Page 64 of The Werewolf's Deputy
Ah, crap. He wasn’t in a good mood, and Taron was sure to pick up on it. Ever since Taron had said he was going to adopt him, the shapeshifter had been relentless with the whole ‘parent’ thing. Jonah didn’t have the energy to deal with him today.
“Hey, Taron. I’m actually headed out so–”
“Out where? I’ll go with you. I need to think about anything other than this puzzle in my head or I’ll go insane.”
Jonah grimaced. How did he tell Taron he didn’t want company without hurting his feelings?
Taron’s head cocked and he stepped closer, his tone turning concerned. “Jonah? Did something happen? Why do you look so exhausted?”
“It’s nothing,” he murmured, but his traitorous throat decided to close up while he was speaking, completely givinghim away. He tried to clear the tightness, but Taron had already lost his smile, and his expression said he wasn’t going to be happy with some half-assed reply.
Surprising him, Taron didn’t immediately demand an explanation. Instead, he pulled out his phone and tapped out a message before sliding it back in his pocket. “Alright. Time for lunch. A good meal will help.”
“Oh, uh… I’m not really feeling up to the crowded cafeteria today.”
“Well, good because we’re not going to the cafeteria. This lunch is just you and me.” He looped his arm with Jonah’s, giving him a smile that was a lot sharper than Jonah was prepared for. “You can ask anyone, Jonah, I’m a really hard person to argue with. I’ll keep pestering until I get my way. Let’s go.”
Too exhausted to argue, Jonah let himself be pulled along. At least Taron didn’t force him into an elevator. He took the stairs, happily chattering about his weekend plans and the recent gossip he’d overheard. Jonah only half-listened. He would normally text Emmett to rescue him if Taron set his sights on him. It hurt that he hadn’t heard from the werewolf since the night prior. Not even a check-in text, and he hadn’t come to the Cyber Security floor either. Jonah would know, since Roz had shown him the security feed for the floor that morning.
The pain in his chest tightened almost to the point that he couldn’t breathe, and he barely made it outside before the panic threatened to set in. “Taron, I’m really not–”
“Just hold it together a little while longer,” Taron coached, his voice surprisingly soothing. “It’s only a few blocks from here.”
He had no choice but to listen, his eyes on his feet as he focused on not falling apart completely. He had no idea where they were going, nor did he care, and he let Taron tughim around until they arrived at an apartment he’d never seen before. Taron led him inside, nudging him over to a couch and pushing him onto it. He walked away without a word, and all Jonah’s efforts in holding back the tears finally failed him. He was alone. He’d need to get used to that. It seemed like that was going to be his life from here on out.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
“Oh, Jonah…”
He startled a little, he thought Taron had left, but he couldn’t stop the tears now that they’d started. He curled in on himself, gasping around sobs as he completely fell apart.
Taron made a tsk sound, setting something down with a click before sitting beside him and wrapping his arm around Jonah’s shoulder. He didn’t stop there, pulling Jonah into a hug and rocking him, his head tucked under Taron’s chin. Emmett did something similar, and it only made Jonah cry harder because he wanted it to be Emmett and he’d pushed him away because he was an idiot.
“Shh… Whatever you’re thinking right now, stop. You’re allowed to have feelings. Just breathe.”
He didn’t know how Taron knew what he was thinking, but he couldn’t exactly ask. All his energy had to go to doing what Taron asked, taking gasping breaths as best he could while he soaked Taron’s shirt with tears and probably snot. He’d be mortified about that later.
Taron waited until his sobs settled into little hiccups and sniffles before speaking. “I’m honestly surprised it took you this long. You’ve got a strong constitution. Either that or you’reincredibly good at stuffing your feelings down. Which isn’t healthy, Jonah. I hope that wasn’t what you were doing.”
He tried to lift his head, but Taron pushed him back down, hugging him a little tighter.
“No, you aren’t better yet. I’m not letting go until you’re better.”
Jonah gave in because he really did need a hug, leaning a little heavier into Taron’s embrace. He still wished it was Emmett, but any time he thought about that, he started crying again, so he did his best not to.
When his breathing settled and he no longer felt like he was seconds from crying again, Taron shifted him backward, tipping his head to see his face. He smiled softly. “There you are. Feel a little better?”
Jonah nodded slightly, accepting the tissue Taron offered him. “Sorry. I just…”
“Had several drastic life changes in the span of a few weeks, then witnessed a werewolf brawl right in front of you? Honestly, I’d probably be falling apart at that point too, and I’m a lot older than you.”
“What?” he croaked, his brain still a little fuzzy and struggling to keep up with the energetic shapeshifter.
Taron ticked off each event on his fingers. “You started a new job, started interacting with supes for the first time, experienced intimidation, started a new relationship, got thrown out of your home and shunned by your family, moved in with a werewolf pack, got intimidated again, we’re coming back to that part because I’m ready to go scorched earth, witnessed a werewolf fight, and I’ve been led to believe you spent last night sleeping in your truck?” He waited for Jonah to nod before lifting his eyebrows at him. “Are you really surprised you’re feeling overwhelmed after all that?”
Well, when it was all laid out like that, it made sense, but he’d honestly not thought about it like that. “I–”
“All that happened in less than a month, which we might want to look into meeting with a druid to see if you’re cursed, because that’s some serious bad luck, son.” He smiled at him brightly then. “You handled it like a champ, though. I’m proud of you for that.”
