Little Wolf

Flashbacks

Tyler

**Flashback**

Seven year old Tyler giggles as he crouches further down on the floor in the back seat of his dad’s Oldsmobile. Trevor will never find me here, he thinks to himself smugly.

Suddenly the driver’s door opens and Tyler is sure that the gig is up. Just as he’s about to jump up and scare Trevor with a “rawr!”, the passenger door opens also. It’s his daddy and Alpha Michael. Tyler is nervous that he’ll be in trouble with them, so he tries to make himself as small as possible as his dad starts the engine.

They’re laughing and talking about going out on the town. Tyler isn’t sure what that means, but he bets that he’ll be in big trouble if they find him. After driving forever, the Oldsmobile rolls to a stop and his dad and Alpha Michael get out of the car. He can hear them talking to other pack members as their voices fade away.

Peering up over the front seat, Tyler can see that they’re parked at a place called “Ruby’s”. There are a ton of cars all over the parking lot and the place is thumping with loud music. Tyler settles in on the floor and prays to Moon Goddess that he doesn’t get his bum spanked.

Tyler counts the buttons on the tufts of the seats, and then he counts the piping lines along the fabric of the seats. Slowly, he fades off into a deep sleep.

The sound of the car doors opening startles him awake. A new voice is with his daddy, it’s a lady and it’s now dark outside. She smells nice and he can see that she has pretty blonde hair from his position on the floor. Tyler isn’t sure where Alpha Michael is, now. He stiffens as the Oldsmobile starts up and drives away.

The lady has moved into the middle of the front seat and she’s winding her fingers through his dad’s hair and kissing his neck. Mommy never does that, he thinks to himself.

“Just for tonight”, his daddy tells her and she giggles. Tyler didn’t know that grown up ladies giggle. “I can’t believe I’ve finally found my mate and he’s already bonded to another”, she pouts. “We haven’t marked each other”, his dad says, “she won’t allow it. She hates me”. Who hates his daddy? Tyler wants to yell and scream at the person who hates his daddy. His daddy is the nicest person. He always hugs and kisses him and his big brother Trevor. Daddy is always smiling and he plays with them all the time, too.

Daddy makes a weird noise and the lady’s head disappears below the front seat. Tyler feels the car veer sharply to the side of the road. They make all kinds of noises and then he’s pretty sure they’re wrestling. Grown ups are so weird, Tyler thinks to himself as the lady is screaming his dad’s name.

Finally they stop making all that racket and they’re breathing really heavily. Tyler hopes that they’re okay, and he asks Moon Goddess to not let his dad and the pretty lady die.

“Please. Don’t leave”, his daddy says to the lady. “Sam, you have two children. I refuse to live my life as a home wrecker”, she tells him, even though she’s crying. Tyler wonders why the lady is so sad. Did daddy hurt her when they were wrestling?

“I don’t care, I’ll bring them with us. We can run away to your pack”, he pleads, “Or anywhere, Anne. I’ll follow you anywhere. Please, just please don’t leave me”.

The lady is crying harder now. “Just take me home, Sam”, she sobs.

When Sam pulls the Oldsmobile in to the packhouse, Tyler can hear a commotion outside. They’re frantic, and have been searching for Tyler all night. Uh-oh. Tyler curls up in to the fetal position and pretends to be asleep as the voices fade away.

A little while later, the back door opens and Trevor is there. “Dad! I found him!”, Trevor calls. Sam scoops Tyler up in his arms and whispers, “Have you been here all night, Tyler?”. Tyler nods and buries his face in his hands as his dad is carrying him. “It’s okay buddy, just don’t talk, alright?”

**End**

Tyler remembers that night like it was yesterday. He’s a lot more… informed… now, and when he came of age, he realized that he knew what happened that night. He used to lie awake at night, wondering what happened to that Anne woman, his dad’s real mate.

A lot of kids used to talk about Tyler behind his back, saying that he was ‘retarded’. Kids can be so mean. But, he promised his dad he wouldn’t talk, so he never ever did.

When they realized that Paislee was his sister, Tyler knew instantly where she came from. Anne was so nice, and he always wished she was his mom instead of Abby. Abby was always so cold. Tyler decided instantly that he would take care of Paislee for Anne, and love her as if he’d known her his whole life.

Seeing his dad respond positively to Paislee lit Tyler’s soul with happiness. His dad has always been a great guy, he knew. If Abby ever tries to hurt Paislee, Tyler vows to Anne that he will tear her to shreds.

Trevor

**Flashback**

Trevor and Luke have looked everywhere for Tyler. He has no choice but to tell his mother that they can’t find him. She’s going to spank his bum until it’s purple, he bets.

“Uh, mom? I can’t find Tyler”, Trevor says nervously to his mother, who is seated on the couch with a glass of wine. Turning to glare at him, she waves her hand as if to shoo him away. “He’ll turn up”. Dejected, Trevor trudges back out into the hallway where Luke is waiting.

