Not Your Ordinary Shifter

Chapter 2

Chapter

Two

L uka Novikov stood in the middle of the desert on the outskirts of Window Rock, Arizona, lost and worried about his little brother. He’d spent the better part of three days, crisscrossing the vast nothingness, trying to find Ilariy. His family hadn’t been in the United States long. It’d taken six months from the moment they left their home in the Irkut River basin, in the southernmost part of Siberia, until their arrival in the United States.

They’d smuggled themselves upon a ship in Bangladesh and when they arrived at the port of Los Angeles, his parents declared political asylum. As dhole, they were extremely rare, almost extinct shifters. They were so rare in fact, poaching them for their pelts, brought in millions of dollars to the illegal fur trade on the black market. Which caused them to live a life of constant running and trying to hide in place that hadn’t been shifter friendly.

His parents chose Window Rock after seeing several different news articles from the Alpha, Kalkin Raferty. There was no way to know how new the reports were or if, when they arrived, he’d still be alive. But they took their chances. They lived in an abandoned home not far from the center of town, with no running water or electricity. His parents had worked hard to stay on the outskirts, to keep themselves hidden. They’d also wanted Luka and Ilariy to do the same.

Ilariy, however, wanted to go to school with the other children, especially after seeing the groups of children of all ages laughing and carrying on as they headed to school—which was why Luka was looking for him. Ilariy left early in the morning, before the sun came up, three days ago and never returned. His parents thought perhaps he’d gotten lost and sent Luka to find him. Then bring him back home. Unfortunately for them, that wasn’t the case. Between his parents and himself they’d traveled miles looking for his brother and now...

They stood at a crossroads.

Luka could go to the sheriff and ask for help or...he didn’t know what. At twenty-four, he was ten years older than his brother. They’d spent most of his life hiding from outsiders. He didn’t get to experience life before the poachers. Ilariy thought because he was in the US he could be free, but his parents still led with fear, until proven otherwise.

“Fuck it,” he said. Luka’s parents might not want him traveling into town, but after three days of searching day and night for his brother, with nothing to show for their efforts, Luka couldn’t wait any longer. If his parents got mad at him, so be it. They were supposed to be in a safe town. Why not test the theory?

He followed the dirt road, only a mile from the center of Window Rock, shoving his hands into his pockets. Immigration and charities had given the clothes he wore to him. The bus they took to Arizona, provided to them by the state of California. The food in their bellies which waned over the last few weeks, his father and he hunted for at dusk. They’d been in the country for such a short period, not even the money the government gave for newly registered shifters, had arrived in an account of their choosing.

Luka knew his appearance was poor. He needed to bathe better than in the creek. He was half-starved, shabby in appearance, but his brother was missing and that was more important than dirty clothes and a rumbling belly. As he crossed the threshold of the town, he stared at the people carrying on about their day, not paying attention to him or his appearance. Children played in a small park. Others yipped and barked, tumbling in their puppy forms. Big cats and cubs pounced on the grass, chasing butterflies and grasshoppers, like it was normal to be seen in their shifter forms. Mothers and fathers sat on benches laughing and talking to others, enjoying their afternoon.

The scene unfolding before him overwhelmed Luka. He’d seen nothing like it before. He continued along the path, hiding himself by ducking his head and watching the sidewalk in front of him. Conversations carried on all around him as he trekked through town. He inhaled, and the smells assailed him. Fried foods, baked goods, and fresh fruit permeated the air. His stomach rumbled, reminding him he’d only eaten a couple of quail eggs his mother found while he and his father had been out foraging before dawn and after they’d searched all night for Ilariy.

Window Rock, it seemed, was nothing like Irkut.

So caught up in his thoughts and enjoying the aromas dancing in the air, he hadn’t been paying much attention to his surroundings. If he couldn’t find the Alpha, someone in the town had to help him find his brother, right? He’d only heard good things about Window Rock. Seeing the place up close confirmed what he was told. They’d be safe there.

