Found And Lost Read online

  “It was my pleasure,” CJ answered.

  Beth had towels waiting when CJ and I finally made it inside. She looked as happy as we did as she showed me to the guest room. It was a huge room on the second floor with an enormous bed and its own bathroom. I slipped out of my wet clothes and showered.

  I think it was the best shower I’d ever taken. Living in the forest was fine, but there was nothing in the world like hot water. Water poured out of the powerful shower head with just the right amount of pressure. I spent a long time enjoying the seemingly endless supply of hot water.

  Once I dried off and towel-dried my hair, I put on a t-shirt over my underwear and crawled onto the big bed. After tossing and turning for a long time, I gave up trying to sleep on it. It was too soft after almost five years of sleeping on the ground.

  After dragging my sleeping bag out of my pack, I crawled into on the floor. I spied a KitKat bar in the front pocket. Pulling it out, I ate it while I mulled over the events of the day. It had been a truly wonderful day.

  A Wolf In Hiding

  CJ

  Ilay in bed a long time thinking about Mia. I knew she was younger than I had thought when I first met her because she hadn’t made her first change yet. A werewolf usually makes its first change about a year or so after reaching sexual maturity.

  Despite the fact that I was crazy about Mia, already her age was bugging me. It was weird learning my dad, and her had a history. I drifted off to sleep, thinking about her striking green eyes.

  A few hours after I fell asleep, I heard Mia screaming. I sat up listening, unsure of what to do. Mia sounded like a terrified child as she begged, “No, please stop. Don’t hurt my mother.”

  I went to her room, which was next to mine, and knocked quietly on her door. It didn’t wake her from her bad dream, so I slipped into her room to find her sleeping on the floor. I gently shook her shoulder. “Mia, Mia, wake up. You’re having a bad dream.”

  Mia lunged at me with her nails, scratching my cheek. “Don’t touch her.” She screamed at me. I grabbed her hands before she could strike again.

  Shaking her gently, I pleaded, “Mia, wake up. It’s me, CJ.”

  Mia jerked awake. “What, who, CJ?” She looked at me in confusion.

  “You had a bad dream.”

  As her eyes focused on my face, she said, “Oh my goodness, CJ, your bleeding. Did I do that?”

  “It’s nothing. Just a scratch. Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine. I’m so sorry.”

  Mia got up and went to the bathroom. She came back a minute later with a wet washcloth. She gently wiped the blood from my face. “I really am sorry, CJ. I get night terrors. I feel awful.” She put some save on the scratches. “There kinda deep. Let me get some Band-Aids.” Her hair had fallen across her face while she concentrated on my scratches.

  When I pushed the hair behind her ear, Mia looked into my eyes. I had to force myself to breathe. “They’ll be fine, Mia. They’ll heal next time I shift. Why are you sleeping on the floor?”

  Putting her hands in her lap, Mia looked down to stare at them. “The bed was too soft.” I laughed, which made her laugh. “I know, silly, right?” She said as she grinned up at me.

  I had the overwhelming urge to kiss her. “If you’re ok, now I should go back to bed.” I got up and walked toward the door.

  “Wait. Please don’t go.” I could hear the desperation in her voice. Turning back to look at her, I noticed without makeup; she looked much younger and more vulnerable than before. “I’ve been alone and scared for so long, CJ. I never had anyone who could wake me up from the dreams before. I don’t want to be alone. Just this once would you stay with me?”

  I knew it was a bad idea, yet how could I say no. “Can we sleep on the bed?”

  Mia gave me a brilliant smile. “If you’ll stay.” I walked over and climbed on the bed holding the blanket open for her as she climbed in next to me.

  “Thanks CJ.” She rolled on her side with her back against me. I had no choice other than to spoon her. When I wrapped my arm around her lightly, I felt her relax. Her breathing evened out as she drifted off to sleep.

