The Way Home (Mayport Pack #8)

Chapter One

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THOMAS JERKED UP IN a sitting position when he heard the dog bark. He looked around, taking a second to blink his eyes open and tell himself that he was safe. He wasn’t outside. He was in the break room at work, and he was okay.

He groaned. Well, physically, he was okay.

For everything else, he wasn’t so sure. He was exhausted, and his eyes felt gritty.

He wasn’t sure how much sleep he’d gotten last night.

Five hours, maybe? It couldn’t have been more than that when he’d gone to bed at almost midnight and had woken up early to come to work.

If it had only been one time, he would’ve been fine, but he’d been doing this regularly since he’d decided to study for his GED, and he was exhausted.

Maybe that hadn’t been such a great idea, after all.

He was still alone in the break room, so he allowed himself to relax as he rubbed his face.

Not that his boss would have said anything if he found him sleeping on the table in here.

Shane had always been a nice person, and he was a pack member.

He knew what Thomas had gone through. He knew that sometimes, Thomas had nightmares and that it was hard for him to sleep at home.

He wasn’t surrounded by his family anymore, and while he was happy that the people he considered his siblings had found partners and people who loved them, it made him feel a bit lonely.

Sleeping alone in his bed also wasn’t something he was used to just yet, but this was his life now.

He was safe and protected, a roof over his head, and as much food as he could want. He was okay. They all were.

The dog was still barking, but it sounded like it was playing, so Thomas wasn’t worried.

As much as he wanted to stay sitting at the table and put his head back down on his arms, he couldn’t, and it was probably better for him to leave the break room entirely so he wouldn’t be tempted.

Before doing that, though, he needed coffee.

He got up and groaned as he stretched, cracking his back. Surely he was too young for his bones to do that? He was just about to turn nineteen, but sometimes, he felt like he was fifty. Hell, he was sure that there were plenty of fifty-year-old people who got more sleep than he did lately.

He rubbed his face again and grabbed a clean mug from the cupboard.

He poured himself some coffee, added as much milk and sugar as he could fit into the mug, and leaned against the counter to drink.

He knew that if he sat back down, he’d go back to sleep, and he had stuff to do.

Shane might be a great boss, but Thomas didn’t want to take advantage of him.

Besides, he liked his job. He was just exhausted enough that the thought of having to stay at the animal sanctuary the whole day made him want to cry.

He closed his eyes as he drank. What also made him want to cry was knowing that once he was back home, he couldn’t rest because he had to study.

When he’d decided to get his GED, he’d known it wouldn’t be easy, especially because he hadn’t wanted to tell anyone from his family about it, but he hadn’t realized it would be this hard.

The last time he’d felt so exhausted had been when he’d lived on the street, and the only way he’d survived that was that his family had been there for him.

They still were, of course, but he wasn’t planning on telling them what he was doing.

It was better for them not to know what he was up to, but unfortunately, that meant that they had no idea why he was so tired all the time.

He knew that Seth, especially, was getting worried, which made sense since they lived together.

He was the only one of their old pack who saw Thomas often enough to realize something was up.

Thomas was pretty sure that Seth thought that he was up to no good, but so far, he hadn’t pushed.

He would eventually, if something didn’t change, though.

Thomas just hoped he’d wait a little while longer because he didn’t have a lie ready.

It would be easier if he didn’t lie. Sometimes, he was tempted to tell Seth the truth, but then, he thought about what would happen if he failed.

Everyone would feel sorry for him, and they’d try to make him feel better.

They might even succeed, but he’d know he’d failed.

He wasn’t sure he had it in him to go through this a second time.

Of course, having his brother know what he was doing would mean that he didn’t have to hide, which would probably make his life easier, but still.

The door creaked, and Thomas blinked his eyes open. Shane came in, and Thomas started smiling at his boss, ready to tell him that he was fine and that he’d get to work soon. He didn’t get the opportunity.

Shane wasn’t alone, and when the man behind him walked in, every single one of Thomas’s instincts went on high alert.

His rabbit even pushed him to run, which wasn’t something that usually happened during the workday.

Hell, it wasn’t something that had happened since he and his pack had moved to town.

Thomas froze. He watched the man, wondering what he was about to do. There was no way he’d hurt Thomas, right? Not in front of Shane.

