Grandma Rose had a holiday tree lit up in the front window when they pulled in. The multi-colored lights twinkled merrily behind the frosted glass. The house smelled like chicken noodle soup and cookies. She greeted Grandpa Frank with a kiss, then stepped back so everyone could traipse inside. Charlene was carrying Sue-Sue in her arms. The sky in the east was just beginning to brighten.
“Cows need taken care of before I get to sleep,” Grandpa Frank told them as he headed straight out the back door. Jackson watched him go.
“Kia.” Grandma’s voice warbled. “Oh, my sweet girl. You’ve gotten so big.”
Jackson grinned at that. Kia was fairly short, but she was taller than Grandma.
“Grandma!” Kia threw her arms around Grandma Rose. Her shoulders shook as she buried her face into Grandma’s shoulder. “Grandma, I’m free. I’m free.” Her voice broke on the last word and the entir
Jackson called Liam in the morning. He didn’t explain why he’d felt the need to get out as quick as he did, but Liam was completely understanding anyway. Of course there was a little cussing, a little irritation, but as soon as Jackson promised to meet him and Zain across the border after winter break so they could join the rest in Mendota, then everything was fine.Then things moved fast. He made a couple other calls and, before breakfast, had several meetings set up in the city for that afternoon and the next day. Kia wanted to come, but Jackson didn’t want to leave the new wolf at his grandparents without as many other wolves there as possible. He debated asking Wren to stay behind as well, but he wanted Wren with him in the city. He didn’t want to be separated from him so soon.He was meeting with the real estate agent to tour the hotel and then a lawyer. The next day he was meeting with Nathaniel again. Then the next day he was back with th
Jackson was oddly nervous as they got ready for the night. He’d spent almost every day since he’d purchased Wren right by Wren’s side. Why he’d be nervous for what they had already acknowledged made no sense.But he was. He found himself almost breathless as they pulled into the botanical gardens. They walked in, side by side, elbows brushing occasionally and sending a shock of awareness through Jackson every time. The lights had just opened so they beat the crowd and were some of the first in for the night. Jackson smiled up at Wren and ignored the way his heart sped up when Wren grinned back.He also ignored the way Wren’s eyes flicked down to his chest.They stepped out into a snowy, quite literal ‘Winter Wonderland,’ as the little sign proclaimed. Small twinkle lights blinked merrily at them from every tree and bush. They hung like diamonds from branches. Instrumental versions of holiday songs played softly from hidd
Wren stretched out in bed first. Jackson was talking on the phone with Kia. He stood highlighted from the window. Wren’s lips tingled as he thought back to the garden. It wasn’t his first kiss, not technically, and the thought hurt him more than it should.He wanted something like that to be a first kiss. Something that made his heart beat fast in excitement, not fear. Something that wasn’t rushed or painful. Jackson glanced at him and smiled when they made eye contact.“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jackson said into the phone and hung up on the call. “Hey, what are you thinking about?” His smile was easy on his lips. His eyes crinkled slightly at the corners. Wren’s chest warmed and heat coiled low in his groin at the memory of Jackson’s breath hitching. The memory of Jackson’s lips encouraging his own.“Earlier,” Wren said.Jackson hummed and approached the bed. He sat on the edge,
There was a cop car in his grandparents driveway when Jackson and Wren returned. They exchanged a glance. “What’s going on in there?” Jackson asked.Wren listened for a second then shook his head. “The cop’s a wolf. She said she’ll talk to you when we come in.”So they went in. A young woman in a police uniform sat at the kitchen table with a mug in front of her. Jackson squinted at her. She looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t place her. Grandma Rose was humming to the radio playing as she plated up food. “What’s going on?” Jackson asked.The cop sipped from her mug. “My name is Officer Jenkins. There seems to be some runaway wolves on this property.”Wren’s hand shot up to his neck. Jackson stepped in front of him in an instinct to protect him. “There are no runaway wolves. Only free wolves who crossed the border without a collar. Mendota’s immigration la
Wren held Jackson’s hand as they drove back to the border. Not a mile went by that he didn’t pull it up to press a kiss to his knuckles. Jackson kept his grins to himself. Wren wasn’t this openly affectionate with kisses around others, but as soon as they were in the car, it was like kissing was the only thing on his mind.If they had time, Jackson would pull over somewhere, but they didn’t have time. The border crossing station was within view. Four cop cars sat across the border. “Can you hear them?” Jackson asked.“Yeah, but they’re not talking about anything. Just complaining that this was a waste of time,” Wren said.Jackson nodded and directed the car off the main road and down the dirt path his Grandpa had picked them up from. He pulled to a stop far enough away from the border station that it was out of sight and Wren could barely pick up sounds from them.They walked the path they’d walk
Jackson gently pressed on the skin around Wren’s stomach wound. It was healing quickly, which was a relief. He pulled his hands back and Wren pulled his shirt back down. “It’ll be healed up by the time we make our first freedom run,” Wren said.There was a small smile on his face and Jackson didn’t want to say what he was about to say… but he couldn’t not. “I don’t want you to come on the runs with us.”Wren’s smile froze, then fell. His brows tugged closer together. “I thought I was… a part of this?”Jackson nodded and leaned back into Wren’s space. “You are! You are the biggest part of this. You are why we can even do this.”“Then why don’t you want me to come?”Never again would he let Wren be hurt. “I’ve already seen you hurt under my watch once, and I won’t let it happen again. Besides, we don’t need
They bought the bus. His dad never called. They had the bus done to look exactly like the biggest bus company’s buses. His dad never called. The hotel was in their name. Their charity status was active.His dad never called.Jackson didn’t know why it bothered him so much. It was basically what he’d expected. Except… not a single call? Nothing? Not even a ‘you’ll pay for this’ comment?Jackson stared at his silent phone then reached forward and turned it off. He had a new phone now anyway. He didn’t need to keep the old one on or charged. There was no one calling. No one would be calling. It was stupid to keep thinking about it.“Hey.” There was a knock on the open bedroom door. Jackson looked up to see Liam standing there. “You really think we’re ready for this?”“Fuck yeah we’re ready for this!” Kia’s voice called from down the hall. Her
Jackson drove the first leg of the route. They crossed the border without a second glance, just a short wave at the person manning the station and Jackson could breathe easier. He switched out with Kia, then Kia switched with Liam. Jackson took the last batch of driving.They had timed it perfectly. 11 o’clock at night. They parked the bus a little over a mile away from the estate and stepped out. “Kia?” Jackson asked.Kia had her head tilted to the side and her eyes closed. “A lot of people are asleep. Stay here. I’m going to get closer to some of those out buildings.” She looked at Wren. “You good to translate for me?”“Yes.”As it turned out, Jackson was thankful Wren was there when Kia hurried away. Wren’s brow furrowed as he listened to her go. Jackson and Liam sat in silence. Every branch that broke was someone sneaking up on them. Every scuffle in the trees was the cops, waiting to c