Page 4 of The Thief

Catcher’s toenails clicked against the floor from the kitchen entryway as he circled the table, sniffing each person he passed. Robyn occasionally gave him a plate at mealtime, but Catcher hunted during the day and rarely ate at the table. He usually found a spot behind either her or Tak and would listen to us chatter. It was a difficult adjustment having a Shifter around who always stayed in animal form, but Catcher had proven himself trustworthy. He had fought bravely for our pack, putting his life on the line.

Bear pulled out the chair to my right. “Mind if I sit?”

“Help yourself,” I replied.

After he sat down, he lowered his voice and asked, “Is there something else you’d like for dinner? I can make it. No trouble at all.”

Salem and I were the only ones with empty plates, but Salem always waited for Joy to finish before he started.

“No, it’s not that,” I said, hoping my listless attitude didn’t offend him. “Work is taking a toll on me. I nearly had a heatstroke this afternoon while clearing out debris.”

Tak knocked on the table to gather our attention. “Why don’t we take a vacation? My horse is coming?—”

“Again with the horse,” Hope quipped.

He flashed a grin at her before directing his comments to the group. “Hard work is good for the soul, but your souls look like they were dragged through a swamp. Take a break and sleep in. You deserve a respite.” He swirled the ice in his glass. “Hope and I are leaving town for a couple of days.”

Montana’s head appeared next to Bear. “What for?”

Lakota leaned forward and met eyes with Montana. “Mother’s Day. My parents are flying down from Cognito, so we’re having a get-together. Lucian’s coming too. That means you’ll be in charge while we’re gone.”

No one had officially proclaimed Montana as the third-ranked wolf, which was known as the gamma, but it was inferred. He was rational, calm, and a problem solver, so we looked to him for guidance and leadership when Tak and Lakota weren’t around.

Joy set her fork down and wiped her mouth with a napkin. “That’s so sweet. Do you have anything special planned?”

“A famous Weston cookout,” Melody replied while poking at her chicken. “That’s the name of my family’s pack. When they throw a party, they do it with gusto. After we pig out and catch up on family gossip, I plan to take all three moms on a shopping spree at Moonglow.”

“That’s a lot of moms,” Virgil remarked.

“I’m closing the store early,” she went on. “That way they can have it all to themselves. It sucks that they’re always buying things to support us when we don’t need their help anymore, so we’re treating them to anything they want for free. Especially Lakota’s adoptive mother. She lives out of town and never gets to shop in our store.”

Lakota tore open a roll. “Is that what you think?”

“That’s what I know,” Melody stated.

“So your employee didn’t mention an order for a cat purse she shipped to Cognito?”

Melody set down her fork and frowned. “The one with the black cat on it and the mismatched eyes?”

“My father calls your employee every two weeks to get the scoop on new inventory. Then he relays it to the family. Her best friend bought the purse and had it shipped up there as a surprise. My mom used to have a cat that looked like that.”

“So that’s where the purse went!” Melody sat back and shook her head. “The receipt didn’t have a name on it. You’ve got a sneaky family.” After picking up her utensils again, she turned her attention to Joy. “Anyhow, it’s going to be a few days of food, wine, and shopping. Mainly just the girls. My aunt also arranged for a spa day. That’s not really my thing, but I suppose my legs could use a wax.”

Lakota sputtered with laughter.

Joy picked up her silverware and sliced her chicken. “It sounds like a beautiful celebration.”

I caught a bend in her voice.

Mother’s Day was a human holiday. Most Breeds didn’t acknowledge those holidays because they raised complicated emotions. All Vampires eventually lost their mothers, for instance. And even though Shifters had healing magic, pregnant women couldn’t shift to heal. That led to pregnancy and childbirth complications, which weren’t uncommon. We were semi-immortal and could die in many different ways, so it was unrealistic to assume one’s parents would live forever. Joy was older than me, and I wondered about her past. She had a kind and nurturing spirit, always thinking of others and checking in on everyone. I guessed she had lost her family, and they must have been good people to raise such a sweet and gentle woman. Yet she never discussed her home life in depth, only bits and pieces. To be fair, we were all still getting to know one another, and it wasn’t easy opening up to people.

Bear stabbed a savory chicken breast and filled my plate. “Cast-iron chicken with my special seasoning. If you’re tired, it’s because your wolf needs protein for energy. You like okra?”

I could listen to Bear read an instruction manual on refrigerator repair. His smooth Texas drawl and deep voice was sex on a stick. Since most of our packmates were city folk, we had formed an instant connection. That didn’t mean I was a country bumpkin who had never experienced life. At one hundred and three, I was no spring chicken.

Speaking of chickens, wake up and eat.

Bear filled my plate with fried okra and pinto beans. I declined the grilled corn and garlic rolls after deciding it was more than my stomach would accept. Bear’s food was so delicious that I finished the sides before touching the chicken.

---