Leora

 

I puttered around the cabin after making sure the kid was asleep while Midnight took a shower. I’d figured he’d have stayed out longer. His burns coupled with the gunshot had been worse than I’d expected. Due to the burn location, I couldn’t stitch the wound. Without him being able to shift, he would have had to go to the hospital, and PBH would be crawling all over the place. I couldn’t... we couldn’t put the kid in danger.

Like Haley, I grew up in and out of the system, thanks to my birth mother who started using drugs after I was born. I guess I should be grateful she didn’t get wrapped up in that shit until after I was born. Still, it cut deep knowing meth meant more to her than I did. My sperm donor, aka father, couldn’t be found. According to my mother, he hightailed it the minute the pregnancy stick turned pink.

The first recorded time I went to a foster family, I was a year old. Obviously, my birth mother got me back. The last time, I’d been ten. Dear old mom resorted to selling herself on the street to make money to support her nasty habit. She did a pretty good job of hiding it from Child Protection Services for a while. Until she got busted on a John bust. I was ten years old, watching my mom service some guy. On the next job, the John turned out to be an undercover cop. When he realized she had a kid, Child Services were called, and soon after, my birth mother signed over her parental rights.

I wasn’t in care too terribly long the last time. About six months after my mom dissolved her rights, a family from Washington State adopted me, giving me the love and stability, I’d missed most of my childhood. They also got me therapy. Lots and lots of it once they realized I had seen what my real mom had been doing. Not only did they love me, they protected me, and I considered them my real mother and father.

I lost them, too. Eight short years later, they were involved in a fatal car accident after their weekly date night. I was at Arizona State during my Freshman year of College when I got the call at one o’clock in the morning. Their deaths hit me hard. Once again, I was alone. Going back to Arizona was hard, but I knew my parents wanted me to have an education, and I felt I could honor their only real request of me.

They had a small insurance policy. It helped cover the cost of both funerals. And after I sold the house I’d called home for a short time. I used those funds to pay my remaining years at college. When I graduated, with a degree in Human Services, my first job had been as a Child Advocate with the Tempe Family Courts.

It was there, I had my first run-in with a slimy PBH agent who had petitioned the courts for custodial rights over his thirteen-year-old nephew with amazing powers. Yeah, like everyone else, I had heard fodder about PBH, but I’d never had the pleasure, and I say that with sarcasm, of meeting an agent. To say the agent was a narcissistic douche bag, was an understatement.

Joshua, the boy in question, had begged me, stating he’d rather go to a group home or even into foster care before going with his uncle. Having been a child of the system, I knew no one purposely wanted to be placed.

Group homes were often shit holes where you had to sleep with one eye on the door and the other on your roommate. Foster homes were often no better. Rarely, did a kid go to a foster home and have a great experience.

Trust me. I have first-hand experience. I’ll admit, there are some good people out there who are willing to open their homes up to a kid with issues, both emotionally and physically, but those are far and few between.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one interested in helping Joshua. Out of the blue, a Psychic Retrieval Agent, or PRA for short, reached out to me, offering their assistance. I had always assumed PRA dealt with shifter children. I was wrong. The agent I spoke to, invited me to tour their facility in Window Rock. I talked to the kids and the adults, and fell in love, not literally of course, with the two sisters who oversaw the whole operation.

Danielle and Keeley Raferty had done what no other state or county had ever been able, in my mind, to do. They provided a safe, loving home for children, both shifter, and humans with special abilities.

Needless to say, I did everything in my power to get Joshua away from his uncle and into the facility in Window Rock. I’ll admit, not all of it followed the letter of the law. But I was okay with it, because it meant Joshua was safe.

During the three years I worked as an Advocate, I worked with PRA; relocating children to them six times. The last time, Kalkin Raferty, the Alpha of the wolf pack, mate to Keeley and one bad-ass Sheriff, requested a meeting with me.

He surprised me by asking me to come work for them. PRA would train me, provide resources neither the local state nor government could give, and the best part, I got this cabin and the ability to make it my home. One I had been searching for since my parents passed away.

It was hands down, the best decision I’d ever made. I’ve now worked for PRA for three years. Haley would be the twenty-second child I’ve helped get to safety. I even have pictures of all my kids, and if they were still in Window Rock when I visited, I saw them.

