Chapter 6
“That is not acceptable,” Gray said into the phone Thursday morning. “I need that system updated ASAP. What do I need to do to make that happen?”
One of Gray’s first priorities after the kidnapping was to upgrade the compound’s security system.
The disabled camera on the back gate was only the beginning of the changes.
A new guard schedule had been created, with a majority of his pack members volunteering more of their time to take on additional shifts.
For the more technical side, Gray had used a contact of Garon’s stepfather, Alex.
He knew a were from another pack who specialized in security.
The upgrade was going to put a large dent in the pack accounts, but for Gray, there was no question that there needed to be some serious changes made to the way they protected themselves.
Rocky “Don’t Make Fun of My Name” Harris explained the problems he encountered due to the rushed request. “There’s really nothing else I can do, Alpha Gray.
You wanted the best, and that’s what I’m getting for you.
Unfortunately, some of the components I need for your system are on backorder for another week. ”
“And then we’re looking at another week to get everything here and installed?”
“I know you’re frustrated, and so am I. I could do a substitute, but honestly, it’s not worth it. We’re only looking at a few days’ difference either way you look at it.”
Gray pounded his fist against the desk. Every day his pack went with less than adequate protection was another day they were more vulnerable to a second attack. “Just do what you have to do, Rocky. Pay for overnight shipping, put pressure on them, whatever it takes.”
“Already done and I’ll do it again. These guys want to keep my business and want me to be happy. They’ll jump through a few hoops for me if they can to get it done earlier.”
“I appreciate it.”
“No problem. Did you get the new guard rotation worked out like I recommended?”
“It’s done—a bit hard to decipher, but we’ve got it in place.”
“Excellent,” Rocky said. “Imagine if it’s hard to figure out for you guys, how hard it will be for anyone trying to find a weakness in the routine.”
“Good point.”
“I also wanted to let you know that I’ve cleared my schedule for next week. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to fly out personally and handle the installation.”
“It’s more than okay with me. Alex trusts you completely, and I know he wouldn’t have recommended you if you weren’t the best.”
“Alex is a good friend. I wish all alphas were like you guys. Anyway, I’ll be there as soon as I finish the job I’m on. I’ll let you know the details in a couple days.”
They finished their call, and Gray hung up the phone. The issues with the compound’s security were just one of many he’d been dealing with this week. The humans they’d captured, who were working with the demon, had been questioned by the High Council.
The Council member who had called with the results was highly amused. Apparently, they hadn’t been able to get anything out of the first human until he’d counted to one hundred thousand. Once he’d reached that magic number, he stopped and looked around, wondering where the hell he was.
The second was too scared he was going to be eaten and would only talk when he was in the kitchen, cooking. They had never seen anything like it before and wanted to know more about the mage who had planted such entertaining suggestions in their minds.
It wasn’t quite the reaction Gray had expected, but he had to admit he was just as fascinated by Simon.
He couldn’t get the mage out of his mind, his thoughts circling back to Simon frequently since he’d seen him last on Monday.
Gray found himself in the unusual position of regretting his promise to stay away.
He wasn’t a man who frequently had regrets.
As tempting as it was to call Simon and ask if he’d learned anything new, Gray forced himself to focus on the tasks at hand.
He was frustrated by his lack of knowledge surrounding other magical beings, and although Simon would be an excellent resource, he needed to get information from other sources as well.
He was an educated man, and over his years of study, he’d done more research papers and dug through more obscure references than he cared to admit.
Even his current role managing the pack’s finances required a large amount of analysis.
But all that experience didn’t help him one bit when trying to learn more about the world in which he currently found himself entrenched.
Every child of the High Moon Pack received training in their ways from an early age.
Pack history, rules, and traditions were all emphasized from the beginning of a cub’s education, in addition to how to deal with living in a human-dominated world.
However, study of the other creatures that coexisted with them had never been part of that schooling.
Mages, demons, vampires, and all the rest were just Other, and not important to them.
That being the case, Gray had few resources at his disposal. He’d discussed his concerns with the Council, and they’d assured him that they were going to do everything they could to help.
