~ Chapter 25 ~
Cam shook his head, trying to clear it so he could focus. He had to focus. If he didn’t then he’d lose everything.
Ryder’s panicked voice screamed in his head. “What do we do?”
“Shut up! I’m thinking.”
At the same time reports were flying in. The Witch had been found and taken down, although he’d injured four Wolves in the process. More than two dozen others had been taken out in the surrounding forest and Gunr and his protection detail had been located. All but Gunr were dead and Gunr was in a bad way, Feera was with him now but she was fearful he wouldn’t make it.
Cam’s head was spinning with everything that was coming in until finally he had to cut off his link to concentrate on the task before him. Shifting his stance, he could see the insanity in the man before him, scent it eroding out of him, but above it all was his mate’s life’s blood seeping into the ground beneath her.
His beast’s head lifted, a soul wrenching howl tearing free as he stood immobile and completely unable to help her.
“How does it feel?” Stu jeered. His wild eyes mad and full of glee as he let out a laugh. “Not so mighty now Alpha, are you? I’m the one with all the power and I want to see you bow before me. Bow! Did you hear me? Cameron Sinclair, I want you to bow like the fucking mangy dog you are. Right here and now you’ll fucking do it or I’ll put a silver bullet through her brain.”
Cam stiffened. Every cell in his being rebelling against the order from this mongrel. The Alpha inside him refusing to obey such an order . . . but he couldn’t refuse. He couldn’t risk Chastity’s life for anything. He would do anything if it gave her one more second of life.
Stalking closer he raised his head proudly, raising his lips to snarl, showing his razor sharp canines briefly before he started to obey . . . and then his worst nightmare appeared before his very eyes.
Ryder’s shocked eyes widened as he let out a gasp but Stu was so focused on Cam that he didn’t notice. Thank the Goddess. Cam’s body stilled, ready to react when the moment came . . . and it would. In just a few seconds.
Because right there, behind Stu, peeking from a bush with the wildest look he’d ever seen was his little Lion. His daughter was spitting mad, her golden eyes were shining with an anger he’d never witnessed in her before. Her fangs were showing as she drew her lips back ready to sink them into flesh.
He wished she’d disappear back into the bush, go and hide, but he knew she wouldn’t. She was more Lion than Wolf, and she was the fiercest of their five children, always had been. Heather glanced at Chastity, saw her mother lying in a pool of blood and her face changed into one of a Lion stalking its prey. Intense, savage, and ferocious.
Cam’s muscles bunched tight, his power transferred to his hind legs, ready to pounce because he knew the moment was upon him. That split-second when he’d have the chance to save his soul-mate, the mother of his children, and his future.
Heather sprang free, rushing forward silently, teeth bared and attacked. Stu never saw her coming, her hands latching on to the arm holding the gun, her teeth sinking deep into his wrist so deep that Cam heard cartilage crunch as she bit down brutally.
Stu’s fingers opened, the gun dropping and Cam was already in the air, launching himself at the cocksucker who thought he could take what was his and live. Ryder yelled at Heather to get out of the way but Stu had already wrenched her free, sending her sprawling on the ground. Ryder was on his way to her, reaching her in moments to grab her to his chest as Cam knocked Stu back several yards, his jaws opening to latch onto his throat.
His paws clawed at Stu’s body, ripping him to pieces in moments as his fangs sank deep, tearing his throat clean out. The death was quick, too quick. Cam wanted Stu to feel pain for minutes, hours, fucking days! But he needed to end it and get to Chastity and his children. He had to make sure Heather, Corey and Ailis were all right.
Hell, what had Heather been thinking?
Transforming quickly, he turned, covered in blood, and found his brave little Lion on the ground next to Chastity. “Mommy, wake up!”
“Heather! Where’s Corey?” Cam rushed over, picking her up and crushing her to his chest.
“I’m here,” Corey rushed out of the trees, his face white as a sheet. “She pushed me back! I was going to kill him but she wouldn’t let me!”
Heather huffed out through her tears. “Don’t be stupid, Corey. My fangs are much bigger than yours and I’m faster too.”
