A Christmas Tail (15 page)

“Who are those people?” The boy asked, as he almost stood next to her now slowly moving towards her, sniffing. He had her blue eyes and even had the haunted look she used to see in the mirror. He wore a pair of torn jeans that looked two sizes too small.

“The woman is your aunt Lacey. The three men circling us are my mates, now your fathers, and the other three are your uncles. They’re afraid the men that hurt me are around here and will try to take you to harm you.”

Jordon was about a foot away from her when he plopped down on the ground next to her. “You’re really my mom, aren’t you? I can tell when someone lies.” Jordon looked away. “A lot of people lie,” he turned and glanced at her, “but you’re not. You really came to find me?”

“I’ve been looking for a long time for both you and your sister. My life would be incomplete if I didn’t have you two in it. Would you like to go shopping with us? We were going to the mall, get something to eat and do some shopping. Maybe we can get to know each other? I’d like you to stay with us. You can help me pick out things for your room too. I have a whole house to furnish.” She leaned over like Betsy was going to tell him a secret. “You see I’ve never had a house. I’ve always been on the run afraid those men would find me.”

Betsy turned her arms over showing Jordon her scar. “This is what I got for trying to escape.”

Her little boy scooted closer and snarled. “They really hurt you?” It was more of a statement than a question as he reached over and ran his tiny finger over one of the scars.

Barry knelt down in front of them. “My name is Barry and I’m one of your mother’s mates. It’s cold out here and I know you have to be cold without a coat. Why don’t you come with us? Even if you decide not to go home with us, let us get you a nice warm coat and some new clothes. Then maybe you can help us find your older sister. We all want you safe and ready for Santa.”

“I don’t believe in Santa,” he said then looked at her. “But I want to help find my sister. I’ll go, but I can’t promise I’ll stay,” he stated, sounding so old. Jumping to his feet, he moved closer to her as she got up.

“What is your name? I named you Jordon when you were in my tummy. My name is Betsy, if you don’t want to call me Mom.”

“I’m called Greg, but I hate that name. I’d like to use the name you gave me.” They walked toward the street when she felt his tiny hand slip into hers.

“Tell me Jordon, have you ever been in a limo?” Betsy asked as two limos pulled up, one right in front of them. Jordon’s eyes got all big as he shook his head.

“Well, then you will have a treat. My name is Orion and I’m another of your mother’s mates.” He opened the door for them and she nodded for Jordon to slide in. He hesitated for a minute before climbing in.

Her heart was beating fast and tears threatened to fall, but Betsy held it together, glancing over at the other limo where Lacey looked up and smiled. She mouthed. “
You’ll be fine
,” before getting into the other limo.

“He’ll stay, just believe,” Barry said in her ear, before kissing her neck. “I’m sorry about earlier. I was wrong, please forgive me, but I couldn’t risk you, Betsy. You’re our world.”

“As you are mine, but so are they. Believe in me, Barry. I’ve kept myself alive since I as six. I do have some smarts.” She climbed into the limo not giving him the time to say anything hurtful, like that he didn’t trust her judgment.

“There’s a fridge in here, can you believe it?” her son asked excited as he looked out the window. “Do you think we could get something to eat first when we get to the mall? I haven’t eaten yet,” He looked down at his hands and she placed her hand over his.

“You’ll never be hungry again as long as I’m around, I promise you that. What would you like to eat?” she asked, sitting next to him as her three men slid inside. Rhodes and Zanger sat up front on alert.

“Pancakes. I had them once before and they were so good.” He looked out the window. “That was before that guy came.” Jordon rubbed his tiny hands on his legs.

“Will you tell me what happened? They say it’s good to talk about it,” Betsy reached over and took his hand and squeezed it.

“You’ll hate me if I tell you,” his words came out as a whisper breaking her heart.

Chapter Ten

Barry and Davis sat across from Betsy while Orion sat next to her. Tears filled her eyes as she listened to their little boy tell of a stranger coming to the group home he had been placed in. Waves of fear came off Jordon as he told of how the new head man of the group home tried to assault him and a few other boys. He had been one of the lucky ones to get away, but not without some permanent reminders.