Last time I went back to Window Rock, Joshua was getting ready to graduate from high school. Danielle informed me, with a big smile on her face, he had plans. College first, and then he’d be returning to work at the orphanage.

The bathroom door creaked opened, drawing me from my thoughts. Midnight stood in the hallway, a pair of sleep pants hanging low on his hips showing the vee at his hips. Midnight was tall. Well, taller than my five-foot-six inches for damn sure. If I had to guess I’d say he was around six-foot-two or three. I wanted to run my fingers across his shoulders and along the sinewy muscles of his biceps. He exuded power and grace, standing there at the lip of the hallway. He had a sprinkling of dark black hair bisecting his muscular abs, and I followed the happy trail to the hem of his pants. Below it, lay Midnight’s treasure. My mouth watered.

He was packing. I’d sell my soul to pull those thin cotton pants down to check him out, up close and personal. I could already see the outline of his cock, pushing against the too small pants.

Oh, hell. I needed to get control of myself. My heart pounded. My palms itched. Even my sex ached for a little personal time with the big raven-shifter.

Midnight cleared his throat, catching my attention. My gaze darted from his groin to his face. My cheeks heated in embarrassment at being caught ogling his fine form.

He chuckled, and a sexy smirk formed on his full lips. “See anything you like?”

Son of a bitch.

He didn’t have to draw attention to my obvious discomfort. But, the asshole did. Narrowing my eyes, I admitted a half-truth. “I was thinking.” I had to get back to the mission, not my raging libido. “It blows my mind how much Haley looks like you. You really could actually be her dad.”

He shrugged. “We take after our counterpart in the wild. There isn’t a lot of variation in color for a raven, like say a wolf. Light skin, light eyes, or light hair are a rare commodity for Raven shifters.”

“What if you mate with a human?” Not because I was curious or anything. I mean, I had met plenty of shifters in my time with PRA, but Midnight was a first for me in the fine-feathered friend department.

Midnight glanced toward the room where Haley slept. I knew her door was already closed since I’d checked on it after he got into the shower. A shiver of anticipation rolled through me. Nervous energy built in my stomach, hoping he might be ballsy enough to kiss or fuck me.

Okay. I lied, I did ask for me.

Shoot me.

“Mating with a human makes no difference. If the child is a shifter, a raven, they will then have the color of the raven, since it’s the dominant gene.” He licked his bottom lip and took a step toward me. His grey eyes swirled with heat and desire.

My pussy clenched at how he said dominant, kind of growly, and sexy. I needed to get laid by a living breathing man. Not by my trusty, never-failed-me-yet vibrator. It could only go so far, and I’d used it exclusively for the last two years.

Yeah. I’ll admit it’s been that long. I’m not particularly happy about it either. Don’t judge me, I’ve been busy helping kids in danger. Sex has taken a back seat. Now my libido was demanding attention.

It had sucky timing.

This is the shit that happens when the first good-looking guy knocks on your door. My hormones went haywire, and the desire to climb the guy like a tree, had me clenching my hands into fists to keep from doing just that.

I wonder if his hearing is as good as say a lion or wolf. I had a feeling if I stuck with my wayward thought, I’d be attached to my vibrator most of the night. Maybe there was a way to ask without being completely obvious. I mulled over it for a second, then asked, “You and Haley are the first Raven shifters I’ve ever known. Are your abilities the same as the felines or canines?”

A frown formed between his eyes, and he asked. “What do you mean?”

Ha! He had no clue.

I was a smooth-ass bitch for sure.

“You know.” I motioned to all of him. “Is your sense of smell better than a human?”

Midnight nodded then cocked his head to the side. His lips twitched as though he held back a smile or, worse, perhaps a laugh. “My sight is better than a human. Although, I have a feeling that’s not really what you’re wondering.”

It was my turn to frown and play dumb. “What do you mean?”

He took several more steps, only stopping when he stood right in front of me. I had to look up to catch his gaze. Lust flashed through his eyes, and I squeezed my thighs to stop my pulsing clit.

“I mean”—he knelt down in front of me, so we were at eye-level— “you’re wondering, sweet Leora, if I’ll hear you while you masturbate tonight?” He licked his bottom lip again, then lowered his voice. “Will, I hear you whispering my name when you come? Hard.” 