So focused on his mission to find the Alpha, he had paid no mind to where he was going. The scent of sage mixed with milkweed and juniper assailed him seconds before a hand grabbed his arm. In the next breath he bumped into the hard press of something solid like a wall, but also soft and fleshy. Luka glanced up, thinking he’d run into a muscular person and was about to apologize, when he realized the guy stood a few inches shorter than him. He took in the man’s appearance and his dhole sat up, noticing him as well. The man was pretty. Shifter by the smell of him. Athletic build, but not overly built. Dark, sun-kissed skin glittered in the warm fall afternoon, drawing his attention back to the man’s face. His features were severe in a way, all harsh lines and deep-set eyes. Full lips and high cheekbones. Something inside Luka twisted. His dick twitched, hardening, as he continued to breathe in the perfume emanating from the guy.

“Sorry.” The sweet, earthy smell enveloped Luka, knotting his gut as he continued to draw the heady mixture into his senses. Was it coming from the guy who stared at him with such curious blue-gray eyes? “Didn’t pay attention to where I was going.”

The guy inhaled, tilting his head. The curious look he gave Luka made him doubt his decision to walk into town for help. The grip on his arm tightened, surprising him with the ferocity of the man’s touch. “You’re new.”

He liked the guy’s voice. Deep, though not aggressively so. His accent wasn’t as pronounced as Luka’s, but he could tell the man wasn’t from the states either. “Very. Only a couple of weeks.”

“You seem lost.” The man released him, yet didn’t take his eyes off Luka. “What are you looking for?” There’d been no malice in his tone, only open curiosity and an eagerness to help him.

This was his chance. Luka’s heart pounded. His stomach churned with fear. Obviously, the turbulent emotions rolling through him could’ve been because of the man in front of him. More than a few scenarios played through his mind as he stood there. Most ended amicably. Those that didn’t, caused Luka to second guess himself. Still, even as anxiety snaked through his overwrought system, he needed help. Ilariy was out there somewhere, and he had to find him.

As if understanding the war raging within Luka, the man waited him out. He was patient and didn’t try to hurry him along. “Kalkin Raferty.” If there was one person Luka knew he could trust, it was the Alpha of Apache County. The man his parents stressed to him and Ilariy was the only kind and generous Alpha in the whole of the world. “I must speak with him at once.”

Day four had gone the same as the last three days. Nothing. No one saw the animal whistling at night. Nor, when he looked around their properties, did he find any clues. The wildlife center promised to get him an answer on the fur as quickly as possible, but like with DNA, sometimes it took longer than expected to find the right answer.

Still, he wouldn’t give up.

Trackers never lost hope.

As he stepped out of YoJo’s, a smell he’d engrained on his senses more than once over the last few days assailed him. He drew the scent in, allowing it to consume him as he tracked whoever it belonged to. He stared toward the Mariposa cutoff, only a half-block down the sidewalk, hopeful he’d find his answer. It was a little after one when he exited YoJo’s and town was busy. Since it was the off season for the tourists and such, the shifter community like to stretch their legs more. It wasn’t that they were afraid of humans, they were, more or less, set in their ways.

Small children ran and played while mothers and fathers enjoyed the blissful afternoon. Pretty soon the temperatures would drop, and the cold would push everyone back in. Johnathan waved to a few people he knew along the way. Some he’d helped and others he’d known since childhood. That was the thing about Window Rock, everyone knew each other. So, if there was someone new, they’d stick out.

And there he was.

Johnathan quickened his pace, crossing the road. The odor he caught three days ago, sounding mountains, misting rain, mixed with the petrichor of low hanging clouds, he’d never forget it. The guy’s head was bent with his shoulders over his ears. Whoever he was, he tried hard to hide in plain sight. Slouched as he was, the man stood a good couple of inches taller than Johnathan. He had russet-colored hair and pale skin. Rangy, though in his prime, could rival any of the wolves in the pack. Even in his disheveled appearance, a current of strength fortified him.

Johnathan stepped in the shifter’s way, realizing rather quickly he’d never seen the guy in Window Rock before that moment. Could it have been that easy to find the animal who, whistled like a banshee, as one person said? No. Johnathan didn’t believe in serendipity. It could be he was just a new person who found Window Rock. It couldn’t have been the first time nor, Johnathan suspect, be the last.

Then he spoke.

The first words out of his mouth, was a request to speak with Kalkin.

