Free Irish Melody by Caitlin Ricci

would be if we were on the beach in Ireland that he shows me. It feels real to me. We hold hands. We kiss. I like the kissing. I like kissing Hannah, too. So I guess that’s what I am. That I’m bi. My dad heard me whining in my sleep and he came into my room and woke me up. He looked through my phone and saw all the messages between Hannah and me about Caelum . He just started hitting me and I ran. I didn’t fight back. Not then. But then he caught up to me again and it hurt so much and then my wolf came forward. And he stopped my dad from hurting me anymore. I didn’t look but I heard and I didn’t like it, but I didn’t stop my wolf either. I wanted my dad to hurt. I wanted him to stop hurting me. My parents, they aren’t like Hannah’s. Her dads love her. I can tell all the time. It’s how they look at her, how they smile with her. My parents don’t do that with me. My wolf gave me back control and I ran here.
    He lifted his head to look up at Samson and curiously Samson’s eyes were wet. It was strange. Don’t make me go back to them. If you make me then I’ll run away and come right back. I’ll hide in Hannah’s room and no one will be able to find me.
    Samson’s mouth cracked into a smile, but it quickly fled. “Oh, you were serious about hiding out in her room.”
    Ippy nodded. He had been. He even knew where he’d go. There was space under her bed since she kept it higher than any bed he’d ever seen. He could live there for a few years. Since her dads didn’t work outside of the house food might be complicated, but she had a mini fridge under her desk and he could take showers in her bathroom. It could work. Only he knew that Liam was a wolf and would likely be able to smell him. Except that Ippy had been in her house so much over the years that maybe he wouldn’t think anything was different since he was sure that his smell was everywhere in her room.
    Samson touched the side of his face. “Is this the first time that your dad has hit you?”
    Ippy nodded.
    “But it’s not the first time you’ve felt unhappy at home. Is it?”
    His response was slower this time, but he did manage to shake his head. He’d never really felt happy or wanted there. Mom got different after the doctor said I was autistic. Same with dad. They fight a lot. I know it’s my fault—
    There was a growl and Ippy looked at Samson, surprised it was coming from him. “It’s not your fault. Not ever. You’re my responsibility. Everyone in this pack is. I should have known something was wrong. Why didn’t you come to me? I could have helped.”
    You’re busy, Ippy replied, knowing it was the truth. His teacher had told him so often enough.
    Samson shook his head. “I’m never too busy for you or anyone else in the pack when it’s an actual problem.”
    That wasn’t what he’d heard, but Ippy didn’t say anything because he didn’t want Samson mad at him. His teacher always told him that Samson was busy. Everyone was too busy for him. Only Hannah really seemed to have time for him. That was how it felt.
    “What do you want to happen?” Samson asked him.
    When?
    Samson shrugged and gave him a soft smile. It made him look a lot younger than he was. “Where do you want to be this week?”
    Oh, that was an easy answer. And it never changed. With Hannah.
    “And the week after that?” Samson asked him as he nodded.
    Same thing. With Hannah.
    Samson’s smile grew . “I’m glad she has you as a friend. You two seem good for each other.”
    I love her, Ippy replied, feeling bold. And I love Caelum, too. When I’m eighteen we’ll all be living together and we’ll be happy. Together. Like we’re supposed to be.
    Samson looked a bit startled. “That’s still happening? I thought Hannah grew out of that thought. She hasn’t mentioned it to me for a few years. Are you sure?”
    Ippy turned his head toward the closed back door. Hannah? Are we still moving to Ireland?
    He could hear her coming down the stairs,