Chapter 22: A Phone Call

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He wasn't quite sure what to tell the kid. He was looking up at him with watery eyes, face frightened and confused, and he couldn't get a damned word out of his mouth. When silence took over, the kid hesitantly tucked his face against Larro's neck and sighed.

"He attacked me, I think." He whispered. "I made him mad and growled when he told me to get him something."

"How long had you been with him?" Larro asked calmly.

The boy hesitated, obviously trying to think.

"I don't know. He took me from my mom, and then I woke up on the floor. I don't know how long I was out, but he hurt me a few minutes after I awoke."

Larro gently picked him up and started heading toward the living room, looking around for where he had tossed his cell phone. When he couldn't find it, he growled at Tayn, who was still lazing on the sofa.

"Find my phone please, Tayn."

He was still in his hyena form and their noses were one of the best in the animal kingdom. Of course, Tayn was always overly dramatic when asked to do anything,and grumbled as he stretched, then flopped off the sofa to sniff around. It didn't take him long, and pretty soon Larro had his phone in his hand... plus some extra slobber.

"Thanks. Go get yourself a piece of meat from the fridge."

That got an excited laugh from the hyena as it bolted around the corner. With a chuckle, Larro flipped his phone open and glanced at the kid for a second.

"What's your name, kiddo?" He asked.

"Arron." He mumbled.

No last name?

"Okay, do you know your mom's phone number?"

Arron nodded and gave him the number.

"Alright, let's give her a call."

Larro dialed it, though the area code didn't sound family, and waited until a woman's voice came over the speaker.

"Hello, ma'am. I uh, believe I have your son?"

There was a loud gasp on the other side of the phone and Larro couldn't help but smile.

"Oh my gosh, where is he? I-I'll pay you a reward! Please, just let him come home!" She cried.

"Ma'am, calm down. He's okay, and I'll bring him home. I don't want any reward, but I need to talk to you, give me a second."

He brought Arron over to the sofa and carefully set him down, then nodded to Pask.

"Look after him for a minute, okay?"

The man nodded and tugged the boy against his side.

"He's a friend, Arron. Stay here for a few minutes while I speak with your mom, okay?"

He could tell that the kid was hesitant and scared, but he slowly nodded and forced himself to relax a bit.

Strong kid for all the things he's had to go through recently.

"I'll just be in the other room so call me if you need me."

He nodded again and Larro took his leave to his bedroom. Once the door was closed, he leaned against it with a sigh and lifted the phone to his ear.

"Sorry about that, I didn't want him listening in. He uh, was attacked by another cheetah. The man was on his microchip, so I'm guessing Marcus was his father but the other man on the chip...?"

"He was his mother."

"Wait, then Arron is a...?" He said, his words dying on his tongue.

"Yes. He is a cross shifter." She confirmed.

He let out a tired laugh and leaned his head back against the door with a light thunk.

"No wonder he's wearing a pheromone collar. Alright, so, I suppose you're his guardian, then?" He asked.

"Yes. His real mother was my husband. Marcus forced himself upon my husband and by law we had to have the man's name on Arron's microchip as his father. However, he actually came to my house last week and took him. I fought but there was only so much I could do. I submitted a plea to the courts, but since I am not his biological mother, it is taking a long time to process."

"I understand ma'am. You are in Oregon, right?" He asked, figuring that she was in his state.

There was a long silence over the phone, which he took as a no.

"Okay. Well, um, where are you?"

"Ridgedale... California."

That's a serious drive!

"I have work tomorrow that I can't afford to miss, but I'm free Saturday and Sunday. I can drive him down to you then if you'd like?" Larro offered.

She was silent for another moment but then quietly replied. "Okay. I can't afford to take off work again either. I've been off all week trying to find him. God I feel like a terrible mother."

He could tell that she was having a hard time not coming to get him right away. Poor woman having to deal with Marcus. He honestly hoped that the guy hadn't been drunk when he'd taken Arron.

Unlikely.

"May I ask you for your name?"

"I would proffer to keep it to myself." He mumbled awkwardly.

He heard a slight gasp of worry on the other end of the line and sighed.

"Listen, ma'am. I'm sorry but I don't have the best past. I promise you that I will bring your son home, but I don't want you looking up things that could stress you out further. I saved him from dying on Marcus' floor."

There was a faint sniffle on the other end of the line and he smiled slightly.

"Would you like to talk to him?" He asked.

"Yes! Please!" Was her immediately, and loud, response.

"Okay, one moment."

He headed out to the living room and sat down beside Arron.

"Here, your mom wants to talk to you."

Arron knew that it was stupid to openly request attention from a stranger, but he pushed aside his common sense and leaned into Larro as he took the phone and lifted it to his ear.

"Hey mom." He said quietly.

He wanted to shout but his voice came out scratchy.

"Hi sweetheart. I missed you so much."

He couldn't help but sniffle.

"I missed you so much, too."

"Are you alright, Arron? Are you being treated well?" She asked.

Larro's chest rumbled against him with a quiet laugh, making him grin a little.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Though he did try to make me pee on a stack of newspaper and feed me that nasty baby food stuff."

His mother actually laughed at that, nearly bringing tears to his eyes. He didn't want her to worry about him. He was doing fine.

They talked for a long while, catching up and planning some fun things for when he got back. She told him that Rylan was keeping up with his classes and doing all of his homework for him, making the excuse that he was really sick.

He felt a forehead settle against his shoulder a bit later and grinned when quiet snoring soon followed.

"Mom, I think everyone falling asleep."

"Alright hun. It is really late. Get some rest and I'll call you tomorrow?" She said.

"Alright mom, good night."

"Good night, Arron. I love you."

"I love you, too."

They hung up and he gave a huge yawn.

"Ready for bed?"

He squeaked from surprise and jumped slightly at the sound of the Larro's voice. He had thought that he'd fallen asleep.

"Yes?" He actually was still really tired.

Larro chuckled and lifted him up easily, then carried him back toward the bedroom he'd come out of earlier.

"Hey... what is your name?"

He didn't answer him right away, and instead handed him a pair of shorts once he set him down. Arron pulled the shorts on climbed onto the large bed in silence. When the guy finally joined him beneath the blankets and stretched, Arron sighed and nuzzled into the pillow he was borrowing. He didn't expect him to answer, but right before he fell asleep, he heard the guy whisper.

"Larro."

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