One True Mate: Shifter's Lullaby (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  “I need to make them some lunch. The applesauce was only an appetizer. But I’ve got to run to the store first. I’ll be back in a bit,” Bru’s words drifted over his shoulder as he disappeared into the kitchen. Mac sighed. Kyla giggled. Kit stood up and squashed Mac right in the crotch with his little baby foot. Mac winced and Kyla giggled again.

  “Ugh, you better be glad you’re cute kids. Otherwise, giggling and junk-stomping people all willy nilly ain’t gonna fly.” Mac looped his arms around the kids to support them, leaned forward and grabbed the TV remote. When he flipped to a cartoon channel, Kit and Kyla both looked at the screen, almost instantly mesmerized by a movie with a talking train. Mac set them both on the couch next to him and stacked a bunch of pillows around them. They liked to watch TV like that. That and it kept the little buggers from falling off the couch. There would be no bumps and bruises on his watch.

  After a long while, Mac realized that he had been staring at the screen and watching the talking train travel along the tracks, the song that played was mildly hypnotic. He glanced over at the twins and noticed that Kit’s little eyes were slowly blinking shut and Kyla had already fallen asleep.

  “Welp, nap time for everybody then,” Mac said as he lowered the volume on the TV and gently tugged a throw blanket from the back of the couch across the sleeping babies. Mac leaned against the arm of the couch as he felt Kyla shift against his hip, then he settled in for a quick nap before Bru came back.

  “Mac…MAC!” Bruin’s voice boomed loudly in his ear.

  “What? WHAT?!” Mac startled awake. “What the hell, man??”

  “Where are the kids? Where are Kit and Kyla?” Bru shook Mac by the shoulder. “Where did you put them? They aren’t in your bedroom.”

  “What? What do you mean, ‘where are they’? The hell is wrong with you? They’re right he—” Mac looked at the couch, full on ready to punch Bru in the face. But all he saw was a blanket and a few pillows scattered on the floor. The babies were gone. What the fuck?

  “Dude, what did you do with them?” Bru immediately started looking around the room. He crouched and looked under the couch. He grabbed it by one end and raised it from the floor. “Where did they go?”

  “Dammit, Bru, put the couch down. The hell do you mean, where did they go? They’re babies, for fuck’s sake. It’s not like they can just get up and walk away, man.” So much for the “naughty word” filter, and Mac didn’t even care. The babies were gone on his watch and Trevor was going to kill him. Shit, Ella would…well, shit. He didn’t even want to think about what she’d do to him. But everything would pale in comparison to what Mac was going to do to whoever the hell took those babies.

  Go. Go now.

  Mac blinked, then stilled. He quickly sat up, tugged on his boots and dashed for the door, with Bru hot on his heels. He grabbed his phone and keys and headed for his truck. Bru hopped into the passenger side, tossed his phone into the glove box, then looked at Mac as he fastened his seatbelt. Mac didn’t even bother with his.

  “Where are we going?” Bru asked, as Mac threw the truck in gear. Mac’s phone vibrated against his hip. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen, then he groaned and tossed the phone to Bru. Bru looked at the screen and saw “The Chosen Bastard”. He looked up and frowned at Mac.

  “It’s Trevor,” Mac said, not taking his eyes off the road. “I can’t deal with him right now. I’ve gotta figure this thing out…”

  “Well, I don’t want to talk to him, either. Pretty sure he’s gonna kill us both,” Bru said, staring at the now silent phone in his lap. He jumped as it started ringing again.

  “He’s gonna keep calling. I swear, it’s like he’s got some kinda sixth sense when it comes to his kids. You’ve gotta talk to him, Bru. You can do it. But don’t tell him anything specific. We can figure this out. Just act natural.” Mac weaved in and out of traffic.

  Just go.

  Mac frowned and stomped hard on the gas and they flew down the highway. He had to think of something but, in that moment, his mind was drawing a blank. Shit.

  Bru looked at the phone in his hand and cleared his throat. He shifted in the seat and moved his arms this way and that, then he awkwardly crossed his big calf across his lap - which effectively knocked over the travel mug from the cup holder in the center console into Mac’s footwell. Mac swore as he reached down to grab the mug and rescue it from getting stuck between his feet and the brake pedal. “Shit, Bru, what the hell are you doing? We can’t afford to die until after we find those babies.”

