Chương 21: Chapter 20 - Packmates

It must have been around one in the morning, when I gave up on sleep. After checking on the children, I went into the hall and headed for the front stairs. I don't know. Maybe I was going for a warm drink. Or maybe I wanted to watch a show. As I approached the landing, I saw a pair of large triangle ears obscuring the Christmas lights. Conrad was on the couch, staring at the tree. I stopped where I was. Not that it would do any good. If I could see him, he already knew I was there. He didn't even turn his head.

"Where are the ghosts?"

"They're resting."

"In your bed?"

"Yes." His ears flattened. As I came out from the hall and around the couch, I said, "But I have a cot now. I'm further away from them and closer to the radiator." His ears relaxed.

"You could have added that a little sooner."

"Maybe I like knowing someone's worried about me." I sat down next to him. For a few minutes, all we did was stare at the tree together. Hundreds of little white stars were perched on the branches like fairy birds. I could live a million years and never find anything as beautiful as a Christmas tree. But as time went on, I felt the cool air of the landing more and more.

When I brought my knees up to my chest, Conrad put his arm around me and pulled me closer—literately, scooting my butt several inches, until I was up against his side.

"You think I'm cold?" I said.

"After what you said, I'm not giving you the satisfaction of asking."

"Maybe I was only getting comfortable."

"If you're not comfortable, you're welcome to move." Fat chance of that. I'd neglected to bring a blanket, and not only was his arm fur cozy, but even through his T-shirt, I could feel his body heat. Conrad Bauer, the walking furnace.

"I'm sorry about yelling at you earlier," he grumbled.

"It's okay. I understand." The hand that wasn't on my shoulder went over his eyes.

"God, I must have scared those kids so bad." Or maybe I didn't understand. That didn't sound like something a ghost-hater would say. I grinned.

"Anna called you my guard dog."

"Your guard dog?" He moved his hand enough to look at me. He didn't seem to think it was as hilarious as I had. I said, "She was trying to explain it to Jan. You were only doing it to protect me." He huffed and put his arm down.

"They understand, Conrad. They understand, and they don't mind." For a second, he squeezed me tighter. I figured it was some kind of an answer, but I was too lazy to force him to say it in English. The closer we got, the more he seemed to forget I couldn't smell what he was thinking.

"Do you feel better now?" he asked. I took a breath.

"I'm still really tired—like, weary—but after sleeping most of the day, I can't fall asleep." Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"What did Dr. Belliston say?"

"That I'm stupid."

"Hmmm. The man's very knowledgeable." I pushed away so I could glare at him better.

"Why are we friends again?"

"Because I'm the only one willing to listen to you talk about anime for hours."

"That's a pretty good reason." I leaned against him again.

"He says I'll be fine, but I have to be less stupid from now on."

"Good advice. You should try to follow it."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Emerra, I'm not joking. That was a close call—we're lucky we found you in time!"

"I know," I assured him.

"It's okay. I'll be careful." My placating tone must have made him realize he'd become a little too emphatic. He relaxed into the couch, and when he spoke again, his voice was quieter.

"What was Kappa doing up there anyway?"

"Iset sent him up. He needed help with his gift."

"Why couldn't she help him?"

"He drew her name." Conrad smiled, but he also shook his head.

"That's rough."

"For who? Him or her?"

"Could you think of anything to get her?"

"I didn't have to. Kappa already knew what he wanted to get her."

"What's that?"

"Promise you won't tell?" He gave me a wry look.

"He wanted to get her a rock," I said.

"A rock?"

"Yup. He was adamant."

"Please tell me you did not go outside, hours after nearly dying from hypothermia, to help him find a rock."

"Nope! We went to the ever-reliable internet."

"I didn't know you could buy rocks online."

"It depends entirely on the type of rock you want to buy."

"I take it you helped him find a nice one?"

"A very nice one. I hope she likes it."

"This is Iset we're talking about. Kappa could have pulled a rock from a river, and she would have treasured it."

"Yeah." I smiled.

"She's sweet. I'm glad he got her name." Conrad returned his attention to the tree.

"Kappa's been having a lot of fun with this whole Christmas thing."

"Yeah, he has! The little twerp. I'm about to start stapling the ornaments to the trees."

"That might ruin the aesthetic."

"Darius can get over himself."

"I wouldn't put too much money on that bet."

"Then I'll do it when he's not at home." The wolfman tipped his head to the side.

"You might be able to do that."

"Did he go into town again?"

"Not today." Conrad shifted.

"None of us really got much done today." The way he said it, all easy and matter of fact, made me think that the hiatus might have had something to do with me. I fidgeted with my fingers as I mumbled, "Conrad, thank you for saving me."

"You don't have to thank me for that." He put his muzzle on top of my head.

"Are you sure?"

"It's a given." The glowy feeling from his off-handed assurance fizzled into confusion when I felt the air move over my scalp. Conrad was taking a long, slow breath in.

"Ohhhkay," I said.

"I know it's not my hair." He pulled back and said through a quiet laugh, "What?"

"Are you sniffing me? Do I smell funny?"

"No, you weirdo. I'm getting your scent."

"You're sniffing me, but I'm the weirdo?"

"It's perfectly normal behavior."

"Maybe for a wolfman."

"Who did you think you were sitting next to?"

"It's still weird."

"You always know the scent of your pack." I grinned.

"Your pack?" Grinning wasn't enough, so I laughed. Conrad rubbed his brow ridge.

"That…uh…that sounded less stupid before I said it."

"No," I meeped in a sad little voice.

"I want to be in your pack. I've never been in anybody's pack." He looked at me out of the corner of his eye, then turned to me.

"Are you crying?" I wiped the edges of my eyes, but I couldn't stop smiling.

"I'm just tired. You'll let me be in your pack, right?"

"Sure," he said softly.

"Yes!" I fist pumped.

"My canine transformation has begun." He rubbed the top of my head.

"You'll be there in no time." When his arm was back over my shoulders, he said, "Mera, since you were willing to help Kappa with his gift, do you think you could see your way to helping me?"

"Oh, now I get it." I prodded his side.

"You only wanted help with your gift."

"That must be it. Will you help?"

"It depends. Who do you have to give your gift to?"

"Kappa." I made a pffft sound.

"Easy-peasy. Get him a rock."

"I'm being serious. I have no idea what he likes."

"I'm serious too! Has he never shown you his collection?"

"The only reason he even talks to me now is because of you. Until today, I wasn't sure he knew my name."

"Look, there's a reason he was convinced Iset would want a rock. He's obsessed with them. He's got this weird collection he picked up from who-knows-where. They're his favorite things in the whole world—aside from tuna."

"Tuna?"

"Sorry, not an option. Iset says it's not healthy for him to have too much."

"I wasn't considering it, but thank you for the warning."

"If you get him a cool looking rock to add to his collection, you'll be his favorite person."

"Except for the pushover that gives him so much tuna it's become a health hazard?" I grinned.

"Well…yeah. But you can be his second favorite person."

"Sounds good. What kind of a rock do I get him?"

"That's something we'll have to find out tomorrow."

"Why tomorrow?"

"I'm not going to wake him up now. That'd be rude. Oh!" I sat up.

"I have an idea! This is going to be fun."

"Mera, is whatever you're planning going to be unnecessary and ridiculous?"

"Of course! It's Christmas! Everything's unnecessary and ridiculous. And you have to help me because we're packmates."

"I'm reconsidering your admission."

"Watch it, buddy. I'm only one fight away from being alpha around here." Judging from how loud Conrad laughed, he didn't think I was much of a threat.