“Who said?”
“Your mother.”
“My mother?” Jackie didn’t realize he’d shouted until everything around them went silent. He dipped his head a little when his cheeks flushed. “What about my mother?”
“She was a shifter like you.”
Jackie seriously doubted it.
“She told me that she couldn’t smell shifter on you, that you were totally human. That’s why she left you with me when she took off.”
“Because she thought I was defective?”
“No, son, not defective. Different, and where she was going, being different wasn’t a good thing. It would have been too dangerous for you.”
Jackie was confused. He pushed himself into a sitting position and brushed the hair back from his face. “I wasn’t wearing women’s clothes when she left. How could she know—”
“That’s not what I’m talking about, and dressing in women’s clothing does not make you defective. It makes you true to yourself.”
An argument Jackie had heard before from his father, and one he appreciated, but right now, he wanted to know more about his mother and this shifter business. “Tell me what you’re talking about. Where was my mother going?”
“She was a shifter, son. She met her true mate and was leaving to join his pride. They would have taken you with them, but she said there was no shifter inside of you.” A sad little smile graced the man’s lips. “I was always so glad of that. That meant I didn’t lose you, too. But…I don’t understand why you didn’t shift before now. Your mother swore you were human.”
“She was probably right, Dad.” Jackie drew in a breath, bracing himself. “That man you came with?” Jackie nodded to where two enforcers were standing over Drummond, who had shifted back to human form.
“Bruce Davenport.” His father nodded. “His car broke down on the side of the road. I was giving him a lift.”
“His name isn’t Bruce Davenport. It’s Drummond, and he kidnapped me six months ago, locked me in a cell, and did experiments on me that turned me into a shifter.”
Jackie wasn’t sure what he was expecting after dropping that bomb in his father’s lap. Sadness, fear, maybe even disgust. He didn’t expect his father to get up, storm across the lawn, and punch Drummond right in the mouth.
Jackie slapped his hand over his mouth when he burst out laughing. It really wasn’t a laughing matter, but damn. His dad was something else.
“I brought you some jogging pants and a shirt to wear,” Yuji said as he walked up. “They’re not your usual style, but they are pink. I borrowed them from Marsha. I hope they will do.”
Jackie grinned as he stood up, grabbed the soft pants and shirt, and dressed. He couldn’t have been more thrilled that the people in the pride didn’t care if he wore feminine clothes or not.
“Thank you, Yuji. These are perfect.”
He started walking toward his father, but the man was headed in his direction, rubbing his knuckles and then shaking out his hand. “Asshole has a head like a rock.”
Jackie grinned. “I really missed you, Dad.”
“I missed you, too, Jackie.” James glanced around to the others standing in the yard and driveway. “Is it safe here? Your mother warned me about prides. She told me how they didn’t associate with humans. You may be able to shift now, but I’m still human.”
“It’s perfectly safe, Dad. And things might have been like that back when Mom left, but they’re not that way anymore. Everyone here has readily accepted me, even with my pink nails.”
Jackie’s eyes narrowed when his gaze landed on Drummond. “Except him,” he said as he pointed at the man. “He’s not from this pride. In fact, he was human until recently. I suspect he started taking his own drugs.”
“What’s going to happen to him?”
Jackie glanced at Hugh. “Alpha Marshall? What’s going to happen to Drummond?”
“The council is sending some enforcers to take him into custody,” Hugh said. “He’ll be treated for his injuries”—the man’s lips twitched—“and then he’ll be questioned and tried for his crimes. If they find him guilty, he’ll be placed in a shifter prison.”
“And if he’s not found guilty?”
Hugh raised an eyebrow. “Do you actually think that’s possible?”