  Bru shook his head and quickly held up a hand to Mac. “Shhh, I’m acting natural.” He tapped the screen on Mac’s phone. “Hello? Oh hey, Trevor! What’s up? Why am I answering Mac’s phone? He’s in the bathroom… Why does it sound like I’m in a car? Because I am in a car… Why do I have Mac’s phone? Oh, I lost mine. Uh huh… Yes, the babies are cool. You want to Facetime them?” Bru looked at Mac in a panic. Mac vigorously shook his head.

  “Uh, they’re taking a nap, Trevor. I’ll send you pictures later. Okay, bye!” Bru rolled down the window, tossed the phone out of the truck, then dropped his head towards his lap. “I think I’m going to throw up,” Bru groaned.

  “You and me both, buddy,” Mac sighed. He’d really miss that phone.

  *

  “You’re just being mean,” Rhyann sighed. Selina could really be an evil little devil sometimes. And that was saying a lot, considering she was an angel.

  “No, I am not. I’m just having a little fun.” Selina stuck her tongue out and crossed her eyes.

  “Yes, you are. They love those kids. And look at the big one. He looks like he’s about to lose his lunch.”

  “You’re such a buzzkill, Rhy. The babies are fine. See?” Selina waved her hand and the image in the water changed from the cab of the truck to a lush green meadow. The babies were giggling as four soft and fuzzy wolf pups fell over themselves to lick their little faces. Close by, a woman in a gauzy white gown looked up at them and smiled then returned her attention back to her book.

  “Look there. Everyone is fine. They love the pups and Leigh, too. She’s the best.”

  “Yes, Selina,” Rhyann said, as she waved her own hand over the water. The scene changed back to the truck cab and both men had forlorn looks on their faces. Sad, concerned, and seriously pissed all at the same time.

  Rhyann sighed. “I’m gonna help him. He looks so sad. And the way he’s driving, Heaven knows if they make it anywhere safely…”

  “No, uh uh. You promised! I get to play with the wolf. YOU get the bear. Those were the rules. Besides that’s what the babies wanted.”

  “Really, Selina? We’re trusting toddlers with running things now?” Rhyann rolled her eyes.

  Selina scoffed. “You and I both know that-”

  “Yes, yes, I know. They are more than what they seem. How they even ended up there explains that.”

  “Yep!” Selina popped her gum loudly, then grinned widely at Rhyann.

  “Where you even get gum up here, I’ll never know…”

  “You’re just jealous that I know people. Now shhh, I need to concentrate so I can talk to Wolfy McSexypants here. You and I both know the babies are safe for now but we’ve gotta get them back before—"

  “Yes, yes, I know that, too. Alright, let’s do this.” Rhyann closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

  Chapter Three

  Pssst.

  Mac frowned.

  Hey, you.

  Mac squinted at the road, then looked at Bruin. Bru had his head in his hands and he was mumbling to himself. Mac focused back on the road again.

  So, you’re just going to pretend like you don’t hear me?

  “What the fuck?” Mac yelled, as he gripped the steering wheel with a jerk. Bru shouted as the truck whipped and fishtailed a bit as Mac regained control. Bru stared at him with wide eyes.

  “Mac, what’s going on?” Bru clenched the passenger side door with a white-knuckled grip. Mac squeezed his eyes s
hut for an instant then shook his head as if to clear it.

  “Uh, nothing, B. I just thought I heard something for a second.”

  I knew it! I knew you heard me.

  Mac yanked the steering wheel hard to the right, ignoring the barrage of cars swerving and honking at him as they avoided plowing right into his truck as he blazed across three lanes of traffic. He braked the truck to a hard stop on the side of the road and watched as the dirt billowed up around the cab. His heart raced quickly as he took in deep, ragged breaths. He knew now that someone – or something – had spoken to him. In his head. He was officially losing his shit.

  He glanced over at Bru, who stared at him with eyes so big, if he sneezed, they’d pop right out of his head. Mac flung the door of the truck open, got out, and walked around the front of the cab. He placed his hand on the warm hood, ducked his head down, and forced himself to get his breathing under control. He had to get it together.