“I kept an eye out for the others, hoping they would be able to escape, but they put up a high fence and they couldn’t get out. That’s when I noticed some really big men coming to the place. I heard them talking and they were looking for me, so I ran to the other side of the city and stayed hidden. I was hoping they would leave so I could go back and check on my friends. When I got there, that’s when I noticed one of your men I think and I followed him back to the hotel.” Jordon glanced at him.

“He was different, not angry.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how, but I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Does that make sense?”

Barry leaned over and placed his hand on the boy’s knee. “It makes perfect sense. You listened to your inner self and heart, they will never let you down. I’m proud of you Jordon, and we’ll take care of that man, I promise. I’ll personally make sure those other boys are taken care of,” he said and Jordon’s chest puffed out and Barry hid the smile.

“Would you like to visit your friends later? Maybe tomorrow we can go there so he can get his things?” Betsy asked looking at him and he nodded.

“If it’s safe, we’ll go kitten.” Barry studied the boy for a few minutes and asked the question. “Jordon have you had anything strange happen to you? You’re at the age where your first change will take place.” He mentioned this so Betsy would know where he was going.

Already he had a lot to make up to her, she was still fuming inside about what had happened earlier, and in a way she was right. He should have listened to her, but the thought of her getting hurt out weighted anything in his book. He looked down and frowned.

“Kitten, did you hurt yourself?” He reached over and pulled her to him laying her over his knees, looking at the back of her legs and hissed. “Why didn’t you tell us you were hurt?”

Orion snarled and reached into the fridge, getting a bottle of water and a pop and handing that to Jordon. “Drink, you look thirsty.”

“It’s nothing, I was more worried about Jordon. Now let me up Barry.” She kept trying to pull her dress down to cover her ass and the butt plug. Seeing her distress, Davis took off his long leather coat and laid it over her butt.

“Hold still and let Barry get the glass out and heal you. Jordon, do you have any cuts? because it looks like she was sitting on something broken when you were in the alley.” Davis asked, leaning over as he shook his head no at first, then under Davis’s stare he sighed.

“Maybe,” he gave the pop back to Orion and leaned towards the door looking down at his leg where the jeans were torn.

Barry looked at the boy. “Will you allow Orion to help clean it up? When we get to the mall, we’ll get you all new clothes and later you can take a shower when we get back to the hotel.” Barry dropped his voice down an inch, giving him a taste of the alpha in him, when he felt something bite into his thigh.

“
Don’t you dare scare him. He’s terrified enough!”
His kitten’s temper flared and he grinned down at her.

“You bit me, bad kitty,” Barry lifted up Davis’ coat and swatted her butt, shocking her and the boy.

His eyes got big, moving from his mom to him. “You spank her?”

Taking the bottle of water that Orion had given him, Barry proceeded to clean the cuts on Betsy’s leg. She said nothing, but her hold on his leg was gone as she listened.

“Yes, and I’m sure she will earn other spankings in the future.” Barry looked up at the boy. “Jordon, you are a part of all of us. Davis, Orion and I will be your fathers. I know it’s different from other families, but we are different, and I have a feeling you already know this? But understand one thing. I will never hurt you like that man did. None of us will, but if you put yourself in danger, don’t listen to the rules, I will paddle your butt. We require your respect as we respect you.” Barry patted the cut where he had taken out a piece of glass.

Orion reached over and placed Jordon in front of him standing so he was right in front of Betsy. “Hold still Jordon, this will sting a little, but it needs to come out so I can clean it.”

He flinched as Orion took out a piece of glass. “I’m sorry baby, guess I’m not doing such a great job being a mom,” Betsy said, reaching out and taking his hand.

The boy shook his head. “You care, you all care. I can feel it in here. When that man tried to hurt me, my body did something. I hurt him and I don’t know how, but I have a feeling you know?”

“We all know sweetie,” Betsy sighed and looked up at him. “Are you done?”

“Yes, you’re already healing. We’ll have to get you a new outfit at the mall too, this one is all ripped in the back.” Barry lifted her up, but kept her in his lap. “Come, sit beside me. We’ll tell you a short story.” Barry patted the seat next to Jordon when Orion handed him the pop.

“He’s all cleaned up and healing too.” Orion stated as Davis took Jordon’s seat after Jordon crawled up next to them.

