Kine

Knowing that we couldn't wait any longer, we stopped in front of the door and Nagol leaned forward, grasping and turning the knob after unlocking it. When the door slowly opened, we both stepped back, our eyes locked onto the werewolf standing just beyond it. He looked tired, but as soon as our eyes met, he straightened and stepped inside. The atmosphere in the apartment turned south quickly as I stepped back and made my way to the small dining room table. Nagol followed and took the seat to my right while Tanner shut the door and sat in front of us on the other side. My pulse was sky-rocketing while I tried to keep the fear I felt off of my face. When Nagol's hand softly settled atop my right one, I forced a quiet but deep breath into my lungs.

It's okay, baby. Deep breaths.

I did my best to believe him and calm myself as Nagol began to talk to Tanner.

"I can't say we're glad to see you."

Tanner shook his head slowly, grinning at Nagol's words. "I knew you wouldn't be able to stay mad at him, no matter how terrible he is."

I felt my body tense, but quickly relaxed again when Nagol squeezed my hand.

"We've come to an understanding."

Tanner seemed amused by that, since he leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table to lean his chin on his hands. "Oh? Pray tell what amazing understanding you've come to that will make him repent for the things he's done?"

I looked down at the table nervously, waiting to hear what Nagol would say.

"I don't know about repenting, because you can never truly make up for lives lost, but he has only helped and supported those he's met since you've been here last."

The look on the other man's face told me that he was actually somewhat surprised, but definitely not convinced. "Alright, so he's helped people. That doesn't add up to the amount of lives he's taken, and it never will."

Sorrow weighed heavily on my shoulders. He was right, being nice didn't make up for the pups I had killed, but when Nagol responded calmly, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You're right, it might not add up in your eyes, or mine, or even Kine's... but it can change someone's life far greater than you might think."

Tanner's eyes narrowed, likely trying to figure out what Nagol was trying to get at. I actually understood, but I didn't want to use the kids like that.

They'll be okay. I think it's your best shot, and quite honestly, I think Cody would be heartbroken if you suddenly disappeared. Nagol thought to me. He was right, of course, but I still felt uneasy when he looked toward the stairs and shouted, "Cody! Miguel! Come down here for a minute please!"

The thumping of hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs, followed by much slower, hesitant ones. I had no doubt that Cody could smell our guest and likely didn't want to meet him.

Don't worry, kid, I didn't want to either, I thought to myself as Miguel stepped around the corner with a curious smile at seeing Tanner.

"Hello?" he said, a question in his greeting as he moved to sit at the end of the table next to Nagol. Tanner didn't look very happy to see Miguel, likely because of me being there as well as a kid, but he held his tongue and nodded, then looked toward the stairs where we could all hear Cody slowly descending. When he finally appeared, it was just a brief glance around the corner before he ducked back into the hallway. I knew it was coming before Tanner even turned to me and spoke, so I braced myself and began thinking of an answer.

"Why is he so afraid?"

Come on. You can say it. We're equals now, even if he beat you before, he doesn't have his status anymore.

"He had trouble with wolves in the past and currently does not trust others easily. He is not afraid of me. He is afraid of you."

Evidently Tanner didn't like what I said, or just wanted to prove me wrong, because he stood and scooted his chair back right after I'd finished speaking. I jumped up when he began walking toward the stairs, not wanting him to pressure Cody just to try to make me look like a liar. I even let a growl slip in warning, which was immediately returned by Tanner, and would have likely started a fight if Nagol's deep feline rumble hadn't overtaken both of our quieter growls.

"Cody, he's not a threat to you. He just wants to know about why you're here. Can you tell him, please?"

I moved next to where Tanner had stopped at the base of the steps, then waited. Cody didn't seem very interested in talking, or really being in Tanner's line of sight, but when Miguel ducked in front of us and ran up to wrap him in a hug, I could feel some of his tension beginning to drain. Miguel sat him down on the top step and leaned over to whisper a few things into his ear that I couldn't hear. Cody replied in an even quieter voice, then, after several more silent moments, he finally spoke.

"He's my dad."

My heart gave a strong jerk in my chest, and I had to force back an excited smile at his words.

"He's... your father?" Tanner questioned, his tone holding a warning about lying. When Cody nodded, Tanner turned his glare on me.

Okay, time to speak again. Just focus on what you need to say.

"Long story short. After I ran from you the night your band was here, I was picked up as a dog by Miguel. He took me home and I stayed there for a short time before he turned me over to the Humane Society for animals. Nagol found me there and adopted me..." I swallowed hard, not feeling too well about saying the next part but knew that I needed to.

"He was fighting with himself on what to do with me and I didn't understand at the time, but then he told me that he volunteered at the orphanage. He really loved children. He brought me with him, in wolf form, to begin at least making some kids' lives better. I wasn't exactly happy with the smaller children, but when I found Cody sitting alone in his room with a book, I just couldn't leave him. He loves to read and does so often because of the issues in his past dealing with his wolf, the details of which he prefers to keep to himself."

"So you thought it was a good idea to adopt him?" Tanner asked, his words icy. I felt my stomach clench and licked my dry lips.

"Yes."

Thankfully, Miguel actually took over right then, giving me a much needed break to take a few deep breaths.

"Yes. He offered to adopt Cody because they relate to each other. He's the first person Cody's ever really talked to willingly. Even I had to pester him to communicate when we started sharing a room at the orphanage."

I knew Tanner was likely weighing his decision on whether to tell the kids about me or not, and I prayed that he didn't. Telling them was my responsibility, but I didn't want to do it until both kids were more comfortable with me and Nagol first. When he gave a stressed sigh and turned to face Nagol, I looked between them, curious as to why he was now going to address him.

"Your little spotted friend is extremely annoying."

Nagol glanced at me, then back to Tanner with a shrug, likely figuring that he was talking about Tawny. "He's not mine. He's just a pain and won't leave us alone."

"I see," Tanner mumbled, returning the room to silence. The quiet let me focus on the emotions I could sense in the air and my mind, and one in particular was really bothering my wolf. It actually forced itself out, tearing the clothing I was wearing before running upstairs to Cody's reaching arms. A flare of aggression passed through my senses from Tanner, but thankfully he held himself back so that I could comfort Cody. His hug actually helped me calm down as much as it did him.

Feeling his fingers tightening in my thick fur was a huge relief, but hearing his voice a moment later was a surprise. "P-please leave, sir. If he did something bad, then the police should be the ones here. Either way, he's the one I would want to hear it from but only if he feels we need to know. I don't want my past dug up and I respect him for wishing to have his own left alone. He's never done anything bad to me, Miguel, or any of the kids at the orphanage, so please leave my new home."

You are so strong, kid.

Tanner remained silent for several tense minutes before he finally let out a low, frustrated growl. "I will be back, many times, Kine. Nagol?"

"Yes?"

"I trust that you will keep him under control, and let me stress this immensely. The only reason I will walk out of this apartment without his body is because this is your territory and I do not wish to attack him in front of children."

"We appreciate that," Nagol replied as I heard him walk toward the door. Tanner followed him, but right before he left, he said one more thing to Nagol, just loud enough for me to catch.

"Watch out for that cat. He wants you, and I don't doubt that he will be the one trying to remove Kine from the picture now that I've decided to leave him here."