Joy to the Wolves (Red Wolf #1) - Terry Spear Page 0,88
who were just like him. Josh couldn’t imagine living as a wolf among humans on his own as a teen. Not only because of the issues of reining in his wolf tendencies if he got aggravated but because he needed to learn to be a wolf among wolves. The ranch would be perfect for learning to take care of animals and horseback riding, if Lucas didn’t know how. Even having a girlfriend could be a real boon. As long as he and the other male teens didn’t fight over them.
Brooke sent another text message and let out her breath on a heavy sigh. “It’s almost Christmas. Maybe we should have done this for the new year, not right this minute.”
Brooke was thinking about Christmas, something Josh hadn’t considered. She was right. What if his foster parents had bought Lucas all kinds of presents and they had a nice Christmas family gathering planned? Maybe it was a surprise even.
“I’ll call Lucas and see what he thinks.” Wishing they’d thought of it before, Josh called Lucas’s number, then said, “Hey, Lucas, I’m putting this on speakerphone so Brooke can listen in. She is concerned you didn’t have enough time to really think this over. That you might have needed more time to make a decision of this magnitude. We are so eager to have you in the pack, but we should have considered the impact this would have on you. It’s nearly Christmas and—”
“My foster dad said if I messed up one more time, he wasn’t going to have his lawyer take my case. He was going to let me take responsibility for what I’ve done. That’s what I’m doing now. Taking responsibility. I think I’ve been…I don’t know…missing out on what our kind do. And kinda acting out because of it. I mean, I know there’s no excuse for it, but maybe this is what I need. As a kid, I remember running as a wolf with my parents, getting into trouble back then, too, but it was as a wolf, exploring. Got skunked once. Never again. Got lost when I chased after a rabbit. You know. Wolf pup stuff.
“My parents and I could talk about anything to do with wolves. For nine years, I’ve had to keep this secret. You know how hard that is? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to howl my frustration. I won’t be missing Christmas with my foster parents. They’re going on a cruise, and I told them I didn’t want to go. I was staying home alone. They were glad to have a honeymoon away from me. And you know what that means.”
“Getting yourself into more trouble,” Josh said.
“Yeah. Most likely. Though I didn’t really have anything in mind. Tell Brooke thanks for thinking of me.”
“You’re welcome,” Brooke said. “I was afraid you’d change your mind later and it would be too late. Everyone was so eager to have you join the pack and—well, I thought you might have needed more time to decide such a thing.”
“I think my foster dad is really eager to get rid of me. He doesn’t want my bad behavior to impact his work or his good name. He’s told me before he believes I’ll only get worse. He talked about sending me to a camp for juvenile delinquents next summer.”
Josh glanced at Brooke. She shook her head in disbelief. “What else have you done that we don’t know about?”
Lucas laughed. “Nothing illegal.”
“Good, then you’ll have a family that will teach you the way of the wolf, and that means staying out of trouble,” Josh said.
“What about your foster mom?” Brooke asked.
“His first wife divorced him when I was ten, and I stayed with him. Then he remarried a year later. The other woman liked me, but this one just tolerates me. I’m sure it’s a mutual dislike. She wanted him all to herself. I’m just a foster kid, not his real kid, and she had just married him, so she wasn’t in agreement about fostering a kid. She’s talked to him a number of times about sending me back.”
“If I’m not mistaken, I believe you were reaching out to us,” Josh said. “I figure you knew we’d catch on to you once you found out wolves were at the reindeer ranch.”
“Maybe,” Lucas said.
“That cinches the deal then. If the woman who’s your foster mother doesn’t even want you at home, there’s no sense in staying there.” Brooke was on her phone, typing away.