After we had gotten home, Adam had pulled me into a tight hug as I fumbled with my seatbelt. He hadn't completely let go since then. Even when he went to check Honey; who immediately had gone to the guest room where she curled up in the closet, he was still holding my hand. She still hadn't stopped shivering. It was only once Adam had assured her, she was safe, that she drifted off into sleep, and stayed that way until a meeting was called. It was well into the evening hours that the pack meeting had finished. By that point Adam's wolf had settled back and the man could properly explain everything.
"Pack bonds were used."
I scrunched up my nose at that. He wasn't wrong perse. "It felt different." Dusty almost. Like it was a member who wasn't really there or really distant. But there was strength too, and it was vaguely familiar. "It was like…" Like what? It was on the tip of my tongue but the answer wouldn't come, as if it was hidden in a fog.
"Bran."
I blinked. With that one word, the fog cleared. Yes, it felt like Bran or more specifically The Marrock. Alpha of alphas. "But it wasn't actually Bran." No, I'd have recognized the feel of Bran in the pack bonds even if he presented his 'geek' self. This wolf was similar in status as Bran, but there was some intangible thing that made him distinctly not Bran.
"Yes, he was definitely not Bran, but he acted as if he was. I felt him take control. Even my wolf. That was why Honey was forced to answer. I imagine that is also why Tony was also forced to answer."
I concurred with his assessment, and was about to ask more when my phone rang. It was sharp and shrill, startling both me and Adam. I glanced at the caller ID.
Tony.
Adam nodded silently directing me to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Mercy." Tony sounded worn. I remembered a quote from The Lord of the Rings, 'Like butter scraped to thinly over toast.' That's what Tony sounded like. It instantly had me worried.
"Tony? What's wrong?"
He sighed, seemingly dragging up what little strength he had left to fortify his voice. "I'll be okay." But someone else probably wouldn't. Several someones if I was to guess. "Do you think you could come look at a crime scene?" I glanced at the clock about to ask now, when he hurriedly added, "Tomorrow, not tonight."
I looked to Adam. Not to ask permission; mind you, both of us knew I was going with Tony in this state. I was asking without asking who was going with me. Adam couldn't. With what the shadow had revealed, he would be sticking close to Evan.
"Warren." He walked off to go grab his cellphone, and relay the message to Warren. When he came back, he was holding his laptop.
"Warren and I will be there. Where exactly is there? And what time do you want us there?"
"Tomorrow is Monday, right? Early, that way you can get back to work. Seven in the morning work?"
"Yep." Tony gave me the address. I glanced at Adam, who was already pulling it up on google maps. It turns out the place was an old warehouse. Over the years it had been rented out to be used several different things, including a modern art studio. But it had been in disuse for a couple years now. It was located on the edge of the city, which would explain why none of the renters had lasted long. Though it was close; maybe even connected, to the railroad. The same ones that went past Abigail's apartment, perhaps? Other than that, there was nothing around other than brush. A good place to deal with anyone making noise without attracting attention.
"Thank you." Tony truly sounded relieved.
"No problem." After a pause I asked, "Hey, Tony?"
"Yeah?"
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call." I wanted to comfort him with whatever was going on. Maybe take some of that bone grinding exhaustion off him. But there wasn't much I could do at this point other than pray. Pray whatever was happening, wasn't permeant to my friend. Tony didn't deserve that.
He chuckled softly, gaining a little of his former self back. "I will. Take care, Mercy. I'll see you in the morning."
"Alright, bye."
"Bye." He hung up and I could only stare at my phone and worry. Adam came over and rubbed my shoulders. An action that was as soothing to me as it was him.
"He was alone, so there wasn't anyone there to make him make that call." My husband reassured me. While my hearing was pretty good, Adam's was on a different level. Partly because of being in his position, but mostly because wolves are paranoid. If he said no one was there with Tony, then no one was. That, however, did not ease my worry for Tony.
"He sounds exhausted."
"And scared." He confirmed what I already suspected. What did I even say to that? Adam gently tugged me up from the kitchen chair I had plopped down into. I could see Adam's own worry reflected in his eyes. Worry for me. "Let's rest. Nothing we can do until Tony calls or you're meeting tomorrow."
Speaking of which. "What are you going to do for that?"
"I'll be here holding down the fort and taking care of everyone." I suddenly had a vision of Adam in a frilly pink apron, cooking at the stove, but while wearing decidedly nothing else. For several seconds all I could do as blink as this image teased through my mind. I think I made a strangled sound when I realized that image had not come from my brain, but from the man in question. I looked at him helplessly. "Nudge."
"Are you serious?" I blurted out. This was how he choose to distract me? I mean it was working, but still.
"Deadly, what do you think?" There was mischief and desire in his eyes, which only fanned my own.
"I think some people would pay money for that image." Hell, just the idea would cause a stir.
"How much would you pay?" He asked this question as if he would give the proposition serious thought depending on my answer. I felt the smile that pulled on my lips as I remembered a certain crack I had made on our honeymoon.
