Bleacke's Geek (Bleacke Shifters) by Lesli Richardson

okay,” she said with a smile. “I want you to hold it. See how it feels in your hand. It’s probably the first gun I’ll teach you on.”
    He felt a little nauseous, but he took the gun from her and held it like she told him to. After a moment, she took it back. “I know you don’t like guns, but you need to learn how to handle one. For my peace of mind, if nothing else.” She reloaded the gun and returned it to the case, and the case to its hiding place in the cabinet, behind a couple of boxes of macaroni and cheese. “But remember, don’t go touching any gun unless I’ve told you it’s okay.”
    He threw her a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
    Badger had himself a belly laugh. “He’s gonna keep ye in line, I can see it now,” he teased.
    Beck returned to the kitchen. “What’s so funny?”
    Ken studied the man’s expression. It looked like Beck would rather be somewhere, maybe anywhere else, but that it wasn’t anything personal. The shifter wore a practiced, perfectly schooled look on his face. Anyone else probably wouldn’t notice anything wrong, but Ken sensed that maybe his intuition and powers of observation had gotten a lupine boost the same way his vision had.
    Badger hooked a thumb over his shoulder in Ken’s direction. “Our newest pack member, there. Believe it or not, lad, I think she’s met her match.”
    Beck smirked. “Well, if you can hold your own with her, more power to you, buddy,” he said to Ken.
    The four of them sat and ate in relative silence once the food was dished out. Ken watched the three shifters eat, engrossed by the sight. They…well, they wolfed down their food. Not rudely, but intently, each one bent over their plate and shoveling it in relatively fast.
    Finally, Dewi glanced at him, then sat up. “What’s wrong? You’ve hardly touched your food.”
    He shook his head. “Nothing’s wrong. I was just…fascinated.”
    Badger looked up. “Sorry, lad.” He sat up and wiped a drop of sauce from his chin. “We’re pretty intent on our food.”
    “So I see.” He picked up his fork again. “I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just…” He felt his face go hot and red as he realized what he’d been about to say.
    I don’t often get to eat with others.
    He started eating. Dewi reached over and touched his arm. He looked up and met her gaze.
    “We’re your family now,” she gently said. “You’re one of us.”
    Badger and Beck both nodded. Badger said, “Yer part of the pack now, lad. Ye’ll never be alone again if ye don’t wanna be.”
    Beck added, “And we take care of our own.”
    Ken knew if he started crying they’d probably humor him, but he really didn’t want the additional hit to his ego. He sniffled it back. “Thanks. I appreciate it. It’s…just going to take some getting used to.”
    Dewi smiled. “The wolf thing?”
    “No. The family thing.”

    * * * *

    Ken gave Beck credit for trying to draw him into their circle. Badger must have filled Beck in a little about his history at some point, because the shifter seemed to steer clear of certain topics. Ken could swear he mentally felt Beck stepping around conversational minefields.
    “So, what drew you into teaching computer science?” Beck asked.
    Ah, a subject he didn’t mind talking about. “My mom got me my first computer when I was in junior high. I was hooked. I wasn’t good at sports and didn’t have much interest in them anyway, but I was good at computers and programming.”
    “How long have you been teaching?” Dewi asked.
    “Full time, for three years. But I was an assistant prof and grad student teacher before that.”
    The conversation rambled back and forth between them all. He asked Dewi about what she did, but she seemed reluctant to give him any gory details that she apparently felt might upset him.
    He gave them all a lot of credit for trying to make him feel like one of the family. For the first time in years, he truly did feel like he was totally accepted