Page 21 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Sam

Sam stood on the porch, looking out at the property surrounding Vaughn’s home. A large building stood off to the side, probably a converted barn. According to the sign in front, it now served as the clinic where Vaughn and his dad worked.

Several vehicles were parked in front of the clinic already, and Sam had seen Vaughn’s dad go inside a few minutes before. He took a minute to breathe in the crisp morning air. He had no idea to how to process all the emotions swirling around inside him. There were too many to even name, and added to all the questions and confusion… He needed the quiet moment to just breathe.

He was thankful he’d been able to speak to Nana earlier. Her name was actually Jean, but she’d insisted Sam continue to call her Nana, supposedly so the kids didn’t get confused. The teasing twinkle in her eyes had told him she wanted him to call her Nana, too.

He had a sneaking suspicion he’d managed to get himself unofficially adopted by her. She’d answered a lot of his basic questions while she mixed up a giant batch of pancake batter, and it had been easier to talk to her than to Vaughn. His stomach still twisted into nervous knots whenever Vaughn looked at him, but there was something beneath that worry which called to him. His emotions were a roller coaster where the alpha was concerned.

And the fact that even in his thoughts, he referred to Vaughn as the alpha was another sticking point.

What even was his life? Because apparently over the course of one night, he’d learned werewolves were real, but were actually called shifters. They were mostly human and didn’t really have any super powers other than enhanced senses and strength. They weren’t Superman strong, but Nana had scoffed at the suggestion that anyone could be as strong as the man of steel.

She’d also made a highly inappropriate comment about the size of Superman’s bulge then declared that if they didn’t want her to look at it, they shouldn’t put him in tight red underwear. It had taken everything in him not to burst out laughing and wake up the kids. Then she’d continued with her explanation like Sam wasn’t choking on his coffee.

Groups of shifters were packs, not unlike packs of wolves. They lived together under the guidance of an alpha, like Vaughn, and they tended to be a bit more touchy-feely than most humans. The forehead touching bit Sam had noticed the night before was part of that.

Their animals were part of them, but they weren’t ruled by the moon or anything. Basically, most of the werewolf lore Sam knew from way too many nights watching cheesy B-rated horror movies had to be thrown out the window.

Real shifters were a much more complex culture, and apparently much more vast than Sam could even imagine. A culture Sam really wasn’t supposed to be a part of as a human. Nana had explained that both Ollie and Vaughn could have been in big trouble for telling Sam their secret.

Vaughn came out onto the porch and leaned against the railing beside him, their shoulders brushing together slightly. “You okay?”

Sam nodded. “Just a little overwhelmed. Trying to wrap my head around all of this.”

It was the understatement of the century, but he really didn’t know what else to say.

“Thanks for everything you’re doing, Sam.” Vaughn wrapped his hand around the back of Sam’s neck and gave it a gentle squeeze.

It was probably another one of those important shifter gestures that Sam didn’t understand. It comforted him nevertheless, and he packed away one more emotion he needed to think about after he went home. He had more practical things to talk to Vaughn about first.

“I’m just glad I heard Ollie outside my door last night,” Sam said. “And that I knew who you were. I mean… how did he even know your name, Vaughn? How did he know what direction to go? I didn’t get a chance to ask Nana earlier, and Ollie said his sense of smell was strong, but you live… what… forty-five minutes away from where they were? How did—”

“Sam, breathe.” Vaughn cut him off and squeezed the back of his neck once more. Sam sucked in a breath as Vaughn continued to stand beside him, a solid, strong presence that Sam seemed to draw strength and comfort from.

Vaughn stroked his thumb over the thick vein in Sam’s neck before continuing. “I don’t know the answer to those questions. Hadn’t even thought to ask them, to be honest. We’ll talk to the kids later and find out, okay? Because you’re right, those are things I need to know. What else is on your mind?”

His voice was thick, deep, and calm, the cadence so soothing it made Sam irrationally annoyed. He didn’t want this attraction he’d buried for so long to spring to life again because even the damn guy’s voice was hot, even though he feared that ship had already sailed. He tucked it way instead and continued with the list of questions he’d stockpiled.

“Who the heck was that Meshaq guy and his team of… enforcers or whatever they were? I don’t know, but wow the tension in the air when he appeared out of a ring of flames. Flames, Vaughn. I mean… I don’t even know what that means, but that was the scariest guy I’d ever seen and he just… but Ollie trusted him so fast.”

“Meshaq is the alpha of the hellhounds. They’re… well, actually, enforcers is a great word for them. If you wondered how all of this was kept secret from humans, Meshaq and the hellhounds are the answer. Our secret is critical to our survival and we are all aware of it.”

Sam breathed deeply for a moment, the implications becoming very clear, especially after what Nana had told him earlier. “Ollie could have been in trouble for telling me.”

“Yes. But he’s not, and neither am I. Meshaq understood the circumstances and has granted an exception. It’s why we were able to let you stay last night and why Nana answered your questions this morning. Meshaq understood after only a few minutes in your company that you weren’t going to let the safety of the cubs go, and although he does have ways to… keep you from knowing, he decided that it wasn’t in the cubs’ best interest to take you away from them, especially having witnessed the way you interact with them and how much they trust you already.”

Sam had no idea what to say to that. He’d honestly had no idea how much danger he’d been in, simply by being a human who’d learned their secret. “I will keep your secrets, Vaughn. Theirs, too.”

“I had no doubt about it. Neither did Meshaq, although I’m sure he’ll want to speak to you later.”

“So what next?” Sam asked. “What is going to happen to the kids?”

“I don’t know,” Vaughn replied. “The hellhounds are taking care of the investigation. They’re going to try to find Mrs. Foote. If the kids have families to be reunited with, he’ll make sure he finds them. Until then, they’ll stay here with us.”

“Us?” Sam asked.

Vaughn gave his neck another gentle squeeze. “Us, Sam. If you’ll stay. I… well, to be honest, I don’t know a lot about taking care of kids and I think it would help to have you here. If you’re up for it, that is. Am I asking too much?”