  I, on the other hand, wasn’t feeling very sleepy. Mia’s t-shirt wasn’t covering much. I rolled onto my back, trying to put some distance between us. To my distress, Mia rolled over, draping her leg over mine, while she snuggled against my chest. Her t-shirt had ridden up when she moved, so her warm, soft stomach was pressed against mine. I concentrated on taking deep breaths. She’s just a scared kid, I told myself. You’re just helping her get through the night.

  It would have been a lot easier to concentrate on that fact if she wasn’t a restless sleeper. Just as the thought entered my mind, Mia moved against my chest, pressing her firm breasts against me. Her bare stomach was now positioned across my groin.

  Since I had nowhere to put my arms, I slid them behind my head, with my fingers laced together. I was determined to keep them there despite the urge to run them through her hair and across her exposed skin.

  All I had on were boxers, which weren’t much protection from the feel of her soft, silky skin pressed to mine. I felt myself getting hard. I groaned, taking deep breaths to try and relax. Her curves were definitely not like a kids, I thought. Then I chastised myself for being a letch. Needless to say, it was a very long night. Eventually, I did get some sleep.

  I was awake at the crack of dawn. Afraid to move, I lay there watching Mia sleep. As she woke, she stretched her body along mine, sleepily, as she slowly opened her eyes. She smiled up at me, her hair a copper tangle of curls was blanketed around us. I said, “Hey.”

  “Hey, yourself,” Mia replied. Then she realized she was pretty much laying on top of me. She scrabbled to one side of the king-size bed, pulling the blanket around her. Her cheeks were bright red. “Oh, CJ, I’m sorry. I, ah, I didn’t mean to hog the bed. I’m so embarrassed.” I laughed. If she’d only known how she’d affected me all night, she’d be even more embarrassed.

  “Don’t be. You seemed to sleep well after your nightmare.”

  “It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years. I usually wake three or four times a night screaming. I guess you kept away my demons. I’m really grateful.”

  “Glad I could help. I guess I’ll go get dressed, and we can go down for breakfast.”

  As I climbed out of bed, Mia grabbed my hand. “Seriously, CJ, thank you. You have no idea how nice it was not to be alone in the dark for once.”

  Her eyes looked haunted. I tried to imagine what it must have been like for a young girl to be alone in the wilderness for years. She’d said alone in the dark calmly like living alone in the wilderness was the most normal thing in the world. It must have been terrifying. “Anytime, Mia. I’m here if you need me.” What was a little discomfort if I could give her some peace?

  Work starts early at the ranch. The hands had already eaten and headed out for the day. My mother had breakfast waiting for us. “Mia, sweetheart, did you sleep well?”

  Mia glanced at me and blushed. “Best night’s sleep I’ve had in years.” My father glanced at me suspiciously while I concentrated on my plate.

  “Mia, I was wondering if we might take a walk after we eat. I’d like to show you around the ranch a little.” Mom said.

  “I’d love to see more of the ranch, Beth.”

  After breakfast, Mom and Mia left. I started to get up when Dad asked me to stay. “Did you sleep well, Son? You look tired?” He knew.

  “Dad, we didn’t do anything. Mia had a bad dream, and I went to comfort her. She was so scared. When she asked me to stay with her, I did. That’s all, I swear. She’s just a kid; I wouldn’t…”

  My father laughed. “Calm down, CJ. I’m not accusing you of anything. We heard her screaming all the way downstairs. I went up to check on her and saw you had things under control. She’s been through a lot.”

  Dad proceeded to tell me the full story of what had happened to Mia and her family. “Has she mentioned
where she’s been all these years?”

  “I think she’s stayed alone in the woods all this time. Dad, she was just a little girl. Why’d you leave her out there on her own?”

  “I offered to bring her home. I would never have let her run off on her own if I’d known she meant to stay on her own. She said her parents had a backup plan for her. I thought she had a family on her father’s side to go to. Jackson knew I would come back and look after her when he left. I was concerned he would trace her back to me and try to take custody of her.

  When the news reported her missing, I searched for her everywhere. There was a snippet in a Texas paper about a year after her parents were killed. She had been involved with some runaways, one of which was murdered. By the time I contacted the authorities, Mia was gone again. That was the last I heard until she showed up here with you.