Jesus. Could he get any cockier with his assumptions? Even if they were true? I went on the defensive. It sounded like the only good idea, for now. I glared at him. “You know what, you’re a cocky asshole.”

“You say it like it’s a bad thing.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Sounds like you got a big ego to boot.”

Midnight wiggled his brows. “My ego isn’t the only thing that’s big.”

I could verify the truth of his words, but seriously. He didn’t just say that. Right?

How freaking lame.

I tapped his knee and sighed. “You need to work on your game, buddy. It’s lacking.”

“There is no shame in my game, sweet Leora.”

I laughed. “Are you for real?”

He chuckled. “Never had any complaints before.”

I’m sure he hadn’t, going by the tent in the front of his pants. Just like I was sure if I ever had the pleasure of experiencing his big cock, I’d be in a dick coma for hours. Haley’s door squeaked open. I jumped back from Midnight like a randy teenager about to get caught having sex by her parents.

Midnight spoke before I could. “Everything okay, kiddo?”

Haley’s gaze flickered between us. Finally, it rested on Midnight. “I had a nightmare, and I’m hungry.”

I put some much needed room between me and Midnight. “I’ve got the perfect solution. A fresh PB&J sandwich and a cold glass of milk to wash it down will help you deal with both.” I wrapped my arm around her thin, frail shoulders. The poor thing trembled where she stood. The nightmare must have been a doozy. 

“Thanks.” Haley nodded as I guided her toward the kitchen. After I turned on the light, I kick out the chair with my foot, so she could sit down. “I killed them, didn’t I?”

Midnight cast his gaze at me while I set to work making a couple of PB&Js for us. “Yes.” I couldn’t lie, just like I didn’t want Haley to feel isolated or left to eat alone. I made five sandwiches before saying anything else. “You saved Midnight’s life and yours tonight.” I then filled three glasses with ice cold milk on the table.

Midnight didn’t hesitate to join Haley or help himself to the food. “It’s true, kid. If it hadn’t been for you, I don’t think we would have gotten out in one piece.”

She swallowed hard. “You were hurt.”

He nodded. “I was.” He pointed to his arm. “I healed after I knew you were safe.”

“I dreamed we didn’t get away.”

Midnight took her hand. “We did. We’re alive. You made sure of it. I know you’re not a baby, but you’re a kid, and this is hard to process, but it will get better. I promise.”

Haley nodded again. “Thank you,” she glanced up at me, “For letting us stay here.”

“It’s my pleasure. It’s why I joined PRA. To make sure children like you, have a better life.” I sat down at the table. “Let’s eat. We have a big day tomorrow. We’re going to need all of our strength.”

Haley snatched up one and began to eat it. She took a few swallows of the milk then sighed. More times than I’d like to think about, I could put myself in these kid’s shoes. Tonight, it was the memory of tasting fresh milk after not having it for five years.

“Do you what your name means?” Haley’s question surprised me.

I glanced at Midnight, wondering where her line of question was going. He just shrugged. Thanks for nothing. “Yes. In Hebrew, it means light unto me or I have light. Why?”

She smiled like she had a secret. “You don’t find it odd that his name” —Haley gestured to Poe— “is Midnight, which means dark, and your name means light. It’s almost like you guys were fated to meet or some shit.”

I bit back the gasp from escaping through my lips. My gaze flew to Midnight’s.

He looked a little gobsmacked to me.

I hadn’t realized it, but the kid was right. It felt like destiny, or the fates, or whatever the hell you may call them were putting us in each other’s paths. Of course, we’d be responsible for how we handled this chance meeting.

Midnight recovered first, reprimanding Haley. “Watch your language, kiddo.”

I shrugged.

I didn’t have an issue with her swearing. As a matter of fact, as far as I was concerned I had a PhD in the sport of fouled-mouth language. I’ve been told I could rival even the saltiest of truck drivers. However, since I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting a truck driver, I had no way to confirm said statement had been true.

