“’Cause I need you to walk me like I can’t handle shit myself,” Havoc scoffed.
“Bam, honey, there is no more danger. It’s been eliminated. I can attest to that personally.”
“I know, but I still feel like… I don’t know, like I need to do something!” Bam said.
“It’s okay. The threat is gone. Y’all all go on home and get some rest. We’ll still be here in the morning,” Everly said.
“I’m just a thought away,” Brandt said, to everyone, not singling anyone out.
“Same,” Havoc said, ushering his mate and daughter out of the front door.
The door clicked closed behind them and Bam patted Brandt on the shoulder. “I’m going to tell Emmalyn goodnight one more time.”
Everly watched as he turned and walked back into the bedroom Barron and Emmalyn were in, then she smiled at Brandt and Tempest. “So, when is the baby due?”
They both sputtered denials. “What? What baby? What are you talking about?”
Everly hugged Tempest. “That’s fine. Keep your secret until you’re ready to share. But congratulations. If you need anything at all, let me know.”
Tempest and Brandt shared a look, before Tempest decided to come clean. “How did you know?”
“I saw the way you both looked at me when I told Analise and Havoc to take Harley home and put her to bed. You thought I meant the two of you. Pair that with the way Tempest didn’t jump right in to heal Emmalyn, instead boosting the healing abilities of Bam and Daisy, and it just made sense.”
“I wish I could have done more,” Tempest confessed.
“You did all you could, and that’s what matters. You can’t help everyone else to the point that you harm yourself, or your babies. Thank you, Tempest for all you did for my Emmalyn.”
“You’re welcome,” Tempest said, holding Everly tight when Everly leaned in for another hug.
Everly let go and stepped back. “And now, the two of you should go home and put your baby to bed. And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I’m so excited to meet your little one when they arrive.”
Brandt kissed his aunt, then led Tempest toward the door. “If you need anything at all, just reach out for me, Aunt Everly.”
“We will, Brandt. Thank you.”
Chapter 16
In the predawn hours just before sunrise, Hellen threw back the top of the sleeping bag she’d been tucked inside of and walked across the dirt floor of the shanty she’d recently been spending most of her time in. She took the three or four steps across the shanty to the opposite wall, then looked down at the creature sleeping there. He appeared to be asleep, but she knew better. Though his breathing hadn’t changed at all, and he lay perfectly still, she knew he was acutely aware of her standing over him.
“I have to go.”
The predator’s eyelid opened, displaying the vertical slit of the pupil he possessed.
“There’s something wrong with my family. They need me. I put off leaving for long as I could, but I can’t wait anymore. I have to go make sure everyone is safe. But I’ll be back.”
A deep rumble rattled his chest.
“You’ll be fine. I’ve left food here for you. And you’ve got water, too. I’m leaving my weapon in case whoever did this to you comes back. All you have to do is shift and use it.” She paused to give him time to reply, when he made no sound at all, she walked away from him to gather the food, water, and her weapon to move them all closer to him.
“There you go. Everything you need, within reach. As long as nothing is seriously wrong, I should be back in a day or two. Do not go outside. Do not draw attention to yourself. Just lie here and rest until I get back. It’s all you would do if I was here anyway.”
Hellen walked away from the creature who’d refused to shift back into his human form since he’d healed enough to be ableto realize she was trying to help him, not finish the job someone else started of removing him from this Earth. Just before she stepped outside the shanty, he let out an angry hiss.
“If you keep that shit up, I won’t be coming back,” she snapped. She closed the very old, warped door of the shanty and started her trek through the woods to where she’d left her four wheeler hidden.
Some fifteen minutes later, the creature heard the very distant sound of a four wheeler starting up. The sound gradually drifted further and further away until he couldn’t hear it anymore, letting him know he was alone. Alone was good. He wanted to be alone. He didn’t want her here. She had no right here. He tried to move his sore body again, and pain shot through just about every inch of him. He lifted his head and turned to look with his one good eye at the food and water she’d left for him. Forcing himself to turn away from the food and water, he lay his head back down and thought of the female who’d discovered him, then saved him. Good riddance, he thought to himself. Only it wasn’t good riddance. He wanted her here as much as he didn’t want her here, and if truth be told, she had more right to be here than he did. Doing his best to slap the ground in frustration with his huge muscular tail — and failing pitifully — he released another hiss just for good measure before settling in to wait out the excruciating pain of his screaming muscles and bones attempting to knit themselves back together, so he could finally regain enough strength to get out of this damn place before the female he didn’t want, but needed, returned to attempt to save him again.
~~~
