That was good enough for me. That had tobe good enough for anyone.
Shamus cleared his throat. “I know youguys probably want to eat and hit the sack, but have you seen the news at alltoday?”
No.No more bad news. But Icouldn’t deny what was happening. I needed to hear about what our people weregoing through.
“What’s happened?” my mom asked, standingup to position herself beside my dad and me.
Shamus went over to the wall where a flatscreen TV was mounted.
“It’s pretty awful. Wolf packs have been tornapart, kids are on the run. Some witches are helping to hide our kind but notenough. I want to put out a message that all wolves are welcome here. You okaywith that, Kai? Can you help me handle that many wolves? I don’t haveexperience with that big of a pack.”
My father answered without hesitation. “Absolutely.Put out the word. It may also help in my effort to push the government intoseeing reason.”
He clicked on the TV but muted itimmediately. I saw why. No words were needed. And when the scene played outbefore me, I gasped. It was exactly that of my first vision with Nahuel in thecornfields. The young wolf in a cage in the back of a pick-up truck. Anotherkid getting his teeth smashed out. Complete chaos.
Shamus turned it off. “Riots have sprungup everywhere. They’re calling it wolfnapping and it’s the cool thing to do inorder to make money or save a family member from an illness.”
My dad was breathing slowly in and out ofhis nose and I could tell he was on the verge of a shift. Shamus continued.“Some humans have sprung up and fought on our side but not enough.”
My dad sighed. “Then there is only oneway to play this. Can you get a news camera out here tomorrow?”
Shamus nodded. “Sure thing. What do youhave in mind?”
My dad’s face looked menacing. “Theysteal one of ours then I’m going to steal one of theirs.”
My mom looked surprised. “You’re going tokidnap a human?”
My dad nodded. “Not just any human. Asick human and we’re going to change them. Make the world see there is a betterway to handle this.”
My mom grinned. “That reminds me ofAnna.”
My dad nodded. “Me too. I’ll ask if shewants to help.”
Anna was one of the wolves my dad changed.She’d had terminal cancer and he saved her.
“I’m in too,” Gavin offered.
“Me too.” I smiled.
“After we get some sleep,” my momordered.
We all chuckled. Things were looking up.We had a plan and it had to work. I hoped.
Chapter Nine
WE WERE TAKEN to our camp-style lodgingsin which we shared a cabin with Avery, Jaxon, Gavin, and I. Gavin and I hadcrashed hard on our bunk beds. I tossed and turned all night with dreams ofMukesh and Gavin and shifting animals. By the time I woke in the morning, I wasdrenched in sweat and felt like I had … a fever.Nah.That wasn’tpossible, not again. Swinging my legs over the side of the top bunk, I couldsee that everyone else had gotten up and I was alone. How late did I sleep? Iglanced at the clock on the wall and my jaw dropped when it read half pastnoon. Damn. Sweat prickled my skin and I looked at the open window and the coolbreeze that was flowing in from there.
Jumping down, I stood infront of the window and sighed in relief as the breeze covered my skin.
‘You okay?’Gavinasked through our bond.
I think so, I wanted tosay but thought better of it.‘Fine. Just needed to catch up on sleep.’
‘Well, get showered and dress quickly,your dad is planning his human kidnapping.’
I bolted away from the open window andflew into the adjoining bathroom. I had forgotten about my dad’s plan to kidnapa sick human. It was crazy but it just might work and I wanted to be a part ofit. I showered quickly and put on the only fresh pair of clothes I had left. Ihoped they had laundry facilities here because I was living out of a grungybackpack.
After a light jog, I found my way to thevisitor’s center where Shamus’ office was. Stepping inside I followed thevoices to over a dozen pack members that were standing around a large table ina spacious meeting room. My dad was at the head of the table speaking and Inoticed Anna, Gavin, Jaxon, Avery, and some others were here too.
