Chapter 80 The Petting Zoo
They drove down the long driveway slowly, Sage looking all around, fascinated, nerves and excitement tickling her insides in equal measure. Trucks lined both sides, and beyond them grew thick evergreen trees. The place was surrounded by forest.
Sage fidgeted in her seat, popped her seatbelt off, and leaned forward to clutch the back of the front seat, peering up the driveway.
The way opened up into lawn and concrete, and the house came into view—big with two stories, oversized windows, and a large front porch.
Lights shone from the windows and people moved around inside.
The forest continued around a wide yard, extending past the house. More vehicles were parked in front of the house, and picnic tables were set every few feet in the grass. A tactical tent stood near the garage, its flaps closed and woodsmoke coming from the vent on the top.
“Gotta drive slow now that there’s pups running around,” Canyon said. “Trevor and Ella’ve got two pups, named Track and Treena.”
“How old are they?” Sage breathed, trying to look every way at once.
“Three months.”
Canyon found a spot to park, turned the truck around, and eased into it. He got out, then opened Sage’s door and helped her to the ground. She left her purse in the truck but put Mina’s phone in her back pocket, then she clung to Canyon, feeling dazed and very curious, but also feeling torn.
“Hey,” she said, patting Canyon’s chest until he looked down at her.
“I’m a spy, I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be seeing this. What if I tell my family?”
Canyon grinned. “Maybe before, but now you’re uniting foxen and wolven. You’re probably supposed to tell your family.”
Sage didn’t know what to think.
Canyon kissed her softly, then said, “Tell them. I trust you.”
Sage smiled at him, but then she clutched his shirt. “What about your boss? What if he finds out?”
Canyon kissed her on the forehead, then pulled her into his chest and said, “Shit’s gonna get bumpy for a while. We can handle it.”
Timber came around the back of the truck with the robot at his heels, saying, “We’ve got your back with our boss. He’s gotta change his attitude, and that’s hard for a wolf.”
“Takes a while,” Canyon said.
Timber nodded. “Maybe a few black eyes.”
Sage shook her head. “No black eyes. Not because of me.”
Timber shrugged. He walked backwards, hooking a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m heading to Graeme’s place.” The robot followed him.
“Got it,” Canyon said.
Sage shivered at the name. Graeme was a dragen, possibly the last one alive, and rumors ran wild about his young.
Near them, coming from the tree line, a voice asked, “Is that Sage?”
Sage and Canyon turned that way. A pretty female with long black hair, a curvy body, and light blue eyes came their way. She wore a hoodie and jeans, and in her arms was a small black wolf pup wearing a diaper and a sleeveless white onesie.
“Hi!” the woman called, rushing over. She pulled Sage into a hug, the wolf pup cocked on her hip.
“I’m Ella.” She held the wolf pup out and asked, “Will you hold her please?” Without waiting for an answer, Ella plopped the wolf pup into Sage’s arms, on her back like a baby, her little paws up in the air.
Ella handed Canyon a tiny pink jacket. “If she shifts, put this on her.”
“Will do,” Canyon said.
Ella backed away, saying, “I need to check on Track to make sure he’s still napping. Most everyone’s out in the pasture, helping fix the shelter for Cerise’s horse. A tree branch fell on it last night.”
Ella turned around and went onto the porch and into the house. Sage grinned at the adorable black pup and her fuzzy fur, blue-grey eyes, and teeny-tiny teeth. “You’re cute,” Sage cooed. “Just a little cutie-cutie.”
“That’s your niece, Treena,” Canyon said.
Sage’s breath caught and she looked at the little wolf pup with fresh eyes.
Her niece? Treena’s little paws waved and her tongue lolled.
She moved her head this way and that, grinning fiercely at Sage and whining cutely in the back of her throat.
Sage pulled the little pup close and kissed her furry cheek.
Treena kissed her back, first licking her, then pressing her muzzle against Sage’s cheek like a kiss.
“Awww,” Sage cooed. Treena nipped at her hair and whuffled in her ear, and Sage’s heart split open.
Canyon pulled her into a hug. Sage put her head on his chest and stared into Treena’s adorable eyes. Her niece. Could she really have a whole second family here with the vod and their mates? Would she be accepted? Would Paisley?
Canyon turned around. Sage turned with him, following his gaze. He was looking down the driveway. Sage saw nothing at first, but then a female appeared, walking their way.
“It's Rogue,” Canyon said. “She’s Mac’s mate. Mac’s the Sergeant of the KSRT, just under Trevor, the Lieutenant.” He looked into her eyes. “Do you know this already?”
Sage shook her head. “Some of it, but please tell me everything.”
He whispered in Sage’s ear, “Her power is unlocking things, and she can’t speak ruhi, but some of the mates can.” That gave Sage a little thrill, that she wouldn’t be alone in not speaking ruhi here.
Rogue reached them. She was almost as tall as Canyon, with an athletic body, wearing black jeans and army boots, plus a camouflage jacket and camouflage stocking cap with long blond hair peeking out.
“Where'd you come from?” Canyon asked.
Treena yipped at Rogue. Rogue booped her on the nose, and Treena nipped at her finger.
Rogue lifted her chin at Canyon and sneered at Sage, then hooked a thumb over her shoulder.
“Beckett and Cerise dropped me back there and went to the station for supplies. We’re up the bluff with Mac on assignment. ”
Sage watched her, fascinated. Rogue was tough-looking, and tough-sounding, much like a vod.
“What are they getting?” Canyon asked.
“Which bluff?” Sage asked.
Rogue shook her head and walked away, saying, “Nope. Mac told me not to tell anyone, said you'd fuck it up.”
