Page 6 of The Chosen One Universe: Volume One

Sam

Sam rattled off the address and the line went dead. Ollie leaned into him again and wrapped his arms around Sam’s neck. Sam couldn’t remember a time when he felt as weird as he did in that moment. His world would soon be shifting on its axis; he knew it deep in his core. The things he’d seen in the past few minutes weren’t part of some elaborate dream.

He lifted Ollie into his arms again, debating for a moment about what he could do to warm him up further. Ollie’s clothes were still wet from the storm, and although he didn’t seem to be as cold as he was initially, he had to be uncomfortable. Sam’s shirt was damp just from holding him, but with Vaughn on the way and Sam not having any clothes for a child in his house, he figured he could just wait a few more minutes.

“You hungry, little man?”

Ollie shrugged his reply. “I’m kinda scared now,” he whispered into Sam’s neck.

“You’ll be okay. I promised you, right?” Sam rubbed his hand over Ollie’s back, taking a moment to tuck the blanket more securely around him.

“Yeah, but you’re just a human.”

Sam had really lost his mind. Just a human. He’d definitely gone cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs. He’d probably fallen asleep in his chair and was more than likely drooling all over someone’s final exam. Of course, if it was a dream, it was the most realistic one he’d ever had. He gave Ollie a gentle squeeze and carried him back to the living room. There was really nothing left to do but wait.

Luckily, it didn’t take long. It wasn’t like his hometown was some big metropolis, but if it really was Vaughn pulling into his drive, he’d probably broken a few speeding laws along the way. That was if Vaughn still lived on the other side of town where he’d grown up. Sam realized he didn’t know and was doing that assuming thing again.

Ollie stiffened in his arms, obviously hearing the car door slam. Sam rubbed a gentle hand down his back, even as Vaughn pounded on the front door.

Figuring he’d better be safe than sorry, he called out, “Who is it?”

“Vaughn.”

“Coming!” Sam pushed to his feet and adjusted his hold on Ollie. “Okay, little man,” Sam whispered, “I’ve known Vaughn for a long time. If this is who you meant, he won’t hurt you either. Okay?”

Sam hoped he wasn’t lying to the boy, but if he caught one glimpse that Vaughn wasn’t the man he thought him to be, if he thought for one single second Vaughn had ever hurt Ollie… but he knew in his heart it wasn’t the case. His complicated feelings for Vaughn aside, there was something about the man that somehow didn’t make it possible. Ollie nodded but kept his face buried in Sam’s neck. He tightened his hold until he was nearly strangling Sam. Sam took a second to look out the peephole, and recognizing Vaughn, he unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door. Vaughn looked angry for a moment, almost like he was prepared to fight. But then he noticed the child in Sam’s arms and froze.

“Hey, Vaughn,” Sam whispered. “I have someone here who is asking for a Jerrick. You’re the only one I know, so…”

Vaughn looked around, checking behind Sam with a puzzled frown, seeming confused when there wasn’t anyone else there. “You guys alone?”

Sam nodded. “It’s just me and Ollie.”

“Ollie?”

Hearing his name, Ollie raised his head and looked at Vaughn. Sam didn’t think Vaughn looked a lot different than the last time he’d seen him. He had maybe a little more facial hair now, but his sandy brown hair was still cut short and his eyes were the same piercing blue, although Sam noticed a new line or two beside them that he didn’t remember seeing the last time they were together. Not that he’d spent a lot of time staring at Vaughn’s face.

Ollie breathed deep and began trembling in Sam’s arms. He whimpered, released his hold on Sam’s neck, and practically leapt into Vaughn’s arms. Vaughn’s eyes flashed, going from their normal crystal blue to a deeper, brighter tone that had Sam taking a step back. He’d seen that same flash earlier from Ollie. Then Vaughn began a rumbling growl deep in his chest. Ollie’s breath hitched and he began to cry.

Sam stepped forward again, but Vaughn’s eyes flashed and he turned his body away, shielding Ollie from Sam’s view. It took everything Sam had not to reach out and take the little boy back. He resisted, but only because he didn’t have any idea what was really going on. Ollie’s eyes had turned that same blue as Vaughn’s had. Obviously, Ollie felt safe with Vaughn. Ollie had growled and shown fangs and… Sam really needed to sit down. He didn’t, not wanting to leave Ollie’s side.

Vaughn whispered softly to the boy, his hand petting Ollie’s small back just like Sam’s had. His crying began to slow, the gasping sobs ebbing to hiccupping breaths.

Unsure what to do, Sam folded the blanket in his arms and placed it back on the arm of the couch. Two more cars pulled into his driveway, their headlights casting an eerie glow over Vaughn as he stood in the doorway with Ollie cradled against him. Three unfamiliar faces appeared, all of them freezing when they saw Vaughn holding Ollie.

“Al— Uh, Vaughn, everything okay?” The woman of the group stepped forward with the two men flanking her. Their gazes flicked to the side, and it didn’t escape Sam’s notice when they breathed in deeply through their noses. More animal behavior. The world shifted on its axis another degree.

“Everything’s fine,” Vaughn said. “Check around the house, quickly. We need to move.”

All three hurried to do as Vaughn demanded.

Sam stepped closer. “Um, excuse me, but where do you think you’ll be moving? You aren’t taking him anywhere until I know what exactly is going on. And don’t try to pull your whole I’m Vaughn Jerrick and you’ll do what I say crap either. I deal with middle schoolers for a living, and I am immune to all forms of bossy bullcrap from people who think they know better than me.”

Vaughn opened his mouth, and then snapped it shut again. Ollie raised his head from Vaughn’s neck and looked back toward Sam with a watery smile. “It’s okay, Sam. He’s the alpha. He can help me now.”

Vaughn’s eyes widened, and he stared Sam down, as if expecting some sort of questioning. Sam glared at him before he softened his expression and turned to Ollie. “That’s great, little man. But see, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to leave right now. It’s still raining outside and we just got you warmed up. We can wait here with the… alpha… for a little while longer to see if it stops raining, right?”

Ollie nodded, and then turned to Vaughn. “It was really cold outside, but Sam let me use his blanket and he told me I didn’t have to be afraid. But it’s really dark outside and the thunder was really loud. But I had to find you, Alpha. I had to.”