  I would have adopted her when I first found her only Jackson was her closest known relative. The state would have contacted him. If he’d found out she was here or in any state system, he could have gotten his hands on her. I don’t know what he would have done to her. I should have challenged him a long time ago.”

  “Why didn’t you? It sure as hell sounds like he deserved it.” I couldn’t hide my anger over Mia’s fate.

  Dad scrubbed his hands through his hair, his expression grim. “I’d promised Mia’s mother I’d never challenge Jackson. As you well know, I’ve always been a man of my word. That is one promise I should have broken. If I had, Mia might not be alone in the world.

  She was just a little girl, and I left her on her own. Hell, her parents might still be alive if I had beaten Jackson to them. I’ve never forgiven myself for leaving Mia when I did. I want to convince her to stay with us permanently. We need to look out for her.”

  “How old is she anyway?”

  “I’m not sure, CJ. She was a tiny thing when I found her. Maybe ten if that. If she is ready to go through the change, I guess around sixteen.” I moaned. “I see the way you look at her, CJ. You’ve never looked at any of your girlfriends like that. Not even Penny.”

  “Like what?” I asked, frowning.

  “Like she’s the most precious thing in the world. The way I still look at your mother even after all these years. Like maybe you found the one person on this earth you were meant to find. Your mate, perhaps.”

  I looked at my dad like he’s lost his mind. “She’s just a kid, Dad. It would be wrong for me to feel that way.”

  “Are you saying I’m miss reading you, Son?”

  Feeling like a complete letch, I stared at the floor. “No, I’m just saying it’s wrong. Last night she asked me to stay with her because she was frightened and didn’t want to be alone. The things going through my head weren’t about giving her comfort.”

  “But you didn’t act on your impulses, did you CJ?”

  “I would never do that, Dad. It would have been taking advantage of her venerable state of mind.”

  “Do you think she would have sought comfort from just anyone, especially after keeping her distance from people all these years? Or do you think maybe it was because she feels some connection to you, too?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t give it much thought. She needed me, so I was there.”

  “You’re a good man, CJ. As much as we pretend to be, we aren’t the same as humans. If a werewolf is mature enough to go through the change, they’re mature enough to find their mate. It’s very rare for us to do so these days. If Mia is yours, don’t let her slip out of your grasp. Besides, Mia will get older. Just keep that in mind.”

  “Why did Jackson kill her parents anyway?”

  “Jackson has strict rules. Breaking them is a bad idea. Hanna defied Jackson and ran off with a lone wolf. She was supposed to marry, well, me. I was Jackson’s Beta. He wanted to make sure I never challenged him for the pack while ensuring I would take over someday.

  Even though I only loved Hanna as a friend and was happy for her when she told me she’d found her mate, Jackson refused to acknowledge their bond. When Hana ran away with Mia’s father, she broke his rules and earned the death penalty for it.

  Jackson searched for her for over twenty years. I left the pack and cut ties with Jackson when I couldn’t convince him to let Hanna be. He contacted me when he found her almost five years ago. I only went to Arizona to try and convince him to spare their lives. I was too late.

  Mia, despite being a tiny little thing, attacked Jackson in his wolf form with a stick trying to protect her mother. I was only able to save Mia by pointing out how brave she was. Jackson respects strength. Therefore, he agreed to spare her. I haven’t had contact with him since. That’s the reason he isn’t part of the alliance.”

  I paced back and forth. I didn’t know what to say. “CJ, whatever your connection to Mia. Even if it’s just friendship, stay close to her, as a favor to me. Try to convince her she has a home here. I don’t want her out there alone again. Hana and I were best friends growing up. I owe it to her to look after her daughter.”

  Mom came back in without Mia. “Where’s Mia? Did she agree to stay?” Dad asked anxiously.

  Mom smiled, patting his back. “Yes, Dear, at least for now. She’s deathly afraid Jackson will find her; however, I assured her he hadn’t been seen around town in all the years I’ve lived here.”

