8 A Night On The Town

Beta Clay's POV

"What do you mean gone!" I yell at Brayden.

"You know as much as I do." He says as we drive into town.

"I thought you said he was safe with your Beta!" I shout.

"He was Clay... were here." He says parking the car.

I jump out before it is completely stopped. I see Dylan standing in front of the building.

"Where is my son!?!" I yell grabbing him by his shirt.

"Release my Beta Clayton!" I hear Brayden say. He put a light command behind it. I could shake it off but then he would just order me. I grunt and drop him.

"What happened Dylan?" Brayden asks.

"He went to the bathroom... when I came to check on him he was gone. I guess he climbed out the window." Dylan says.

"Obviously!" I yell at him then turn to Brayden. "Where is the window?" I ask.

"Come with me." Brayden leads us around the building and points up to a small opening in the wall on the second floor.

"He must have been motivated to get out that... how did he get down?" Dylan asks.

"He jumped... and we arent looking for a boy." I say picking up a shred of red fabric and smelling it "we are looking for a wolf."

Alaric's POV

It is an odd feeling being a wolf padding around the city. I had little control of my actions. My wolf had me zig zagging up and down many alleys.

"What are you doing?" I ask him.

"Confusing out scent... don't want Alpha Brayden finding us before we get home do you? " he answers. My wolf can't help but using titles.

"No." I say "I want to take control now tho... I want to explore... we still need to figure out how to get home. We've never been here before."

"Fine." He says and I can feel him allow me  to take control.

I turn down another street and see some stray dogs. They look at me like I am one of them. Nope not gonna happen I am a wolf not a dog. I turn away from them and walk out onto a main street.

People are surprised by me but most don't even pay attention. I am small and cute according to the couple of girls that stop to pet me. It is a weird feeling to be petted but it feels good all the same. They leave me and I continue on my quest... a few minutes later I see something familiar. The police station! I was watching out the window on my way here. I can make it back home!

"Hay there pup." I hear a voice behind me. Oh no they caught me.... wait I don't smell any wolves. I turn around to see a human with a long stick. "Come on puppy I'm sure a pretty boy like you has an owner missing him."

I look at him confused owner? He thinks I'm a house pet?!

Next thing I know a loop is around my neck and no matter how hard I fight I can't get loose. The human leads me to a truck with his stick and puts me in a cage.

"I can't trust you to be in control for 10 minutes? Good going human!" My wolf scolds me.

"Just shut up!" I tell him blocking him out.

Alpha Brayden's POV

As soon as he smells the fragment of Alic's shirt Clay takes off down the alley sniffing the air as he goes. He keeps turning down dead ends and turning around crisscrossing his path over and over.

"DANG IT!" Clay screams.

"What's wrong Clay?" Aaron asks.

"His scent is everywhere! It's like he ran around in circles just to mess with me!" Clay says.

"He probably did...well his wolf did... but not to mess with you. He probably didn't want me finding him and bringing him back." I tell him.

"I can't find him Aaron... I lost my boy again." Clay says turning to Ari. I can see the tears in his eyes.

"We'll  get him Clay... it's not like before. He is alive and we won't stop looking... plus we know where he is going." Ari says.

"Home." Clay answers "where all did you take him in the city? He'd have to find some land mark to go off of."

"Just the police station and my apartment." I say.

"Then that's where we start." Ari says and runs in front of us leading us toward the station.

"Wait!" Clay stops us.

"What is it?" Ari asks.

"His scent... fear... a human... it ends here... I don't smell him any further than this." Clay says. Ari sniffs the air.

"You're right... where could he have gone? His scent can't just end." Ari looks around trying to judge the situation.

"I dont know... unless he got in a car." I say.

"Umm Alphas?" Dylan says and we turn to him. "Not to state the obvious but humans see a dog lose on the streets where do you think he is?"

"He is not a dog you little!" Clay charges at Dylan. Ari and I grab his shoulders one on each side saving my Beta.

"Chill Clayton." Ari says putting a hand on the back of Clay's neck demanding his attention. Clay looks at him. "He has a point... Bray where is the nearest pound?"

"Not too far... this way!" I say taking the lead.

Alaric's POV

I'm not even sure I want them to find me. I wanted so badly to go home and now? I look out my cage and see a camera. If I could shift back I would have no problem unlocking this cage but nooooo! I had to be brought to a pound with a security system. This is the lowest of low locked up like a common pet.

