Page 16 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

They shrugged and accepted Ben’s word as Vaughn handed them each a shirt. He added a pair of shorts to the shirt he gave to Ben before leading them down a short hallway to a bathroom. “Okay, everybody get changed, and we’ll get turned in for the night.”

The girls went in together then came out a couple minutes later giggling and swimming in the over-sized shirts. Henry and Jack went in next, and then Ben went in by himself. When they all walked back into the living room, Vaughn and his dad gave them each a quick exam. Vaughn paid special attention to the bruising on Ben’s face, but they didn’t seem to find anything wrong with any of them. Sam made sure to stick close to Ben, especially since the older boy seemed to need more reassurance than the others. He kept looking around like he was waiting for someone to storm in and take them all away, or maybe like he was going to wake up and realize it was all a dream. Sam knew the feeling well.

“I brought you down some clothes, too,” Vaughn said. He gestured to yet another shirt and a pair of pajama pants. “I figured you would want to stay?” He sounded so damn hopeful and sweet.

“Yeah. If you don’t mind. I’m so tired I can’t see straight.”

“I know,” Vaughn said as he touched Sam’s arm and slowly ran his hand down to his elbow. Their eyes met, but Sam forced himself to look away. “Go on and get changed.”

Sam took the clothes over to the bathroom and changed. He washed his face and stared at himself in the mirror for a long moment. He tried to put the wall back up, the one that meant he’d be safe from Vaughn again, but his brain refused to cooperate.

He was an idiot, plain and simple, and he should run for his life. But he wouldn’t leave the kids. They were his Achilles heel.

Vaughn had him well and truly hooked and he didn’t even know it. He didn’t want to see Vaughn differently, couldn’t afford to wish for anything else to come of this. He’d be strong for the kids, help them figure out how to get through the night, and then go home once everything was settled. He nodded to himself but not even his reflection believed he meant a word of it so he sucked in a breath and headed back to the living room.

Vaughn had used the time to change as well and was sitting next to his parents on the sectional, watching the dozing kids.

“They asleep already?” Sam asked in a whisper.

“Nearly,” Joanne replied. “We promised Ben we’d stay and keep watch.”

“What about everyone else?”

Vaughn glanced toward the front door then turned to Sam. “Some of our pack is staying close. Meshaq and his pack went back to the house to check things out more closely. He wants to know what’s going on. He’s asked me to keep the cubs in my care until we find out more.”

Sam frowned. “Was there any doubt?”

Vaughn and his parents shared a nervous look. “Yes, there was a lot of doubt, actually.”

Sam opened his mouth to argue but snapped it closed again. He knew absolutely nothing about what was going on here, but even he could see that he had a lot to learn about this culture. There were big pieces of knowledge missing, pieces which might answer a lot of the questions Sam still had. And not all of them were about the night they’d just had.

“Tomorrow, once I’ve slept and made sure this isn’t all some elaborate dream, I’d really like to ask those billion questions.”

“And I will answer them.”