What were the chances?

Probably a million to one.

“You want to see Kalkin Raferty?” The man’s Russian accent reminded him of those he’d met while trying to find Jochi’s parents. Finding other people who lived in that mountainous region of the country were rare, but shifters? Almost impossible. Humanity went where they could live in peace and never be found. Shifters hid deeper into the mountains, so they’d never be found, period.

“Da... I mean yes,” he said. “My name is Luka Novikov.” He lifted his chin, showing a fortitude Johnathan only wished he had some days. There was also pride there. He had a scraggly beard and a streak of white down the middle of his hair. His amber eyes spoke of untold trials and tribulations he’d been through on his journey to Window Rock. His scent also spun through Johnathan melding with his system while the hare within him rejoiced at the belief his mate had been found.

“I’m Johnathan,” he replied, pushing aside the rapturous feeling, deciding to concentrate on helping Luka first. “I can take you to see the Alpha.”

“So, he lives still?” The wonderment in Luka’s voice had a pang of emotion lodging in his chest.

“Very much so,” Johnathan replied. “Along with his family. You say you’ve only been here for a short while?”

The guy grunted nodding his head. “Asylum.”

“Well, welcome to Window Rock. If we’d known you were here, we’d have welcomed you better than this.” By his appearance, he looked like he didn’t have a dime to his name nor any food to speak of. After they talked to Kalkin, Johnathan decided they’d hit the diner to grab Luka some food. Fuck knows the last time he ate.

“Is it always so... Loud here?”

The question threw Johnathan for a second before he laughed. “Yes. This is mild compared to the summers. We’re out of tourist season now. For the rest of the year, into next Spring, all you’ll see is us. No one else. I have to admit, it takes some time to adjust to.”

“People are happy,” Luka added, glancing at those who filled the sidewalks and the roads. It’s been a long time since I’ve experienced this freedom.”

“For the most part. There are more shifters than humans here, which gives us freedom to be ourselves.” He shrugged. “Where are you from?”

A myriad of emotions played across Luka’s face before he said, “The Irkut River basin. Siberia.”

Johnathan whistled. “You’ve traveled a long way to get here.”

“Six months,” Luka said. “We left in May at the first thaw and traveled through many lands and through many conditions.”

Johnathan couldn’t fathom how grueling the trip had been for Luka. He paused though when his brain tripped over the fact Luka wasn’t alone. “We?”

“Da,” Luka answered. “My parents, and my little brother, Ilariy.”

Johnathan tucked that piece of information away as he stopped at the front door of the Sheriff’s Department. Could it be he’d accidentally come across the shifter making the eerie noise out in the desert at night and occasionally during the day? “This is where Kalkin works along with most of his family. He’s in now.”

“This doesn’t look like the building I saw once,” Luka said, taking a step back. If he bolted, Johnathan would follow. Then wait the guy out. Being in a new place took time to get acquainted with the surroundings. He couldn’t imagine trust came easy either. If Luka’s family claimed asylum, he couldn’t fathom what the guy’s family had gone through to make the conscious decision to make a six-month trip to America, let alone to Window Rock.

“Right. The firebombing. The county had to rebuild the station because of the damage. You can sniff me for a lie.” He wanted to make sure the man knew he’d told the truth. Couldn’t build trust without it. Also, with as skittish as Luka probably was, Johnathan didn’t want to give him another reason to run.

Whatever Luka saw in his eyes or smelled on him must have appeased him because he pulled open the door and stepped into the building first. Behind the plexiglass partition and desk sat Aurora, six months pregnant with her and Mackenzie’s second child. She glanced up and grinned, waving them forward. “Guess you couldn’t stay away long, could you?” She teased Johnathan with ease as he leaned against the counter. Aurora’s eyes narrowed as She, stared at Luka. She too, had been in Window Rock for a short amount of time. “New friend?”

“Luka Novikov,” he said. “I’d like to see the Alpha.” Then tacked on, “please.”

Aurora slid her gaze back to Johnathan in silent question. He nodded. “He’s new to Window Rock. We just met in town. I think Kalkin should meet him, too.”

