The Last Shifter’s Baby

Paul told me what happened, are you all right? Is Luke okay? I heard one of the animals was killed, that’s going to be a paperwork nightmare.” She said, speaking quickly all while trying to squeeze the life out of Rebecca. “Maggie, Maggie,” she said, trying to slip out of her hold. “I’m okay, Luke’s okay. One of the wolves was killed and the pup is hurt but the rest of them are okay. I just came in to ask a huge favor, actually.” “Of course, anything.” She said. “I was wondering if you could start on the paperwork. Just fill out anything that you can and Luke and I can come in and do the rest later, maybe? I wouldn’t ask but Luke and I already have a long day ahead of us.” “Don’t worry, I was actually already working on the incident report when you came in.” She told her. “Maggie, you are the best, seriously, I can’t thank you enough. I have to go, I told Luke I’d meet him at – at the place and he’s probably already there.” “I’ll see you tonight then, Rebecca. Try not to work too hard, either of you. I can’t imagine what you two went through out there.” She said. No, you really can’t, Rebecca thought as she left the office.

When she got to the clearing, Luke was already there like she thought he might be, packing away the tent and all their borrowed supplies in the back of his truck. Wilson’s body was gone but there was still blood all over the ground. It looked even worse in the daylight. She noticed the body of the wolf was still where it fell, covered by a thin layer of snow. At least that cop was true to his word and no one moved it, she thought. “You should have waited for me.” She called out to him, climbing out of her jeep. “I would have helped.” “Digging the hole is going to be hard enough. I thought I’d give you a break.” He said and stuffed the last of their supplies into the back, exchanging them for two shovels. He offered her one of them. “You really haven’t changed your mind about burying him? It would be so much easier to cremate.” She said, already thinking how hard it was going to be to dig the hole for the grave in this weather. “No, I want to bury him.” Luke said. “I owe him that.”

She couldn’t argue with him, not about this. So she helped him clear the snow off a patch of ground, using her shovel to chip away at the cold, frozen dirt. Their progress was slow and the work was hard but as hours passed, they got closer towards something that looked somewhat like a grave. They worked through lunch and by afternoon ended up with a hole deep enough to bury the wolf.

Luke picked his body up in his arms and set him in the ground. He ran his fingers through the fur one last time before climbing out of the grave. Burying the body was a lot easier then digging the grave had been but Rebecca was still exhausted when she patted down the last shovel of dirt. Her arms burned and she was covered in a light sheen of sweat despite the cold weather. She didn’t regret it though, burying the animal seemed to have eased some of the tension Luke had on his shoulders. She was a little worried though as they loaded the shovels into the back of Luke’s truck, he hadn’t said one word to her the whole time they were working. “Luke?” She questioned when she realized he was walking towards the trees rather than to his truck. “I’m going to shift and go find Henry. I’ll bring him to the medical center so why don’t you go ahead and meet me there?” He asked. “And after we get him checked out you better head home and get some rest, you’re exhausted.” “You’ll go home with me, won’t you?” She asked him quietly, not liking the expression on his face when he answered her. “I think I should stay at my place tonight. You should have some time to think about if this is really what you want. If I’m really what you want.” Rebecca felt rage building within her and before she could stop herself, she snapped. “I’m sick of you always telling me what it is you think I need or should have.” She stormed towards him, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him firmly on the mouth. “I want you, you idiot. I need you, and I’ll take you, crazy supernatural powers and all. ”He looked down at her and at any other moment the shock on his face would have been comical. “Okay.” He said finally. “And for the record, I want you too, temper and all.”

She kissed him again, feeling exhausted and giddy and not at all embarrassed.