Irregular (mlm)

Chapter 10

Owen watched as Kai played with a group of pups, startled when his phone rang. He saw Paxtons name and immediately answered. "Paxton."

"Hey, Owen. I just wanted to check in. I know it's been a few days since Kai found out his sister won't be coming down here for a bit. How's he doing?"

"He's okay. He's eating more than just soup now." Owen laughed a little. "We really need to introduce him to the world of fast food. I think he'd actually have a heart attack."

Paxton laughed. "No, keep him healthy. Don't let him get hooked."

"I won't, I won't." Owen smiled as Kai was 'tackled' by a pup. "But yeah, he's doing just fine. We've got a little routine here now."

"Oh? What's the routine?"

"Well we eat breakfast and I do some work on my laptop for the case and then we eat lunch. In the afternoons we come down to the courtyard and he plays with the pups." Owen laughed a little. "You should see it, they love him. And he's so good with them."

"He's gentle, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Honestly I think even our wolves have trouble being as gentle with them as he is. He's got a real soft side."

"Well, that's good." Paxton paused. "Has he shifted much?"

"Yeah. Only in my apartment though. He's been able to stay in human form for longer periods, I've noticed. He always sleep in wolf form though." Owen switched hands with his phone, then said, "it's weird though."

"What's weird?"

"When Kai is in wolf form, he can be so gentle. But when he's in human form he constantly misjudges his strength. He literally made one of my soap bottles explode from gripping it too hard."

"He's got more control over his wolf?" Paxton sounded just as surprised as Owen. "That's strange. You'd think it would be the other way around."

"I don't know, I think it might be because he spends so much time in wolf form. I asked Alice about it and she told me Kai always preferred to be in wolf form around their dad and his workers." Owen sighed a little. "I think it's safe to assume that he spent most of his time in wolf form once she left and he had no one to talk to. He probably spent all of his time as a wolf, actually."

Paxton hummed slightly. "It would explain the lack of motor control he has while in human form. He's not used to his body as much as he is in wolf form."

"Should I try to get him to shift more?" Owen shook his head, even though Paxton couldn't see it. "I feel like I'd be forcing him to do something uncomfortable."

He was quiet for a moment before he answered, "I'll talk with Amy. She'll know better than I do. Oh, how's he doing with his meds?"

"He takes them with no issues. He actually had to remind me yesterday cause it slipped my mind."

"He's okay with the needle?"

"I think he's used to it. He barely flinches, it's kinda of freaky."

"Well, at least that's ways then." Paxton sighed. "Okay, I got to let you go. We're going back over to the warehouse to see if we can find anything new."

"Send me any photos and logs, okay? I might be able to piece some things together if I can get Kai to talk about it."

"Sure thing. Call me if you need anything."

"Yep."

Paxton hung up the phone and Owen went back to watching Kai. He was sitting down, looking concerned at the group of pups now tossing the ball around. Owen could see the worry in his eyes when he looked up at him.

He stood and made his way over, and to his surprise, Kai shifted. "Ones missing."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I mean the ginger one with the green eyes isn't here. There's supposed to be seven of them. There's six."

Owen did a quick count, and he was right. "Shit, I think Emily is the one missing. Maybe her parents took her back to their apartment."

Owen looked around and felt his gut drop when he found Emily's parents still on their picnic blanket with their older son. "Shit."

Kai looked up at him worriedly. "Where did she go?"

Owen happened to look at the door leading to the parking lot, where he saw the fuzzy butt of a ginger haired wolf through the glass. He sighed in relief. "She's over there. I'll go get her, just stay with the others."

Kai nodded and Owen jogged over to the door. There was a paper cup keeping it from closing, which was probably how Emily wandered out. He stepped through the door, holding it open as he looked for Emily. She was sniffing something a few feet from the door.

"Emily." She snapped her head up and looked at him, knowing she'd been caught. "You know you aren't allowed out here without an adult. Get your butt back inside."

She pranced over to him and pushed her face into his leg. He put his hand on his hip. "Go on, little lady. Go to your parents."

She ran off towards her parents and Owen shook his head. She was always wandering off. He'd have to tell Kai to keep a better eye on her.

Right as he was kicking the cup out of the way of the door, he felt something grab his arm. He yelped in surprise as he was thrown to the ground. When he scrambled to turn over, he was met with a very rough looking man with wolf hair and gold eyes. "Hello, there."

Owen looked him up and down and got the sense that he was in danger. This man was a werewolf, and probably one who worked for Kai's father. This wasn't good.

Owen stayed on the ground as not to spook the man. He didn't know what he'd do if he was startled. "What do you want?"

"I want Kai." The man leaned in closer and Owen could smell the spice scented soap he used. "His father has a present for him."

That didn't sound good. Owen needed to get back into the yard and get Kai somewhere safe. His phone was in his pocket and there was no way he'd be able to call anyone, even if he managed to get away by running to the parking lot. The man was blocking his way to the door.

Owen swallowed. "What does his father want with him?"

"I don't have time for this," the man grumbled, and raised his hand. He was partly shifted so his hand was a humanoid wolf paw with long, sharp claws.

Owen thought he would be maimed, but thankfully someone very large tackled the man from behind and sent him flying into a parked car. Owen looked at who'd just attacked him, and found Kai.

He was staring at the man with his lips pulled back in a snarl, and his arms partly shifted like the man's. He seemed to stand taller than ever, even with his fighting position. Owen had to admit, the way his eyes glowed was rather pretty.

He looked down at Owen and his gaze immediately softened. "Are you alright?"