Chapter 39
CHAPTER 39
I t was later that evening, Finn, Ezzy, Joe, and Emory were sitting around the bed, with Fran and Jacob talking.
Ezzy had only just arrived as he had been out with Aubrey for the day. He’d been home long enough to change out of his suit and into jeans and t-shirt.
“How was your day?” Emory asked him, after kissing him hello.
“Boring. Mum doesn’t ask me or Rob to go with her often, so when she does, we feel we have too. I just wish these outings weren’t so boring. Today was the local WI group and then some other ladies’ group. I swear she only takes me so the old ladies can stare at me. It’s like all the old folks do is stare. You can see it on their faces, wondering which child, grandchild, or great whatever will be a good match for me,” Ezzy complained, sounding weary.
“Poor baby. Shifters will know that you’re mated,” Emory chuckled, kissing the side of his head.
“And they pinch my cheek. ‘Oh aren’t you handsome, Lord Ezmond,’ ‘My son/daughter/whatever would simply love to meet you. Shall I give you their contact details, you darling thing, you’.”
Everyone laughed at that.
“And that’s why it’s better to be the son of a younger brother,” Fran told them, still laughing.
“Oh, you poor Lord,” Finn said, laughing at Ezzy.
“Well if I can brighten someone’s day, it’s a small price to pay.”
“How did you get on spending time with your mum, Finn?” Jacob asked.
Finn sighed and smiled. “We’re rebuilding our relationship which I am so thankful for. I didn’t mind about everyone else turning their backs on me but losing my mum and uncle were the worst. But to know you, Emory, and mum were both trying to look out for me was something.”
“Always,” Emory said. “I know your mother is happy she can build a new relationship with you, just like I am. It makes her heart happy.”
“I looked for you when you were kicked out, Finn,” Jacob said softly.
Finn looked at him in surprise. “You did?”
Jacob nodded. “I couldn’t find you and then I read about shifters who shifted late in life and how special they were. It’s my fault your father and mine tried to get you back. I found a book in the library explaining everything. I copied the parts needed and showed my dad. He was then determined to bring you back. Sorry.”
Finn waved away his apology. “We were both supposed to be here.”
Jacob nodded. “Yeah, but the fates could have picked an easier way for us to get here.”
“That’s true,” Finn agreed.
“So I’m shifting tomorrow. Who wants to come and join the shifting fun?”
Everyone said they would be there, except Emory who had to work.
The next day saw the friends, Robbie and Frank, outside. Berni was due to join them as soon as he could and Aubrey and Christine were out for the day.
Robbie wanted Jacob to wait until he was back from the hospital, so it wasn’t until after lunch that they ventured out.
It had been a struggle for Jacob to make it down the stairs. Fran held onto him while Robbie carried the walker down. Jacob had to sit down when he reached the bottom step. Clairmont had been there with a chair for him to rest on.
Jacob grumbled as he sat there, waiting for his energy and breathing to return to normal. After a ten-minute rest and a drink of water, again courtesy of the trusty butler, Jacob stood and, using the walker with Fran at his side, they made it outside.
“I was going to suggest we walk over to the trees there,” Robbie said, pointing.
“That’s miles away,” Jacob commented.
“It’s about a hundred yards, but further than you can manage at the moment. How about we shift here in the driveway?”
“Yes, let’s take that option,” Jacob said happily.
“Alright then. Jacob, you shift first, and then we’ll join you. See if you can run to those trees. If you can, yay. If not, just do as much as you can,” Robbie explained.
“Okay, I can do this,” Jacob said, excited to shift into his wolf form. This was the longest he had ever gone without shifting. He stepped away from his walker, took off his t-shirt, dropped his jogging bottoms and, with a grin at Fran, shifted into his wolf.
“Wow,” Ezzy and Finn said at the same time.
Fran stepped forward and dropped to his knee. He stroked wolf Jacob’s head. “Look at you, handsome. Babe, did you know your wolf now has silver fur?”
Wolf Jacob stared at Fran for a moment before looking at his front legs. His silver fur covered legs.
So this is new. Jacob said to his wolf. For some reason, I thought you would go back to your original colour when we got better.
His wolf shook his head. No, this is now our colour.
“You look amazing,” Joe said, kneeling down next to Fran.
“Okay, folks, any idea why Jacob is now silver?” Ezzy asked.
“No, but when we get back I can contact the pack shaman and ask him,” Frank replied. “Let’s shift and see how far Jacob can run.”
Everyone started stripping, but Jacob only had eyes for Fran. He wondered if his wolf was drooling, Fran was literally perfection.
Once shifted they started off at a slow trot and then sped up. Halfway to the trees, Jacob had to slow down. He stopped, breathing heavily, and checked in with his wolf.
We can’t run for long. It’ll get easier, but we’ll never be able to run like we used to, the silver damaged our lungs. We’ll need to run every day to increase our stamina, but even then, we’ll have to do long runs at our own pace with frequent stops.
Jacob lay down, still panting heavily.
Looking around, Fran saw Jacob lying down and ran back to his side. He rubbed his head against Jacob’s and then sat down next to him.
They watched the others running round and having fun.
Jacob watched them, only slightly envious that he couldn’t join in. He nudged Fran and nodded towards the playing wolves.
Fran was watching his dad and Joe running and playing together. Joe’s wolf was smaller than his father’s, but that just made Joe fast. Fran bet he was a scrappy fighter.
They watched as the wolves moved closer to them, running around and jumping over them.
Fran stood and joined them, playing with his family and including Jacob as much as he could.
Jacob stood up and joined in, stopping occasionally when breathing got too hard.
“Well you all look like you’re having fun,” Berni said, joining them. He looked at Jacob. “I’ve never seen a silver wolf before.”
Jacob walked over to Berni and bowed his head.
Berni leant down and stroked his head. “Thank you, but you didn’t need to do that, you’re family.” Berni looked at Finn. “I can’t believe I have a white wolf and a silver wolf in my pack. I promise to protect the both of you.”
Finn moved to stand next to Jacob, and head butted Berni, who laughed and scratched Finn’s head. After a moment he looked back at Jacob. “Time to head back inside now, Jacob.”
Jacob nodded and then looked at the long walk back.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Jacob, but do you want me to carry you back?’ Berni offered.
Jacob shook his head. He could walk back, sure it would be the longest walk in history and he’d probably need a nap soon after, but he could walk back, he hoped.
“Good lad,” Berni said approvingly, walking beside Jacob and matching his slow pace.
Fran walked on his other side and the others followed, still playing.
By the time Jacob reached the front steps he wasn’t sure he could walk any further, his breathing was laboured, his legs shook, and he was seeing black spots in front of his eyes, then everything went black and he fell to his side.