“Thanks,” Hellen said as she jumped over the ditch and changed direction to go see the tracks for herself. She hurried toward the banks of the river near Brandt and Barron’s homes to get a look at the gator’s marks for herself. “Please let it be him,” she begged the quiet night around herself.
~~~
“What are you looking at?” Havoc asked, walking up behind his Alpha and resting a hand on his shoulder.
“Nothing.”
“Staring off into the darkness indicates it’s something.”
Brandt shook his head. “It’s really no big deal. Just strange.”
“Strange?” Havoc asked.
“Hellen just left. Said she had a headache and wanted to rest and see if she could get rid of her headache.”
“She’s probably just tired.”
“Yes, but if her head’s hurting that bad, why’d she change direction and go off toward my house when I told her to watch out for the gator I found tracks from yesterday?” Brandt asked.
“Probably going to see if it’s her gator that made the tracks,” Havoc said.
“Her gator?!” Brandt asked, turning to look at Havoc.
“Yeah. She told Analise the reason she’s been gone so long is trying to save this gator that somebody tried to kill. When she got back to where she’d left it after coming in to check on Emmalyn when all that happened, it was gone.”
Brandt shook his head slowly. “You people are really just incapable of telling me a damn thing before it all goes to shit, aren’t you?”
“It’s not my shit, and it’s not even gone to shit. And it’s not a big deal. She deals with wildlife all the time — it’s her job. Maybe she just wanted to take a look for herself so whether it’s the same one or not, she could keep it safe if she needs to.”
“Maybe.”
“You going to check on her anyway, aren’t you?” Havoc asked.
“Probably.”
“Go right ahead, then. I’m going to prepare a bonfire. Think I’m gonna see if I can make it in the shape of a big ass heart before I light it.”
“Are you not even the slightest bit worried?” Brandt asked.
“About the fire?”
“No! About your sister fucking with an alligator.”
“She told Analise it’s not that much different than Gerald. She knows what she’s doing and if she needs me, she’ll let me know. I have faith in her. Don’t you?” Havoc asked.
Brandt huffed a sigh. “Yes, I do. Go build your big ass heart.”
Havoc chuckled and slapped Brandt on the back. “Come on, let’s light it up!” he said before he jogged off in the direction of his wedding guests.
Brandt thought about it and looked off into the dark one more time, then turned and reluctantly followed Havoc back to where the rest of their family were busily building the frame for the bonfire.
He lasted all of about fifteen minutes before he decided he had to make sure she was alright. When he decided he needed to check on Hellen, he looked around for his mate and found her seated on the porch swing mounted in the open space under Havoc and Analise’s raised home. She lazily swung herself back and forth with one barefoot as she watched the family all pitching in to build the bonfire. Even Analise, still wearing herwedding dress was standing on a ladder, adding pieces of wood to the large heart shaped frame Havoc had quickly bent out of rebar.
“You look relaxed,” Brandt said.
“I am. Feel a little guilty that I’m not participating, but I’m tired,” Tempest said.
“You deserve to be as relaxed as you want to be,” Brandt said, sitting beside her and joining her in the slow steady swinging.
