back of a truck. They got a partial number plate and their description with the partial, matches up with one of Jackson Song’s trucks. Know anything about that, son?”
“No, sorry, no girl here, just me.”
Arne started to scratch and whine at the door.
“Arne, come here,” Katalina whispered.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, erm…Jackson’s dog. I’m dog sitting while he’s away.”
“Can I get a look at that dog? This girl had a dog, too. Seems it’s gone missing with her.”
“No, sorry, he’s not too friendly with strangers.”
Katalina tried to drag Arne away from the door but slipped and knocked into a table. The lamp wobbled; but she caught it just before it fell.
“Let me in, son. I won’t be long, just need to do a quick search, make sure she’s not here.”
“Do you have a warrant?” Toby said, sounding much older than his twelve years.
“Well, no, but what harm is there if it’s just you and a dog here?”
“Sorry, sir, but if there is no warrant, I can’t let you in. It’s not my house.”
“Right, well, when will Mr. Song be home?”
“In a week.”
“I’ll be back, kid.”
The door closed and Toby walked into the front room seconds later. “Seriously, Arne,” he growled at the dog.
To Katalina’s surprise, Arne whined, going down on his belly in submission.
“Hey!” Katalina patted her leg, “Come here, boy. You don’t have to submit to him!”
Arne glanced at Toby and then scurried to Katalina.
She glared at Toby. “That wasn’t nice, scaring him.”
“I wasn’t scaring him, Kat. I was telling him off for nearly getting us caught. I can’t believe the cops are looking for you.”