Free Feral by Anne Berkeley Page B

But there was no one home and I didn’t want to leave her there by herself so I stayed.”
    “What was she doing there in the first place?”
    “She has six old brothers—well cousins—but they’re like brothers to her.  Anyway, they were all at the party, and they left her outside.”
    “Where were her parents while they were off partying?”
    “Oh, they died.  They went on vacation with her Aunt and Uncle and their plane crashed.  The oldest cousin raised them all.  But he’s off on business a lot.  It’s sad really.  I felt bad for her, and since her brothers seem so irresponsible, I figured I would stay with her until he returned from his business trip.”
    “This Jack, he called because—”
    “I ran out after I found Marcus and Peyton together.  Maybe he was worried because I never came back.”
    “Smart boy.”  Mom ran her hands through her hair, pushing it from her face.  “Where is this house you’re staying at?”
    “Right there,” I said succinctly, pointing at said house.  It was a beautiful house, two stories with a wraparound porch on the first floor.  The fascia was stone, mixed with cement board siding in a rich shade of sienna.  The inside was immaculate.  I know because I just cleaned it.  Nevertheless, I’d rather not give her the tour.
    “Come on then,” she said, starting for the car.  “I’d like to meet Hailey.  It was Hailey, right?”
    My shoulders slumped in defeat.  “Yes.”
    Hesitating, my mom turned to me as if she just thought of something.  “Where were you coming from just now?”
    “Their dog ran away.”
    “Do you need to find it?  We could drive around the block…”
    “No, he’s probably home already.”  Glowering, I slid into the backseat of the beamer, and for a brief moment, I thought I could talk them into taking me home, but before I could close the door, I heard a bark, and in jumped a massive black wolf.  He plopped down in the seat next to me as I sputtered for him to get out.  My dad was having a coronary behind the wheel, his face turning puce.
    “Get him out of my car Thale!  My leather seats!  The nails!  Watch his nails!  Push him out!  Out dog!” he shouted.  “Out!  Down!  Heel!”
    “Gabe!” my mom shouted.  “Just drive!  It’s only down the street!”
    Mirroring my mood, my dad ceded and shifted the car into drive.  “Perhaps they should have that dog neutered.  It’s supposed to calm them down.  Promote obedience.”
    I pinched my mouth shut, taking in Icarus’s pale blue eyes.
     
     

Chapter 4
    Consternated, I followed Icarus up the walk, my parents trailing inquisitively behind.  Could it get any more awkward, I wondered, and then quickly berated myself for the thought.  Yes, it could, indubitably.  And it would the moment I led them through the doors and into the den belonging to none other than a pack of lycanthrope.
    “The house is beautiful,” Mom observed.  “He does well for them.”
    “Mm,” I murmured evasively.  I dithered on whether I should knock or not, but tugged the door open and let Icarus run in first.  Stumping me, Hailey squealed loudly and wrapped her arms around his scruffy neck, tugging him into an ardent and most un-Hailey like embrace.
    “You found him!” she crowed, raking her fingers into his thick, black fur.
    Explaining Hailey’s atypical behavior, Caius and Bacchus lounged on the sofa, their feet propped leisurely on the coffee table.  Gears of War blared obnoxiously from the television.  Upon our entrance, they looked up, eyes sparkling smugly for those aware of their charade.  They had listened to my whole conversation.  I couldn’t fathom why this should surprise me.  In any event, Icarus had sent them ahead to warn the others of my parent’s impromptu visit while he thwarted any attempt I might have devised to escape by jumping into the car.
    Playing the part of any normal Middle American family, Max and Lucius sat at the island, picking