Page 52 of Primal Bonds 1

“I see.” The man raised a brow. “And you’d let him?”

“It’s not like I can say no,” Adam said.

Chase chuckled. “You’re soft on him, aren’t you?”

“Just as you’re soft on that redheaded runt,” Adam said. “I can see the allure.”

“Yeah,” Chase said. “Looks like he got the gorgeous looks from his mother.” He tapped on Elaina William’s profile picture on the tablet screen. “Still a beauty and as popular as ever at forty-five.”

“And a cold-hearted bitch to the core,” Adam said. “Who’d abandon their own child just because he’s a beastkin.”

Chase ran his fingers through his hair again, looking agitated. “Fuck, right now I feel like I want to kick thesebastards’ asses.” He tapped on the list of names on the report.

“Yeah, you’ll get to do that soon,” Adam said. “And you’ll feel so fucking satisfied after, you’ll want to go on another series of vigilantism.” He laughed.

“Then why don’t we start planning?” Chase asked. “I’m pumped about it.”

Adam nodded, and his friend got started. An hour later as they were immersed and deep in discussion, they heard a voice calling out, “Aka! Aka!”, followed by the loud noise of doors banging shut. The two looked at each other and then both headed out into the hallway. There, they saw Shiro slumped on the floor, looking dejected.

Adam swore under his breath and rushed over to the boy. Close, he said, “Shiro!”

Shiro raised his head then, to see Adam before him, and said softly, “Adam.”

Adam went down to one knee and wrapped his arm around the boy. Stroking the boy’s head, he asked, “What are you doing here?”

Shiro looked dazed and confused for a moment and then said, “I was sleeping and I had the nightmare and then…” He sighed, looking around the place as if searching for something or someone. “I thought I saw my brother and I ran after him but…” He clutched on to Adam and buried his face against the man’s chest. “Sorry. I’m being a nuisance. I was seeing things.”

Adam scooped the boy up in his arms and, to Chase, he said, “I’m taking him home.”

Chase nodded. “I’ll come by and check on him tomorrow.”

Adam nodded. “Mm-hmm.”

Half an hour later, they arrived back at the penthouse, and because Shiro had no shoes since they were still back at the clinic, Adam carried the boy into the building, never mind that Shiro was still wearing the hospital pajamas and his fox ears were showing. Although it was well past two in the morning and no one was around, except for the guards, but of course, none questioned Adam because he owned the building, after all.

On the top floor, he keyed in the passcode and then went into the penthouse. There, he took Shiro straight to the master bedroom where he laid the boy on the king-sized bed.

“Adam,” Shiro said. “I’m sorry. I’m being a nuisance.”

Adam ruffled the boy’s hair, chuckling. “You’re not being a nuisance. Now sleep.”

The boy nodded and then made himself comfortable. Adam went into the en suite to shower. When he returned, feeling fresh and clean and his hair wet, he noted Shiro was sound asleep. After pulling on a sleeping pants, he, too, got into bed.

The moment he was in between the sheets, Shiro moved closer to him and nestled his face against his chest. Was the boy attracted to body heat or something? Adam wondered. If so, then he had no doubt it was because he was used to sleeping in the cold streets.

He wrapped his arms around the boy and hugged him tightly. “Better now?”

The boy nodded and groaned softly. “Mm-hmm.”

“Good night, Shiro,” he said, chuckling.

“Mmm,” was the response, and Adam smiled.

17

Chase

Chase walked down the hallway until he came to the back of the building. There, he opened the door of the file storage room. The place, naturally, was packed with folders and boxes along the lines of the shelves. Aka, the redheaded fox boy, was currently standing on a stepladder and arranging folders according to the new system Chase had just implemented.