-4- James

"I hope we are wrong about this," the alpha said once the human had left.

"So do I, but I have a bad feeling," James told him. He leaned back into the comfortable chair. "The deaths of the other two kids. The near-kidnapping of that other one reminds me too much of what happened to me for comfort." Almost twenty years passed, but he could still feel the silver wire wrapped around his neck. The mocking, cruel voices of the humans that tied him down. James clenched his jaw, forcing the memory away.

"I agree, unfortunately. We have to find this bastard before he ruins another life," Andrew said as he slammed his fist with anger on the desk.

James flinched, despite the fact, he was far superior in strength to the alpha. Andrew, like all alphas, had that alpha presence that commanded obedience. In some cases, if an alpha put enough of that presence in his or her voice, he could force his will on others. "I thought about talking to the kid and the friends of the other teens. See if I can get him to tell me if anything suspicious happened before the attacks," James told the alpha.

"That's a good idea; tomorrow I can take you to them," Andrew started with a nod.

James held up a hand to respectfully interrupt the alpha. "Actually Alpha, no offense, but I think it would be best to go by myself," he explained. "If the kid were doing or talking to someone he shouldn't he'd never talk about it with you there. You're his alpha and wouldn't want to shame himself or his family in your eyes. Now, I'm THE James Lacrosse, not pack but an outcast. I'm also scary as hell."

A small frown touched the edges of the alpha's mouth with a thoughtful expression on his face. "I guess that does make sense. Okay, I'll give you the names and direction of the child. As well, a few of the other friends," he said, taking out a manila folder and handing it to James. Inside was all the information he needed and pictures of them all.

"Thank you, Alpha. I will start on this first thing tomorrow," James stated and got up from his chair.

"Let me know what you find out as soon as possible," Andrew told him as they shook hands. "And James, welcome home. I know my family is happy you're back. I want you to know you always have a place in this pack whenever you're done with this exile of yours."

James' throat tightened with emotion. Andrew always had been much more like a father to him that his own father. Andrew, along with his family, tried to understand what happened to him. They tried to help when he escaped his kidnapper. All his father had done was call him a monster. He took James' mother and sister as far away from him as possible. "Thank you, Alpha. Maybe when this is all over I will think about it," he told him and left the office.

He paused at the kitchen where Sandy and Lacy were taking care of the dishes. "Thanks for the wonderful dinner. I don't think I have eaten that good since I left," he said.

Both Sandy and Lacy gave him bright, warm grins. Sandy dried off her hands and walked up to him to give him a hug. "Thank you, James," she told him then got an almost sly grin across her face. "I have to say, you've turned into quite the charmer. I hope you stay this time."

James laughed a little and repeated what he told Andrew earlier about staying. "I'll see you tomorrow," he told her then waved to her daughter. "Bye Lacy," he said and left the alpha's home.

Getting on his bike and grinned as it roared to life, he drove back to his hotel. Pulling into one of the empty spots in the parking lot, James swung his keys on his index finger. He attempted to ignore the looks the people gave him as he walked to his room. Humans and werewolves alike knew who he was, and their fear stunk up the whole place.

Part of him felt he deserved their fear and mistrust. Before James decided to leave, he had gotten into a lot of fights. He'd put some in the hospital and even killed a person. Yet, another part couldn't help but feel that he was just a kid dealing with something impossible. How could anyone blame him for what happened? James set the keys and the card key down near the door and looked at the dismal hotel room with a sigh. The life of the lone wolf was getting tiring. Maybe when he finished investigating, he would stay.

Stay for what? His pessimistic side spoke as he laid on the bed. He'd never be part of the pack. He'd never have a mate or a family of his own. He felt a pang of emotion hit him hard in the chest. Well maybe I won't have all those things, but with the Roberts I could have something of a family, he thought. They did take a human in, after all. Curiosity replaced the raw emotions as he thought of the human. How did the alpha end up adopting a human?

The next morning James waited for the teens outside of a small, one-storied brick school. It was La Ruisseau's only private school and the state's only werewolf exclusive school. It was why La Ruisseau's population was more than eighty percent of the total. Many wolves moved here so their children could attend the school and not have to hide who they are.

James took out the photographs Andrew had given him and looked through them. He tried to become familiarized with the faces as the kids started to arrive at the school. The first one he saw was the Addams kid, Jake. James called to the boy who looked at him with confusion on his face. "Who are you?" he asked with a suspicious tone.

"I am James Lacrosse," he started.

The teen's eyes bugged as he gawked at James for a moment. The suspicious look returned as the boy narrowed his eyes at him. "You're James Lacrosse? Yeah right, whatever!"

"What? You don't believe me?" James asked, feeling a little irritated.

"Isn't that obvious," Jake replied with an annoying look on his face that made James want to rip it off of his face.

With a quiet growl, James took a deep breath to keep himself from doing just that. "If I prove to you that I am who I say I am, will you answer my questions?"

"I suppose...if you can prove it," Jake replied, sounding bored.

James nodded, removing his jacket and held out his left arm. He had learned a few years back how to shift only part of his body, as far as he knew he was the only one who could do it. It would be a nice little show for this punk. His arm grew and sprouted his fur but instead of turning into a normal wolf paw like all other werewolves. His fingers elongated and grew long black claws where his nails use to be.

Jake paled, staring at his arm. He brought his eyes back to James' face in pure terror and cursed before turning to run. James growled with irritation and grabbed the teen by the back of his shirt. Why do they always run? If they knew enough to piss their pants, then they should know they can't run away!