Alder, Alanea - Fated to Be Family [Kindred of Arkadia 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (16 page)

“Fine. They were flinging bodies left and right outside,” Kate said, walking over and taking Ashby’s hand. Bran and Caleb ran in.

“Aleks, why aren’t you shifted?” Caleb asked.

“I wouldn’t leave Rebecca and Nic still needed to have his transfusion bag changed, so Doc handed me the bag and ran out to try and hold them off. Only one made it past Connor and Finn. Is the doc okay?” Aleks asked.

“I’m fine,” Dr. Claybourne said. He strode in, pulling on a pair of green scrubs. He walked over and checked Nic’s pulse before going to check on Gina. He went to a side cabinet and gathered a stack of spare scrubs in all sizes and then he turned and threw them into the empty chair. Kate went over and pulled on a shirt and a pair pants. She turned back around and watched Doc go from patient to patient. Caleb and Bran pulled on scrubs and walked over to Kate.

“Thank God they slept through this! Any more mental trauma may have been detrimental,” Doc said.

They all turned as a thundering roar was heard outside before yips and whimpers sounded off around the outside of the building. Aleks slumped against the wall in relief. Finn, Connor, Benedict, and Gavin walked in and went to the pile of scrubs.

“Ma,” Aleks said simply grinning, a goofy smile on his face. The other Arkadion boys were grinning at each other knowingly.

“Aleks! Are you okay? Doc, is he okay?” Rebecca said when she saw Aleks slide down the wall, her voice reaching octaves that made most of the shifters wince.

Rebecca started to shake then cry. Aleks struggled to stand. Caleb walked over and pulled him to his feet. Aleks staggered over to the chair next to the bed and took Rebecca’s hand.

“Shush, Becca, baby it’s okay.”

She shook her head, sending her curls flying.

“No, no, no, no, it’s not okay!
Everyone is getting hurt. The hyenas won’t stop. Why are they doing this?” Her words had turned into unintelligible shrieks as she began to hyperventilate.

And just like that, Kate knew Rebecca had found her breaking point. Aleks looked up at Doc and nodded, she could see his soul shattering in his eyes. Ma and Pa walked in just as Doc started to administer a sedative. Slowly, her breathing evened out and her sobs slowed down. Her eyes started to droop as she snuggled into Nic’s body. Ashby, who had been sharing her emotions through the bond, breathed a sigh of relief and closed his eyes. Soon all three were fast asleep.

Ma and Pa had blood and gore covering their clothes. Like Aleks, they were strong enough to do partial shifts and attack with just their claws. Duncan and Emmett followed, the blood only visible on their hands from where their claws had been. Their clothes were unmarred by blood.

“Thank God she went out before she saw you two. She would have gone into complete hysterics,” Doc said, pointing to their clothes.

“Please tell me she is okay,” Ma said, rushing over to stand beside Aleks.

“They’re both fine. As soon as I finish checking on Gina, I will check on your arm, Aleks,” Doc said and Aleks waved him off.

“Tend someone else. This will be healed by morning,” he said.

Kaden and Beau walked in, carrying the Wade children. Both Beverly and Arthur Raymond stepped forward, having already pulled on their clothes as soon as the fighting stopped. She went over and took the girls in her arms as Arthur wrapped his arms around the boys’ shoulders. Kaden and Beau went to the pile of scrubs.

“You’ll be living with us now,” Beverly said.

“Is my sister okay?” Ethan asked, going to stand by his sister taking her hand.

“She will be, but I bet she’d be real happy to hear your voice, son,” Doc said.

“Gina, it’s me Ethan. You were right. Alpha Kate and Alpha Bran and Alpha Caleb came and saved us just like you said they would. Please wake up soon!” He kissed her hand.

Kate had to look away. She’d never thought anyone in the pack liked her, but she had missed how much trust the children put in her. She cleared her throat.

“You’re going to like living at the Pack house, Ethan. There are lots of other children to play with.”

He looked up at her and smiled shyly.