“You see, we’re not human, Jordon. Your mom is what’s called a shifter. She has another being inside her that lets her transform into a big cat, a Bengal tiger. While I’m not from this world and either are Davis and Orion. We are warriors, protectors making sure others from different worlds don’t cause trouble.” Barry rubbed Betsy’s back trying to reassure her, but the knots there would need to be worked out later.

There would be no club tonight. Tonight they would spend as a family, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t play after the boy went to sleep. Oh yes, his friend Zanger had purchased everything they had set aside in the store before the boy had distracted them. Davis had even grabbed a few paddles that would work wonderful for their kitten.

“You really change into a cat?” he asked, looking at Betsy.

“Yes, and so can my mates. You see Barry here is head of our family. As you can see, he takes his job very seriously. Don’t get me wrong, there will be times when we don’t get along and yell at each other, but I trust him with my life, as I do the others.” Betsy leaned forward.

“You see Barry is also part demon, so we don’t want to get him too mad,” she teased, winking at the boy who smiled.

“I heard that,” he growled and lowered his head, biting her shoulder and making her jump. She swatted at him, hitting his chest and he snared. “Kitten, what did I tell you about hurting yourself?” He took her hand and started to kiss and lick it when he heard her son laugh.

“I get it, kitten-cat.” Jordon laughed, smiling up at him. “You really wouldn’t hurt her, would you?” he asked looking at the three of them as they pulled up to the mall.

“No Jordon, I would protect her with my life like I would you. You are our son now and a part of our family for life. Now come, they have this great store called Ikks Junior and from what I’ve been told there are plenty of stores in here for you to shop in too, kitten.” He lifted her out of his lap and placed her where he had been sitting then Orion and he got out of the limo to scan the area.

There were a total of thirty other local warriors around the mall guarding them while they shopped. They too had been looking for a group that had seemed to settle in the area. Stories had begun to circulate that someone had been killing humans and others alike. Barry met Isaac’s gaze and he nodded, holding his hand back for Lacey to come out as he did with Betsy and Jordon.

Betsy placed her small hand into his and also did a scan, looking for any threat before moving away from the. Barry leaned down and whispered. “Already a protective mommy and it’s sexy as hell,”

She snorted but he caught the glimpse of a smile as she wrapped Davis’ coat around her even though it was way too long and big for her. Betsy buried her nose in it and smelled, taking in his scent as her gaze seemed to travel up his body. Barry smiled as Davis glanced back and winked at her, knowing he had seen her checking him out. Her face pinked and she frowned glancing at the doorway where Jordon hadn’t come out yet.

She leaned down and peeked into the door, “Jordon honey, it’s okay. No one is going to hurt you,” she said, aware that something was wrong.

“May I?” Barry asked Betsy and she glanced at Jordon who was curled up in the limo to him nodding.

“He’s scared, Barry.” Her voice cracked and at once Orion had his big arms around her hugging her.

“It will be okay, kitten. Barry will help, watch.” He heard before getting back into the limo and scooting next to the small boy. He picked him up and placed him in his lap, holding onto him.

“What’s wrong? It’s just you and me now.” Barry asked, rubbing the boys back, knowing cats need to be touched, reassured.

The boy was stiff in his arms at first looking towards the door before glancing back at him. “That man who attacked us bragged about coming here all the time. Said his wife worked in one of the stores. He threatened to say all sorts of things and I swear none of them were true, but what if my mom believes him?”

Barry’s heart broke as he watched the boy shake, trying not to cry and already afraid of losing his mom. He hugged him tight, pulling him close to his chest. knowing the boy needed the comforting. “For one, your mother and I would never believe anything coming from a man that would hurt little boys. Two, if he is here, and I kind of hope he is, I haven’t had supper yet and I know your other fathers would haven’t either. But as for your mother she will be the first one there to protect you, Jordon.”

He lifted the boy’s chin up with his finger. “Your mother has loved you from the first day you were born. There is no way she’s going to allow any person to take you from her. When she was telling you about me getting mad. You’ve never seen a tiger protecting it’s young. I tell you what, if you see this man from a distance, you come to me and squeeze my hand. You don’t have to say a word, it will be our little secret.”