  You’re just fine, Teen Wolf. You just need to listen to me. I can help you find those babies.

  Mac whipped his head up and looked around wildly. “What? Who? Who are you?” he said, completely bewildered now. He caught Bru’s eyes in the windshield. Bru was staring back at him, but his eyes were a little less wild now.

  You don’t need to worry about who I am right now. All you need to know is that I can, and I will, help you get the babies back. But you’re gonna have to trust me and pay attention. And you’re gonna have to take a nap.

  “Oh, hell no. Taking a nap is what got me into this mess. Wait…why the hell am I even talking to you?” Mac ran a frustrated hand through his hair.

  You’re talking to me because, deep down inside, you know I’m right, even though it makes no sense to trust me at all.

  Mac frowned and went still, as he stared at Bru in the windshield. Bru stared back as he drummed his fingers on the dashboard. But, for some strange reason, he didn’t look freaked out anymore, he looked almost calm. And then Mac realized that he was starting to feel calmer, too. This shit was weird.

  Uh huh, feeling a little better now? Trust that inner wolfie, Hairy Potter. He’ll never steer you wrong. But we have to go now. And YOU have to go to sleep.

  Mac tipped his chin to his chest and realized that the voice – he had acknowledged it was female by this point – was right. His wolf was calm, well, as calm as the situation would allow, and the “get in the truck” push he was feeling was clear. It didn’t matter if he didn’t understand what was going on just yet, he could figure it out later.

  Mac strode to the passenger side, threw open the door and roughly shoved Bru across the console. “You’ve gotta drive,” he said, as he squished Bru into the seat. To his credit, Bru said nothing other than a few grunts through the several minutes it took to awkwardly position his big body in the driver’s seat. Mac caught the travel mug as it popped off the console again and tossed it on the backseat.

  “Was she talking to you, too?” Bru asked, as he checked his mirrors and carefully pulled into traffic. Mac loved Bru like a brother, but he drove like a 90-year-old lady most of the time.

  “Yeah. Wait, what? You heard someone, too?” Mac rummaged through the glovebox for his police-issue flashlight. Yeah, this sucker was heavy enough to knock him out.

  “Yeah. She said we’d find the babies but the journey was up to you. But she didn’t say anything else.” Bru checked his rearview mirror. “What journey, Mac? What did she say to you?”

  “She said I have to go to sleep to find them.” Mac hefted the flashlight in his hand. There was no way he’d just fall asleep. He was too wired. He’d have to knock himself out. Shit, this was gonna hurt.

  “What are you doing?” Bru asked, as he glanced at the flashlight.

  “I have to knock myself out. I can’t just fall asleep like this, too much adrenaline.”

  “So, you’re just gonna bust yourself upside the head with a flashlight? You could give yourself a concussion, Mac,” Bru frowned as he changed lanes.

  Mac looked off into the distance, watching the cars in front of them. “Where are you going?” Bru seemed like he wasn’t driving around aimlessly, but more like he actually had a destination in mind.

  “I don’t know. She just told me to drive north. So, I am driving north,” Bru nodded at Mac, like what he just said made all the sense in the world.

  You need to go to sleep, now, Fuzzy Wuzzy. You can talk to your BBF later. Don’t worry about him, he has a job to do. But so do you.

  Mac shook his head. Damn this broad is annoying, he thought. Especially since she knew his and Bruin’s secret code for each other. Bruin was his best bear friend, but only he was supposed to know that.

  Pffft, I can hear you AND YOUR THOUGHTS, Lassie! And I'm not annoying, I'm awesome! Now, GO TO SLEEP!

  Bru grinned. “You need to go to sleep, Mac. That’s what she said to me, too,” Bru rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I could always just punch you in the head, you know.”

  Mac scoffed. “And you’re worried about me getting a concussion from a flashlight? Pretty sure one punch from those sticky, hammy paws and I’ll be seeing stars for a week.”

  Bru threw a hand up, clearly offended. “I’ll have you know that my hands are not sticky because I wash my hands at least thirteen times a day and I am an expert in hand-to-hand combat. And I have extensive knowledge of the brain’s anatomy. I am confident I could knock you out just fine and I promise you won’t wake up and be a vegetable. But, then again, I like vegetables. I don’t think being a spaghetti squash would be so bad. Or maybe even a zucchini.”