“My ears are ringing.” Kalkin’s booming voice echoed as he stepped through the side door, into the waiting area of the Sheriff’s Department. “Figured someone was talking about me.” When his gaze narrowed on Luka, he crossed his arms. “You’re new around here.”

Luka swallowed hard. He took a step back, but Johnathan was there to keep him from running. It was okay, though. He’d had the same reaction to the Alpha as a child. Kalkin, he learned over the years, was more bark than bite, as long as no one messed with his family. Then he was all sharp teeth and claws and would kill anyone he considered was a threat.

“Alpha,” Johnathan said, drawing the enormous wolf’s attention. “This is Luka Novikov. He and his family are new to Window Rock.”

Kalkin canted his head, taking in Luka’s appearance. Some of the gruffness faded as he nodded. “Welcome to Window Rock. Let’s go to my office so we can talk.”

Luka grunted as he followed Kalkin. Johnathan stayed right at his shoulder, should Luka try to escape before they got to the Alpha’s office. As they stepped inside, the scent of peaches and sweet blooming flower permeated the air. Keeley had been there recently. Probably had lunch with her mate, considering the smell of fresh bread, deli meats, and fries drifted through her aroma.

“Have a seat,” Kalkin said. The wood groaned under the Alpha’s imposing form as leaned back in his chair.

Once Luka was situated, Johnathan sat beside him. The thought struck him again that the person they were looking for sat directly beside him, but once more, he didn’t want to be that presumptive. Assuming always had a way of making an ass out of the person speaking. What he noticed, however, was the fact the longer he was next to Luka, the more the hare within him sat up, observing the man. Etching his features to memory. The smell of mist and mountains wrapped a fist around Johnathan’s heart and caused his groin to tighten. Mate... The word floated through his mind for the second time, and Johnathan pushed the notion aside. Luka didn’t need the complication of a mating screwing with him while he settled into a new country and a new pack/pride.

“Thank you,” Luka said. His hands flexed and unflexed as he sat there. The odor of anxiety and fear swirled around him, confusing and irritating Johnathan at the same time. There was nothing to fear from Kalkin. He wouldn’t hurt anyone, besides those who deserved it.

Did Luka believe he deserved Kalkin’s wrath?

Kalkin waited him out a few moments before he asked, “When did you arrive? I usually hear about all the new arrivals through local gossip.” Had Johnathan not known Kalkin for so long, he wouldn’t have tasted the lie for what it was, however the smoothness of delivery along with the gentle push, covered the acrid taste. The truth was, Kalkin knew everyone in and around Window Rock. Even if they never stepped foot in town, Kalkin sensed them.

Just one of the many gifts a strong Alpha possessed.

“A few weeks,” Luka answered. “We’re here as political refugees.”

Kalkin grunted, surprise filling his features. “You are?”

“Da. We came here because of you,” Luka said adjusting his position. “You have free pack/pride lands. We are hunted for our furs.”

Kalkin frowned, tapping his finger against his desk. “Can I make a quick call? I just have to check on something.”

Luka inclined his chin.

“I got this, Kalkin,” Johnathan said as his Alpha stood.

“Thanks. This will only take a few minutes.” Kalkin stepped out of the office, leaving Johnathan with Luka. Something about the timing, his last statement, and the fact his family sought Asylum, stirred up questions in Johnathan’s mind. He turned toward Luka, bracing himself for the fallout if he was wrong with his assessment.

“Can I ask you a question, Luka?” He quirked a brow, tilting his head.

“Sure. Whatever you’d like.” Luka nodded. “You did bring me to the Alpha after all.”

He grinned. “Since you’ve been here a little while, have you heard odd whistling at night or during the day?” Johnathan asked.

“Odd whistling...” Luka frowned then his eyes widened. A soft pink tinged the parts of his cheeks Johnathan could see and across the bridge of his nose. “Da. It was us.”

Johnathan sat back. “You? What...”

Luka’s head bowed. “My brother, Ilariy. He’s young. He doesn’t understand the rules or why he has to hide until we are sure we’ll be safe here, in Window Rock. I came to town for help. My brother is missing.”

