“What the fuck?” Smokey growled, looking up at the reason he was sprawled out on the floor. Grabbing the hand Glenn offered to him, he pulled himself up, dusted off his jeans, and asked, “Any word from Riley?”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t help much. C’mon, let’s go inside and you can read what he found out so far.” Partially turning to see Ghost, he said, “I’ll see you inside.”
“I’ll be there shortly.” Watching as his men removed Loki and Luka from the trunk, Ghost waited until the prisoners were standing, before saying, “Remove their cuffs and gags, then put them in separate cells. And don’t forget to give them breakfast, but use plastic utensils.”
After receiving nods from his men, Ghost spun around, heading for the safe room. Entering it, he found Smokey bent over a table reading intel from Riley while Glenn was busy on his phone. Sitting down in front of his computer, he pulled up Riley’s information on Xavier Lee.
Leaning back after he finished going through his messages, Glenn rested his arms across his chest, waiting for his friends’ reactions. Whether Smokey knew it or not, he held the key to unlocking the fucking mess they were in. And whether his friend wanted to explain what he was doing when he dropped out of sight or not, Glenn wasn’t about to give him a choice in the matter.
Frowning, Smokey read everything Riley sent, knowing his time had run out regarding the secret he was keeping. Slowly setting down the printout, he gathered his thoughts, trying to organize them so his friends would understand why he’d kept them in the dark. Finally, looking at Glenn, he said, “I didn’t know his real name was Xavier Lee…the only name I heard was Panther.”
“Fair enough. Why is Panther hunting you?”
Shaking his head, Smokey said, “It’s a long story and I’m not sure you’ll believe me.”
“Try me.”
Giving a quick glance at Ghost, Smokey saw his friend eyeing him. Running his hand through his hair, he thought for a moment, then began. “I grew up in a remote place in Northern Canada. There weren’t any other kids around until a family moved onto the homestead next to ours. I guess I was about eight…and they had a son the same age as me. We were friends the moment we met each other.” Smokey’s eyes got a faraway look in them as he remembered the fun they had, not to mention the trouble they always seemed to get into.
Sighing, he resumed. “They were shifters too, so I never worried about losing control and shifting accidentally in front of Kevin…that’s his name, Kevin Pilip…the last name is Inuit…means ‘lover of horses.’ Our families were very close and when my parents died, I moved in with them.”
“Did something happen to them?” asked Glenn. “Is that where you were?”
“Yes and no. Kevin’s mom called me last year, frantic because he disappeared… she asked for my help. She made me promise not to tell anyone about him. It was an easy promise, since it was a rule I always lived by.” Sighing, Smokey looked down at the damaging information about Panther. For the first time in his life, he was going to break his word. It didn’t sit well in his gut but if there was any hope of saving Kevin, he needed help from his friends.
Raising his head, Smokey stared at Glenn and, finding the affirmation his secret was safe, he continued. “The reason his mom was so worried is because Kevin is the only one of his kind in existence. In fact, there’s no logical explanation for how it happened…you’re just gonna have to take my word for it.”
“Take your word for what?” asked Ghost, becoming perturbed, somewhat.
“What’s so rare about Kevin?” asked Glenn.
“He’s a unicorn,” mumbled Smokey.
“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you right…say again,” Ghost asked, shock etched on his face.
“Smokey, unicorns don’t exist…they’re made-up creatures, the stuff of imagination in fairy tales, but they aren’t real,” Glenn said.
Anger flashed in Smokey’s eyes as he growled at his friends. “You both are fuckin’ assholes. Don’t bother seeing me out…I’ll handle this on my own.” Rising, he started for the door but was stopped when his friends jumped up and barred the way.
“Smokey,” Glenn said quietly, “what was your reaction the first time you saw Kevin shift? Did you believe what your eyes saw?”
Narrowing his eyes, Smokey scowled. “Of course I did. I thought it was the coolest thing ever.”
“Okay…but we’ve never seen it with our own eyes.”
“That’s right…but I’m telling you, so why don’t you believe me? Have I ever lied to either of you?”
“No…and I’m sorry, Smokey. It’s just that it’s so incredible…you know? A fuckin’ unicorn!” muttered Glenn.
“I’m sorry, too,” Ghost said. “And I do believe you but…a fucking unicorn? C’mon, that fairy tale shit.”
“You said he’s unique…what about his parents? One of them had to be a unicorn,” Glenn said.
“His mother’s a horse shifter, his father’s a narwhal.”
“You mean the whale with the horn?” asked Ghost.
“Yeah, that’s why they moved…so Kevin’s father could be closer to the sea,” explained Smokey.
