Sam blinked. “The what now?”
Ollie looked at him like he was stupid. “Thealpha. Alpha Jerrick.”
Sam’s heart flipped over. He was very familiar with that last name. He’d gone to high school with Vaughn Jerrick, although he’d been a senior to Sam’s freshman. Staring at Vaughn had helped Sam get a few things clear in his mind, mainly that he’d rather do naughty things with boys than girls. It was an enlightening time in his life thanks to the hunky senior star quarterback of the school’s football team who tended to prefer tight shirts and jeans that were painted on to...
Sam cleared his throat and turned his attention back to Ollie. “So, you belong to the Jerricks?”
Ollie’s head tilted to the side, clearly unsure how to answer Sam’s question. “You have to call the alpha, Sam.”
“Right. Call Alpha Jerrick. Okay.”
Sam carried Ollie back over to the counter and sat him down. He didn’t have the Jerrick’s phone number, but last he’d heard, Vaughn had taken over his father’s veterinary practice. He did a quick internet search on his phone for the number, and then dialed. As expected, he didn’t get an answer since it was so late, but he did get an option for an after-hours emergency line. Sam grabbed a pen and jotted the number down.
“You smell funny, Sam.”
Sam glanced over at Ollie and mock-frowned. “I do not,” he said before giving Ollie’s ribs a little tickle.
Ollie giggled then petted his arm softly. “You smell scared. Why are you scared of the phone, Sam? Phones aren’t scary.”
Sam huffed and reached out to goose Ollie’s knee. Ollie flinched, and Sam went from worried about sounding insane when he called the Jerrick’s emergency line to angry. He knew exactly what that defense mechanism meant. Someone had hit Ollie, and bigger than him or not, if it was Vaughn, Sam planned on decking him first, and then reporting him to the police.
“Ollie, you’re safe here, okay? I’m not going to hurt you or let anyone else hurt you. I promise. Now, are yousureyou want me to call your family?”
Ollie’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t have a family. But I need to talk to the alpha, Sam. It’sreallyimportant.” Such big words for such a little guy.
“Okay then. I’ll help.” Sam dialed the emergency number for the Jerrick’s clinic and was a bit surprised when the line was picked up on the second ring. “Jerrick Animal Clinic. Dr. Vaughn, speaking.”
“Um. Oh. Hi. Vaughn. Because yeah, two Dr. Jerrick’s would be confusing. So you’re Dr. Vaughn and not Dr. Jerrick.”
“Who is this?” Vaughn didn’t sound happy, not that Sam could blame him.
“Yeah, um, this is Sam. Sam Baker?”
“Who? Do you have an emergency?”
Sam sighed. “Sammy Baker? From high school?”
“Sammy? I heard you were back in town. I didn’t know you had a…pet?”
“I go by Sam now. And, uh, well, see… I don’t… Look. Here’s the thing. I need to ask you a crazy favor. Is there any way you could come over to my house? Um, I have… okay, I actually think I’m insane right now. Or possibly dreaming? But if you could come over, like, right away, it would really help me out.”
Vaughn didn’t respond for a moment. “Sam, are you okay?” He paused again. “Is someone there with you?”
“I’m okay. And, uh, yes. I was asked to call, uh, you? I think. Anyway, if you could—”
“Tell me your address. I’m on my way.”
Sam rattled off the address and the line went dead. Ollie leaned into him again and wrapped his arms around Sam’s neck. Sam couldn’t remember a time when he felt as weird as he did at that moment. His world would soon be shifting on its axis; he knew it deep in his core. The things he’d seen in the past few minutes weren’t part of some elaborate dream.
He lifted Ollie into his arms again, debating for a moment about what he could do to warm him up further. Ollie’s clothes were still wet from the storm, and although he didn’t seem to be as cold as he was initially, he had to be uncomfortable. Sam’s shirt was damp just from holding him, but with Vaughn on the way and Sam not having any clothes for a child in his house, he figured he could just wait a few more minutes.
“You hungry, little man?”
Ollie shrugged his reply. “I’m kinda scared now,” he whispered into Sam’s neck.
“You’ll be okay. I promised you, right?” Sam rubbed his hand over Ollie’s back, taking a moment to tuck the blanket more securely around him.
“Yeah, but you’re just a human.”