“Come on, we can go get my mom”, Luke smiles half heartedly at him. Luke’s mom Deanna is so nice. She has really pretty dark hair and blue eyes that sparkle. Unlike Trevor’s mom, Deanna seems to really like her mate. They’re always touching and kissing each other. She likes her kids, too.

“Mom? We can’t find Tyler”, Luke breathes as he bursts into the Alpha suite. “Oh, sweetheart! How long has it been?”, she asks, crouching in front of Trevor. Trevor’s body shakes as he starts to cry. “It’s been hours”, Luke tells her. “Oh sweetie, let’s go get your mom”, she says as she takes Trevor by the hand. Trevor pulls back and shakes his head hard. “She doesn’t care, I already tried”, Trevor sobs.

Deanna hugs Trevor tightly and pats his hair. It feels so nice. “Okay. I’ll help you, come on”, she says, finally. Deanna gathers some of the warriors and organizes a search party. Everyone shifts into their wolves so they can cover more ground at a faster pace.

When Trevor’s dad comes home, Trevor races to hug his dad. “Don’t be mad, dad. I’m really sorry”, he whispers. “I’m not mad, kiddo. Let’s just go find him, okay?”

**End**

Trevor had all but forgotten about that night. His little brother never failed to keep them on their toes growing up. To Trevor, it was just another day in the life of Tyler.

Tyler seems really taken with Paislee, and so does his dad. Trevor feels a pang of jealousy that they both saw (and liked) Paislee’s mom, and he didn’t get to. Shaking his head, he tells himself that he’s being childish. He’s not mad at Paislee, he’s just still digesting the fact that a random woman has walked into his life who happens to be his sister. It’s shocking. Paislee really is great, though, and Luke is just smitten with her. He’s done a complete 180 since she walked into his life. For that, Trevor is thankful.

The least Trevor can do is to make Paislee feel welcome, and try to learn how to love her like everyone else seems to do.

Ivy

Ivy races to the Garrett house, her heart thumping in her ears. This is so exciting! She can’t help but wonder how it all went down. She’ll need the Coles notes from Paislee once the dust has settled.

Ivy has to remind herself to walk and not run through the front door. When she gets inside the kitchen, everyone is there except Luke. They’re all chatting calmly and snacking on her mother’s baked goodies.

“Hey Ivy! Meet Alpha Michael LeBlanc, Luke’s dad, and… and… my dad. Beta Sam Black”, Paislee says self consciously as she points them out to Ivy. It’s kind of obvious who’s who. Paislee is the absolute spitting image of Sam. “Dads, this is my best friend, Ivy Harrison”. Michael and Sam rise from their chairs to shake Ivy’s hand. “Pleased to meet you both”, she says sweetly. She can see that they’re eyeing her cautiously, most likely because she’s human.

“I hear we have your mother’s magic hands to thank for the delicious lunch!”, Sam smiles at Ivy. Ivy blushes and nods, “Yes. She’s really good at what she does”. Ivy takes Luke’s empty seat next to Paislee and grabs a muffin to pick at. “I’d have to agree”, Michael laughs.

Ivy watches them all as they chat, and she smiles. No disrespect to the Garretts, they were amazing parents to Paislee. But seeing how head over heels in love Sam is with his newfound daughter is heartwarming. Michael seems taken with his daughter in law, also.

“Should we all get together for dinner this weekend?”, Tyler asks, startling Ivy. He… he talks? Ivy can’t believe her ears and she stares at Tyler. Paislee reaches over and pushes Ivy’s jaw back up so her mouth closes, laughing, “He talks, now”.

“How long have I been gone?”, Ivy whispers jokingly. Everyone bursts out laughing and they resume chatting.

Paislee

Saying goodbye to Michael and Sam, she feels a twinge of sadness. Neither of them are at all what she expected, and she really likes them. Sam hugs her tightly and asks if he could see her again, just the two of them. “I’d like that”, she smiles back at him genuinely, “Until then, we will see you for dinner on Saturday!”

“Paislee, I know all of this is an adjustment. Let us know when you’re ready to move in to the packhouse, and we will be waiting with open arms”, Michael smiles at her, scooping her by the shoulders he hugs her in, kissing the top of her head. “I will, Alpha Michael”, she nods and hugs him back.

Paislee closes the door behind them and turns to face everyone. After a moment of stunned silence, Lucy yelps and throws her arms around Paislee. “You did it! You’re a hit!”, she hollers.

As they tidy up from lunch, Lucy asks the group, “Sooooo, how’s this gonna go with Abby?” Trevor shrugs, “I don’t think dad cares what she thinks at this point. He really has put up with a lot from her”. “If she tries any of her bullsh*t, she’ll have to go through me first”, Tyler jumps in angrily. “Whoa there, tiger”, Lucy laughs, “Don’t forget she has an alpha for a mate to protect her too”. Tyler huffs as he goes back to washing dishes, muttering under his breath.

“I love how much he loves you already”, Ivy whispers. “He can hear you”, Paislee whispers back, pointing at her own ear, “He’s a werewolf”. Ivy blushes and the room erupts with more laughter.