The Beast in Him
Page 61
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Darlin, were stopping for lunch. Not taking over territory.
Yeah, but
Woman, you know how I get when Im hungry.
Okay. Okay.
Still thinking this was a bad idea, Jess stepped out of the truck and followed Smitty inside the steakhouse restaurant.
It took a while to get her comfortable. But when she realized the place was run by full-humans she seemed to relax.
They ordered two inhumanly large steaks, rare, and several side orders they shared. Once they finished eating, they relaxed back and just talked. It was nice.
Youre actually going to adopt Johnny?
Thats the plan.
Didnt you say he was going to be seventeen soon?
This upcoming weekend.
Then doesnt that make him a little old?
Jess sipped her coffee. He has to know he belongs. That hes got family. I dont want him leaving at eighteen and thinking he doesnt have anybody.
What does he say about it?
Jessie stared at him so long, he finally asked, You did ask him about this, didnt you?
I thought I did. She squinted, trying to remember. But I think we got sidetracked by brownies.
Smitty rubbed his eyes with his fingertips. Okay. Lets try this. Hes wolf.
So?
He doesnt really belong in a dog Pack, darlin.
Who says?
Look, Im not trying to get you upset. And Im sure you guys can be pretty tough when you wanna be, but you need to be realistic. Hes a wolf. At eighteen those genes are gonna kick in full force.
And you dont think we can handle it?
I think you can try.
Unfortunately, Smitty, no wolf Packs wanted him. Childrens Services tried to place him with wolves and they wouldnt take him in. We were the only ones who would.
What about his parents Packs?
Dont know who they are. His mom had some... troubles. She cut herself off from her family.
His father?
No idea who he is and weve tried to track him down. Bottom line, all hes got is us.
Smitty cleared his throat. You know, I can help.
Help? With what?
With the boy. You know, if he needs advice or something. I can help.
Jessie stared at him again.
Hello?
She put her coffee cup down on the table. Ill keep that in mind. She said it very politely and with a wariness he didnt much like.
Is there aproblem?
No. She glanced out the window. Rain stopped.
Looks that way.
You ready to go?
Yeah, sure.
He motioned to the waitress for the check.
Since you took care of lunch last time, Ill get this.
Jessie threw down a black credit card on the silver-plated bill holder the waitress brought by.
She did it casually, without a thought. No worries there about her last big purchase.
They finished paying up and headed outside.
Think we can stop by that Starbucks up the road before we head home? she asked.
Smitty dug into his jacket pocket to fish out his keys. Yeah, sure. Hed just snagged the keys from his pocket when he walked right into the back of her.
Jessie?
He looked up and thats when he saw them, leaning against and resting on his pickup truck.
Bears. About eight of them, none of them smaller than seven feet. Great. Just what he needed. Really big, really cranky bears.
Jess had been afraid of this. The local bear population was not friendly. They actually didnt get along with each other either, but they teamed up in a heartbeat against outsiders. They welcomed full-humans, but cats and canines had no place in Martin County.
Smitty gently swiped his hand down her back before stepping around her.
Can I help yall?
The one lying directly on top of Smittys hood seemed to be the biggest problem, his seven-five stature not withstanding. A polar bear, he had his hands behind his head as he stared up at the sky.
I just gotta wonder, what brings a couple of dogs to our territory.
Just stopping to have lunch until the rains passed. Smitty shrugged. Theyve passed.
Yeah, thats true. But I have to say Im getting pretty tired of you people traipsing through our town.
Smitty stood next to his truck. He looked calm, cool, completely rational, so Jess stepped behind a tree and out of the line of fire.
The problem was these Northerners had never experienced a true Smith wolf attack. They didnt play like the other Packs. Besides, the dumb bastard had fucked with Smittys truck. You never fucked with a mans truck.
You know, dog, the bear continued, Im thinking its about time we made an examp
Smitty didnt even bother to let him finish. He just grabbed the bear by his foot and yanked all seven feet five inches and probably a good three hundred or more pounds of him off the hood of his truck, slamming the man face down on the concrete. Jess distinctly heard bone breaking. Probably the bears nose. Maybe some ribs.