"A dollar." I ignored the choking I could hear from the basement.
Adam snorted a laugh, clearly remembering the same joke. "Can't believe that, is only worth a dollar to you." He grumbled half-heartedly.
"Fine," I conceded. "Two dollars." I even had the cheek to hold up two fingers. Then I bolted for the bedroom. Even with me cheating and vaulting the couch, Adam still caught me up before I reached the stairs. He scooped me up, carried me to our room, and tossed me onto the nicely made bed. I couldn't contain the giggle when I bounced. Just how easy was it for this man to wipe away my worries. How did I deserve-.
"Don't," he growled.
I grumbled about how unfair this wolf magic was. Adam silenced further protests with the sweetest kiss. His warmth and the smell of musk and mint made for a heady combination. But then that same bond about which I had been griping about opened. Adam's feelings once again poured out over me like a bucket of deliciously warm water had been tipped over my head. My strength and faith which only added to his own, giving him even more courage. Gentle kindness that reached out to others and softened even his wolf. Honesty even in the heart of danger. My stubbornness which was both frustrating and invigorating. I held my head high, back straight, and went to the metaphorical mat not just for him, but the people he cared for and protected. Even if they didn't like me, they were his and they were mine. All of this I saw thorough him. This amazing woman, who had my face, yet felt like a stranger.
"Mother who is not. Sister of the pack. Fighter. Protecter. Safe. Ours." I recognized Adam's wolf with surprise. He hadn't even risen in my husband's eyes, and rarely spoke with human words. Yet here he was. "You make us better."
"If you say so." This was not one I could make that argument with, so, I didn't bother.
"Do." Then wolf went to sleep, content to let the man be in control.
I snuggled into Adam's chest. Letting his warmth radiate through me.
"It's time to sleep."
I hummed in agreement, already feeling sleepy and cozy in my husband's arms.
"Mercy, you need to get undressed. You're still in your church clothes."
I grumbled, but did get up and get changed into one of his t-shirts, before crawling back into bed.
The next morning was relatively quiet, in part due to how early we were eating. Honey and Warren both seemed content to eat their mountains of bacon and eggs in silence. While Ben and Evan; mostly Evan, chatted. It became obvious that the boy had become even more attached to Ben after all the time they had spent together. He would look at the older wolf with something close to awe. Evan constantly peppered Ben with various questions about computers, his admiration was open and honest. Even if Ben had been as dense a pile of bricks, he couldn't have missed it, and didn't. He was twitchy, responding cautiously almost like he was afraid Evan would disappear and someone would jump out and shout 'got you!'. It was getting so bad, that even Warren and Honey were soon pulled in supplying more questions for the boy. Both of them seemed to be struggling to hold back their laughter, when Ben blushed. I glanced at Adam, wondering what he would do. But my husband kept a carefully neutral expression. There were subtle tells, a quick quirk of an eyebrow, his lip would twitch at the corner. My husband was equal parts amused and proud.
In order to keep myself from staring I nominated myself to do dishes. Quickly getting the chore done while keeping an ear on the conversation. Warren handed me his plate and fork last.
"Ready darlin?"
I nodded, grabbing my purse and following him out to his truck. I waited until we were in the vehicle and it was running before asking, "Did you manage to follow up on the birth certificate?"
"I might have a lead." He fished out a piece of paper from the middle console of the truck and passed it to me. A smiling face greeted me. The picture charming looking young man with average looks, and pleasant smile. The kind of person who could likely charm anyone without being threatening. He just an innate softness that reminded me of Evan. Looking closer you could even see some similar features, his cheeks and nose. All Evan… or maybe it was better said that it was all this man. I read the top line of the accompanying article. It was a print out of an obituary for one Thomas Allen Williams. The man had died June eleventh 2004. The day after Evan's reported birth. Well, that was another point to the theory that the Shadow was hunting things that hurt his daughter. But this wasn't really new, how did this help?
"We kinda knew he was dead; how exactly does it help?"
Warren tapped the name of the author of the obituary. Rosy Garcia. Not a Williams. Could be a maternal family member?
"She's Thomas' godmother. And the kicker, she's a retired veterinarian, specializing in wild animals. Apparently, she used to travel all over the world for conservation efforts."
"Interesting." Considering the timing it probably wasn't a coincidence either. "It's looking more and more like Evan truly is their kid."
"That isn't the end of it. Thomas was an obstetrician."
A doctor who delivered babies? Huh. I glanced back at the image, more and more I was seeing Evan in that easy going smile. "That begs the question, how she was able to get pregnant in the first place?" A warmth flooded me from my right thigh. It hummed as if it were a purring cat rather than a silver dagger with a bone handle.
Warren stiffened, his hands flexing against the steering wheel. "Mercy, you didn't bring that knife with, didja?"
"I left it on the dresser." Which was true. Last night it had been on the dresser in my room. Which is also where I had left it this morning. Where is should have still been, if was a normal weapon.
"It's here now, isn't it?"
"Yep."
He sighed. "That's what I was afraid of."