Page 18 of The Rabbit's Foot
“Found him? What do you mean?”
Alp couldn’t let Mal deal with this. He reached up and took the phone back. “The men who took me? They were chasing me through the woods. I would have died that night, but Mal saved me. He’s… he’s a wolf, and he killed the men who were hurting me.”
“A wolf?” she said, the horror in her voice evident. “You can’t trust him!”
“He’s the only one here I do trust!” Alp shot back. “He saved my life. He took me to a vet who helped to fix me. He’s been feeding me and taking care of me. Without him, I would have died.” He blew out a breath. “Mom, I’m part of his pack. He’s my First.”
He could feel Mal tense, but that didn’t stop him from leaning down and rubbing his cheek against Alp’s hair.
“Your First?” she said softly. “What do you mean?”
“Mal’s taking care of me, Mom. He’s making sure I eat, keeping me healthy. Hell, he’s even watching my poop to make sure it looks okay. The vet taught him what to look for. He’s pack, Mom. I need that from him.”
“Alp, these men who hurt you, I—”
Mal snatched the phone away with a growl. “They’re dead men, Mrs. Dawkins. I’m going to kill every one of them. They’re holding shifters, many of them children. I can’t—won’t—let them live.”
Alp figured his mother would be horrified. Like his dad, Mom was a pacifist. He was shocked when she heard her say, “Make it hurt.”
Alp took the phone back. “Mom? You don’t mean that.”
“Maker help me, I do. They maimed my son. They kept him away from his family for six years. I want to say we need to move on, but I can’t. I won’t. If your…. If your First says he’s going to kill them, I need that from him.” Her voice dropped. “Are you coming home?”
He wanted to, so badly. “No. I’m going to help Mal.”
“Alpin?”
“I’ve changed, Mom. I can’t let them get away with this. I can’t unhear the screams, the pleading, the dying. I can’t just walk away.”
“Then let us come see you. Please. I can’t… I have to see you.”
Alp turned to Mal. “She wants to come see me.”
He gave a terse nod, then turned away, his expression solid granite.
“They brought me to Oregon, Mom. Mal and I are in a town called Swenson.”
“I’m booking tickets now.”
“Just you and Dad. Don’t bring anyone else. It would be too hard to protect you all.”
“O-okay. Only the two of us.” She paused a moment. “Alpin, are you really okay?”
He looked down where his hand had been, and the anger and helplessness he’d felt for the past few weeks roared to the surface again. “I’m not now, but after they’re dead, I will be.”
* * *
Mal watched as Alp spoke with his mother. There were more tears, so much anger and hurt, and a sense of vengeance that even chilled Mal. These men had to die, but as a bunny shifter, Alp shouldn’t be part of it. Still, he was proud that Alp was stepping up, even if Mal had no intention of taking him into the war zone. When Alp hung up the phone, he slumped in the chair, looking weary.
“She told me to thank you,” he said softly.
“No need,” Mal assured him. “You’re my pack, which means you’re my responsibility.” He moved closer and reached out to tousle Alp’s hair. “But when I go in, you’re not coming with me.”
Alp’s head snapped up. “The fuck I’m not!”
“Listen to me. I know you’re angry, and I understand it. What they did to you was monstrous, and I can get wanting revenge. But you’re a rabbit shifter, and you aren’t cut out for things like this. Leave it to me.”
“Oh, screw you!”
