Series: Shifter Ops Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“Are you telling me that you had cameras installed in my house?”
I nod.
Her nostrils flare. If she were a dragon, she’d be breathing fire. “Where?”
“All over. I had to keep an eye on you while I was gone on missions. Before that, I hired a friend to check on you. You might’ve seen him from time to time. Big guy, drove an old Charger.”
She blinks. “The Charger with a bad paint job that used to park at the end of our cul-de-sac? With the bumper sticker that says “What a long strange trip it’s been?”
“That’s the one. That’s Buddy.”
“I thought it was abandoned. I kept calling the county to pick it up. But everytime they came, he’d left.”
“Yeah, he got annoyed by that. He likes to sleep in the car.”
“So he was watching us. And now you have cameras.” She waves a hand. “In here. Watching us.”
She’s not taking this well. She doesn’t understand. “I promised Geoffrey I’d look out for you. Couldn’t really do that when I was halfway around the world. ”
“Geoffrey…” she mutters and shakes her head. “So you spied on us?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“You put cameras in my home–”
“To keep you safe, Julia. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe.”
Julia
I can’t believe this. He’s standing in my kitchen, telling me he had us under surveillance.
All these years, and he didn’t bother to show up. But he installed cameras. I could cross the kitchen and grab the shotgun I keep loaded. It’s not silver shot, but it would hurt.
I wouldn’t reach the door before he stopped me, but I am tempted.
I raise a shaking hand and point out the door. “Get out.”
“Julia, listen–”
“No, no more. I’m done talking. You need to leave right now.” My voice rises to a shout.
“Mom?” Geo’s voice cracks midword. He’s standing on the stairs, barefoot. “What’s going on?”
“Geo.” I lower my hand and make my voice calm. “Everything’s fine.”
Channing turns and Geo gives him the stink eye. “What’s he doing here?” There’s a weird glint to his eyes, and his voice sounds unnatural. Snarly.
“It’s okay.” I scramble around the table, but Channing puts out a hand, blocking my way.
“Julia, stay back.”
I open my mouth to argue, but Geo’s eyes flash, and his nostrils flare. His wolf prowls there, under the surface.
“Easy, Junior,” Channing says.
“Don’t call me that.” Geo’s voice drops into a deeper register and becomes a low growl.
Goosebumps break out over my body. That sound, coming from my boy… he sounds like a wild animal. A wolf.
“Your mom and I were having an argument,” Channing says in a low, calm voice. “She’s angry with me, can you smell it? I fu–messed up, and we’re dealing with it. But everything’s chill.” He takes a step forward, putting himself more squarely between Geo and me. “We’re gonna have pizza, see?”
Geo tilts his head in a fluid motion. His body hunches forward, like he’s going to fall to all fours. A whine escapes his throat.
“That’s right, Geo.” I force my voice to be pleasant, but it shakes a little. I need to get my emotions under control.
Geo’s hand clutches the banister so hard, something crunches. Is that fur growing along his wrist?
I suck in a breath. “Geo?”
My son’s body curls forward and shudders like his spine isn’t under his control.
I can’t stop the panic rising in me. I start forward but stop myself. I want to go to Geo and help him, but there’s nothing I can do.
“Geo,” Channing says in a firm voice. “It’s gonna be okay. There’s a lot of energy running through your body right now. That’s your instinct to protect your mom. It brings your wolf to the surface. Your wolf will always come to the surface when there’s danger. Or when you’re angry. And some day, when you find your mate. But your mom is safe. So quiet the wolf.”
“I…I can’t,” he chokes, but the words come out more as a snarl than a human utterance.
Geo’s teeth are growing too big for his mouth.
I gasp, and his gaze jerks to me, pupils narrowing, irises glowing. His jaw falls open, and he snarls. I flinch, my entire body freezing, sensing a predator in the room.
Channing reaches behind him, pressing me back. Then he steps forward, blocking my view of my son with his body.
“Okay, Geo. You’re just going to have to shift and run this energy off, then.”
Geo snarl-whimpers, a trapped animal sound.
“Geo,” Channing orders, his voice deep and echoing, otherworldly. “Shift.”
Geo’s body hits the floor. I can’t see what’s happening, but the sounds–grunts and growls and claws scrabbling on the floor–are horrible. I shrink behind Channing, my fingers digging into his tight t-shirt. I don’t know what else to do but hold on.
“That’s it. You’ve got it.” Channing’s voice rings out with confidence. “You did it, buddy.”
I peek around Channing’s biceps.