Cam shook his head at them both. “You’re both very brave, but stupid too. You could’ve been hurt. But you need to go with Ryder now. I have to help your mom.”
Cam looked around at the carnage, looking for his youngest daughter. Stracey was coming their way, shadowed protectively by several Wolves, including Jinx. Ailis was in her arms, crying softly. Stracey’s face was white as she stopped. “She’s all right, Cam. She’s just in shock.”
Cam reached over, cupping Ailis’ cheek. “Hey, sweetie, it’s okay now. I promise. Auntie Stracey and Uncle Jinx are going to take you all home and you can have as many cookies as you want.”
Stracey looked down at Chastity, her eyes filling with tears. “It’s . . .” she stopped, looking at the kids. “Just let us know, okay.”
“I will.” Cam pushed Corey and Heather toward them. “Just take the kids away, please.”
“We’ll look after them. Don’t worry.” Jinx said firmly. “I’ve got enough Wolves to guard against an army and Fergie’s sent us all of his sentries too. We’ll make sure they’re safe.”
“You can contact Marcus, he’s got Monica and Ewan in the helicopter. He can bring them back but keep them all under tight security, just in case.” Cam’s stomach was tight with apprehension. “I’ve no idea if this lunatic has anyone else helping him and until we find, out I want security as tight as it can be.”
“Will do.” Jinx nodded, his eyes flitting to Chastity. “Go, do what you need to, Feera’s arrived.”
“Thank f . . .” he stopped, mindful of the children.
He gave them a smile before turning away to see just how badly hurt Chastity was.
Clayr was on her knees next to Ryder, her arms around him as she cried softly. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine.” Ryder soothed her. “Just mad as hell I couldn’t do anything. That fucker knew how to hobble me using the kids as leverage.”
“I know,” Clayr replied. “And I almost fainted when Pervis was with them. That was her Pack, that Alpha was hers too. Fucking asshole.”
Shaney sidled up to sit beside them, her hand reaching for Ryder’s. “Can I stay at your house tonight?”
Ryder looked at Clayr, eyebrow raised. “It’s fine with me, sweetie, but I’m not sure how it goes with the orphanage with these things.”
Clayr gave Shaney a huge smile, pulling her in for a hug. “That’s fine, Shaney. If you want to come stay with us for a while that’s okay.”
“Good,” Shaney replied softly. “Ryder makes me feel . . . safe.”
Clayr shook her head, her face full of amazement. “Well, I’m shocked. Truly I am. In a good way. And I have to admit something, sweetie, he makes me feel safe too.”
Cam was certain he’d just witnessed a miracle as he dropped down beside Chastity. Hoping against hope that another would be granted for his love. Feera was already at work, her bag open beside her as she checked over the woman he loved with all his heart.
He looked her over, seeing the multiple bruises on her body and face, but it was the blood pooling beneath her body that concerned him. Tugging at his heart and causing agony to pierce his soul.
“How is she?” he asked, fearful of the answer.
“You said she was pregnant?” Feera asked, not raising her head as she continued to work.
“Yes,” Cam replied.
“I’m sorry, Alpha, but I’m afraid that’s almost certainly no longer the case.” Feera delivered the news he’d already known but had kept a slither of hope alive. “The bleeding has stopped, which is a good thing, but she has lost a lot of blood. I need to get her home and set up a drip to replenish that. She’s also got multiple cracked ribs, contusions, bruising, and of course there’s the gunshot to her thigh. It’s a through and through which has missed bones, and if we can get her to transform that will help her heal.”
“She’s out cold, Feera, how do we do that?”
“That’s the big question, Alpha,” Feera finally looked up, compassion and sadness in her eyes. “I do have a potion that can force a shift but I wouldn’t administer that without your permission.”
“We’ll get her home and then I’ll make the decision.” Cam sighed, bereavement for the loss of their child already setting in and stealing his breath away.
He couldn’t make any decisions right now, not for anything. He needed to get home. Take her home. See his children were safe and take a damn shower to rid himself of the stench of Stu Robertson. Then, maybe, he could think straight and decide what was best for Chastity . . . after he’d had a large stiff drink to wash the disgusting taste of Robertson’s blood from his throat.