Page 30 of Shattered

“It’s not a problem,” Mackenzie answered. “What can I do for you?” He remembered the conversation he had with Liam earlier that morning, and it dawned on him why she’d called. His son hadn’t been able to will it away.

“Liam had a bit of an accident,” she murmured. “He’s perfectly fine, but a boy his age should have his father with him at this time.”

He screwed up his face, not sure they were on the same page.What the hell has he done?“Sure. Would you like me to pick him up?”

“It would be best, I think,” the nurse answered. “Also, Principal Jones will want to speak with you as well.”

Ah hell. “That bad, huh?” He locked the door behind him before heading out to his truck.

“Oh, no. No. It was awkward.” She sighed. “It would be better if the principal tells you in person.”

“Understood. I’ll be there in ten minutes.” Mackenzie hit end then tossed his phone on the seat beside him. He started the truck and backed out, heading in the direction of the school.

He should have insisted Liam stay home. He hadn’t gone through this with Royce. Nor had he been there for Bodhi or well any of the teen Rafertys. As a father, it was his duty to protect his kids, and he was sucking at that.

Ten minutes later, on the dot, he pulled into the parking lot of the high school. Students mingled around the campus. Some sat on benches, while others were under shade trees enjoying their lunch. He strode past all of them and entered the school. When Mackenzie first saw Liam, his son was pale. He had his face in his hands and the short hairs on the side of his head were dripping wet.

Damn it, kid.Even though every instinct in his body said to go to Liam, he continued on to the office and stepped inside. The secretary sitting behind the desk smiled up at him. “I’m Mackenzie Raferty, I’m here about Liam.”

Her cheeks turned a dark shade of pink as she swallowed hard and nodded. Once again, Mackenzie glanced back at his son.What the hell happened, boy?

“Mr. Jones will see you now,” she said, pointing to the open door not more than ten feet from where Mackenzie stood.

“Thank you.” He strode over to the door and knocked on the frame before stepping inside. “Thank you for calling me, Mr. Jones.”

The principal stared up at him then hurried to close the door behind Mackenzie. “No, I’m sorry we’re meeting this way. Has Liam or the nurse told you what happened today?”

He shook his head. “I wish to hell someone would.” Mackenzie winced. “Sorry.”

Mr. Jones waved him off then touched the side of his nose, and it dawned on Mackenzie the man was a shifter as well. “The first full moon for a wolf entering puberty can be...harsh.” He chuckled. “Hell, I think I got caught doing things I’d blush about doing nowadays, too.”

“Tell me about it,” Mackenzie muttered. “So, what exactly happened?”

“About eleven, Liam complained about not feeling well, and he asked to go to the bathroom. When he didn’t return after a half hour, his teacher, Miss Williams, became alarmed. She left her class in the capable hands of her TA and went in search of your son.”

Oh, God.Mackenzie squirmed in his chair. He swallowed hard, almost afraid to hear the next words that came out of the principal’s mouth. “Okay.”

“When Miss Williams knocked then stepped inside, she found Liam in a very compromising position.” Mr. Jones cleared his throat. “There’s no easy way to say this other than to spit it out. Liam was masturbating. From the condition Miss Williams found him in, she believed he’d been doing it the whole time he’d been in there.”

The air left Mackenzie in a rush. “Shit.”

“He was so out of his mind; Miss Williams finally threw a glass of water at him.” Which explained why his shirt and hair were wet. “She didn’t even think he knew what he was doing until she snapped him out of it.”

“I asked him to stay home today. I had planned on having his aunt call the school to explain why he’d missed the day, but my son, he is stubborn and hardheaded like the rest of us.”

Mr. Jones chuckled. “Well, no harm, no foul. I think Liam and Miss Williams are more embarrassed than anything. How about you take him home today and play it by ear tomorrow?”

Mackenzie nodded. “Sounds like a great idea. I appreciate the care you are taking with my son.”

A glimmer of pity entered the man’s brown eyes before he shoved it away. “It’s the least I can do to help out. I’d tell you where to take him if he needs help, but Danielle is your sister-in-law. She’d probably do a better job explaining it than a couple of old shifters.”

Mackenzie laughed. “She sure would.” He exited the office after shaking the principal’s hand and found Liam sitting in the same chair, he’d found him in when he’d arrived. “Come on, son. Let’s go home.”

His eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot as if he’d been crying.Fuck.He should have been more forceful with his son earlier. He should have sent Liam back to his room. If he’d have walked in on his boy, it’d been one thing. Instead, it’d been a young, female teacher.

Once they were in the truck, Mackenzie patted Liam’s knee. “It won’t be the last time you’ll do something stupid.”

“Dad, I really don’t want to talk about it.” Liam glanced out the passenger window.

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