“Shit.” Johnathan stood then. “Stay here. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

Johnathan ran out the door toward the front of the sheriff’s department where he knew Kalkin and Aurora were. Kalkin used Jace’s desk to make the phone call. He stood there staring out the window looking over the gated lot where the new Enforcers resided, waiting to be decked out by the Department. The phone was at his ear, and he looked bored. Probably on hold—one of his least favorite activities.

“Emersyn,” Kalkin said, shifting his stance. “It’s great to hear your voice, too. I have a situation here. I wonder if you could help me?” He grinned. “Great... Thank you. I have a Luka Novikov in my office said he and his family are political refugees. Unfortunately, no one told us they were on the way. Is there anyone you could prod to get me some answers?”

Emersyn Lake took over the remaining year and a half of Winters’ senatorial term when he retired from congress a little over two years ago. She was, at the time, the mayor pro tem of Window Rock and had two young children. To say those in District 5 were a bit nervous when she was introduced as his replacement, was a bit of an understatement. However, the campaign she waged against the outsider who had flashy cars and money, solidified her place within the community and with the shifters in our district. She wasn’t some sell out. Nor would she allow some interloper come in and destroy the legacy Jefferson Winters created, and she championed. Kalkin also hit the ground running at her side, introducing her to the different prides and packs in the area and the state. Sure, there’d been minor hiccups along the way, but when they were in a pinch, Emersyn could be counted on.

Like now.

“Two weeks,” Kalkin said, his frown deepening. “Someone sat on it? Are you serious? No, it’s okay. I’ll make arrangements. Can you send what you have to Keeley? Or maybe your assistant? I know you’re busy.” He chuckled. “Yeah, me too. Guess that’s part of being a badass, huh?” He laughed again. “If you find anything else, let me know, please. I appreciate your time. Thanks.”

Kalkin hung up the phone and shook his head. Johnathan hated dumping more on him, but he had a feeling he just solved the case the Alpha assigned to him, without having to do too much work. “So, about the whistling...”

Kalkin snorted. “Let me guess, the Novikov family?”

“Bingo,” he replied. “There’s more. The younger son, Ilariy? He’s missing. Looks like the family has been searching for him.”

“And they didn’t come to town for help because they’re refugees...” Kalkin exhaled. “Fuck. Some days it doesn’t pay to get out of bed. Today is one of those days.” He strode back to his office and took a seat behind his desk, folding his hands on the surface. A pissed off Kalkin wasn’t someone people wanted to mess with. Harming someone who might be part of his pack/pride or already claimed by his pack/pride, even if he didn’t know them, made fucking with Kalkin even worse. “Kid, Johnathan tells me you have a missing brother. Want to tell me what happened and why you sought asylum exactly.” The gruffness in Kalkin’s tone rumbled across Johnathan’s flesh, causing goosebumps to form in its wake.

Luka sat up straighter, his eyes widened before he cleared his throat. “Da. Sorry. We came here because our kind is hunted. Our pelts bring millions on the black market. We are dhole, and we are almost extinct. My parents used political asylum because how do you fill out a form that asks why you seek shelter when it doesn’t include going extinct, as a reason?”

Johnathan’s chest ached. His heart hurt for the Novikov family. He couldn’t imagine having to leave his home, the only place they’d known, because hunters were killing his kind. Then, after they should feel safe in their new home, Ilariy goes missing. Johnathan didn’t want to think about the undue stress and worry Luka’s parents were under. Or how much they must have missed their young child.

“You’ve got a point,” Kalkin relented. “Will you show me where your parents are now?”

Luka nodded. “Yes. Will you help us find my little brother?”

“Believe it or not,” Kalkin replied, “I’ve been fielding calls about whistles in the middle of the night and during the day, for the past few days. I think we’ve been looking for each other all along. I’ll help you any way I can. As long as you continue to be truthful with me.”

“I will.”

Kalkin stood and extended his hand to Luka. “Let’s bring your parents to town and then you can fill us in over dinner. If I know my mate, she’s already planning a feast and gathering the troops.”

“But how?” Confusion filled Luka’s handsome features. “She’s not here. How does she know all this?”

Kalkin chuckled. “Kid, there’s a lot you’re going to learn in the next few hours. I’m about to blow your mind and open your world to all sorts of new things.”