Yeah, but
Woman, you know how I get when Im hungry.
Okay. Okay.
Still thinking this was a bad idea, Jess stepped out of the truck and followed Smitty inside the steakhouse restaurant.
It took a while to get her comfortable. But when she realized the place was run by full-humans she seemed to relax.
They ordered two inhumanly large steaks, rare, and several side orders they shared. Once they finished eating, they relaxed back and just talked. It was nice.
Youre actually going to adopt Johnny?
Thats the plan.
Didnt you say he was going to be seventeen soon?
This upcoming weekend.
Then doesnt that make him a little old?
Jess sipped her coffee. He has to know he belongs. That hes got family. I dont want him leaving at eighteen and thinking he doesnt have anybody.
What does he say about it?
Jessie stared at him so long, he finally asked, You did ask him about this, didnt you?
I thought I did. She squinted, trying to remember. But I think we got sidetracked by brownies.
Smitty rubbed his eyes with his fingertips. Okay. Lets try this. Hes wolf.
So?
He doesnt really belong in a dog Pack, darlin.
Who says?
Look, Im not trying to get you upset. And Im sure you guys can be pretty tough when you wanna be, but you need to be realistic. Hes a wolf. At eighteen those genes are gonna kick in full force.
And you dont think we can handle it?
I think you can try.
Unfortunately, Smitty, no wolf Packs wanted him. Childrens Services tried to place him with wolves and they wouldnt take him in. We were the only ones who would.
What about his parents Packs?
Dont know who they are. His mom had some... troubles. She cut herself off from her family.
His father?
No idea who he is and weve tried to track him down. Bottom line, all hes got is us.
Smitty cleared his throat. You know, I can help.
Help? With what?
With the boy. You know, if he needs advice or something. I can help.
Jessie stared at him again.
Hello?
She put her coffee cup down on the table. Ill keep that in mind. She said it very politely and with a wariness he didnt much like.
Is there aproblem?
No. She glanced out the window. Rain stopped.
Looks that way.
You ready to go?
Yeah, sure.
He motioned to the waitress for the check.
Since you took care of lunch last time, Ill get this.
Jessie threw down a black credit card on the silver-plated bill holder the waitress brought by.
She did it casually, without a thought. No worries there about her last big purchase.
They finished paying up and headed outside.
Think we can stop by that Starbucks up the road before we head home? she asked.
Smitty dug into his jacket pocket to fish out his keys. Yeah, sure. Hed just snagged the keys from his pocket when he walked right into the back of her.
Jessie?
He looked up and thats when he saw them, leaning against and resting on his pickup truck.
Bears. About eight of them, none of them smaller than seven feet. Great. Just what he needed. Really big, really cranky bears.
Jess had been afraid of this. The local bear population was not friendly. They actually didnt get along with each other either, but they teamed up in a heartbeat against outsiders. They welcomed full-humans, but cats and canines had no place in Martin County.
Smitty gently swiped his hand down her back before stepping around her.
Can I help yall?
The one lying directly on top of Smittys hood seemed to be the biggest problem, his seven-five stature not withstanding. A polar bear, he had his hands behind his head as he stared up at the sky.
I just gotta wonder, what brings a couple of dogs to our territory.
Just stopping to have lunch until the rains passed. Smitty shrugged. Theyve passed.
Yeah, thats true. But I have to say Im getting pretty tired of you people traipsing through our town.
Smitty stood next to his truck. He looked calm, cool, completely rational, so Jess stepped behind a tree and out of the line of fire.
The problem was these Northerners had never experienced a true Smith wolf attack. They didnt play like the other Packs. Besides, the dumb bastard had fucked with Smittys truck. You never fucked with a mans truck.
You know, dog, the bear continued, Im thinking its about time we made an examp
Smitty didnt even bother to let him finish. He just grabbed the bear by his foot and yanked all seven feet five inches and probably a good three hundred or more pounds of him off the hood of his truck, slamming the man face down on the concrete. Jess distinctly heard bone breaking. Probably the bears nose. Maybe some ribs.