“The boys?” Caleb asked, turning to her. Bran walked out of the room flagging Riley down.

Doc handed her his cell phone from the small table between the hospital beds, which she used to call Liam.

“Hello?” Liam’s voice came on the line.

“Liam, it’s me,” Kate said.

“Is everyone is okay? We haven’t heard anything.” Liam said rushing his words.

“We’re a little banged up, but we’re okay. How are the boys?” she asked.

“We put them down just a while ago. They couldn’t hang on anymore. Do you want us to keep them for the night?” he asked.

Kate heard his voice soften when talking about the boys. Looks like they had conquered another Alpha. She smiled and looked at Caleb, who nodded.

“Yes, please. We’ll barely have enough strength to get back to the Pack house tonight,” Kate explained.

“I can imagine. Don’t worry. Uncle Liam will watch over the boys and in the morning, we’ll have ice cream,” Liam said and in the background she heard Rian say, “I’m the uncle, not you, Liam. And you can’t give those boys ice cream for breakfast!”
 

To which she heard Liam say under his breath, “Watch me.”

Kate just smiled.

“We’ll be over first thing in the morning,” she promised and hung up with him.

Bran walked back in and went to his mates. Kate wrapped Caleb’s arm around her neck and reached behind her to wrap Bran’s arm around her waist. She luxuriated in the moment with both her mates close to her and safe.

“The perimeter?” Ma asked of Bran.

“Closed,” Bran said simply and she nodded.

“Landon and Lucas?” Bran asked.

“Liam is keeping them through the morning. I told him we were wiped,” Kate said, laying her cheek on his shoulder.

“Good idea,” Bran said yawning.

“The pack is okay?” Caleb asked.

“Surprisingly everyone came through this relatively unscathed. Just some bites here and there. I think everyone’s anger at the attack made them more ferocious than normal because their animals sensed a threat to the pack.” Bran started to sway.

“Come on, Alphas, we’ll drop you off at the Pack house before heading home,” Kaden said.

Bran blinked. Kate had to push her men forward.

“Thank you, Kaden. Come on, guys, time to head home.” Kate
 
pushed and pulled both men out the door and toward the truck.

When they got to the Pack house, she saw pack members crashed on couches, in chairs and even on the rug in front of the fireplace. People had just curled up in the closest empty spot. She eyed a patch on the floor behind the couch longingly. Caleb shook his head and prodded her up the stairs as she grumbled every step of the way. Bran maneuvered them into the shower and managed to clean the blood away. After her shower, Kate left the room and came back with Landon’s and Lucas’s stuffed lions. She cuddled them close and fell into bed. After a cursory towel-dry, Bran and Caleb collapsed into bed and wrapped themselves around Kate, all of them too tired even to fool around.

* * * *

Kate felt as though she had just closed her eyes when she heard a cell phone ringing. She picked hers up to see that it was dead. She fumbled around and picked up Caleb’s. It wasn’t ringing. Finally she found Bran’s.

“Hello?” she said hoarsely.

“Kate, hyenas have attacked the Pride house. The boys are fine. They slept through the whole thing. We were able to dispatch the hyenas with no issues. In fact, my lions may have had too much fun. In any case, we have a problem. My scout traced their scent back and they crossed over the perimeter just an hour ago, well after you killed Elias Wade. He wasn’t the breach,” Liam explained.

He paused and then yelled to someone in the background, “Get those dismembered body parts off my lawn! I do not want to smell that shit in the morning!”

Kate was wide awake.

“What!” She sat straight up, accidentally rolling Caleb off the bed. He landed and woke up cursing.

“What the hell is going on?” he asked.

“Kate?” Bran asked, sitting up.

“Hyenas have attacked the Pride house,” she said, stunned. “Elias wasn’t the breach,” she said in almost a whisper.

“Son of a bitch!” Caleb said, going to the dresser and pulling out clothes. He threw jeans and a shirt to Bran.

“Landon…Lucas?” he asked.

“Fine, they’re fine,” she said to Caleb before turning back to the phone.

