Sam had really lost his mind.Just a human. He’d definitely gone cuckoo for cocoa puffs. He’d probably fallen asleep in his chair and was more than likely drooling all over someone’s final exam. Of course, if it was a dream, it was the most realistic one he’d ever had. He gave Ollie a gentle squeeze and carried him back to the living room. There was really nothing left to do but wait.
Luckily, it didn’t take long. It wasn’t like his hometown was some big metropolis, but Sam figured if it really was Vaughn pulling into his drive, he’d probably broken a few speeding laws along the way. That was if Vaughn still lived on the other side of town where he’d grown up. Sam realized he didn’t know and was doing that assuming thing again.
Ollie stiffened in his arms, obviously hearing the car door slam. Sam rubbed a gentle hand down his back, even as Vaughn pounded on the front door.
Figuring he’d better be safe than sorry, he called out, “Who is it?”
“Vaughn.”
“Coming!” Sam pushed to his feet and adjusted his hold on Ollie. “Okay, little man,” Sam whispered, “I know Vaughn from a long time ago. If this is who you meant, he won’t hurt you either. Okay?”
Ollie nodded, but kept his face buried in Sam’s neck. He tightened his hold until he was nearly strangling Sam. Sam took a second to look out the peephole, and recognizing Vaughn, he unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door.
Vaughn looked angry for a moment, almost like he was prepared to fight. But then he noticed the child in Sam’s arms and froze.
“Hey, Vaughn,” Sam whispered. “I have someone here who is asking for a Jerrick. You’re the only one I know, so…”
Vaughn looked around, checking behind Sam with a puzzled frown. “You guys alone?”
Sam nodded. “It’s just me and Ollie.”
“Ollie?”
Hearing his name, Ollie raised his head and looked at Vaughn. Sam didn’t think the man looked a lot different than when they were teens. He had more facial hair now, but his sandy brown hair was still cut short and his eyes were the same piercing blue, although Sam noticed a new line or two beside them that showed he wasn’t a teenager any more.
Ollie breathed deep and began trembling in Sam’s arms. He whimpered, released his hold from Sam, and practically leapt into Vaughn’s arms. Vaughn’s eyes flashed, going from their normal crystal blue to a deeper, brighter tone that had Sam taking a step back. He’d seen that same flash earlier from Ollie. Then Vaughn began a rumbling growl deep in his chest. Ollie’s breath hitched and he began to cry.
Sam stepped forward again, but Vaughn’s eyes flashed and he turned his body away, shielding Ollie from Sam’s view. It took everything Sam had not to reach out and take the little boy back. He resisted, but only because he didn’t have any idea what was really going on. Obviously, Ollie felt safe with Vaughn. Vaughn whispered softly to him, his hand petting the boy’s back just like Sam’s had. His crying began to slow, the gasping sobs ebbing to hiccupping breaths.
Unsure what to do, Sam folded the blanket in his arms and placed it on the arm of the couch. Two more cars pulled in, their headlights casting an eerie glow over Vaughn as he stood in the doorway with Ollie cradled against him. Three unfamiliar faces appeared, all of them freezing when they saw Vaughn holding Ollie.
“Al— Uh, Vaughn, everything okay?” The woman of the group stepped forward, the two men flanking her. Their gazes flicked to the side, and it didn’t escape Sam’s notice when they breathed in deeply through their noses. More animal behavior. The world shifted on its axis another degree.
“Everything’s fine,” Vaughn said. “Check around the house, quickly. We need to move.”
All three hurried to do as Vaughn demanded.
Sam stepped closer. “Um, excuse me, but where do you think you’ll bemoving? You aren’t taking him anywhere until I know what exactly is going on. And don’t try to pull your wholeI’m Vaughn Jerrick and you’ll do what I saycrap either. I deal with middle schoolers for a living and I am immune to all forms of bossy bullcrap from people who think they know better than me.”
Vaughn opened his mouth then snapped it shut again. Ollie raised his head from Vaughn’s neck and looked back toward Sam with a watery smile. “It’s okay, Sam. He’s the alpha. He can help me now.”
Vaughn’s eyes widened and he stared Sam down, as if expecting some sort of questioning. Sam glared at him, and then turned to Ollie. “That’s great, little man. But see, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to leave right now. It’s still storming outside and we just got you warmed up. We can wait here with the… alpha… for a little while longer to see if it stops raining, right?”
Ollie nodded and then turned to Vaughn. “It was really cold outside, but Sam let me use his blanket and he told me I didn’t have to be afraid. But it’s really dark outside and the thunder was really loud. But I had to find you, Alpha. Ihadto.”
“You did great, Ollie,” Vaughn assured him. “You did exactly what you should have done. Why don’t we hang out here for a little bit with Sam and find out what happened, okay?”
Ollie nodded. Vaughn stepped closer to the door but didn’t cross the threshold. He leaned out and whistled sharply.
Sam heard something in the distance, what sounded like a howl then Vaughn closed the door and carried Ollie to the couch. They sat down, and Vaughn reached over to grab the blanket Sam had just placed there. He handed it back to Ollie, who hugged it to him as he leaned into Vaughn’s chest.
“So, I’m not sure what to do here,” Sam said. “Should I offer you a drink? Should I be calling the cops? Should I pinch myself to see if I wake up?”
“Why don’t you sit down, Sam.” Vaughn took a deep breath, before lowering his cheek to Ollie’s head for a moment.
Sam complied, more out of curiosity than any real desire to do what Vaughn said. Once he was seated, Vaughn lifted his head and locked eyes with him.
“First of all, werewolves are real.”
