Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,149

but there was one problem. Samantha couldn't get ahold of her mother.

"What about your father?" I asked as we walked our way around to where Ian had left his truck.

"He's in Japan," she said. "A thing for work."

"Text him anyway," I told her. "And I'll give you a ride back to your house, but I don't want you staying there alone. Now, where does your mother work?"

"Um, she's in a call center," Samantha admitted, telling me the name of the company.

I pulled out my phone, unlocked it, and passed it to her. "Can you find the main number for the company for me?"

"Ok?" She opened the browser and started looking for their website. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to make sure that if she hasn't heard yet, she'll know you're ok." I glanced down at Lane. "Seems Sam saw the kids."

He stopped walking and his canine head swiveled over to Gabby. One woof was all he had to say.

"It's not our fault," Gabby told him. "Lane, she was in the closet with us, and Mason came in, and then Xander tried to stop him but got shot, so then Roman had to chase after him, and it just happened, ok?"

Lane sighed, but Samantha was looking at him. "Lane? Like, the neighbor guy?" she asked.

"Yeah," Gabby said. "That's Mom's boyfriend. He's one of the pack leaders. Just... Sam, don't say anything, ok? You're not supposed to know about this."

"But you know," Sam hissed.

"And this is a big problem," I told them both. "Stop talking about it until we get in the truck. Lane is just Ian's dog, Red, right now."

Olivia laughed, but the sound came out more like a huff. "Isn't he big for a dog?"

"I honestly don't know anymore," I told her.

Because I felt like I didn't know anything. Right now, I was supposed to be the adult in charge, but all I wanted to do was lose my mind and scream as loud as I could. Unfortunately, that wouldn't help these kids any. It wouldn't even help me, although it might make me feel a little better. I just had to hold it together for a little bit longer. Just until we got home.

Thankfully, Samantha found the right website and passed the phone over to me. I clicked the link with their number as we turned the corner, walking up the street to the parking lot by the athletic center. Lane was leading the way, so I was willing to bet that this was where they'd come in. It was the only parking lot on the back side of the building.

The phone was answered quickly enough. "Telecommunications center, this is Lauren, how can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Natalie Adams," I told her. "She's an employee, and there's been an emergency with her daughter."

"And you are?" the woman asked.

"Elena Castillo. Her daughter is a close friend of mine. There was a shooting at their school."

The woman's breath rushed out. "Let me get her."

The hold music began to play, but it didn't last long at all. Before I knew it, Sam's mom was on the other end. "Elena?" she asked. "The operator said a shooting?"

"She's fine," I told her. "She's been trying to call you, but couldn't get through. I'm with her right now, and she's perfectly fine. I just wasn't sure if you could get out of work or if you wanted me to take her back to my place."

"It's at least a forty-five minute drive to get home," Natalie said. "Yeah, um, I need to..." She sounded exactly the way I felt.

"I'll take her back to my house," I assured her. "She's with Gabby and another girl named Olivia. I'm not sure if you've met her. Just come over when you can, and I'll make sure everything's ok until then."

"Thank you," she breathed.

"Let me let you talk to her," I offered, passing my phone to Samantha just as we reached the truck.

A press of the key fob set off the lights and I heard a click. Pressing it again, it sounded like all of the doors unlocked. Gabby and Samantha headed to the door behind the driver. Olivia and Lane headed to the other side. I was a little surprised when Olivia opened the passenger side for Lane, but he hopped into the front seat and she closed it behind him, and then headed to the back.

When I got in, I realized that my boyfriend's clothes were on the floorboard. There were three girls in the