Page 72 of Nugget

“We’ll find out,” Axel vowed. “I do know one thing though.”

Stryker wiped his eyes. He hated showing weakness in front of anyone. “What’s that?”

“That Gavin wouldn’t have his brother back if you hadn’t stolen his RV.”

Stryker gave a watery laugh. “Do you think that will get me out of trouble?”

“I’m pretty sure reuniting the two of them trumps everything else,” Axel said.

Stryker nodded. “We should celebrate with chicken nuggets. I have this awesome air fryer that will have them ready in just minutes.”

Aaron Johnson stepped in front of them. “I bought Leo that air fryer for Christmas.”

“Must be a different one. I just found this one lying around,” Stryker lied.

Aaron Johnson glanced at Axel. “You have your hands full with this one.”

Axel chuckled. “You have no idea.”

* * * * *

Gavin

“This is a nice place,” Leo said sitting on the couch.

“Thanks,” Gavin replied as he pulled Stryker down on his lap across from his brother. His brother. Gavin was still unsure how this was even happening. Stryker frowned but wiggled until he was comfortable.

Gavin was a little clingy, but his mind was still reeling. Aaron Johnson, his brother’s best friend, sat beside him on the couch.

They retreated to Gavin’s cabin to catch up on things and so the boys could return home but not be in the way. Gavin knew that his chosen family was just as curious as he was, but they were giving him time.

“I can’t believe this,” Aaron said. “Who knew tracking down a little thief would lead to you two being reunited?”

“Fucking fates,” Stryker muttered.

Gavin bit back his amusement but Aaron gave a big belly laugh. Unlike Gavin and his brother, Leo, who were tall and sleek, Aaron Johnson was a little on the short side, heavier, with a bushy beard and interesting green eyes. Gavin couldn’t place his paranormal creature, but it was something old. Like him.

Leo leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “What happened to you?”

Gavin shrugged. “I used the escape tunnel to get into the woods. I waited three days, but no one ever came for me.”

“No one?” Leo asked. “I’d hoped. Prayed. That maybe someone else had gotten away.”

“No, once the time past I went to check on things. I didn’t want to get too close in case the hunters were still watching. I could see and smell the smoke from the ashes.”

“They burnt everything to the ground,” Leo said. “I thought they got you too. I looked for you. I swear I searched and searched but there were no signs that you made it out of the cabin before it went up in flames.”

Gavin believed him. “How did you survive?”

“Father ordered me to shift,” Leo said. “The hunters had arrows though. Me and Uncle Mike were trying to help from the sky, but we were both hit. I managed to make it far enough that the hunters must have forgotten about me.”

“But you were injured?”

“Arrow in the shoulder and I fell hard and fast. Hit my head and had several broken bones. I was out for nearly a week after the council found me,” Leo explained.

“The council found you?” Stryker asked. His eyes narrowed.

Gavin was surprised by the scent of anger and doubt coming from his boy. “What is it?”

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