Chapter 5
D arren ran down the stairs and almost ran headfirst into Harry. “Where are they?” He asked.
“The girls are hiding, but Lottie was abducted,” Harry explained.
“Why would they take her?” Darren asked.
“They know how hard it is to get magical protection in a wolf household,” Harry admitted.
“What will they do with her?” He wondered.
“Nothing good. They might try to sell her or even abuse her.
Lottie protected the girls and did her job.
Now we need to do ours and ensure that the girls are protected and still get her back.
Normally, I could track her, but I believe she's somewhere where magic is blocked. That is something new that the enemy has been doing.” Harry explained.
“Enemy? What enemy are you talking about?” He wondered.
“Criminals of all kinds are the enemies of law enforcement.
Once one has access to something, you can bet the others will find a way to get it.
She is probably in a sealed cell that she cannot get out of, and we cannot get in.
If I were there in person, it would be different but finding it will be difficult because it's spelled.” Harry declared.
“I’ve never felt this helpless before. Mom suggested I consider a change, and I believe she’s right. In this world I’m now part of, I can’t contribute without being wolf.” Darren declared. “What do I do now?”
“Tell your mother so she can watch the girls while I get in touch with Ariel to see if she’s available. I’ll let you know for tonight.” Harry flashed away.
Darren hurried to find his mother. She was in the kitchen, giving Eliza an extra day off.
“I’ve considered your suggestion,” Darren mentioned.
Flo raised an eyebrow. “Which one?”
“Going through the change.”
“Because of what happened today?”
“Yes, you and Carlos knew what was happening and had the strength to overcome the attackers outside. I was clueless in my room. I was the only one unable to help.” Darren admitted.
“You realize you wouldn’t have been able to fight against witches?”
“Maybe I could have distracted them while Lottie spelled them.”
“You would have ended up a wet spot on the floor.” Flo offered.
“I need to be able to protect my family. This is the only way I can.”
“It would help with most paranormals, but not magic users. For those, your best hope is to get an artifact for protection. Lottie had one, and that’s why she was able to hold off two witches.”
“How would that help. Lottie already has magic.” Darren wondered.
“All witches aren’t equal. Harry could have handled those two without being taken. Lottie isn’t as strong as Harry. She needs to use her magic more and has much to learn.”
“Does not using her magic for a while make it weaker?”
“Yes, but she would have to not use it for a lot longer than she was here.
This was not because of you; it was because she was fighting against two witches, and the sum of their magic was too much for her to handle.
If she hadn't had an artifact that she filled with extra power, they would have probably gotten the girls, too.” Flo explained.
“Okay. I’m going to change, and I need you to keep the girls safe.”
“Of course, we'll do that, but the change can't be undone, so make sure this is what you want to do. This will be for life, and it will be a much longer life than it would have been.”
“I don't think that I can live in this paranormal world as a human and manage to protect my girls.
Every benefit that will make me stronger is needed.
I'm not even sure that it will be enough, that it is the only thing I can think of that might help.” Darren observed.
“By the way, Harry went to talk to Ariel to make sure that she can do the ceremony tonight, and she will be back for me by supper time.”
His mother started laughing. “Supper will already be out at Ariel's. Harry knows when to go places when the meals are being served.” Flo explained.
“Is she really that hungry all the time?”
“It's one of the secrets to her strength as a witch.
Most witches must rest and eat to regain their power slowly.
Imagine if every time you ate a big meal, you turned into Superman.
You could protect anyone who needed it and defend yourself easily.
Wouldn't you search for big meals that gave you that power and strength?
It's not easy because the reverse is also true.
If she goes hungry, her power goes too. She gets weak, and it's even possible she could die. Harry needs her food, and those in need Harry.”
“That's amazing. She turns food into magic.” Darren mentioned.
“Exactly. Not everyone understands that, and she can eat an amazing amount for such a little thing. I'm sure she'll fill up at Ariels, and when we have breakfast, she'll fill up again. In the morning, after breakfast, that's when she will go hunting for Lottie.”
Darren thought he was beginning to understand a little bit about how magic worked.
If his understanding was correct, then Harry was the best hope for finding his nanny.
He could only hope that tomorrow everything would work out, and he would be a wolf, and Harry would be on the job.
He didn't understand why, but he felt a terrible sense of loss because Lottie was gone.
Maybe he felt responsible because he hadn't been able to help protect her and his girls.
Or maybe they had become friends, and that was the loss that he felt.
It didn't matter because they just had to get her back, no matter what they had to do.
“I’m back!” Harry appeared out of nowhere. “Is it time to eat yet?” She asked hopefully.
“Food should be done by now. It just needs to go in serving dishes, then on the table.” Flo explained.
Darren told the girls to clean up, then come to the dining room.
He washed his hands in the kitchen, then helped set bowls on the table.
Carlos was with the wardens, running down clues on those who had taken Lottie.
They had a list of names they were running down and questioning.
His mother would fix him a plate he could heat up later.
“Looks like everything is ready and the girls are at the table. Let’s eat.” Flo said, and after a moment of silence, they observed that each person's meal included a time to pray or ask that their food be blessed, and they began to eat.
“I love fried chicken.” Harry declared.
Darren had to agree that it was a fine meal and one that reminded him of Sundays when he was a young boy.
His siblings would all be there, and they were noisy as they ate.
It had still given him a sense of peace knowing all his family was around him, and the fact that his father was missing had not bothered him a bit.
He’d caught his father packing up to go, and he’d called him out on what he was doing.
The money his mother kept in the cookie jar for emergencies had been in his hand.
He didn’t know what he’d expected from his father because he’d been a weak man.
Later, when he heard his mom talking to him on the phone and his father had begged to come home, he’d been relieved when she’d said no.
Did he feel bad about that? No, he’d known all his father would bring them was pain and loss.
Now that he had kids of his own, his father’s behavior just shocked him even more.
He’d learned from his mom how important family was.
Darren shook his head to make those thoughts go away and concentrated on a meal he’d not had in years.
The good memories returned, and he realized that by staying away from home, he and his siblings had all lost much.
Things would change, and he’d keep in touch with his mom the way he always should have.
There was a sound at the door, and Carlos came in with Cage behind him. They went to clean up and joined them at the table.
“Have you found any clues?” Darren asked.
“We have some possible locations. We’ll let Harry have the first shot, but we have some places to try if that doesn’t work out.” Cage explained.
“Always best to have a backup plan.” Harry approved.
It was hard to deny the logic in that, but he sincerely hoped that Harry led them to where Lottie was being held. The longer she was captive, the more likely that something bad would happen to her or that they wouldn't find her at all.
Supper was done, and everyone helped clean up, and Cage left.
It was time for Harry to flash him away to Ariel’s, where he would go through one of the biggest events of his life.
Was he scared, damn right he was. It didn't mean he wouldn't go through with this.
He'd never flashed before, and he hoped he would never flash again because he was dizzy.
His mom used to say, "dizzy as a chicken," but he wasn't sure that chickens got dizzy, though they did act like it sometimes.
They arrived at Ariel's, and Harry led him to an office where both pack alphas were waiting.
He learned a little about wolves and their packs, and he understood that Blake was the male pack alpha and Ariel was the pack bitch, the female pack alpha.
Ariel was also his cousin and the one who would carry out the process that would begin his transformation into a wolf.
“Are you sure about this?” Ariel asked.
“I am.”
“Alright.”
Blake began reading a book that explained what was happening and what would happen to him. He also outlined the risks and explained that this could result in death, but he knew that hadn't happened in most cases.