Backstage at the Freak Show (Harem of Freaks #7) - Crystal Ash Page 0,35

created him, even the animal instincts deep within me recognized that. I’d tear out hearts and entrails without a second thought to protect him and his mother, my mate.

Eagerness drove me to press down on the gas pedal, to drum my fingertips on the steering wheel as I wound through the twists and turns heading back to our house. I waved at the landscaper, knowing he’d be stern with me if I drove too fast past the veterans center where Connor worked. I already made that mistake once.

Once our charming home came into view, I felt a pulling like Mel herself had her little fists clutched at my shirt as she yanked me down for a kiss. I’d been away at a Shifter-Shaman conference for a whole weekend, and while the time spent was good and productive, it would have been better with Mel with me.

Everyone knew who she was. Stories spread like wildfire of the young shaman woman who rescued her own shifter harem, and busted an entire underground trafficking ring of shifters who’d been sold and experimented on. Her presence at the first organized convention of people like us, now that we were slowly emerging out of secrecy, was sorely missed.

But there would be others in the future. Mason was just too young to travel and Mel wasn’t yet ready to leave him.

I parked the car and hurried into the house, not bothering to grab my luggage from the trunk. It could wait until after I saw my mate and son.

The front door was locked, a bit unusual for a house with so many adults and children coming and going constantly. I fished for my keys and eagerly unlocked it, stepping into the foyer. Immediately, I heard Mason’s cries but didn’t see anyone.

“Mel?” I shrugged off my coat and hung it on my hook. “I’m home, love.”

Mason’s cries intensified at the sound of my voice and the first spark of worry hit me. Our home was usually as busy as a bee hive, but it seemed empty today, with the exception of his cries.

“Melody!” My tiger’s instinct rose to the surface as I walked deeper into the house, not full-on predator mode, but caution and spatial awareness were at their heights.

I followed the sounds of my son into the theater room, which we had half converted into a playroom for him. Relief flooded through me when I saw both of them.

Mel stared out one of the windowed doors leading out to the woods behind our home, holding and bouncing a red-faced, wailing Mason.

“Love, are you okay?” I came up behind her and put my hands on her shoulders.

She turned around slowly. “Oh, you’re home.”

“Yes, you didn’t hear me come in?”

“Not over him.”

As she sniffed and seated Mason higher on her hip, I got my first look at my wife in just over three days. Her nose and eyes were red, with dark circles to match. Her normally glossy black hair was unbrushed with several knots, probably where our boy got his sticky fists in it. The shirt she had on was the same one she wore when I left, only now it was covered in an array of food stains.

“Mel!” I pressed the back of my fingers to her cheeks and forehead, projecting my voice over Mason’s wailing. “What’s wrong? You look exhausted.”

“I am!” A cry escaped her now, one of frustration and utter weariness. “And I don’t know. He just won’t stop crying.”

“Is he changed? Fed?” I ran a hand over my son’s bottom to check his diaper.

“Yes! Also bathed, also played out. He won’t take a nap, I just don’t know.”

“Where is everyone?” A growl rose in my voice. “Why isn’t anybody here to help you?”

“Connor’s at work. Hunter and Raz went off to the woods to shift and hunt with Hunter’s brothers.”

“And your sister?”

“She’s on a field trip with the kids.” Mel’s face crumpled and my heart nearly broke. “I told the guys to go shift, they hadn’t in over a week. And I didn’t want to bother Miriam. I—I thought I could handle it…” She trailed off into quiet sobs, still bouncing Mason on autopilot.

“Here, love. Give him to me.” I took my screaming, red-faced son from her and nestled him against my side. “Now, young man,” I murmured against his dark, feathery soft hair, “what’s got you all tossed about, hmm? Your poor mum needs a nap, you know.”

I started pacing back and forth, holding his squirmy body against my chest. I patted