"I'm just fine," he told his daughter, and gave her a quick hug.
"Jesse's the one who called Samuel," Mary Jo told him.
"We didn't even think of it.
He told us what to do." "Jesse's the bomb," I said with conviction.
She gave me a shaky grin.
"The trick," Samuel said to me, "is to join with the pack and with Adam--without losing yourself in them.
It's instinctive for the werewolves, but I expect you're going to have to work on it." IN THE END, I WENT HOME FOR DINNER, SLIPPING OUT ALMOST unnoticed in the gathering that followed our close call.
I needed some time alone.
Adam saw me leave, but made no move to stop me--he knew I'd be back.
There was a bowl of tuna fish, pickles, and mayo in the fridge, so I made a sandwich and fed what was left to the cat.
As she ate with delicate haste, I called Kyle's cell phone.
"Uhmm?" The sound was so relaxed, I pulled the phone away from my ears to make sure it was Kyle's phone I'd gotten.
But there it was on the little screen-KYLE's CELL.
"Kyle? I was calling to see how Warren was." "Sorry, Mercy," Kyle laughed, and I heard water splash.
"We're in the hot tub.
He's fine.
How are you? Ben said you were all right." "Fine.
Warren?" "Was passed out in the hallway, where he'd evidently been headed to the kitchen with an empty glass." "Wasn't empty when I was carrying it," Warren's warm Southern- touched voice sounded amused.
"Ah," said Kyle, "I didn't notice much besides Warren.
But he woke up in a few minutes--" "Cold water in your face does that," observed Warren, amused.
"But he was stiff and sore--thus the hot tub." "Tell him I'm sorry," I told Kyle.
"Nothin' to be sorry for," said Warren.
"Pack magic can be tricky sometimes.
That's what Adam, Darryl, and I are for, sweetheart.
I don't feel you in the pack anymore.
Problems?" "Probably not," I told him.
"Samuel says I just burned out the circuit for a while.
It should come back on line soon." "Apparently it wasn't necessary that I pass anything on," said Kyle dryly.
A car pulled into the driveway--a Mercedes, I thought.
But I didn't recognize the individual car.