“I think I’ll stock up on chocolate,” she said as they walked to the door. Xander eyed her but she simply smiled and shrugged. She wasn’t up to discussing her period just yet. She still wanted a little mystery in their budding romance. Xander tried the door but it was locked. He used the handle of his machete and tapped around the glass near the lock. The glass broke easily and he reached in carefully and unlocked the door. The interior of the country store was quiet but Zahara could hear something moving around behind the closed door of what appeared to be a storage room.
“I think there’s something in that closet,” she said and nodded toward the door.
“Guess we’ll leave it alone,” Xander said. There was no power to the store and Zahara wondered if it were just this store or if the grid had finally gone down. It didn’t really matter; the gas tank was nearly full and they had several five-gallon cans in the back of the truck if they needed it. She hoped if and when they went to get more gas and gas cans that the gas stations would be running on generators. If that were the case, they would need to take advantage and get gas while they could. She jerked around when she heard a sound, lifting her sword.
Behind the counter that held an old-fashioned cash register stood a little boy, his large brown eyes watching her with curiosity and fascination. He had a mass of chestnut curls that crowned his soft face. His blocky eyebrows twitched and she lowered her sword. She cocked her head to the side and the boy did the same and she smiled. A soft smile reflected on the little face.
“Xander?” she said softly and he turned and looked at her and she nodded to the little boy.
“What the?” he said and looked at her. She shrugged; they’d found a little boy, who moved out from behind the counter.
“Hi. I’m Zahara, that’s Xander. Who are you?”
“I’m Jack. I’m a tough guy,” Jack said and lifted his arm and pulled the shirt sleeve back and attempted to make a muscle. His bottom jaw jutted forward and his bottom teeth bit into his upper lip as he flexed his tiny muscle for Zahara. His little body vibrated with effort to show her just how strong he was. Her heart shattered into a million pieces and he was hers. There was no choice and she walked forward and squatted in front of the little boy.
“Wow, you sure are a tough guy,” she said softly as she squeezed his little arm. Jack’s mouth wabbled a bit and his large dark brown eyes filled with tears and he walked into Zahara’s open arms and wrapped his slender arms around her neck in a fierce hug. I must be hormonal, she thought as her own eyes teared up and she crushed the boy to her and stood. His small legs wrapped around her waist and she held on to him, rocking him. She felt Xander beside her and she looked up at him. He was a little blurry but she could see the sorrow and compassion in his eyes. She sniffed and smiled. Then she sniffed again. She looked back at Xander and she started sniffing the little boy, like a dog. She snuffled his neck and she looked back at Xander, confusion on her face.
“He smells different,” she said.
“Is he a werepup?” he asked softly and laid his hand on the boy’s small back and sniffed. Jack looked up at Xander and reached out a hand and petted Xander’s black beard.
“I’m a tough guy. My mommy said I was.”
“Yes, I can see that you are a really tough guy,” Xander said with a gentle smile. He leaned forward and sniffed the boy again and Jack giggled.
“Jack, you smell different? Do you know what you are?” Zahara asked carefully. Jack’s eyes clouded for a moment.
“It’s a secret,” he said.
“I’ll tell you, my secret. I’m a wolf and so is he,” she said. Her finger came up to caress the soft curve of his rounded cheek. Jack leaned forward and sniffed and he grinned shyly.
“My mommy said I’m her grizzly cub. She said I’ll be a big tough guy when I grow up,” he said, his little block eyebrows going to his hairline, his eyes wide. Xander jerked.
“Is your mommy a bear?” Zahara asked.
“No. My daddy is a grizzly. I’m four.” Jack held up four fingers.
“Where is your mommy, Jack?” Xander asked softly. Zahara thought she knew when she heard another thump from the storage room. Jack pointed to the door.
“Mommy said I couldn’t open that door. She got bit. She said she was sick,” Jack said and his eyes began to tear up and his bottom lip trembled. Zahara looked at Xander. He shook his head.
“Where’s your daddy?” Xander asked.
“My papa bear is gone. We don’t know where he is,” Jack said and fat tears slid down his cheeks. Zahara hugged him and looked at Xander.
“I’m going out to the truck. I need a hell of a lot of chocolate, don’t disappoint me,” she said and then her eyes slid over to the storage closet. He would put the mother down. Xander handed her the keys and she walked to the door and walked out. The late afternoon sun slanted off the trees and dappled the parking lot of the country store. The birds were singing their get ready for night songs and she walked to the truck. Shay was still asleep and she smiled looking down
