Chapter Twenty-Four
Ken sat on a stool in his grandparents’ home, staring into the steaming cup of honeyed green tea. Leaning his elbows on the L-shaped counter, he tried to focus on what Baba, his granny, was saying, but his heart ached so bad he could only concentrate on breathing.
Betty was supposed to meet them today. She should have been sitting next to him, meeting two of the most important people in his life. Ryota had nurtured the shifter part in Ken, but his Baba and Jiji had helped develop his soul. Ken had spent much of his short childhood in this little house.
Delicate, dry fingers wrapped his with a squeeze. He met the dark, wrinkled gaze filled with concern. Baba’s sad smile eased a little of his pain. No matter what, he’d never lose her love. “She’s your soulmate, Kennikun. She’ll forgive you.”
He lifted and kissed her hand. She’d been chopping ginger for soup and smelled wonderful. “Have you ever heard of soulmates staying apart?” Betty refused to answer his calls and texts.
Her lips thinned. “You’re a good boy.” She patted his cheek. “That won’t happen to you.”
He shook his head and rose to his feet. “I’m going over to her place. Make her listen.”
Using her shifter strength, Baba kept hold on his finger. “Tomorrow.”
“But…”
“Tomorrow. Listen to an old woman who’s had more than her fair share of arguments. Let your mate be furious for one night. When you see her tomorrow, she will be less likely to kill you.” Baba pointed to his chair. “Then you can grovel for her forgiveness. Sit. Eat. Stay the night.”
“Grovel, huh?”
“Are you saying it wasn’t your fault?” She released his finger and went back to cooking.
“No…” It was all his fault. He should have said something sooner, but he’d never claimed to be perfect. The whole soulmate thing had his head spinning.
“Bring her something tasty to eat.”
How could he ignore such sage advice from his petite baba? She was wise and he had heard that his grandparents’ spats had been legendary. Ryota had told Ken that she’d even tossed their car at his jiji’s head once.
The kitchen door swung open and Jiji, his grandpa, sauntered inside. He halted and eyed Ken’s cup. “Tea?” Jiji knew all the details of how Betty had dumped Ken.
“Want some?” Ken lifted the small cup.
Jiji was an older version of Ryota, with white hair that hung down his back. His head only reached Ken’s shoulder but he still treated Ken like a pup. Heck, he treated the alpha like one too. It was nice sometimes to come here and let them dote.
Ken had wanted to share this special place with Betty. Introduce her to the people who had accepted a scruffy, orphaned shifter boy into their lives as if he was their full-blooded grandson.
With a shake of his head, Jiji joined him at the counter. Herbs grew on shelves in the window and the delicate scents filled the room. Stainless steel met antique cabinets. Ryota had offered to buy them a new home in Ken’s neighborhood but they loved their odd little house in the city. Every scrap of land in their small yard was used for gardening. Urban farmers, Ken called them.
Baba set some freshly steamed dumplings on a tray. “Your father is on his way. You can snack on these while we wait for him.” She took the ginger to her soup pot.
Once she was at the stove, Jiji moved with his shifter speed and set a tall glass in front of him. He pulled a mason jar filled with clear liquid from under the sink and filled Ken’s glass to the brim. “Kennikun, you need something stronger to drink than tea.”
“Saki isn’t strong enough.” Shifters processed alcohol quickly. Might as well drink the tea…
“This isn’t Saki.” Jiji took a sip and grimaced. “It’s full-moon shine.”
Ken sat up straighter and stared at his full glass. “Where did you get it?” he whispered. Full-moon shine wasn’t legal since humans could go blind if they accidentally drank the stuff.
Baba turned a frown on them. “Your father won’t approve.”
“Oh, let the boy be a man.” Jiji kissed Baba tenderly. “He’s heartbroken.”
“You only want someone to drink with you.” She swatted her husband on the butt.
Ken’s heart broke even more. He had wanted this with Betty. Have a family. Grandchildren. Spoil them rotten. Slip them full-moon shine when they were dumped.
The first sip tasted like pure paint remover with a touch of fennel. Ken coughed.
Jiji pounded on his back as Ken caught his breath. His grandpa grinned. “Smooth, right?” He pushed the glass back in Ken’s hand.
Ken drained the glass. What the hell? What else did he have to do tonight but get drunk with his jiji?
His father, his dad, would be pissed.
Betty parked in front of the Almost Home Rescue. She stared up at the building, noting that it tilted to the right. Instead of flower gardens like Ken’s home, she had weeds bordering the walls. A six-foot chain-linked fence surrounded the property. A few of the pups watched her, wagging their tails. She managed a weak smile. They, at least, loved her.
