Chapter Three
Kai scrubbed the tears from his eyes while Joe was gone, cursing himself for being so stupidly emotional. He was certain the beta didn’t want him crying all over him, all because of a simple touch.
He composed himself and turned his attention to finishing his food, happy to have a full stomach for the first time in a while.
When Joe returned, he was smiling.
“Good news. I called my den, River Den, and spoke to Cade, one of our omegas, and he checked with two of our alphas. They all say you’re very welcome to come back with me to River Den when I leave.”
Relief flooded him. “Really?”
“Really. You’ll love it there. Everyone is really nice, there’s a group of omegas who you’ll fit right in with. We even have some other fox shifters.”
“And you live there too?”
Joe’s nod was a little hesitant. “I live there now but not for long. My mate is alpha of a wolf pack. I’ll be going back to his pack to live with him soon.”
Kai felt a pang of disappointment at that. Both that he wouldn’t have Joe as a friend in River Den but also learning that he had a mate. It made sense though, he seemed like a really nice guy.
A shiver coursed its way through Kai’s body and he grimaced.
“Something wrong?” Joe asked.
Kai shook his head, giving the beta a smile. “No, I’ve just been in human form for longer than usual. I should change back soon, or I won’t be feeling so hot.”
“Oh. Okay.” Joe seemed to ponder that for a minute. Kai assumed he was thinking about Kai’s promise to help clean the clinic.
“Once I’ve spent a few hours as a fox, I’ll be able to change back and help out.”
Joe waved that away. “Don’t worry about it. We have time. When you say you don’t feel well, what do you mean?”
Kai thought about the question for a moment before giving a response. “Well, first I start to feel shivery, like I’m cold. And then my head hurts and my muscles start to ache. And my stomach, too. And then the cold gets worse and worse and I feel really awful.”
“And if you shift it goes away?”
“It gets a lot better, but I can still feel it, the coldness. I don’t know why. It was never there before dad died. I thought maybe it was because I was so sad he was gone.”
Joe looked thoughtful. “You know, I think I have an idea what might be causing your symptoms, but I need to check something with the omega I was telling you about.”
“Cade.”
“That’s the one. Let me talk to him and see. For now, why don’t you go ahead and shift back. I’ll deal with these dishes and then we can go back to the clinic. You should probably rest for a while. I’m sure you’re tired after your traveling.”
“Aren’t you tired after yours?”
Joe laughed. “I only left this morning. River Den is only a few hours away by car.”
“Oh. That close?”
“That close.” He stood and started to gather the dishes. “You change while I clean.”
Kai got up awkwardly from his chair, shuffling his feet as he stood there. He’d never changed in front of anyone before, except his dad.
Joe gave him another smile, turning to carry the dishes back to the kitchen. “Don’t worry, I won’t peek.”
Closing his eyes, Kai relaxed and let the change wash over him.
Joe walked back to the clinic, Kai keeping pace with him. The fox was thin, with a dull red coat and a black-tipped tail. He was nervous too, jumping at any loud noise.
When they reached the clinic, Joe showed Kai back into the bedroom, watching as the fox curled up on his sleeping bag.
“I’ll be back later, okay? Bark if you need me.”
He headed out to find his patient and spent the afternoon and early evening with Heath and his alpha Nate, getting a sense of how they were doing and how prepared they were for what was to come. On his way back, he called Cade again.
“Twice in one day, you must be really missing us,” the omega joked. “Is everything okay?”
Joe explained about Kai, his need to shift, and his symptoms when he didn’t.
“It does sound like he’s suffering ill effects from prolonged isolation, but he’s found a way to manage it. He’s going to struggle to fit in if he can’t manage more than a few hours in human form.”
“How do I help him?”
Cade was silent for a long moment.
“He needs physical contact. Which is going to be tricky seeing as he’s a virtual stranger to Hilltop. Might be better to wait until he comes to River Den and we can help him here.”
“That means leaving him suffering for weeks. I can’t do that in good conscience. What kind of physical contact are we talking about?”
Obviously, anything sexual or very intimate was off the table. And he’d have to talk to Axel before he agreed to anything, not to mention talking through it with Kai. But he couldn’t stand by and watch another shifter suffer, not if there was something he could do to help.
“Well, when I was sick, Hunter held me pretty much constantly over the course of a few days. But for me, it happened pretty quickly and was very severe. For Kai, he’ll probably need something more low level over a longer period. It’s a lot to take on, and it might be better started by someone who isn’t mated.”
“Which still means leaving his suffering until we can get him back to River Den.”
Cade sighed. “I’d bring him back here today if I could, but I know that would only provoke Julian. Jensen is going to talk to him about the whole space situation, and we’ll work up to offering to take Kai. If we do it any other way, he’ll accuse us of poaching new arrivals from them.”
“Great. That leaves poor Kai stuck in the middle.”
“Yeah, it does, but our hands are tied right now.”
“Couldn’t I suggest Kai leaves and makes his own way to River Den?”
“On foot? How long would it take him to get here? Do you think he’s able for that kind of journey?”
Joe groaned. “No, I don’t think he is.”
“Then…”
“I’ll talk to Axel and then to Kai. We’ll work something out.”
“Speaking of Axel, how are the plans coming?”
Joe snorted. “His parents are ignoring the situation, pretending nothing has changed. But the rest of his pack sound like they’re coming around. I mean, they are going to be the ones left dealing with the mess that’ll result from Axel leaving the pack. And they’re seeing all the changes in the other packs. You know two more wolf packs have regained the ability to shift?”
“Yeah, I heard. That’s good news.” In the background, a child started to cry. “That’s my cue,” Cade added. “I have to go.”
“Okay. Thanks, Cade. Talk to you soon.”
Joe arrived back at the clinic and found Kai in the exam room, on his hands and knees, scrubbing the floor.
“Hey.”
“Hi.” Kai paused his work and looked up. “I thought I’d get started on the cleaning.”
“Are you sure you’re feeling up to that?”
The question seemed to surprise Kai. “I shifted, and I had a nap. I feel fine.”
“Okay, give me a minute to change my clothes and make a quick phone call then I’ll give you a hand.”
Joe hurried to the bedroom, calling Axel while shedding his clothes. His mate picked up on the second ring.
“Hey, you.”
“Hey.”
It was reassuring to hear Axel’s voice, easing some of the tension in Joe’s body. He quickly explained about Kai, happy that Axel heard him out with no hint of jealousy.
“It sounds like Kai really needs a friend,” Axel said. “Especially if Hilltop aren’t going to be too welcoming.”
Joe was quick to agree.
“I’d really like you to meet him,” he added, stopping himself from going as far as to say that he felt like he’d known Kai for years and not just for half a day. It wouldn’t do to get anyone’s hopes up.
“Well, the next time I see you, I’m sure I’ll meet him.”
“And the isolation sickness stuff?”
“I don’t have a problem with you helping him, Joe. I trust you.”
“Love you, too,” Joe replied.
Axel groaned. “God, I wish you were here. But you will be, soon.”
“How soon?”
“Yesterday, if I had my way. But it sounds like your skills are needed elsewhere right now.”
“Yep, one litter due any minute now. Speaking of skills, my excellent cleaning skills are in need right this moment, so I should go.”
He said it with reluctance, wishing he didn’t have to go, wishing Axel was there with him.
“We’ll talk soon, okay? I’ll call you tonight. Love you.”
“Love you back,” Joe replied, ending the call.
He finished changing and went to join Kai.