Like Haley, I learned to use colorful language in either group or foster homes. You learned pretty damn quickly to speak up, keep up, and express yourself. Otherwise, you were just labeling yourself as the weakest link. Foster kids were a tough lot. We learned to depend on no one but ourselves. Unlike me, Haley had yet to experience the unconditional love of a parent.

Before I could tell Midnight, her language didn’t bother or faze me a damn bit, Haley turned and said, “Sorry.”

“No worries. It’s all good, Haley. I get it.” I leaned forward, placing my forearms on the table while Midnight dug into his second sandwich. “Believe it or not, we have a lot more in common than not. I was in and out of foster care from the age of one to ten. After the last time I went in, the state cut my biological mother’s rights, making me a ward of the state.”

Haley’s eyes widened in shock. “Really?”

“Yeah. I was one of the lucky ones. I got adopted by a loving family at the age of eleven.” I went on to tell her about my experiences inside foster care and small bits about my biological mother.

Haley snagged another sandwich off the plate in the center of the table. She ate it slowly while I spoke, sipping at her milk every so often until the cup was empty. Midnight retrieved the container of milk out of the fridge and filled her glass back up. Evidently, I wasn’t the only one concerned about Haley’s frail appearance.

“I can’t imagine how it must have been for you, a shifter with special abilities and no one to teach you about them either. You’ll learn it when you get to Window Rock, though. One of the women, Danielle, runs the orphanage with her sister, Keeley.” I leaned in and lowered my voice. “She can do what you do. Although, it’s not her only ability.”

“No shit,” Haley whispered. Her voice had been filled with the wonder of the possibilities of finding someone like her.

I smiled. “Over the years, I’ve become friends with the sisters. I spoke to Keeley earlier today. She is anxious, in a good way, for you to arrive, so you two can get to work.” I didn’t miss the look of doubt flash across the teen’s face. “She’s good people. Her husband is the Alpha, and she’s the female Alpha. You can trust her, Halley. Hell, you can trust anyone in Window Rock. I know, being a child of the system, trusting someone is hard. I get it.”

Midnight agreed. “I wouldn’t be working with them if I didn’t trust them with my life.”

Haley seemed to mull over what I said while she finished her snack. “I’ll try.” She yawned.

“You need to get back to bed. Tomorrow is a new day, and you’re heading toward a new beginning. The last stretch, is always the longest and the hardest, but the payoff... it’s huge,” I assured the young girl.

Haley put her plate in the sink as she headed back the way she came.  When I heard the door close to her room, I let out a breath. The poor girl had it rough. Haley would go down as one of the toughest I’d had to date.

“You’re good with her,” Midnight said.

I gathered the remaining empty plate up and glasses then walked over to the sink. “It’s because I can relate to her. I’ve literally been where she is. Wondering and waiting to see what’s going to be thrown at you next. All the while deep down inside, you’re hoping to find a place to lay your head each night where you’re secure, warm, and loved.”

Midnight rubbed at the scruff of his chin. “Damn.”

“You had a mom and dad, right?”

“Not all parents are good, sweet Leora.”

I rolled my eyes. He really wasn’t going to tell me he didn’t come from a home with two loving parents. It was written all over him for fuck’s sake. Even though I already knew the answer, I still pushed. “Yours were, right? They loved you, accepted you, and cared for you?”

Midnight nodded.

“There is no shame in it, Midnight. Kids like Haley, they envy it, and they don’t hate those who’ve had the chance to achieve it.”

“She really liked my parents.” I swore his cheeks turned pink while speaking about them. “My mom doted on her. Packed her all kinds of cookies and confections for the trip along with breakfast.” He shook his head. “She didn’t sleep.”

“Because she saw a young girl in need.” I smiled.

“Yeah,” he agreed.

I wiped the table down and rinsed out the sponge before putting it beside the sink. Before our little hormonal interlude Haley interrupted, I’d meant to give him an update. “Kalkin sent me a message earlier. I’ve been activated. I’ll be with you and Haley going forward. We’re going to travel the rest of the way to Window Rock as a family. Kalkin thinks it’ll throw off the PBH, and I agree with him. He wants you to call him when we’ve settled for the night.” I didn’t miss the surprise on Midnight’s face. This was my job, and I planned to do it to the best of my ability. “If you follow me, I’ll take you to my Communication Center, so you can speak to him without worry of being traced.”