We could pretend to go to the bathroom, Simba suggested. Mommy used to call Simba his “imaginary friend,” but Danny had always known that he was real. The lion cub bounced with eagerness in his mind, urging him to shift. We could jump out the window and run away.
Danny shook his head. Just like Mr. Griff had taught him, he held Simba back, not letting the lion take control of their body. The effort made him feel itchy all over. He took out his frustrations on his drawing, scrubbin
g so hard with the chunky yellow crayon that he nearly went through the paper.
Simba’s ears pricked up. The woman is talking about us, he informed Danny.
Danny cocked his own head, concentrating. Simba helped him to hear better, picking out his teacher’s voice from the low chatter of the rest of the classroom. Miss Hunter was over at the door, talking to someone Danny couldn’t see. He couldn’t make out everything she was saying, but he definitely heard his own name.
Are we in trouble? Simba asked anxiously.
“I don’t know,” Danny whispered as quietly as he could. He tried not to talk to Simba too much at school. He didn’t like the way it made the other kids stare and giggle behind his back.
“Danny?” his teacher called. She beckoned him over to her. “Someone’s here to see you.”
Worried, Danny slid off his chair. Halfway to the door, he caught wind of a familiar scent. “Daddy!” he yelled in joy, leaping up into his arms.
Daddy rumbled, bumping his forehead against Danny’s. That was lion for “hello” and “happy to see you.” No one had ever had to tell Danny that—he just knew, way down deep inside where Simba lived.
“You see?” Daddy said to Miss Hunter. He sounded a little mad, but it wasn’t with Danny so it didn’t matter. “I told you, this is my son. I have a right to take him.”
“You came to get me?” Danny wriggled with excitement. “But Mommy said-”
*Hush,* Daddy said in his head.
Danny fell silent obediently. It was different from when Mommy told him to be quiet—he could argue with Mommy, but Simba really didn’t like it if he tried to argue with Daddy. Or Mr. Griff.
Miss Hunter hesitated, fidgeting uncertainly with her long, curly hair. “I’m sorry, but you’re not on the list of people authorized to pick Danny up. I’m going to have to call Ms. Parker.”
“She’s at work, and cannot be interrupted.” Daddy glared down at Miss Hunter, his lion looming behind his narrowed eyes. He looked like he was thinking of eating the teacher in one big mouthful—owp!—just like the Tiger Who Came To Tea. “You will hand my son over to me. Now.”
Miss Hunter flinched, her face going white and funny-looking. “I-I- I suppose we can make an exception. Just this once. Danny, go get your things.”
Danny hopped down out of Daddy’s arms, racing to collect his bag and coat before his teacher could change her mind. He grabbed his picture too, being careful not to crumple it.
“I made this for you,” he said, a little shyly, as they walked out of the school. “It’s a present.”
Daddy’s fierce eyes softened as he took the paper. “This is very good. This is you, here, isn’t it? And here’s your mother, and here’s…” His eyebrows drew together. “Wait. Why have you drawn me with long hair?”
“That’s not you. That’s you.” Danny helpfully pointed out the big lion he’d drawn. “That’s Mr. Griff, holding Mommy’s hand.”
We’ve been bad, Simba whimpered, as Daddy’s mouth tightened into a hard, thin line.
“No we haven’t,” Danny whispered to his lion…though he wasn’t entirely sure about that himself. Daddy looked awful mad about something.
“And why,” Daddy said, a hint of a snarl in his voice, “is ‘Mr. Griff’ in this picture?”
“Because it’s a picture of our family,” Danny said, puzzled. “Mr. Griff’s my alpha.” He brightened as something occurred to him. “Does that mean he’s your alpha too, Daddy?”
He jumped as Daddy ripped the paper in half, crumpling up the piece with Mr. Griff and dropping it on the ground. “He is not your alpha. I am your alpha. Now, come on.”
He isn’t our alpha. Simba’s ears flattened. Why is he saying he is? Has he beaten our alpha?
“Daddy, you didn’t fight Mr. Griff, did you?” Danny asked nervously, having to trot to keep up with Daddy’s much longer legs.
“Not yet,” Daddy growled. He glanced down at Danny sharply, suddenly looking a little wary. “Why? Do you think he’s stronger than me?”
Yes, Simba said, with complete certainty.