Aunt Maggie entered his office, dust rag in one hand and a bottle of furniture polish in the other. After nearly five years of trying, Gray had given up the fight with her over cleaning the house. She didn’t acknowledge his presence, just started removing items from the shelves.
The office was pretty much as his father had left it.
Very traditional in style, the walls were lined with dark cherry bookcases, and the desk was a large antique table that matched.
Gray had replaced the worn-out upholstered chairs his father had added years before with two overstuffed burgundy leather ones.
Photographs of Garon filled the few empty places around the room. Aunt Maggie lingered over one of him, dressed only in a diaper, laughing and playing outside in the sprinkler. After a moment, she carefully wiped it off and put it back in place.
“I’m worried about Garon,” she said.
Gray was as well, but he waited for her to finish her thoughts. Aunt Maggie liked to talk things out and often needed a quiet listener while she worked through a problem.
“He’s not himself since he came home. I expected some of that, as I’m sure you did. I’m not saying you haven’t been great with him, because you have, it’s just that he seems so disconnected somehow.” She stopped and looked at him, waiting for a response.
“I agree. I haven’t been able to speak to him through our mind-link since he’s returned.
Garon told me that the demon did something when they were taken, some spell, and that he’s not been able to talk to me since then.
” Gray tried to stay positive, but he couldn’t quite keep the undercurrent of worry from his voice.
He’d taken for granted the ability to communicate with his son through their link, to hear that comforting hum of Garon’s presence in his mind.
He’d thought at first Garon was somehow shutting him out, but then he realized there was nothing but silence from all the kidnapped cubs.
“I’m hoping that as his wolf gets stronger, he’ll get back to himself. ”
“I’m sure you’re right. It’s probably because he’s recovering. I just need to give him time. Are the other kids doing okay?”
“Little Emma has been doing well. I spoke to her father yesterday, and other than wanting to sleep with them at night, she seems to be doing fine. I felt her connection strengthen yesterday and hope she’s able to communicate with me today. I’m sure Garon and the others will get better too.”
She nodded, her worry soothed a bit by his reassurance. “That Emma is such a cute little thing.”
“She sure is. The rest are doing as well as can be expected. None of them have reconnected with me yet, but they are all growing stronger. They’re all staying close to home and their parents right now,” Gray said.
Maggie turned back to the bookcase, removed a few books, and laid them carefully on the shelf below.
After spraying the empty space with furniture polish, she wiped it down, then stopped and stared.
Gray heard her sniffle and looked up to see her shoulders softly shaking.
He quickly stood, moved behind her, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He hugged her gently as she cried.
“This is all too much, Gray. I don’t understand why this happened. It doesn’t make any sense at all.”
“No, it doesn’t. I’ll figure it out and keep us safe.”
She seemed to need his reassurance and wiped her eyes before shrugging off his hug. “Of course you will. Now, what are we going to do about Garon?”
That was a very good question and another on Gray’s list he didn’t have an answer to.
Garon was in that strange age between little boy and teen, when he didn’t want to be babied but wasn’t mature enough to be treated more like an adult.
Gray missed the days when Garon would crawl up on his lap and chatter about his day, telling Daddy his secrets and adventures.
“We’ll take it one day at a time and keep a close eye on him. That’s really all we can do.” Gray could only hope he wasn’t wrong.
THAT evening, Gray and Garon were in the kitchen making dinner. Garon liked helping, especially when they had burgers and fries, his favorite meal. “Kiddo, can you grab me the Worcestershire sauce and an egg from the fridge?”
“On it!” Garon ran over to the refrigerator and rattled the bottles in the door as he jerked it open.
“Easy!” Gray laughed, enjoying his son’s antics.
“Sorry, Dad.” Garon grabbed an egg from the carrier and then snagged the bottle of sauce from the door. “Nothing broken.” He slammed the door and made everything rattle again.
He handed the items over with a sheepish grin and resumed watching Gray add his “secret ingredients” to the meat. “Hey, why’s it called Worst-a-cheer sauce, anyway?”