Phyllis shook her head. “No…I don’t think so.” While it was true he was doing much better, he was still in no condition to venture outside…in front of people. His shape was closer to human now than at any time in the last few days, but that really wasn’t saying much. There was a fine coat of fur on his face and hands, and the fur on the rest of his body was still fairly thick. His ears were clearly pointed, his nose wet and black, and a stray fang peeked out from between his lips on the left side of his face. Noble might be ready to face the world, but the world wasn’t ready for him. She reached over and pulled the sock out of his hands.

“But they need me,” he said. “I’m their leader.”

Phyllis noted that there was no hint of arrogance in Noble’s voice. He wasn’t trying to impress her, or make himself sound important. He was only stating what they both knew was true. Still, that wasn’t enough of a reason to let him out of the house to join the search.

“What will they do without me?”

It was a fair question. And even though Phyllis didn’t know the answer, she wasn’t about to admit that to Noble. “You might be the leader, but don’t be so foolish as to think they’re lost without you.” She gently pushed him back onto the bed. “Don’t worry, they’ll figure something out.” Then she reached down and pulled the other sock off his foot. “It might even do them some good to be out on their own.”

Noble decided to try one last time.

“Please?”

Phyllis opened her mouth to explain, but what could she say? Noble probably felt all right, and there wasn’t really anything wrong with him. He was still a beautiful boy in her eyes, but she was looking at him through the filter of a mother’s love. To her, he would never be ugly or deformed, only different. But that was her, the boy’s adoptive mother. Other people might not be so forgiving—check that—other people would not be forgiving at all. But how to say all that to the boy without hurting his feelings? And make no mistake, for all of Noble’s maturity and leadership abilities, he was still very much a boy.

Phyllis took a breath. “I want you to stay here,” she said. “As a favor to me.”

Noble was quiet. It wasn’t like Phyllis to make such a request, and he wasn’t about to deny it.

“Okay,” he said. “If you want me to stay here, I’ll do it…for you.”

Chapter 18

Harlan yelped.

Tora raised her head.