Sage’s mouth dropped open but Canyon only laughed. “Don’t mind her,” he said. “She’s always like that.” His face grew serious and he took both of Sage’s hands, saying, “They’re after Abigail White. You okay with that?”
Sage stared into his eyes, shaking her head slightly. “After her for what?”
“Probably for what happened with Conri, but also because she summoned Khain for the fire chief last summer.”
Sage put a hand to her forehead, dizzy. “She what?!”
Canyon stared at her. “We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
The door opened and Ella came out of the house, meeting Rogue on the steps. They stopped and spoke to each other.
Canyon motioned to them. “But for now, there’s sisters to introduce you to.”
He took her hand and went up the porch steps. Ella pointed at Sage, asking Rogue, “Did you meet Sage?”
Rogue turned around and stuck her hand out. “Meet’cha.”
Sage shook Rogue’s hand. “Charmed.”
Rogue gave a derisive snort and turned to Ella. “Got any sledgehammers?”
“Maybe, check the garage,” Ella said.
“What about a crowbar?”
“Garage.”
“Hand auger?”
“Not sure what that is… so check the shed—what are you up to?”
“Me ‘n Mac are breaking into a place.”
“Okaayyy,” Ella said, eyes big, looking away. “I don’t want to know anything about that.” She held out her arms for Treena and Sage passed her over. Rogue went inside, shutting the door behind her.
“Reed’s inside,” Ella said. “She’s going to be so excited you’re here; she’s been talking about you for days. Go on in—I’ve gotta take this one to the forest and tire her out.”
She put Treena on the ground. Treena took off like a shot and tried to climb a tree. Ella followed.
Canyon opened the front door for her. “After you.”
Sage smiled at him and went inside.
***
“Sage!”
As soon as Sage’s eyes adjusted to being in the house, her friend Reed was already pulling her into a body-crushing hug.
“Girl,” Sage said, hugging her friend back, feeling light and happy. “I missed you.”
Reed looked good, her caramel skin was clear and her eyes were flashing. Her black, shoulder-length, coily hair looked longer than Sage remembered it. She had a streak of red hair at her hairline.
Sage motioned to the red streak. “I love your hair.”
Reed touched it, smiling. “I didn’t do it. I got knocked out and Rowan healed me.” She inclined her head, pointing at her scalp. “See the scar? It grows in red there now.”
“Rowan?” Sage asked in amazement.
“She’s our sister. She’s even newer than me, but her power is healing.” Reed held her at arm’s length. “I've been texting you for days, trying to get ahold of you.”
Sage considered what to say. “I ah… I've been hiding from Khain with my family.”
Reed’s eyes grew large and she pulled Sage into another hug. “That’s right.” She dropped her voice. “You knew, didn't you?”
“What?”
“You knew what Troy was,” Reed said. “You knew what they all were when they came into Mugshots, and when he bit me.”
Sage’s cheeks heated. “I did. Sorry, I didn't tell you.”
Reed laughed. “Don't be sorry. I would’ve thought you were crazy.” She looked up at Canyon, gave him a little wave, and said, “Hi.” He nodded back.
“I’m just going to talk to Sage over here, okay?”
He nodded again, a small smile on his lips. Reed pulled Sage down the hallway. “Are you foxen?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know all the ins and outs but everyone’s talking about it—and about you.
Most everybody is behind you, especially all your sisters,” she said, squealing on the word sisters and hugging Sage.
Sage smiled and hugged her back. She’d missed Reed a lot and having a friend here would help.
The fact that she and Reed were half-sisters was too much to fathom at that moment.
Reed’s face grew serious. “There’s a couple though who are… holdouts.”
“The bosses,” Sage said.
Reed nodded. “Wade mostly. Trevor seems unsure.”
Sage swallowed hard. Wade Lombard was the Deputy Chief of Serenity P.D.
She’d been taught in school that he could bind her, which would immobilize her, and then he could force her to tell him anything.
Her hands fluttered to her throat, and she turned to look at Canyon.
He moved to her side immediately and took her hand.
She squeezed it and held his arm, telling him, “She says Wade thinks I can’t be a One True Mate because I’m foxen. ”
Canyon lifted his chin, his mouth set in a grim line. “Not surprised.”
“Do you know your power?” Reed asked. “Because that would shut him up. Ooh, and what about your pendant?”
Sage shook her head, not knowing what to say, still unsure about revealing the thing in Abigail’s cavern that had called her name.
“When you figure out your power, it’ll help you find your pendant,” Reed said.
Sage nodded, feeling overwhelmed again. Reed grabbed her arm, grinning. “Come outside. You’ve got to see my power.”
“Pet,” a deep male voice called, stopping Reed.
Troy Burbank had come in the back door and crossed the room toward them, his eyes on Reed.
He kissed her first, then fist-bumped with Canyon, then turned to Sage.
He towered over her, standing as tall as Canyon, wearing a simple blue on blue KSRT uniform with black boots…
and he’d grown back his Tom Selleck mustache.
She smiled, not quite having the guts to call him ‘Tom’, like she’d done when they’d first met.
This was his turf, and she did not belong.
Troy pulled his wallet out of his pocket and reached into an inner pocket to pull out a folded hundred-dollar bill. He held it out to Sage, leaving her confused.
“I shaved my mustache because of you,” he said, his speech slow and careful. He pulled Reed into a one-armed hug, saying, “I promised myself if it got Reed to notice me, I’d give you the tip of your life.”
Sage laughed. “I’ll take it then. I earned it,” she said, pocketing the money. The four of them shared a comfortable laugh. Sage’s muscles unknotted and her nerves calmed.
Everything was going to be okay.