  Mac settled back in the passenger seat and fastened his seatbelt. “Hell no. If I come back as anything, it’ll be a big- ass, three-foot long eggplant, not a damn zucchini.”

  “An eggplant? Why an eggplant? I don’t like eggplants, they taste weird…” Bru changed lanes again, this time onto the on-ramp of an interstate connection. Mac had no idea where Bru was going but he just didn’t have the time to worry about it. He scrunched up his eyes and balled his hands into fists.

  “Ok, hit me,” he said, steeling himself for Bru’s punch. Bru hit like a cement truck and he was sure it was gonna hurt like a bitch. “Go ahead. Knock me out.”

  Bru flexed his right hand, then gripped the steering wheel again. “Maybe I should punch you with my left hand. That’s not my dominant hand. Maybe it won’t hurt so bad,” he said, as he glanced at his fingers. Mac seriously doubted that.

  Mac scrunched his eyes tighter. “Look, damn it, I don’t give a shit which hand you use. Just make it quick. This shit’s gonna hurt either way.”

  Bru flexed his left hand. “I dunno, Mac, maybe this hand…”

  Mac turned his head and glared at Bru. “For fuck’s sake, Bru, we don’t have time for this! Just d—”

  The last thing Mac saw was a flash of blinding white light as Bru’s meaty fist crashed into his temple. And he was right. It did hurt like a bitch.

  *

  “Whoo hoo!” Selina whooped. She clapped her hands and bounced on the bench next to the viewing pool. Rhyann rolled her eyes as she dragged the tips of her fingers through the water. She watched as the babies stacked rainbow-colored blocks and laughed as the wolf pups knocked them down. Then they started the process all over again.

  Selina looked at Rhyann. “Okay, Hairy is out and ready for Project Sleepytime, so now all we’ve got to do is convince the babies that they need to go home and all will be right in their world again.”

  Rhyann scoffed. She flicked water droplets from her fingers. “Good luck with that. Do you see them? Pretty sure they’ll never want to go home again. Not only do they have new friends and all the toys they could ever want to play with, you know that they don’t even need to eat or sleep while they’re up here. This is like a baby’s Barbie dream house, woman.”

  Selina huffed out a breath and crossed her arms over her chest. “Look here, Queen Grumpypants, they have to go home. You and I both know that. But we can’t make them go home, they’
re too powerful. They have to decide they want to go home.”

  Rhyann raised an eyebrow. “Uhm hm, and you’re telling me all this like I didn’t already know. You were the one who opened the portal. You were the one who’s been talking to them in their dreams. I was sitting over here minding my own business until you got me mixed up in this mess. I still don’t know…”

  “Oh pffft,” Selina cut Rhyann off. “All this blame. Me, me, me, you, me. There is no me or you, there is only ‘we’. We are one, woman! You are my BFF, my best friend fo’evah! I need your help!” Selina bounced off the bench, then bounded over and wrapped her arms around Rhyann. Her wings flapped briefly, whipping up the air around them, and her cotton candy scent filled the air. She kissed Rhyann loudly on the cheek, repeatedly. Rhyann proceed to beat at her with Selina’s own long, chocolate-brown braided hair, like a whip.

  “Stop it. Cut it out!” Rhyann smooshed Selina’s face with her hand.

  “Pwbbls hep meeeh,” Selina said through squished cheeks. She blinked her long lashes adoringly at Rhyann.

  “You know that only works on Rayden, right?” She grinned at Selina. Selina had a crush on Rayden, Rhyann’s cousin, but refused to admit it. Why, Rhyann had no idea. Selina let her go and smoothed a hand down her curvy hips, skimming her skin-tight jeans. She was the only angel Rhyann knew that could make being an angel look so damn good.

  Selina sighed. “Look, are you gonna help me or not? We only have so much time.” She looked into the pool and watched the babies again. This time, they were beating on drums and the wolf pups were tumbling all around them to the erratic beat.

  Rhyann closed her eyes briefly. She was positive that Selina was in way over her head, but she’d help her find a way out of her mess. Again. As always. She took a deep, cleansing breath.