If they do find me I'll never live it down. I want to go home but come on! What wolf allows themselves to get caught by a stinking dog warden? Ruby told me about how strong wolves are and how it is an insult to be compared to dogs. I'm no better than them. Nope kill me now!

As soon as the man brought me in the muts went wild. This place reeks of urine and feces. Have you no self control? I think looking at the golden dog across from me. His yap is annoying so I growl. Instantly many of the dogs shut up. Hu! To think I always wanted to come here. I loved dogs and desperately wanted one when I was 4.

Well this is my life now... I could be a good pet. No one would need to know. A nice family could adopt me and I could live out my life with no worries. That would work then dad wouldn't need to know how much of a failure his son is.

I hear voices from down the hall. Well there goes that plan I think as I recognize the voices.

Alpha Aaron's POV

As we get to the pound I see a man locking up.

"Hello sir!" I say trying to sound non threatening.

"Just lockin' up boys." He says looking at us. "You'll have to come back tomorrow."

"Please sir our pup just slipped his collar a few hours ago please let us check and see if he's here." I can feel Clay stiffen at my side as I talk about his son like he is a pet but he keeps himself under control.

"Ahhh... I'm already workin' over man... I gotta get home some time tonight!" The man says.

"Here." I respond while tucking a 50 in his shirt pocket "just for letting us look no harm done." The man smiles at me and unlocks the door.

"After you boss!" He grins as he opens the door. "Go down that hall you can see all of them." The man follows us as we look in each cell. Finally I see him.

Alic is curled up in the corner of a cell with his back to us.

"Hay pup." I say as soon as I see him. He ignores me "fancy meeting you here."

"He might be sleepin' boss." The man says.

"He's awake." I say "aren't you Alic."

The pup turns his head to look at me then turns away.

"He's just embarrassed he got caught." I say more to Alic than the human.

"Umm no offense but he's a dog. I don't think he knows what embarrassed is." The human says. I have to grab Clay before he hits this guy.

"Clay go wait by the car." I tell him.

"No Aaron! I..."

"NOW!" I command cutting Clay off. He gives me an angry look but turns and storms outside "you two go with him I got this." Brayden and his Beta nod and follow Clay out.

"He's mine... can you go get what ever paperwork I need to sign ready?" I ask.

"Sure thing boss!" He says and heads for the office. I sit on the floor in front of Alic's cage.

"Just you and me now pup." I tell him and he turns to me head down. Then he plops down facing me and puts his head on his paws. "Regret running away yet?" I ask and he huffs which makes me chuckle. "You wanna mind link or are you too busy sulking?" A few moments pass.

"Hi Alpha." His small voice comes through.

"Hello pup... you like your new living arrangements?" I ask with a smile.

"I'm sorry... I just wanted to go home and Brayden"

"Alpha Brayden" I correct him. He looks mad but doesn't challenge me.

"Alpha. Brayden. wouldn't take me... my wolf thought it was a good idea to run!" He finishes.

"Yea... you know... wolves can be stupid." I tell him.

"Watch it!" My wolf yells but I ignore him.

"Is dad embarrassed by me?" The boy asks shifting uncomfortably he looks away. "are you?"

"No pup... it happens. You are young and impulsive and you can't control yourself yet. We want you home as much as you want to be there. No one is embarrassed by you." I say. He stands and nods.

"Am I ever going to live this down?" He asks. I stand up and brush off my pants laughing.

"Probably not... I'm already planning my speech for your oh I don't know graduation, when you become Beta, oh your mate's ceremony! They all start the same "I remember when I had to pick him up from the dog pound!"" I start. I can see him get agitated.

"Please NO! Alpha PLEASE!" He begs.

"Don't worry pup I won't tell anyone... Brayden well he has a big mouth so I make no promises." I say.

"Thank you Alpha" he links much calmer than I've seen him before. "What's a mate's ceremony?" He asks.

"I'll let your dad cover that when you're older." I tell him. He starts to argue as the dog warden returns "saved by the bell."

"I need you to sign these and it's a 50 dollar fee." He says unlatching the door to Alic's cage. "We usually neuter dogs before letting them out but you can just make an appointment and..."

"How about this." I say cutting him off "how about I give you $200 and you keep that part out of your records."

"Yes sir...look at that it looks like he's already been done." The man says taking the money and the papers.

"Come on Alic." I say but the warden stops me.

"You're gonna need to put him on a leash... it's the law." He says. Clay will not like this.

"I seem to have forgotten mine at home... can't we just skip that bit? I'll carry him." I ask picking up the pup. By dog standards he is rather big and hard to manage but I don't want to embarrass the boy further.