“Liam, we’re heading over to the clinic. I bet Ma is still there with Aleks and Rebecca. I’ll call you back when we figure something out.” She hung up, jumped up, and went to the closet. She pulled down her jeans and zip sweater.

She met both men at the bedroom door and they made their way down the stairs.

Riley came out of the family room, rubbing his eyes. “Bran? What’s going on? It’s only three a.m.”

“Hyenas crossed the perimeter an hour ago and attached the Pride house,” Kate explained.

“That’s impossible!” Riley said, his eyes now wide open.

“If Elias wasn’t the breach, then who else has betrayed the pack?” Riley said softly.

Pack members had woken up and were gathering behind Riley.

“I don’t know, but we’re going to find out,” Bran said.

“We’ll have to take your car, Caleb. My truck is still at the clinic,” Kate said, heading to the door.

“Riley, keep the pack in the house unless you hear from us. Run a patrol only as far out as the property line,” Bran said, following Kate out the door.

The drive to the clinic was quiet. Kate felt waves of tension coming off Bran.

“Bran, we’ll figure it out,” Kate started.

“How? How, Kate? If you know of a way, please tell me,” Bran said sharply.

Kate sucked in her breath.

“Bran, back off, man,” Caleb said, placing a hand on Bran’s shoulder.

Kate could literally see the stress and anxiety melt away as if Caleb was siphoning it off through their bond. Bran unclenched his hands on the steering wheel.

“Kate, I’m sorry, sweetheart. I just don’t know what to do,” Bran said.

It nearly broke her heart to hear him admit it out loud. She had a feeling that, had Caleb not come into their lives, Bran would never have been comfortable sharing his fears. He would have tried to stay the strong one. Kate sent a silent prayer of thanks to Fate for her choice.

“We’ll find the breach. We have somewhere to start now. We can check the Wade house to see if there are any indications he was working with anyone.” She reached from the backseat to also lay a hand on the back of his neck. Bran met her eyes in the rearview mirror and he gave a wan smile.

“We’re going to end up owing everyone in the lion pride for protecting the boys,” Caleb said.

“You don’t owe anyone when they are your friends and family,” Kate said.

“I guess I’m still learning about that,” Caleb admitted with a rueful smile.

“We can show you,” Bran said. Caleb nodded.

They pulled in front of the clinic and Bran parked next to her truck. They got out and headed inside. The lights were off and it was quiet. They had just stepped inside when a low growl was heard from the right.

“Aleks?” Kate said, wishing she could turn on a light. All the bears smelled the same to her.

“No, it’s Connor. What are ya’ll doing back here?” He turned on a small office lamp. When he did, Kate saw cots set up in the waiting room. Low growls were heard from the beds’ occupants. The Arkadion boys were waking up. Ma stepped through the double doors.

“What on earth are you three you doing back?” she asked.

“Ma, hyenas crossed the perimeter about an hour and a half ago and went after the boys at the Pride house,” Kate said.

Ma gasped and brought a hand to her chest. “The boys? Liam?” she asked quickly.

Kate shook her head. “They’re fine, slept through the whole attack. Evidently the lions had fun. Liam was more concerned about getting body parts off his lawn than the actual attack.”

“Wait, you said they crossed over the perimeter an hour and a half ago?” Ma asked. Pa had come up behind her to wrap an arm around her shoulder.

Kate nodded.

“Sweet Fate! Elias wasn’t the breach,” Ma said.

“If we don’t find that breach, they will keep coming in and someone is going to end up dead,” Aleks said, walking into the room, Rebecca right behind him.

“We’re planning on going back to the Wade house to see if we can find any clues as to what they were doing,” Bran said.

A boy’s voice was heard just inside the double doors.

“Let me go!”

A second later Ashby appeared, holding a struggling Ethan by his collar. Ashby brought the boy forward and passed him to Ma. Beverly and Arthur followed close on his heels.

“What is going on? Why did you grab Ethan?” Beverly demanded, going to the boy and pulling him into her chest.