It wasn’t a wolf pack, yet still a pack. She had known better than to fall for a shifter. What had she been thinking? She snorted. She’d been thinking Ken was hot and her Prince Charming. A total crock of shit and she’d eaten it with a soup spoon.
She managed to drag her body inside the quiet lobby. The animal crates were all lined in neat rows labeled with corresponding animal names. Her parents were so efficient.
A note was taped on the counter in large print. They’d gone for supplies for tomorrow, like extra pens and bottled water. Betty sat in one of the many empty chairs, note in hand. A tear splashed on the paper smudging the ink.
Enough tears. She’d been a fool. Not for the first time and probably not the last. She needed to pull on her big girl panties and make the best of a terrible situation. Once the animals had homes, she’d move. She’d heard Lake City was a nice place to live. There wouldn’t be much to pack. She owned very little worth packing.
Might as well start now. She wanted to leave ASAP. The longer she stayed in New Port, the longer it would take her to heal. In the next city, she’d embrace her humanity. No dogs. No false pack. She’d only date humans and shun all shifter events. No challenge arena events or shifter restaurants that served appropriate sized portions. She’d find all the animals homes then find herself a new one after.
In her apartment, she pulled out a few boxes she still owned from the last move and started in her bedroom, packing memorabilia and books. She’d have to rent a car to travel.
Hanging her head, she took a deep breath. Where would she find the money? She couldn’t stay in New Port. Just couldn’t. Maybe she should return to Riverbend until she made enough for the move? Her stomach rolled. That seemed like a worse idea.
Chris would hear of her return eventually. She suspected he wouldn’t stay away. The thought of another shifter courting her made her dry heave. No Riverbend. She focused on packing, pushing the things out of her control from her mind.
One thing at a time. One day at a time. Breathe. And breathe some more.
The sound of footsteps drew Betty out of her stupor. Heart racing, she jumped to her feet and rushed out to the living room. “Ken?” She stumbled to a halt, hands clamped over her mouth. The question was out before she knew it.
“Sorry to disappoint!” Trixie finished climbing the stairs. “Hey, your parents didn’t know you were here. We were just arranging things for the morning. Your dad is ordering pizza for dinner.”
Betty glanced out the window at the setting sun. She’d lost track of time while packing. “Oh.”
Trixie drew closer, her movements slow as if worried Betty might run. “Are you feeling okay? You look pale.” She herded Betty to the couch.
“I’m fine.” Even to her own ears, Betty could hear the lies. “I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
Her friend knelt in front of her. “I’ll get you some juice.”
Before Trixie could leave, Betty grabbed her by the hand. “You’re the bestest friend I’ve ever had.”
“That’s nice.” She glanced at Betty’s hold on her arm. “Are you going to let me go now?”
Betty gave a nervous laugh and released her. “I just wanted you to know that.”
Trixie went to the kitchen and returned with a drink. “Down the hatch.”
Betty emptied the glass. “It could have used some rum.” There was no point in withholding information from her family and her friends. They needed to know. “Trixie, I broke up with Ken today.”
“Why?”
“Guess who’s behind my eviction?”
“No.” She sat next to Betty. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I, but he lied.” She stared into her empty glass. “I don’t know the details but the pack is behind the real estate sales in the area.”
Trixie jumped to her feet and stormed toward the stairs.
“Where are you going?” She had just gotten here and Betty could really use the distraction and a shoulder to lean on.
“Go get my tranq gun. We’re going shifter hunting tonight. This time he wakes up somewhere unpleasant.”
Betty snorted juice. “I don’t think you’ll be able to sneak up on him again, Trixie.” She recalled the fight with Chris. “And I don’t want you taking chances. A pissed off shifter isn’t someone to trifle with. No matter how tempting.”
Her friend deflated before her eyes. “I thought for sure he was the one for you.”
“Me too.” Betty set aside her empty glass. “I don’t understand why he felt he couldn’t tell me.”
Trixie picked up her glass. “Got any booze?”
She shook her head. “Sounds like a good idea though.” She had a faster metabolism than humans but slower than a shifter’s. If she pounded enough shots, she could get buzzed.
“We’re going out then.” Trixie clapped her hands together as if a queen making a decree. “Get changed. I’m calling in the troops.”
“I can’t. I have the fundraiser to prepare for—”
“All taken care of. Your parents are awesome by the way. Are they up for adoption too?”
Betty chuckled. “They’re all mine. I don’t like to share, but for you, anything is possible.”