"Afraid not here use this one... the collar matches."

I set Alic down and take the collar and leash.

"Sorry pup." I whisper to him as I snap it on. He looks at the ground again.

"Its not your fault Alpha." He links and I rub his head.

"There you go!... nice doin' business with ya but I really need to get home. wife's waitin' on me!" The man says gesturing to the door.

"Thank you." I say grabbing the leash we walk out.

"Don't look Clay that's an order." I link to him just before we exit.

"Why?" He responds.

"Because I said so... tell the others the same thing."

"Yes Alpha."

We walk out and all three wolves have their backs to us.

"Have a good night!" The man says as he locks up, gets in his car, and leaves. As soon as he is gone I undo the collar and stuff it in my jacket pocket.

"Thank you Alpha." The boy links and I nod.

"Alright boys." I say and they all turn to me. I toss my keys to Beta Dylan "you take my car back to the pack house."

Clayton comes running up to us his eyes land on the shiny blue leash popping out of my pocket I shove it the rest of the way in and shake my head to tell him not to mention it. He nods and turns to his son.

"How ya doin' buddy?" He asks kneeling down. Alic looks at the ground.

"Why don't you shift back so we can talk?" Clay asks. Alic looks back at the building and I follow his eyes. Cameras.

"Why don't we go somewhere more private Clay?" He looks up at me and nods. We climb into the car. Brayden is driving I take shotgun with Clay and Alic in the back. The boy lays across the seat with his head on his fathers knee. Clay rests his hand on the boy's head.

"Have a fun trip?" Brayden asks with a laugh as he drives away. Alic growls at him and Clay flicks him in the ear.

"Respect your elders. Especially an Alpha." Clay says to him. Brayden laughs.

"I think I may have deserved that one Clay no harm done." Alic lays his head back on his father and we drive to Brayden's apartment.

"Come on let's get upstairs." Brayden says parking the car.

As we enter I smell the most amazing Kiwi scent.

"Lilly!" I call as I walk through the door "what are you doing here?"

"I thought Alic could use some new clothes." She says eyes finding the little wolf at my side. "And it looks like I was right."

Alic's POV

We all make our way into the apartment and shut the door.

"Seriously Brayden how can you live here? I thought I taught you better... you don't even have a sheet on your bed!" Alpha Lilly scolds Alpha Brayden.

I sit down and watch her fuss over him. After making the bed she turns to me.

"And you little wolf! Get your furry butt shifted and in those PJs you only have a few hours to sleep before you are to see the judge." She says crouching down to hug me she pulls away and sniffs. "And you stink take a shower while you're in there... scoot!" She tells me pointing to the bathroom.

"We don't need to worry about you escaping agin do we?" I hear Alpha Aaron link.

"No sir... where would I go? My family is here." I respond and go into the bathroom. Lilly shuts the door behind me.

I shift shower and dress. I smell like old spice the only shower gell I can find. Man it's strong. I return to the main area where everyone is talking. They stop as soon as I walk out.

"That's my boy!" Dad says as he wraps me in a hug.

"Does this mean I can come home?" I ask.

"Its not that simple Alic." Dad answers and I pull away.

"We can't loose your paperwork as easily since we are trying to keep you in the same county." Alpha Lilly says.

"But your my Dad can't you just tell them that?" I ask.

"I don't have any proof of that." He explains.

"No birth certificate?" I ask one of my teachers had said that everyone has one.

"We do." Alpha Aaron says "but we aslo have a death certificate so as far as anyone else is concerned Alaric Steven Grayson is dead."

"Grayson... that's my name... is that because of our wolves?" I ask my dad.

"I guess so... I never thought about it... makes sense tho." He says

"But I didn't know my name before! Now I can tell them!" I protest. "I want to go home!"

"From the mouths of babes!" Alpha Brayden says.

"What is it Bray?" Alpha Aaron asks.

"You know I'm a psychologist right?" Alpha Brayden says.

"Yea and a lawyer and a social worker. What's your point?" Dad asks.

"Wait how?" I ask

"Lilly had me in college at 14 and wolves can learn more quickly than humans if we focus. Most don't choose to but we can... anyway my point is if I say I was talking to him and he remembered his real name..." Alpha Brayden starts.

"We could dig up the records and present them to the courts... a recovered memory... it might just work... it depends on the judge." Lilly says.

"It really comes down to Alic... how believable he is." Brayden says.

"I can do it!" I say.

Alpha Aaron pats me on the head.

"Looks like we have a plan!"