  “Mia’s going to stay? That’s terrific.” I blurted out.

  Mom gave me a knowing smile. “I thought you might be pleased. Did your dad tell you we had wanted to adopt her if he found her again? If we had, she’d be your little sister.”

  I slapped my forehead. “Mom! Did you have to put that thought in my head? I already feel like some kind of letch.”

  “Elizabeth, don’t torture the boy. He feels guilty enough for just thinking about liking her.”

  Mom laughed and hugged me. “CJ, I’m sorry. I just couldn’t resist. You look tired, sweetheart, didn’t you sleep well.”

  I groaned. Now Mom was laughing harder. Once she stopped, she said, “That girl has been on her own and survived for close to five years living in the wilderness. She is no child, CJ. Inexperienced in social situations, yes, but not a child. Follow your heart.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Fishing at the pond. Why don’t you take the day off and hang out with her? The change will be tonight. I can feel it coming on her. She may start feeling out of sorts.” I didn’t have to be asked twice.

  After I finished my chores, I found Mia sitting on the bank of our pond fishing. Her long copper curls were pulled up in a ponytail. She was dressed in a skin-tight pair of jeans rolled up at the ankles. She had a red, scoop neck tank top on.

  As my eyes drifted briefly to the cleavage it revealed, a memory of her pressed against me entered my mind. I had to swallow hard and look away. She’s just a kid; I reminded myself. You can’t think of her that way. She looked even younger to me now.

  I didn’t know why her age was bugging me so. I’m twenty, not that much older. I’d never dated a girl more than a year younger than me, despite the fact that lots of my friends dated freshmen when we were seniors. Maybe it was because I’d graduated High School and had been working the ranch with my father for almost two years now. I didn’t think of myself as a kid anymore.

  Since Mia hadn’t noticed me yet, I spoke up, “Catch anything?” when she looked up and gave me one of her rare brilliant smiles, I felt my heart beat faster. I realized at that moment I was completely head over heels for her. Kid, I reminded myself, she’s just a kid.

  “Nope. Its official, I suck at fishing. I have never been any good at it.”

  “Wanna go to town, and I’ll buy you lunch?” I asked as I walked over and sat on the bank next to her.

  Mia shook her head, “I don’t think so. It’s not right you paying for all my meals.” I started to protest until she held up her hand and said, “My folks made sure I had enough money to live on. I’ll take you to lunch or no deal.” She certainly didn’t act like a silly teenage girl.


  “You’re on.”

  A New Wolf

  CJ

  Mia threw on her sweatshirt, and we went for pizza. Pagosa Brewing Co. is set up like a sports bar, and the twelve o’clock news was playing on the screen over the bar when we walked in. We agreed on the meat lover’s pizza and were enjoying it as I talked about the ranch.

  Suddenly Mia froze; a look of horror filled her eyes as she stared up at the TV. “What’s wrong?” I asked as I glanced in the direction she was staring. On the screen was a video of the police dragging a man and woman out of a rundown house in handcuffs.

  The reporter said, “Breaking news in Amarillo, Texas. Police arrested Louis and Kay Thomson on charges of sexual abuse, risk of injury to a minor, and sex trafficking along with numerous other charges. We bring you a representative from social services.”

  A well-dressed woman came on the screen and stepped up to the mike. “It is a disgrace that this kind of thing can happen to a child in our care. DCF will be taking a hard look at all the foster homes currently licensed as well as enacting more stringent guidelines for future licensing of homes in order to prevent this kind of abuse from ever happening again. I would like to ask for help locating these girls.”

  Pictures of three girls filled the screen. Their names were listed with their age next to each picture as the woman’s voice continued, “Denise Davis, Christine Farral, both 19 and Makala Jefferies, 17. These girls are victims of severe physical and sexual abuse.

  There is a five-thousand-dollar reward for information on their whereabouts and a twenty-thousand-dollar reward for the safe return of each of these girls. They need our help, so please contact social services at this number with any information.”

  The picture changed to a phone number flashing across the screen. When I turned back to Mia to ask if she knew them, she was gone.