Page 6 of Shifter's Dream

“Really?” Trevor perked up, suddenly looking like he wouldn’t be sleeping for the rest of the night. Instead, he’d be working. He stood and stalked out of the room with purpose. “I’ll come back and get him next time Treena wakes up,” he said over his shoulder about Track as he left.

Troy waited until the sound of his brother’s path back up the stairs stopped, then he cupped Track’s head and rocked him around the room, waiting for that moment when he could be sure the pup was asleep, until the trusting, full weight of his entire body relaxed against Troy’s torso, and his tiny pudgy limbs hung loose and his little baby mouth fell slack, smelling of sweet milk. Only when that happened, did Troy make his way to the recliner in the corner and sit down carefully, arranging himself so he would be comfortable. He didn’t need to sleep. He would just rest his eyes. That’s it, rest.

Troy’s eye’s slipped closed and his body sank into the chair as Track’s body sank onto his chest. Rest. Relax. Safe. Familiar.

Troy slept.

…

Troy scented his brother.

Darkness blanketed Troy, and Track, as Troy walked along a path he could not see, Track in his arms.

The darkness swirled and separated enough that Troy could see Trent, walking as a man, heading away from them.

“Rowr-rowr!” Track called for his uncle inruhi, sounding dangerously close to crying, holding his pudgy little arms out for Trent.

Trent stopped. He turned around and came toward them, his eyes on Track. He held his arms up, like he would take Track, and for just a moment, Troy felt like curling Track into him and running the other way. The feeling passed. Trent reached them and took Track, kissing him first on one cheek, then the other. “That one is for Treena,” he whispered. “Give it to her for me.”

Trent met Troy’s eyes. “It is almost time,” he said.

Troy knew exactly what he was talking about. “To tell Trevor about Blake?” he asked.

They’d both known since they met Blake that he was about a quarter-foxen and the rest wolfen, and they also could scent that no one else seemed to know, maybe not even Blake himself. His wolf looked like an ordinary wolf, maybe a little on the small side and to everyone else, he scented like a full wolfen.

Being a quarter-foxen did not officially preclude Blake from being a police officer, according to the rules, but Troy didn’t know of any police stations who would hire a quarter-foxen if they knew about it.

After many philosophical discussions, Trent and Troy decided that although most wolfen noses were not sensitive enough to pick up Blake’s full heritage, that didn’t mean Trent and Troy had a duty to share a secret that was not theirs to tell. They knew Blake, they liked Blake and had since the first time they’d met him. Trevor also, had gotten along well with him, becoming fast friends with him. The more they got to know him, the more they trusted him, and so they decided that no, they would not spill Blake’s secret.

But now things had changed.

Trent handed Track back to Troy. Track cried and tried to reach Trent, but he was already heading the other way.

“You’ll know when the time is right.”

***

Troy blinked and opened his eyes at the sound of bare feet coming down the stairs. Track was still sleeping in the crook of his elbow, and he took a deep breath of the pup smell of Track’s fat little baby head before turning his attention outward. The scent pushing ahead of Trevor told Troy his brother was coming down the stairs with Treena in his arms.

Troy moved under Track slightly, looking around. The first light out the window told him they’d slept for three hours or so. Trevor entered the room, smelling like sleep, warmth, love, late night touches, and murmurs in the dark. Treena’s scent was richer, newer, like healthy earth and fresh cut grass shining in the sun, like promise and hope and Troy was drunk on it already. Nothing oozed satisfaction like an infantwolfenwith a full tummy of milk.

Troy opened up his free arm for Trevor to drop her right in there. She nestled at once. Trevor tried to take Track, and Troy curled him closer. He’s sleeping, leave him, Troy said inruhi.

Ella is leaking all over everything, and I’m not allowed in the mornings. She needs him.

Troy shot his brother a look, but he gave Track up and snuggled Treena in closer.

Trevor left. Troy slept. Treena slept.

Troy didn’t dream.

4 – More Fighting

When he woke again, it was less than an hour later and Trevor was prying Treena out of his arms. Troy didn’t argue and he didn’t let himself be tired. He’d be sneaking both young Cheerios at breakfast. He started to get up from the chair, but froze at a familiar noise, listening,scenting.

In the other room, the sliding glass door opened and Rogue entered, closing the door behind her. Troy scented her path, in essence, hewatchedher, in his never-ending quest to figure out what made Rogue tick.

That morning, she went right to the fridge. Rogue couldn’t speak or hearruhi, but that wasn’t the only thing that made Troy think she was interesting. Unlike most people, the expression on Rogue’s face always matched her scent. Troy still trusted scent over sight, but it was harder and harder to ignore words and facial expressions each day, so he appreciated Rogue’s congruity. He studied it whenever he could.

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