Shane smiled. “Hey, Thomas. I was hoping we’d catch you before you got to work.”

Thomas lowered his cup of coffee but didn’t put it down. “I needed coffee before I started.”

“Don’t we all?” Shane smiled easily. “I wanted to introduce you to a new coworker. Thomas, this is Rowan. Rowan, Thomas. Thomas has been working with us for a while now, so I thought he could show you around and explain everything. I know you have work to do, Thomas, but I’m sure you can find a way to include Rowan and show him the ropes. ”

Thomas wanted to say no, even though he didn’t have a reason to. Rowan seemed like a nice enough guy. He was tall, with brown hair and soft brown eyes that were focused on Thomas. Of course they were. Thomas and Shane were talking.

There was a smattering of freckles on Rowan’s nose, and the corners of his lips were curled up slightly.

There was nothing in the way he looked that should’ve frightened Thomas, so he suspected it was because of the animal Rowan could shift into.

Thomas was a rabbit, a prey animal. He’d never minded it, but he recognized the fear.

It had happened to him so many times in the past. The people he considered his siblings went from bear shifters to a dragon shifter, and he remembered vividly meeting all of them. He’d had a similar reaction.

He sucked in a breath. Rowan hadn’t done anything to warrant this reaction, and Thomas needed to be careful.

He didn’t want Rowan to think that he had anything against him.

He knew better than a lot of people that whatever animal Rowan could shift into, it didn’t make him a bad person or that he was about to attack him.

Rowan couldn’t help what he shifted into, just like Thomas couldn’t.

Thomas plastered a smile on his lips and nodded at Rowan. “It’s good to meet you.”

Rowan’s smile widened. It was easy and gentle, and Thomas couldn’t help but think that Rowan would be good with the animals. His calm demeanor would help the animals stay calm. Hell, even Thomas could feel himself relaxing.

“Same,” Rowan said, offering Thomas his hand.

Thomas stared at it for a moment before reaching for it. He wasn’t sure he wanted to touch the man, but he definitely didn’t want to be rude, and he would be if he didn’t. Rowan was acting perfectly normal. It was Thomas who wasn’t.

He slid his palm against Rowan’s and briefly squeezed the man’s hand.

That seemed to satisfy Rowan, and Thomas was able to quickly let go.

He took a sip of coffee and tried to act normally, hoping that no one had noticed how awkward he was.

Shane was on his phone, frowning, so Thomas was probably safe there. He wasn’t sure about Rowan.

“Well, I have to go,” Shane declared. “Thomas, you know where to find me if either of you need anything. Rowan, Thomas will teach you everything he knows. You’ll be a pro sooner than you think.”

“I’m sure I will be,” Rowan said with another easy smile.

Thomas’s heart raced. He could tell he was in trouble. He just wasn’t sure what kind of trouble yet.

* * * *

ROWAN WASN’T SURE WHAT to think of Thomas. He’d been perfectly nice, but Rowan could see how tense he was. There was something there, and it wasn’t the first time Rowan had gotten that kind of reaction.

He was a wolf shifter, and while he wasn’t as big as other predator shifters, like dragons or even bears, he knew that what he was could be intimidating to some people.

If Thomas was on the small side when he shifted, it wasn’t a surprise that he might be wary of Rowan, especially since he didn’t know him.

He had no idea that Rowan would never hurt anyone, and certainly not a coworker.

Shane was quick to leave, and when he did, Rowan and Thomas stared at each other for a moment.

Rowan felt the need to say something, but he wasn’t sure what.

He didn’t want to scare Thomas, but they were going to work together.

It would be good for them to have a friendly relationship.

That meant Rowan had to show Thomas that he wasn’t dangerous or a weirdo.

He wasn’t sure how to do that. He’d lived with his pack all of his life.

He’d never really had to introduce himself or convince someone that he was friendly.

Everyone around him had always known who he was, and he didn’t think anyone had ever been afraid of him.

He wasn’t home anymore, though. Well, he was home, but it was a new home he’d chosen for himself.

He needed to learn how to live away from his birth pack, and this was a great way to start.

He cleared his throat. “Shane mentioned that you’ve been working here for a while?” he asked.